Page 164 - May 2016

Tornado Damages Stables, Injures Horses At Will Rogers Downs
A March 30 tornado injured several horses and damaged several stables, including the receiving barn, at the Cherokee Casino-Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Oklahoma. Loose horses were being corralled as destruction showed debris and metal missing from several buildings next to the track. No one at the facil- ity was injured, but seven people were taken to hospitals in the greater Tulsa area.
Horses Rescued From Floodwaters in Texas, Sam Houston Holds Fundraiser
Firefighters on April 13 in Orange, Texas, responded to a call of horses trapped in flood- water where they found two very weak horses
and one dead. The smaller horse was able to load into the boat, but firefighters had to deploy large airbags to make “floaties” for the bigger horse. Both horses were taken to a private residence for recovery. In Houston on April 15, about 90 horses were rescued from their flooding stables, many
of which were swimming in their stalls when the Cypress Creek left its banks. All of the horses were taken to safety at Sam Houston Race Park, which on April 22-23 organized fundraising efforts during live racing to help those affected by the recent flooding in the area. All funds were collected on behalf of the American Red Cross.
Prairie Meadows Unveils Upgrades
Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino announced the completion of their multi- million dollar upgrades, improvements and renovations in television and hospitality in time for the return to live racing on April
28. Prairie Meadows worked in partnership with American Teletimer to convert the entire television department to high definition, with
two 9’ x 33’ “information boards” on either side of the all-new LED odds and wagering totals in the center of the tote board and a jumbo 18’ x 31’ Daktronics video screen that sits atop the tote board to provide a clear view of every race. Other upgrades include significant expansions of AJ’s Steakhouse and Hop’s Lounge as well as the backside kitchen in the stable area.
Portion Of Los Alamitos Racecourse Property Reserved For Development
According to a Daily Racing Form March 30 press release, Los Alamitos Racecourse owner Ed Allred stated that plans are underway to develop property adjacent to the track for retail space and senior housing. Allred said as much as 70 acres could be developed without disrup- tion to live racing.
Ed Allred Pledges 10 More Years of Racing At Los Alamitos
Ed Allred, owner of Los Alamitos Race Track, on April 15 said he plans to run races
at the track for at least 10 more years. Allred wrote in a letter to “employees and partici- pants” that Los Alamitos plans to present a local ballot measure to develop portions of
the property. According to Allred in the letter, “Fifty to 60 acres could be developed of the 170 acres without disrupting the Quarter Horse program,” and “alternative gaming” could be beneficial.
Jim Byers New Track Announcer At Lone Star Park
Jim Byers replaced John Lies, who resigned in March, as the track announcer at Lone Star Park when live racing resumed at the Texas track on April 7. Byers brings 33 years of sport casting experience to the position, with 15 of those spent as a track announcer. Byers began his career in 1983 in the publicity department at Caliente Race Track in Tijuana, Mexico, and has held many positions in the racing industry, including 11 years as the voice of Remington Park, the backup announcer at Del Mar and Santa Anita, and four years as the announcer at Hollywood Park.
Canterbury Park Cuts Takeout Rates
Officials at Canterbury Park on April 18 announced a reduction in pari-mutuel takeout that will allow the track to offer a wagering product priced lower, on average, than any track in the country. Win, place and show takeout rates are set at 15%, while exotic- wagering takeout rates are set at 18%. Racing and gaming industry economists believe the handle will increase substantially with this change. The track’s 69-day Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred meet opens May 20.
Stockton End Racing
Horse racing at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton came to an end on April 21 when the California Horse Racing Board voted 4-1 to move the meet to the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. San Joaquin County Fair’s original race days of June 15 – July 4 will be contested at the Alameda County Fair. Stockton’s track was the first in the state to conduct pari-mutuel wager- ing in 1933.
Quarter Horse Racing Possible At Calgary Track
Northlands Park, which began racing
in 1905, announced that 2016 will be its
last season, leaving Century Downs as the only remaining Class A track in Alberta, Canada. Management at Century Downs stated they have not ruled out the possibility of American Quarter Horses racing there in the future. There are also two Class B tracks in the province, the Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge, and Evergreen Park in Grande Prairie.
Permit Request Advanced to Reopen Woodlands Racetrack
As of press time, the Planning Commission in Kansas City, Kansas, heard public testimony on a special use permit application requested
by Ruffin Woodlands LLC, a company headed by casino owner and real estate developer Phil Ruffin, and voted to send the request for fur- ther consideration by the Unified Government Commission. Ruffin proposes to invest $70 million in a “racino” at the racetrack, which has been closed since 2008.
James Flores AQHA March Jockey Of The Month
Jockey James
Flores, who most
recently won
the $440,000
Oklahoma
Futurity-G3 aboard
Coronas First
Diva on March
26, was named the
AQHA/Jockeys’
Guild Jockey of the
Month for March.
Flores won his first
race in 2011 and
had his best season
last year, winning
78 races and 14
stakes. For the
month of March
2016, Flores had four wins, three seconds, and five thirds, and led the leading jockey list by money with $240,472.
162 SPEEDHORSE, May 2016
news briefs
Dustin Orona Photography
photo courtesy Stacey Capps