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TRACK CHATTER
THE MONTH IN REVIEW
by Jennifer K. Hancock
CANCELED!
That’s the common theme from around the country and the world. From the American Quarter Horse Association’s annual convention to horse racing at most tracks across the country and social gatherings, whether horse-related or not, cancellations are already being announced for the next month and beyond.
The United States is taking a shelter-in- place approach to combatting the spread of the COVID-19, which is not conducive to sporting events or entertainment.
To underscore the affect this novel coro- navirus pandemic is having on the sporting world, the NCAA’s March Madness and other spring NCAA sports have been cancelled, while every other professional sports league is currently on hold. In the racing industry, the 2020 Kentucky Derby, which will be the 146th edition of the stakes race, has been rescheduled to Sept. 5, 2020, from the usual first Saturday in May.
By now you have heard much about how historic and unprecedented this disease is and the actions being taken to combat the spread. At the time of writing this article, there were over 1.3 million cases worldwide and more than 76,000 deaths. The ripple effects are being felt from Wall Street to every other industry in the nation.
SAM HOUSTON MEET CANCELED
On March 18, the Texas Quarter Horse Association sent out an announcement from Dwight Berube, the vice president and general manager at Sam Houston Race Park, informing the public that the
track’s Quarter Horse meet would not take place.
“Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 crisis, Sam Houston Race Park will cancel its upcoming Quarter Horse meet scheduled
to begin on April 10, 2020. We recognize the financial impact this decision has to
our horsemen, and we will work diligently with the Texas Racing Commission, the Texas Horsemen’s Partnership and the Texas Quarter Horse Association to find the best alternative solution moving forward,” the announcement stated.
LOUISIANA DOWNS CLOSES EARLY
On March 16, Harrah’s Louisiana Downs announced that the remaining two days of the 2020 Quarter Horse meet were canceled. The live racing season was supposed to conclude March 18 with the running of the $283,210 Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity-G3. An announcement on the status of the champion- ship will be forthcoming.
The 44-day season closing day included the presentation of the End of the Meet awards to the leading owner, trainer and jockey.
J & J Stables LLC was honored as leading owner of the meet. Co-owners Juan J. Bazaldua and Jesus E. Del Bosque, who banded together
in 2017 with a mutual interest in breeding and racing, are successful businessmen. They won nine races this meet, including three stakes victories
by Fantasicazoom Jr, and a victory in the Swift Stakes by SS Classyjess. J & J Stables entrusted the training of their horses to 23-year-old trainer Jose Carrizales, who earned his first leading trainer title after concluding the meet with 23 wins from 102 starts and purses of $172,862.
Ricardo Hernandez Jr. won the leading rider title with 33 wins, 29 seconds and 20 third-place finishes. His mounts earned $301,234, and he finished in the money at a 44-percent clip this season. He rode first call for Carrizales through- out the meet and guided Fantasticazoom Jr for J & J Stables LLC to five victories, including three stakes wins. The veteran jockey finished fourth in the jockey standings last year at Louisiana Downs.
“We thank our horsemen and fans for their support this season and wish that we had been able to fully complete our 2020 Quarter Horse meet,” said David Heitzmann, director of racing. “This was an unprecedented event in our world and very difficult time for the entire racing indus- try. We wish the best to all of our horsemen as the year progresses.”
Due to the public being prohibited from attending the races, the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association scholarship presentation scheduled for March 14 was postponed.
SUNLAND PARK CLOSED FOR THREE WEEKS
Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino closed to the public for three weeks beginning March 16. The decision was made after high-level discussions between Sunland Park management, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, the New Mexico Racing Commission and the state’s Gaming Control Board. The decision postponed the Sunland Derby and Sunland Park Oaks horse races.
“Although there have been no known cases of the COVID-19 at the property, we are suspending operations out of an abundance of caution and
to promote social distancing,” said Sunland Park Director of Marketing Ethan Linder.
During the closure, Sunland Park manage- ment will work with the New Mexico Health Department to implement additional protocols to protect guests prior to the reopening of the facility. “Our hearts go out to the people who have been affected by these unprecedented events. We appre- ciate the healthcare workers, local community officials and governments around the world, who are working on the front lines,” said Linder.
ON A HAPPY NOTE
Thanks to Los Alamitos’ Orlando Gutierrez for sharing this bit of good news. Next-career racehorse DM Legacy visited the winner’s circle after a nice victory at Los Alamitos for trainer Patricia Visscher and owners/breeders Edward and Theresa DeNike back in 2014.
DM Legacy, now affectionately called “Lego”, celebrated his eighth birthday in February. The gelding has teamed up with high school freshman and young barrel racer Rylea Ryan, the granddaugh- ter of Los Alamitos-based trainer Charles Treece.
The dynamic duo have found success competing in the Lunde Enterprises Barrel Race Series. Together, they’ve faced teams that have gone on to the National Finals Rodeo. Rylea, who grew up visiting the track with her grandfa- ther, is also a part of the California High School Rodeo Association and West Coast Barrel Racing Association.
Got Good News to Share? Do you have a positive story to share?
Send photos and news items to jennifer_k_hancock@hotmail.com.
14 SPEEDHORSE April 2020