Page 14 - Speedhorse July 2018

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Jennifer K. Hancock
by Jennifer K. Hancock
Purse Increase at the Downs
The Downs at Albuquerque released its $2.602-million stakes schedule for the 2018 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet that opened June 29.
During the 2018 meet, the track will conduct 23 stakes races, a record for the Albuquerque track. Fifteen of the stakes will be Thoroughbred contests with purses estimated to total $1.08 million, while eight stakes with an estimated total purse of $1.4 million will be for Quarter Horses.
The highlight of the 55-date season, the 440-yard Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship, Presented by South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, will be one of five stakes offered on closing day, Sept. 23. In addition to being granted Grade 1 status by the American Quarter Horse Association, the race will offer a stakes-record $300,000 purse.
“Getting our Fall Quarter Horse Championship to Grade 1 status has been one of our main objectives since it started three years ago,” said Albuquerque Downs President of Racing Don Cook. “The fact that it has achieved Grade 1 status in just its fourth year shows that it has attracted quality horses and has been supported by horsemen throughout the country.
“We’ve attracted many of the best racing Quarter Horses in the world for this race,” he added. “We’re very pleased about that.”
Live racing is offered at The Downs on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, starting at 6:05 p.m. MDT. On Sundays, first post will be at 1:30 p.m. MDT. The schedule will change during the New Mexico State Fair portion of the meet in September.
The Downs at Albuquerque Racetrack and Casino is located at Expo New Mexico, the home of the New Mexico State Fair, and general admission and parking are free. Visit www.abqdowns.com for the track’s complete race calendar.
InDIana tracks transferreD to new owners
On June 27, the Indiana Horse Racing Commission approved the transfer of ownership of the assets of Centaur Gaming to Caesars Entertainment.
The commission approved the petition of the transfer of ownership of Hoosier Park Racing
and Casino, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino and all Winner’s Circle Off-Track Betting facilities from Centaur Gaming to Caesars Entertainment, subject to the conditions set forth in the Executive Director’s report, and any conditions consistent with the commission’s comments. The transfer was approved by the Indiana Gaming Commission on June 27.
InDIana GranD holDs Youth racInG exPerIence
The Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indi- ana hosted their annual “Youth Racing Experience” event at Indiana Grand on June 30. The program provides an extensive look at Quarter Horse racing in the state for teenagers with the opportunity to take home scholarship money at the conclusion of the program.
Eight girls from across the state of Indiana spent the day at Indiana Grand learning about Quarter Horse racing. Their day began at 8 a.m. with morning training on the track followed by trips to the starting gate, jockey’s quarters, barns and other various departments with guest speakers explaining the work that goes into preparing horses for competition and presenting a racing program at the track.
“I really enjoyed watching the exercise riders during morning training hours,” said Gabbi Paxson of Port- land, Indiana. “That is possibly something I would like to do one day.”
Paxson learned about the “Youth Racing Experi- ence” from a neighbor and family friend, Theresa Myers, who was one of the adult volunteers for the event. Paxson is currently involved in eventing with her Thoroughbred.
Those in attendance completed their day at the track with an interview and an exam on what they had learned throughout the day. Two scholarships are offered to the individuals with the top prize being $2,000 while second place received $1,000. The top student will also be nominated to attend the national “Youth Racing Experience,” which is part of the Bank of America Challenge each year. If selected, the student will receive an all-expenses paid trip to participate on a national level and vie for ad- ditional scholarship money.
“My hope is to breed Quarter Horses and run them some day,” said Natalie Dayharsh of Coatesville, Indiana. “I’ve always had a Quarter Horse that is bred to race, but hasn’t been on the track. I have one off the track, too, and I just really like Quarter Horse racing.”
The students finished up the program by shadow- ing four trainers. After being recognized in the winner’s circle, the group went back to the Quarter Horse barn and watched all the preparation needed to race a horse. Trainers who assisted with the program included Tim Eggleston, Karen and Butch Yike, Tony Cunningham and Bart Sachleben.
The six students that worked with trainers at the conclusion of the “Youth Racing Experience” included Krista Standeford, Natalie Dayharsh, Tabitha Bond, Alex Kerlin, Gabbi Paxson and Sarah Schwieterman.
THE MONTH IN REVIEW
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SPEEDHORSE, July 2018
TrRrAaCckK CchHhaAaTTEeRr