Page 143 - December 2015

Junk Named Canterbury Racing Secretary
Robert Junk, 55, joined Canterbury
Park Racetrack and Card Casino as the new Racing Secretary. Junk, a 30-year industry veteran, succeeds Doug Schoepf, who retired in October after two decades at the track. Junk currently holds the position of racing secretary at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino in New Mexico. He has also been racing secretary at Ruidoso Downs, has worked at various positions in racing offices across the Southwest, and also as a jockey agent for Canterbury Park Hall of Fame rider Scott Stevens.
Turf Paradise Throws Birthday Party January 16th Marking 60 Years in Phoenix
When Turf Paradise opened its doors in 1956, the surrounding area was dirt roads and desert. The Arizona track is the first sports fran- chise in the state with one of the longest racing seasons in the United States thanks to Arizona’s great weather. On Jan. 16 Turf’s fans will gather at the track to commemorate six decades of rac- ing, with free umbrellas, a kid’s fun park, free birthday cake, and more. Admission is $2 and the gates open at 11am. General Manager Vince Francia said, “After 60 years in Arizona, it’s safe to say we’re more than just a fad. As loyal fans and those new to horseracing continue to come to Turf Paradise, we expect to be around for at least another 60 years.”
Keeneland Requests Quarter Horse License
Keeneland requested a racing license for a track in Corbin, Kentucky, south of Lexington, to be called Cumberland Run, with plans for a $30 mil- lion facility to hold 350 instant racing machines,
a 12-room hotel, and 12 Quarter Horse dates in 2017. The effort, however, was slowed by litigation over the application. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission planned to consider the application at their Dec. 1 meeting, but were prevented by
a restraining order in response to a request from Floyd County and Appalachian Racing, which has the Thunder Ridge harness track. Keeneland had been negotiating the purchase of Thunder Ridge’s license to transfer to the proposed Corbin Quarter Horse track, and Appalachian Racing contends
an agreement is in place and that Keeneland is in breach of contract.
Proposal Fails to Bring Horse Racing Back To Missoula
On Dec. 10, the Missoula County Commission voted against a contract with the Western Montana Turf Club to return racing
to the fair in 2016, citing poor facilities and the absence of long-term plans for the fairgrounds. Two commissioners would like to see the facility focus on a multi-event center that would operate all year and host concerts and various sporting events.
ARCI 2016 Goals, News
The Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) will focus on the development of a central rule-making process for uniform medication policies in 2016. The ARCI board of directors recently voted to act on “unifying the racing industry” on integrity initiatives as well as on adopting the National Uniform Medication Program. ARCI said it will hold “Town Meeting” forums across the U.S. with racing industry stakeholders, partici- pants, and fans in an attempt to find common ground and workable solutions. In other news, the ARCI Uniform Classification Guidelines for Foreign Substances and Recommended Penalties and Model Rule has been updated, with the addition of 3-Methoxytyramine classi- fied as a Class 2, Penalty A substance.
Jockeys’ Guild Releases Trading Card Set To Commemorate 75th Anniversary
Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred fans can celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Jockeys’ Guild with a limited edition set of 152 jockey trading cards, which includes jockeys who have had outstanding careers. The back of each card has information about the jockeys such as their birthday, birthplace, active riding years, a short biography, and lifetime statistics. The set can be purchased at www.jockeytalk360.com for $20 plus $2.95 shipping/handling. Proceeds benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
Third Installment In Heather Smith Thomas’s Ranch Tales Series
The third in a
series of books about
ranch and family life
in Idaho, Heather
Smith Thomas’s
Ranch Tales offers a
collection of humor-
ous, heartwarming
and insightful true
stories, each cen-
tered on the unique
bonds that form
between people and
the animals - livestock, pets and wildlife - that populate a working ranch. “Ranch life is unique and colorful,” Thomas writes. “The jobs we do
- raising cattle, working with animals, tending
to their needs - are never boring. The animals themselves, and their adventures and circum- stances involved with their care, always keep life interesting and fun, as well as challenging. These stories include a bit of humor, and a broad mix of experiences that illustrate how closely entwined our lives are with those of the animals within our care.” Ranch Tales is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other book retailers.
Raul Ramirez AQHA November Jockey Of The Month
Jockey Raul Ramirez,
33, was named the AQHA/
Jockeys’ Guild Jockey of
the Month for the month
of November. A victory in
the $1 Million LQHBA
Breeders Futurity-RG1
aboard Jess A Saint on
Nov. 28 gave Ramirez the
leading stride for the title. Ramirez finished the month with 13 wins, 11 seconds, and five thirds from 62 starts.
Jockey Saul Ramirez Jr. Retires
Jockey Saul Ramirez, Jr.
retired Dec. 12 at Evangeline
Downs to pursue a new
career as a trainer. Ramirez,
43, has ridden the earners
of nearly $24 million. He
ended his riding career with
a second place finish aboard
Slinky Kas in a claiming
race at Evangeline, but
earlier that day rode Open Me A Corona to the colt’s sixth consecutive win with a wire-to-wire win in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic-RG2 at the Fair Grounds.
Jockey Carlos Huerta Injured
Jockey Carlos Huerta was unseated shortly after the finish line in the Dec.
11 Paul Ford Memorial
Handicap. Huerta was aboard
Blabber, when the 3-year-
old filly fell past the finish
line. Blabber was uninjured
in the incident, but Huerta
was transported to Long
Beach Medical Center.
Huerta suffered three broken
vertebrae, but has full mobility of his limbs.
Tommy Zarate Passes Away
Thomas “Tommy, TZ”
Zarate, 69, passed away
Nov. 19 in Brazos Valley,
Texas. Zarate, who worked
in the Quarter Horse
racing industry for many
years, broke and trained
many top horses, including
World Champion Stolis
Winner and Champion
Kates Dynasty. Since 1981, Zarate has trained the earners of more than $2.6 million. He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Jocelyn Zarate, two daughters, four grandchildren, and many other family members and friends.
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news briefs