Page 67 - January 2019

Remington Park saw a 13.7% increase in attendance and a 9.7% increase in total handle
June 2
June 2
Chris Kotulak accepted the position as chief operating officer at Fonner Park in Grand Island, Nebraska, where he was the track announcer from 1986-1994. Kotulak
takes the position previously held by Todd Otto, who passed away in April. Kotulak, who most recently worked at Remington Park, worked for 11 years on the Nebraska
racing circuit calling races and in marketing.
Chris Kotulak
Trainer Dennis Givens and Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen
June 10
Longtime Quarter Horse breeder/owner Tom McEwen died at the age of 81. McEwen was a National Hot Rod Association driver, winning five NHRA national events, and was member of the International Drag Racing Hall of
Fame and Motorsports Hall of Fame. Quarter Horses raced by McEwen have earned around $500,000, with most of his starters trained by Dennis Givens. Perhaps McEwen’s best-known runner was 2004 Champion Aged Horse/2004 Champion Aged Mare Mongoose Jet Eye.
June 23
Team USA won its third consecutive title in the fifth annual World Jockey Challenge at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. Six of seven countries represented won races during the night, with 32 jockeys in the competition. The riders carried the flag of their country as the teams were introduced. The countries included USA., Mexico, Peru, Chile, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.
Longtime Indiana Grand Racing & Casino vice president and general manager Jon Schuster was honored with a special recognition award by the Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana (QHRAI). QHRAI president Paul Martin made the presentation with QHRAI executive director Dianne Bennett, longtime QHRAI director James Noel and Indiana Grand director of racing Kevin Greely.
June 2
Remington Park saw a 13.7% increase in attendance and a 9.7% increase in total handle compared to last year for their 50-day meet. Two-time World Champion Jessies First
Down was voted the Horse of the Meeting and Champion Older Male. Other divisional title winners include: Champion Two Year
Old Sunnysyde, Champion Three Year Old DF AJ Green Leaves, Champion Older Mare Apollitical Scout, Champion Distance Runner Blazen Panther, Champion Oklahoma-bred Hold Air Hostage, Champion Paint Painted Turnpike, Champion Appaloosa Admiral Tom, and Champion Claimer Jzoomin Scoot.
Jessies First Down sets a 440-yard New Track Record winning the Remington Park Championship on closing night
June 8
The U.S. House of Representatives passed
H. R. 5895, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, which includes an amendment to increase funding by $5 million for the Veterans Affairs’ Adaptive Sports Grant Program for equine-assisted therapy in 2019. The funding will enable an expansion of services that use equine-assisted therapy in conjunction with mental health care treatment and services to veterans.
Team USA won fifth annual World Jockey Challenge at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino
SPEEDHORSE, January 2019 63