Page 71 - January 2019

Ricky Ramirez was the recipient of the 8th Annual Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award
September 3
Ricky Ramirez was the recipient of the 8th Annual Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award presented by Speedhorse in conjunction with the Jockeys’ Guild. The award, which
was created in 2011 to honor the memory of Sam Thompson, encourages Quarter Horse jockeys to aspire to the standards Thompson set and honors those whose careers and personal character make positive contributions to Quarter Horse racing. Ramirez began riding
at the age of 13, obtained his jockey license at 18, and won his first race in 2003, and then became the first-call rider for trainers Blane and Trey Wood. Some of the Grade 1 highlights
of his career include wins in the Los Alamitos Super Derby, Heritage Place Futurity, Rainbow Futurity (3-times), and Texas Classic Futurity (3 times). Ramirez was also the 2015 AQHA Champion Jockey.
September 3
The first season of racing at Ruidoso Downs under the new ownership of All American Ruidoso Downs LLC concluded with all revenue showing increases and purses up by 10%. The New Mexico Bred Sale improved total average of horses sold by 34%, and the Select Sale average on horses sold was up 8.7%. Valeriano Racing Stable and Melvin Neugebauer tied as the season leading owners; Ricky Ramirez was named leading jockey; and Blane Wood and Wes Giles tied for the leading trainer title.
September 10
Clenbuterol was prohibited for use in race horses of all breeds in Texas, with the maximum permissible concentration changed from 140 pg/ml urine to level of detection in urine.
September 15
Canterbury Park saw increases in handle across the board for their 69-day Quarter Horse
and Thoroughbred meet that ended Sept. 15. Cristian Esqueda was the leading Quarter Horse jockey, Jason Olmstead was the leading Quarter Horse trainer, and Thomas Scheckel was the top Quarter Horse owner.
September 16
Albuquerque Downs saw a 24% increase in total wagering handle during its New Mexico State Fair portion of the 2018 Quarter Horse race meet that ran from Sept. 6 through Sept. 16.
A total of $3,010,221 was wagered on 104 live races. On-track handle also increased 7 percent, and off-track handle was up 24 percent.
September 23
Albuquerque Downs ended its Quarter Horse meet with increases in total wagering handle and average per-race purse distribution. Pedro Carrillo was the track’s leading owner, the leading trainer of the meet was Jesus Carrete, and Alonso Rivera and Joseph Belloc Jr. were named co-leading jockeys.
September 23
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October 13
9/27/18 8:50 AM
Owner/breeder
John Earl “Smick”
Smicklas passed
away at the age
of 81. John was
a well-known
member of the auto
industry, a member
of the Oklahoma
Horse Racing Comm
the formation of the Oklahoma Thoroughbred Retirement Programs, and was the founder of dog and cat rescue organization “Friends For Life.”
September 26
Oklahoma trainer James “Jimmy” Doolin, 68, passed away. Jimmy conditioned the earners of more than $1.27 million in earnings, including such horses as Grade 1 winners Spit Curl Jess, Turbine Jet and Imafastermaster.
September 29
The Lone Star Park Racing Club presented
the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund with a check for nearly $12,000. In the winner’s circle accepting the donation were 10-time World Champion jockey/PDJF board member G.R. Carter Jr. and former jockey/Texas Racing Commission Steward Jerry Burgess. The Lone Star Park Racing Club is a not for profit club that provides insight into race horse ownership.
Owned by Rancho El Cabresto Inc., World Champion Apollitical Jess broke the single-season earnings record for a North American Quarter Horse sire when High Time To Fly won the $149,746 Jim Bader Futurity at Prairie Meadows. The young sire with only 4 crops to race, hit $6,695,169 and broke the previous record of $6,565,859 set by all-time leading sire First Down Dash in 2006. Apollitical Jess is also the #3 leading yearling sale sire for 2018 with 47 yearlings selling for $2,572,000.
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October 20
Sir Runaway Dash (First Down Dash-
Runaway Wave) died on Oct. 20 due to colic. Bred by Lucas Racing Inc., the 2004 stallion won or placed in 12 of 19 starts with earnings of $120,706. From seven crops to race, Sir Runaway Dash is the sire of 128 winners and 18 stakes horses with $5.5 million in earnings.
October 22
Owner/trainer Paul Howard passed away at
the age of 77. Some of his major victories as an owner included winning the 1978 All American Futurity with Moon Lark.
SPEEDHORSE, January 2019 67
SPEEDHORSE OCTOBER 2018