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session with horses, K9s and people. I look at most situations with the approach of how can I infiltrate K9s4COPs in the equation. This includes the racetrack and the arena.”
Schiller Ranch produces Diamonds and Dirt (see page 120), one of the largest barrel races in the country. The event is held in College Sta- tion, Texas, and Schiller uses the venue to specif- ically raise money and awareness for K9s4COPs. org. In the past eight years, K9s4COPs has successfully removed more than $350 million in contraband off the streets. And while Ruidoso is the only track with a K9 currently, Schiller said she would love to place more in the future. She has been contacted by several other tracks and is considering implementing similar canines.
“We are the only K9 non-profit that does what we do in the world,” Schiller said. “All of our teams hold a special place in my heart, but Luis Alvarez and K9 Csini have reinforced an elite position. I am extremely honored to have K9 Csini to assist Ruidoso Downs Race Track in the war on illegal performance enhancing drugs. My heart is full knowing K9s4COPs is making an impact in keeping respect and balance at the racetrack, preserving this honored sport. I may never win the All American, but every day I am blessed living the All American dream.”
Learn more at k9s4cops.org.
INDIANA GRAND MEET TO FEATURE SIX QH NIGHTS
A total of 19 stakes will be highlighted during the 2019 Quarter Horse racing season at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. The stakes, totaling more than $1.5 million, will be spread through- out the 120-day race meet that includes both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing with six nights dedicated to all-Quarter Horse action.
“It is amazing how much Indiana’s Quarter Horse industry has grown recently,” said Kevin Greely, director of racing. “The past two years, we have seen Indiana-breds included in the na- tional year-end balloting, new stallions continue to move into our state, and we are excited to see the continued growth of this industry in 2019.”
Martha Claussen, nationally known handicap- per and promoter of Quarter Horse racing, will be part of the broadcast team beginning in 2019. Claussen will provide tip sheets, social media posts and in-house handicapping segments for select Quarter Horse races throughout the entire season.
Dates for all-Quarter Horse racing include June 1, July 6, Aug. 10, Sept. 14, Oct. 5 and Oct. 26, which will feature four stakes. The 17th season of racing began April 16 and
will conclude Nov. 6. The full list of Quarter Horse stakes for 2019 is available at www. indianagrand.com.
RUIDOSO DOWNS RACE TRACK ANNOUNCES CORPORATE SPONSORS
Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino welcomes major corporate sponsors City Bank, Admiral Beverage Inc. and Sierra Blanca Motors for the upcoming 2019 Horse Racing Season.
“We have a tremendous relationship with our business partners as well as a large group of supporting businesses in this community that believe in our product,” President and General Manager Jeff True said. “We encour- age our racing fans and those that are associ- ated with the racing industry to support these businesses in return.”
As part of City Banks’ major corporate sponsorship, the second annual “Chile the Kid Beer and Wine Festival Sponsored by City Bank” will be held Aug. 2-4. Thousands of racing fans and tourists attended the event last year, which offers the season’s first sam- pling of Hatch green chiles and New Mexico- made craft beers and wines. A Colorado-based Eagles tribute band will be performing as part of the festival.
Sierra Blanca Motors has been in business in Ruidoso for over 55 years and provides the track with service vehicles, as well as partnering with the race track in casino promotions. This season, Billy the Kid Casino is giving away two Sierra Blanca Motors’ vehicles: a 2019 Jeep Wrangler on July 7; and a 2019 Dodge Ram pickup truck on Sept. 1.
Admiral Beverage Inc. is the official beer sponsor of Ruidoso Downs Race Track, and Coors Light is the official brand.
“We are highlighting these partners, but we remain very grateful for all of our busi- ness sponsors that understand the value of what the race track represents,” True said. “Our races draw nearly 250,000 fans during the summer racing season, and our facility remains the number-one tourist attraction in Lincoln County.”
FAIR GROUNDS MEET BEGINS AUGUST 16
Fair Grounds Racing Course in New Orleans will run a 10-day Quarter Horse meet beginning Aug. 16 and running through Sept. 7. The nation’s third-oldest racetrack has a rich history of crowning both Thor- oughbred and Quarter Horse Champions. Two key dates are: Aug. 17, when trials
for the LQHBA Sale Futurity-RG1 will be held; and Sept. 7, finals of the LQHBA Sale Futurity-RG1. The LQHBA Sale Futurity first ran in 1984 with a $87,970 purse. All yearlings who pass through the ring of the annual LQHBA Yearling Sale are eligible to
run in this race the following year. Due to the continued growth of the LQHBA Yearling Sale, last year’s purse of $434,538 was the highest in the history of the race.
“We look forward to the upcoming live racing season at Fair Grounds Race Course,” said Bruce Salard, executive director of the LQHBA. “It is a very important stop on the Louisiana Quarter Horse circuit and an excel- lent showcase for accredited Louisiana-breds who compete throughout the meet and in the LQHBA Sale Futurity.”
NEW CHAIR AT ARCI
Pennsylvania Racing Commissioner Corrine Sweeney DVM, is the new chair of the Associa- tion of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI). An associate dean at the New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Sweeney has been serv- ing on the commission since 2008.
Tom Sage, the Executive Director of the Nebraska State Racing Commission and former Chair of the Organization of Racing Investiga- tors, was elected Chair-elect/Secretary. Commis- sioner Robert Lopez of the Washington State Horse Racing Commission was named Treasurer. Outgoing Chair Mike Hopkins, who is the executive director of the Maryland commission, remains on the Board and Executive Committee.
Elected to the ARCI Board of Directors were: Rick Baedeker, executive director of the California Horse Racing Board; Charles Gar- diner, executive director of the Louisiana State Racing Commission; Charles Moore, executive director of the Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Com- mission; Edward Menton, chair of the Mobile County (Alabama) Racing Commission; Marc Guilfoil, director of the Kentucky Horse Rac- ing Commission; Judy Nason, director of the New Jersey Racing Commission; John Wayne, director of the Delaware Thoroughbred Rac- ing Commission; Tom Di Pasquale, executive director of the Minnesota Racing Commission; Dave Lermond, director of the Virginia Racing Commission; and Kelly Cathay, director of the Oklahoma Racing Commission.
Those elected at the meeting will join West Virginia Assistant Attorney General Kelli Talbot, New York Gaming Commis- sion Director Rob Williams, Director Louis Trombetta of the Florida Division of Pari- Mutuel Wagering, and Brent Stone, Director of Regulatory Compliance at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
The ARCI Board also voted unanimously to extend the employment contract of the associa- tion’s president, Ed Martin, for another three years upon expiration this August.
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TRACK CHATTER