Page 185 - June 2021

NEWS BRIEFS
Correction
On page 37 of our May issue, we printed this photo with the incorrect cutline. The photo is of World Champion Bodacious Eagle, who is hav- ing a successful second career as a Halter Horse.
Class 3 Drugs In 6 Of 10 Sam Houston
Futurity Qualifiers
Hair testing performed on qualifiers to the Grade 1 Sam Houston Futurity contested on May 28 and won by BH Inxs found six positive results for either Clenbuterol and/or Albuterol, both prohibited in Texas, as well as two incon- clusive and two negative results. Based on this, Sam Houston Race Park conducted the race as a non-wagering event with participants competing for purse money only. Only 3 horses competed in the event. Sam Houston Race Park will no longer accept entries from those trainers whose horses tested positive.
AQHA 2022 Hall of Fame Class Announced
Six horses and seven AQHA members have been chosen to be inducted into the American Quar- ter Horse Hall of Fame for the Class of 2022. The horses are Big Step, Corona Cartel, Easter King, Impressive, Sun Frost and Topsail Whiz. The individuals selected are John Andreini, San- dra Arledge, James V.A. Carter, Mary Hopkins, Walter and Nancy Hughes, and Jerry Wells.
Grants Pass Downs 2021 Meet
Grants Pass Downs in Oregon began its 17-day spring season on May 10 and will run through July 6. The facility has undergone significant up- grades, including a state-of-the art safety rain, a widened racing surface to accommodate 10-horse fields, and a new chute. All 450 on-track stalls are expected to be occupied, with long-term plans for a new off-track training and equestrian center to be built nearby. The track’s successful 2020 season exceeded $6 million in handle.
Retama Park Sells Portion Of Land
University Health in Selma, Texas, has purchased 42.5 acres of land from Retama Park that will
change the track grounds. The property includes the north section of the visitor parking lot and several of the horse stables on the west section, with the option to acquire more land that includes the remaining stables on the west section. The sale was reported to be in excess of $11.5 million.
Ramon Sanchez Marks 150th Stakes Win at Los Al
Two-time AQHA Champion Jockey Ramon Sanchez became only the second rider to win 150 Quarter Horse stakes races at Los Alamitos after winning the $35,000 Kaweah Bar Handicap-
G3 wire-to-wire with Mental Error on May 1.
Mental Error is owned by Bobby Simmons and trained by Paul Jones. In the track’s 71-year histo- ry, the only other jockey to reach this milestone is Eddie Garcia with 153 stakes wins. Sanchez also holds the track record for most Quarter Horse wins in a single season with 220 in 2002.
Krissy Bamberg New OQHRA Executive Director
Krissy Bamberg on May 20 was named Execu- tive Director of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Associa- tion following the resigna- tion of Kole Kennemer,
who held the
position since
2019 following
the death of longtime director Debbie Schauf. Bamberg, the daughter of Schauf, grew up in the Quarter Horse industry and worked along- side her mother at the OQHRA for 20 years. “My mother was a legend in this industry,” said Bamberg. “I will never be able to fill her shoes, but I’m so thankful for the foundation and knowledge that she shared with me.”
SPEEDHORSE PHOTO ARCHIVES
Can you identify the horse in this photo? Here is a hint, this mare defeated FDD Dynasty to win the 2006 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity-G1. She went on to amass over $2 million in earnings.
The answer can be found on page 184
SPEEDHORSE June 2021 183