Page 71 - January 2022

AUGUST SEPTEMBER
YEAR in 202 REVIEW 1
BRIAN ELMORE JOCKEYS AND JEANS 2021 MAN OF THE YEAR
The Executive Director of the Indiana Horsemen’s Protective and Benevolent
Aug. 7
Sept. 11
Jamie Zamora Named Zia Park Racing Secretary
SAM HOUSTON MEET LEADERS
Sam Houston Race Park wrapped up its 2021 Quarter Horse live racing season, honoring the meet leaders: owner John Boegner
with seven wins; trainer Juan Diaz Jr., who finished with 43 wins and $1.6 million in purses; and jockey Victor Urieta Jr, who won his first Sam Houston jockey title making 54 trips to the winner’s circle.
Aug. 19
SCOTT WELLS RETIRES FROM REMINGTON, LONE STAR
Global Gaming Solutions LLC announced that Remington Park
and Lone Star Park president and general manager Scott Wells will be retiring following the end of the Remington Park Thoroughbred meet
on Dec. 17. Wells was on staff at Remington Park for three years beginning in 1990 soon after the track opened for live racing in 1988. He returned to Remington Park in 2005 in his current position and has directed operations
at the track since then. He assumed the role
as president and general manager of Lone Star Park in 2013. Wells was also a trainer of Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds for 17 years and was a columnist for the Daily Racing Form.
JAMIE ZAMORA NAMED ZIA PARK RACING SECRETARY
Ruidoso Downs racing secretary Jamie Zamora
was named racing secretary at Zia Park for the 2021 meet. Zamora has worked in the horse industry for over 40 years as
a groom, trainer, owner, jockey agent, program coordinator,
chart caller, entry clerk, and clerk of course. Since 2013, she has served as assistant racing secretary at Ruidoso Downs and Zia Park.
G.R. CARTER HONORED AT JOCKEY AND JEANS FUNDRAISER
G.R. Carter was honored with the Uphill Push Award
at the Caesars Entertainment Jockeys and Jeans Fundraiser at Monmouth Park Racetrack in New Jersey. The award is given annually to the single person who has
done the most to aid the disabled former jockeys. In the fall of 2020, Carter was made a Jockey and Jeans Ambassador. He introduced QH stallions to the annual Jockeys and Jeans Stallion Season Sale for the first time, and personally sold stallion fees that totaled $32,000. All sales proceeds go directly to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, which provides a $1000 monthly stipend to over 60 American jockeys who suffered career ending injuries.
Sept. 29
CHURCHILL DOWNS INC. SELLING
ARLINGTON PARK
Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) signed a purchase and sale agreement with the Chicago Bears of the NFL football league to sell the 326-acre property of Arlington Park Racecourse for $197.2 million. The closing of the sale is subject to closing conditions, but CDI expects the sale to be complete in late 2022/early 2023.
VANBEBBER INTERVIEWED ON INTERNATIONAL EQUINE PODCAST
Andrea Fappani, a top leading open rider in the National Reining Horse Association and one of two individuals to have earnings in excess of $6 million, hosts the international podcast “Along For The Ride with Andrea Fappani.” In August, AQHA Chief Executive Racing Officer Janet VanBebber was interviewed and shared her knowledge and love of the Quarter Horse racing industry. Janet, the leading female Quarter Horse trainer by money earned, shared her experiences running her own successful business and also touched on her involvement and work running the AQHA racing department.
Association, Brian Elmore was named the Jockeys and Jeans 2021 Man of the Year. A long-time advocate for jockeys, Elmore has furthered the cause of severely injured jockeys throughout his career. He also won the Eddie Arcaro Award in 2016, which is presented by the Jockeys’ Guild to a person or group that shows exceptional commitment to jockeys and the organization.
NICK TAMMARO NAMED SAM HOUSTON TRACK ANNOUNCER
Nick Tammaro has been named the track announcer and began his role on Jan. 6 for the Sam Houston Race Park 2022 meet. A Houston native, Tammaro, 37, has been involved in
the racing industry
for over 13 years as a public handicapper, speed figure maker
and odds maker. He earned eight trips to the National Handicapping Challenge in Las Vegas and finished in the top five in the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge. Tammaro called his first race at Louisiana Downs, and when Sam Houston previous announcer Chris Griffin departed, he called races at the track for six weeks during the Quarter Horse season.
INDUSTRY LEADERS SUPPORT BARREL RACING
The American Quarter Horse Association
in conjunction with a group of influencers within the Barrel Racing industry, which has seen significant growth in the last 10 years, formed the Barrel Racing Industry Alliance (BRIA). Its mission is to form a unified presence for the sport at a national level, along with creating a series of initiatives
to better serve the industry. The BRIA Charter Members include Barrel Futurities of America, Better Barrel Races, Breeder’s Challenge, Future Fortunes, National Barrel Horse Association, West Coast Barrel Racing Association, Old Fort Days, Pink Buckle/ Ruby Buckle, and Women’s Pro Rodeo Association. The BRIA includes industry leaders with years of experience looking forward to helping barrel racing grow.
SPEEDHORSE January 2022 69
Speedhorse Remington Park
Courtesy Sam Houston
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse