Page 266 - September 2023

NEWS BRIEFS
Turf Paradise May Not Open In November
According to the Paulick Report, Turf Paradise racetrack issued a statement on Aug. 1 saying they would not begin their 2023-2024 meet in November since the sale of the property has a Dec. 17 closing date. James Watson’s CT Realty and Revolutionary Racing have a contract to buy Turf Paradise. General manager Vincent Francia said the track could reopen under new ownership in January, but that an agreement prior to the transfer needs to happen so preparations could
be made for racing and training. Larry Lucas
of Revolutionary Racing said there is a “huge upside” to racing in Arizona through legislative relief that would permit Historical Horse Racing (HHR) machines but getting HHR legislation would be difficult considering the political clout of Native American tribes that operate casinos throughout the state. Lucas hopes to meet with Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, along with legislative leaders, to remind her that “the state’s racing industry is responsible for maintaining more than 5,000 jobs and $50 million in state and local tax collections each year.” If there is no legislative
help, Lucas told the Paulick Report that racing at Turf Paradise “will cease to exist.” Turf Paradise first opened their doors on Jan. 7, 1956.
Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association’s executive director Leroy Gessman stated the following to members via email: “After several months of speculation and rumors, I finally have some definite updates that I can report to the membership. Yesterday
July 31, 2023, President Lloyd J. Yother received a call from Mr. Jerry Simms, telling us that his final decision was to not run a race meet in November and December of 2023. After 23 years of running race meets, he felt it was time that he stepped aside and turn things over to the possible potential buyer, Mr. James Watson. He wanted
to announce this now, so Horsemen had time
to find alternative plans. Mr. Simms has started laying off key employees, is issuing a national press release this week and stopped watering the turf track.” He continued, “There have been some major racetrack operators expressing interest in building a new track in Maricopa County. These alternatives may be longshots but there is interest
in rebuilding Arizona racing. I know Mr. Simms’s decision to close the track is very disappointing and scary news to all of us. However, I want you to know that I, President Yother and the HBPA Board will continue to work on restoring racing in Arizona!”
264 SPEEDHORSE
September 2023
KJ Desparado All-Time Leading Money Earner
KJ Desparado (Apollitical Jess-Tres Veses, Tres Seis) became the all-time leading Quarter Horse money earner on Aug. 5 when he went wire-to-wire in a 400-yard allowance race at Ruidoso Downs, winning by 1 1/2-lengths and earning $23,760. KJ Desparado has now earned $2,796,363, surpassing Ochoa at $2,781,365. The race was a prep for the All American Gold Cup-G1 that will run on Sept. 4 at Ruidoso Downs. If he wins that race, he will be the
first Quarter Horse to earn over $3 million. Bred by L&L Land & Cattle (John and Kathy Lee) and owned by John and Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares, the 2019 brown gelding has won the All American Futurity-G1, Texas Classic Futurity-G1, Ruidoso Derby-G1 and Texas Classic Derby-G1. He is trained by Wesley Giles and was ridden by Adrian Ramos.
Wyoming Downs Closes With Richest Race and Highest Purses
Wyoming Downs began racing on June 3
and closed its 20-day meet on Aug. 6. Closing day handle was also the highest since the mid- 1980s at $180,000. The track recorded the richest horse race in Wyoming history in the $200,400 Wyoming Quarter Horse Futurity won by Pappas Fame for owners Andrea and Eddie Jensen. The 2023 Wyoming Downs purses came in for an all-time high of $1.7 million. “It’s hard
Wyoming Downs © Linda Earley, speedhorse
SPEEDHORSE PHOTO ARCHIVES
Can you identify the horse in this photo? Here’s a hint: The stallion was named Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in 1965 and Champion 3-Year-Old Colt in 1966. The answer is on page 266.