Page 71 - Jan_2020

Los Alamitos hosted its inaugural Honoring Our Veterans Night at the Races.
OCTOBER
OCTOBER 12
The UQHRA hosted their 2019 Awards Banquet in Ogden, Utah, where they announced this year’s Champions: UQHRA Champion, Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Valentina Relentless, Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding Centers Valiant Hero, Champion 3-Year-Old Filly JR Ione A Dynasty, Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Heztwoforthedough, Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding Corona By Corona, Champion Stallion JR Dynasty Mountain, Champion Breeder McColee Land
& Livestock, Champion Owner Kenia Pinela Marioni, Champion Trainer Riley Moosman, and Champion Jockey Jesus Valenzuela.
OCTOBER 21
Ajax Downs in Ontario concluded its Quarter Horse meet and celebrated the track’s 50th anni- versary of racing. Tony Phillips earned the leading rider title, Jason Pascoe led all trainers, and Christine Tavares earned the leading owner title.
OCTOBER 23
The Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association announced its Hall of Fame inductees-individuals Melvin & Jackie Bollenbach, the late Charlie Claborn, and Mike Perkins, and horses Country Zevi, Golddust Dee Doc and Shawne Bug. Primrose Cockrell received the Bud Breeding award.
OCTOBER 25
Former leading jockey Cesar De Alba saddled his first Quarter Horse winner when 2-year-old filly Kool Baby Kool (One Sweet Jess-Kool Kue Chick, Chicks Beduino) won a claiming race by 1/2-length at Los Alamitos. The win was also jockey Oscar Peinado’s first win since July 2018 after being sidelined with injuries.
Former leading jockey Cesar De Alba saddled his first Quarter Horse winner
OCTOBER 25
Andrew Offerman was promoted to Vice President of Racing Operations at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. A graduate from the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, Offerman has been employed at Canterbury Park since 2005, and previously worked as Senior Director of Racing Operations.
NOVEMBER
NOVEMBER 4
Grants Pass Downs concluded its first commer- cial meet. Over 14 days beginning Sept. 22, the meet held 123 races and drew around 25,000 fans. The Oregon facility plans to widen its track to accommodate a larger starting gate and will begin several other improvement projects in preparation for the 2020 season.
NOVEMBER 6
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino ended their 2019 meet and declared their meet lead-
ers. Owner Tony Cunningham won his 4th consecutive leading Quarter Horse title and was also named the all-time leading Quarter Horse owner; trainer Randy Smith snagged his 5th consecutive leading trainer title this year; and Berkley Packer earned his 3rd leading Quarter Horse jockey title in the last four years.
NOVEMBER 9
Los Alamitos hosted its inaugural Honoring Our Veterans Night at the Races (above),
with a patriotic opening ceremony, military vehicle and equipment displays, live music and free activities. Twenty veterans and military members from the Orange County community were honored in the winner’s circle throughout the night.
NOVEMBER 9
Will Rogers Downs concluded its
28-day meet. Dan and Kaye Jones were
the 2019 leading meet owners, Justine Klaiber was the leading jockey of the meet, and Eddie D. Willis snagged top trainer honors. The Horse of the Meet title went
to 2-year-old gelding Mr Dillard for owner L Hendrix Horses LLC and trainer Sam
K. Howard. The Oklahoma track offered $2.4 million in purses for Quarter Horses and $365,000 for Paint and Appaloosas and showed $19.6 million wagered during the fall and spring meets.
SPEEDHORSE, January 2020 67