Page 173 - February 2017

Bob Gaston TQHA President
Bob Gaston was elected president of the Texas Quarter Horse Association (TQHA) at their annual meeting
on Jan. 28. Other
members include 1st
vice president Andrea
James, 2nd vice presi-
dent Gus Barakis,
secretary/treasurer Tyler Graham, and parlia- mentarian Bill Melson. Bob and Jerry Gaston are the breeders of Champion Double Down Special.
Rillito Park Gets Extension
Pima County Supervisors on Jan. 17 voted unanimously to extend the lease for Rillito Park through 2021. The track will likely receive a
$1 million donation from the Bert W. Martin Foundation for repairs and improvements. A list of over $2 million in needed repairs and improvements was included in the lease amend- ment. Among the priorities listed were bringing racetrack bathrooms into ADA compliance, electrical work in the grandstand and club- house, and clubhouse roof repairs.
Delta Downs Completes Expansion
Boyd Gaming Inc. on Jan. 19 announced the completion of its $45 million expansion of Delta Downs. The centerpiece of the expansion is the 167-room hotel tower with a 5,000 square-foot fitness center. The original 200-room hotel tower also received a complete redesign. Earlier, Delta Downs also premiered a new dining con- cept called the Rosewater Grill & Tavern with views of the track and a unique menu of steak and seafood. The Delta Downs expansion is part of an ongoing effort to enhance amenities at Boyd Gaming properties across the country.
New President/General Manager At Fair Grounds
Churchill Downs Inc. on Jan. 24 named veteran gaming executive Douglas Shipley as President and General Manager of Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Louisiana. Shipley has over 30 years of leadership experience with companies like Grand Casinos, Delaware North, Ameristar, Isle Of Capri, and Caesars Entertainment. Shipley will oversee the manage- ment team and all operations including gaming, racing and video poker/OTB operations.
NMHBA Adopts Rule Change
The New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association at their annual meeting on Jan. 26 voted to change the qualifying status for a New Mexico- bred foal. Beginning in 2017 to qualify for New Mexico Bred status, the mare must still be bred to a New Mexico stallion, but she can now leave the
state during her pregnancy. However, she must still deliver her foal in New Mexico. For Quarter Horse mares and embryo transfers to New Mexico stallions, the donor mare and/or recipient mare may leave the state. However, the recipient mare must return to foal. A $500 fee will be due for each mare that leaves the state in order for
the subsequent foal to be eligible for registry as a New Mexico-bred. Contact NMHBA at (505) 262-0224 for more information.
Albuquerque Fall Championship Added To Champion Of Champions Format
The Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship has been added to the qualify-
ing races for the 2017 Champion of Champions. The other nine races offering automatic berths include: the Los Alamitos Winter Championship, Remington Park Championship, Vessels
Maturity, All American Derby, Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap, Bank Of America Challenge Championship, Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship, Los Alamitos Super Derby, and the Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials. The 45th running of the Champion of Champions will be held at Los Alamitos on Dec. 16, 2017.
Inaugural Foal In Utero Sale At Ruidoso
A unique Select Foal In Utero Sale will be held at Ruidoso Downs on Aug. 19, offering the highest quality, hand-selected embryos. Requests for consignment contracts should be directed to the Ruidoso Horse Sale Company at (575) 378-4474. If you have any questions, call Lowell Neumayer at (575) 937-4904 or Walt Wiggins at (575) 808-3567.
Wyoming Sets 2017 Dates
The Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Commission set its 2017 dates with five meetings to be held on the following dates at the following locations: March 10 (Casper), May 12 (Casper), July 14 (Evanston), Sept. 15 (Casper), and Nov. 3 (Casper). Wyoming’s live racing calendar also features 32 race dates at Wyoming Downs from June 24-Aug. 13.
Court Overturns Sanctions Against Trainer De La Torre
A Court of Appeals on Jan. 26 overturned a California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) 2014 findings of regulatory violations by trainer Jose De La Torre. The CHRB had revoked De La Torre’s license and fined him $160,000 for alleged medication violations, but the court stated the “allegations against and findings of regulatory violations by De La Torre had no legal basis, and the penalties imposed upon him were equally invalid.” The CHRB was also ordered to pay appellant’s costs as a result of the decision.
Jockey J.R. Valenzuela Suspended
New Mexico Racing Commission stewards have suspended veteran jockey J.R. Valenzuela
after an electrical device was found in the jockey’s room before the running of the Jan. 15 Shue Fly Stakes at Sunland Park. Valenzuela was to ride Mighty B Dragon for trainer Antoinette Gonzalez after qualifying the gelding in the Dec. 23 trials. Valenzuela was replaced by Sergio Becerra Jr. and the pair fin- ished fourth in the Shue Fly finals. Valenzuela began riding in the 70’s and hit 1,000 wins in 2016, his first year back after five years.
Elbert “Doc” Hinshaw Passes Away
Longtime veterinarian Elbert “Doc” Hinshaw passed away on Jan. 1 at the age of 93. Hinshaw served in the U.S. Army and Navy and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University in 1948. During his more than 50-year career, he worked for the horse and greyhound rac- ing industry as a veterinarian in Arizona, Nebraska, Colorado, and Nevada. Hinshaw served as the Arizona assistant state veterinar- ian in 1980 and was appointed as the state Veterinarian by the Governor in 1984. He
is survived by his two sons and a daughter, eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, and many other family members and friends.
Ronnie Keller Dies
Longtime race-
horse owner Ronnie
Keller passed away
on Jan. 13 at the
age of 77. Among
the most success-
ful of his racehorses
were 2001 AQHA
Juvenile Challenge
Championship-G1
winner Ronnie Jace
and two-time Grade 3 winner/1998 All American Futurity-G1 finalist Millitante. Keller is survived by his wife, Sharon, and children Corrie, Angie, Ronnie, Tige, Dax, and Blane, along with 23 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and many other family members and friends.
Charles Landells Jr. Dies
Charles Landells Jr., 72, passed away on Jan. 24 following a long battle with cancer. Landells trained Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses
in the 70s and 80s and served as a Washington State Racing Steward for many years. He was married for 40 years to Nancy Sorick, who served as the Executive Secretary for Tri-City Horse Racing and the Northern Racing Quarter Horse Association. Landells was honored by
the NRQHA on Jan. 14 for his contribution to Quarter Horse racing in Washington. He is sur- vived by many family members and friends.
170 SPEEDHORSE, February 2017
news briefs