Page 16 - May 2017

Got Good News to Share?
Do you have a positive story that you’d like to share?
by Jennifer K. Hancock
Hubbard SignS agreement to Sell ruidoSo downS
Ruidoso Downs and the Ruidoso Horse Sale Company will soon have new owners if state regulators approve the sale of the historic New Mexico track. R.D. Hubbard signed a letter of intent with a buyers group that included five horsemen. Texans Stan Sigman, Gary McKinney, Narciso “Chicho” Flores, and Johnny Trotter, along with Californian John Andreini make up the group of businessmen interested in becoming the new owners of the track.
Hubbard purchased Ruidoso Downs in 1988 with Dr. Ed Allred, who owns Los Alamitos Race Course in California. Hubbard later purchased Allred’s interest in the Ruidoso facility.
At a meeting in Oklahoma City, Sigman was elected as chairman for the group of buyers. “We are about to start our due diligence, and in due time we will start the process of gaining regulatory approval,” said Sigman. “It is our goal to close the deal in the fourth quarter of 2017.
“It was five people who did this,” Sigman continued. “I’m just the spokesperson because I’m the chairman and speak on behalf of the five people. These five people have a passion for horseracing. They have
a passion for the horses and all of the people in the industry. The best example I can give is that when we are in Ruidoso, we worship at the (race track) Chapel because we want to worship with the people.”
Ruidoso Downs president and general manager Shaun Hubbard said, “These men know Ruidoso Downs, and they are committed to keeping it as the best place in the nation for Quarter Horse racing.”
R.D. Hubbard, who is 81, has been a leading Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse owner and breeder for decades and has had ownership in such other tracks as Hollywood Park, Los Alamitos, Zia Park, Turf Paradise, and The Woodlands, in addition to Ruidoso Downs. Hubbard owned a farm in Kentucky for many years and now operates Crystal Springs Farm in New Mexico.
“Nothing will change at Crystal Springs, except maybe putting an All American Futurity winner in one
of the paddocks,” R.D. Hubbard said. “I’m not about to quit racing. I still need to win the All American Futurity. We’re still breeding mares and still making babies. I’ll be at the sales this year buying horses.”
Under Hubbard’s ownership, the Ruidoso Horse Sales Company has become the nation’s number 1 seller in dollar volume and average price of racing-bred American Quarter Horse yearlings. Ruidoso’s summer meet opens May 26.
FirSt down daSH-ing to more recordS
AQHA Hall of Fame stallion First Down Dash continues to add to his legacy by putting another record on his long list of accomplishments as a racehorse and a sire. His newest accolade is the all-time leading sire of winners. Sunrise Creek, who was bred by bred by Jim Streelman and Bill Dale, gave her sire his 1,383th winner when she broke her maiden April 24. Owned by Rogelio Rangel, Sunrise Creek is a 2015 filly out of the Ivory James mare Rawhide Creek.
Foaled in 1984, First Down Dash, a son of Dash For Cash, won 13 of 15 career starts and earned $857,256. During his sophomore campaign, he was named AQHA World Champion after winning six stakes races, including the Grade 1 Los Alamitos and Dash For Cash derbies and the Champion of Champions. He died in 2010.
With more than $86 million in progeny earnings, First Down Dash is the sport’s all-time leading sire by money earned, and he also is the leading sire of stakes winners with 253. He has now displaced Easy Jet from the top of the sire of winners list.
2018 aQHa Hall oF Fame claSS
Dash For Cash will soon have more company
in the Hall of Fame as the 2018 class of inductees was recently announced by AQHA. The 2018 class will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame at a
Send photos and news items to jennifer_k_hancock@hotmail.com.
The MonTh in review
14 SPEEDHORSE, May 2017
Track chaTTer