Page 32 - 8 February 2013

The total schedule of 44 events increases competition options, work, and finance for all involved in the industry.
With high expectations among Quarter Horse breeders, owners, trainers and jockeys, the Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico City declared itself ready for the new racing season on Jan. 18 with the Inaugural Classic.
These expectations are based on a program of expanded activities, with the number of Classics increasing from 27 to 35, of which there are nine races with a special prize, one being the First Mexican Breeders Cup for Quarter Horses. The total schedule of 44 events increases competition options, work, and finance for all involved in the industry, which will be stimulated both short and long term.
The decision has the support of the Mexican Association of Breeders and Horsemen of Quarter Horses, A. C. (AMCCCCM), an affiliate of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA).
The new Classics and Special Awards are dedi- cated to honor prominent aspects of the Mexican equine industry of Quarter Horses.
Here are the features of the new classics.
Two are for exemplary two-year olds and one is for three-year olds, at distances of 350 and 330 yards. The nomination and participation fee is 15 thousand pesos ($1,155 U.S.). The remaining five offer oppor- tunities to competitors of ages three, four, and older, of both domestic and imported origin, by paying 25,000 pesos ($1,923 U.S.) nomination and registra- tion. All will race at distances of 300, 350 and 400 yards. The first is the Everardo Múzquiz Elguezábal Classic for Mexican three-year olds and older, at 300- yards, with the final on Feb. 17.
Meanwhile, all nine of the special award races are Mexican Quarter Horse Breeders Cups and
will be held Sept. 29, the same date as the final of the principal Classic for fillies and colts of national breeding that passed through the Select Auction of the Hipodromo de las Americas: The Select Auction Futurity. All races this date will be at 350 yards for the national horses whose owners have paid 10,000 pesos ($769 U.S.) for the entrance fee. There is no preliminary heat.
It is important to mention that year after year, races of Special Award in honor of outstanding horses are run where there is a similar entrance fee, but they have never been scheduled.
The core of the program will continue to be the 27 traditional classics, highlighted by the four futuri- ties and derbies for Mexican horses sold at auction,
and the five races that take place in Mexico’s AQHA Challenge Program.
The total purse money in the 2012 Quarter
Horse Classics at the Hipodromo de las Americas
was 18.2 million pesos ($1.4 million U.S.). This was
a record due to the impact of the Mexico, Stallion, Auction Select, and Breeder’s Cup futurities, which are reserved for Mexican bred Quarter Horses and together accounted for 59.5% of the total money paid. This is because the number of yearlings sold at the auction in 2011 was also the highest figure on record, and this was reflected in an increase in receipts of the foal’s eligibility paid by the owners.
Such impact is likely to be lower in 2013 since there were 92 fewer yearlings auctioned in 2012. Still, it is esti- mated that the total purses this year will grow by 25% when adding the new Classics and Awards mentioned.
EN ESPAÑOL
Con altas expectativas entre criadores, propi- etarios, entrenadores y jinetes de caballos de carreras Cuarto de Milla, el Hipódromo de las Américas, de la Ciudad de México, se declara listo para iniciar la nueva temporada de carreras el 18 de enero de 2013, cuando se llevará a cabo el Clásico Inaugural.
Esta expectativa se basa en un programa de actividades ampliado, que pasa de 27 a 35 clásicos, a los cuales se agregan nueve carreras de premio especial, que constituyen la Primera Copa de Criadores Mexicanos Cuarto de Milla. En total, un calendario de 44 eventos, que aumenta las opciones de competencia, de trabajo y financieras para todos los involucrados en la industria, que se verá estimulada a mediano y largo plazo.
La decisión tiene el respaldo de la Asociación Mexicana de Criadores y Caballistas de Caballos Cuarto de Milla, A. C. (AMCCCCM), filial de la American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA).
Tanto los nuevos clásicos como los premios especi- ales están dedicados a honrar a destacados personajes de la hípica mexicana del Cuarto de Milla ligero.
Veamos las características de los clásicos de nueva creación.
Dos de ellos son para ejemplares dos añeros y uno para tres añeros, en distancias de 350 y 330 yardas. La cuota de nominación y participación es de 15 mil pesos (1,155 US). Los cinco restantes ofrecen opor- tunidades de competencia a ejemplares de tres, cuatro años y mayores, tanto nacionales como importados, mediante el pago de 25 mil pesos (1,923 US) de
MEXICO
The new racing season began January 18.

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SPEEDHORSE, February 8, 2013
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