Page 13 - August 2019

Wade Wood, Blane Wood, Chip Wooley, Lola Allen, Mark Allen, Dr. Leonard Blach, ‘Little’ Harriett Peckham & Johnny Cox
Frank Brothers and C.W. Walker; contributor Edward J. DeBartolo Sr.; jockeys Ronald Ardoin and Larry Snyder; and horses Sunday Silence and Free Spirits Joy.
“The history of Harrah’s Louisiana Downs is truly remarkable,” said Eric Halstrom, the vice president of operations. “We wanted to honor the many exceptional racing Champions and people who have contributed both to the history of our racetrack and made an impact on the national racing industry.”
ARIZONA REVIVAL
Arizona horsemen received good news when a new investor stepped into to continue racing at Arizona Downs after an unexpected three- week break. Live racing retuned July 20 and is expected to continue through Sept. 1.
According to a social media post by Loretta Brasher of the Arizona Quarter Horse Racing Association, the purses for the remainder of the meet will be reduced to $50,000 a day from the original $70,000 mark.
The track’s condition book is listed on equi- base.com. Quarter Horse purses were reduced by $1,500 for the lowest-level races, and allowance race purses decreased $750 to $1,000. Stakes races that remained on the books were to con- tinue at the same purses, and none of the added money for the futurity and derbies was planned to be reduced. An estimated 500 horses remained on the grounds during the brief stop in racing. Horses will be able to stable and train at the track until Turf Paradise opens on Sept. 14.
Arizona Downs posted on the track’s website that the owners secured an investor who provided additional financing to the Prescott Valley racetrack.
“The investment group loves horse racing and understands how important a year-round circuit is for the industry,” said Arizona Downs Owner and Partner Tom Auther. “They will be incredible business partners.”
The new financing enables Arizona Downs
to fund purses distributed to horsemen for the remainder of the 2019 summer meet and frees up capital to expand its Off-Track Betting (OTB) network to fund purses for the 2020 summer racing season. Arizona Downs’ owners are proac- tively seeking new restaurants and bars to add to their OTB system, which currently consists of six partners located in metro Phoenix, Flagstaff, Lake Havasu and Pinetop-Lakeside.
Since its Memorial Day weekend grand opening, Arizona Downs has attracted more than 12,500 fans to its weekend live racing events, including many first-time race fans.
“We’re thankful to have a new investor who shares our confidence about the potential of year-round horse racing,” said Auther. “We’re al- ready having conversations with several potential OTB partners.”
second in the Preakness Stakes and third in the Belmont Stakes. The earner of $2.2-million is retired in Roswell.
Breeder/owner Harriett Peckham was a force in Quarter Horse racing. She built Buena Suerte Ranch in Roswell, where leading sires Go Man Go and Easy Jet stood. Peckham was known for her broodmare band and her com- mitment to mare care. Her numerous impor- tant mares included Champion Go Together, World Champion Goetta and All American Futurity winner Decketta.
Trainer Leo Wood conditioned All Ameri- can Futurity winner Pie In The Sky, Rainbow Futurity winner Mighty Deck Three, and Rainbow Futurity winner Flying Rockette at Ruidoso Downs. Wood is the father of 2018 Champion trainer Blane Wood and grand- father of leading trainer Trey Wood, who conditions the current #1 ranked older Quarter Horse – Apocalyptical Jess.
Jockey Johnny Cox won the Rainbow Futu- rity and the All American Futurity aboard Mr Kid Charge and rode Rainbow Futurity winner Talent Bar. He won 27 futurities and 34 derbies during his 23-year riding career.
The 2020 class of the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame will be announced later this year. The Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame is located on the second floor at Ruidoso Downs and admission is free.
LOUISIANA STUDENTS REWARDED WITH SCHOLARSHIPS
On July 6 at Delta Downs, the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association awarded two $1,000 scholarships to further the educa- tion of Louisiana students. The final night of the 2019 Quarter Horse racing season also featured stakes with purses totaling more than $1 million.
The scholarship drawings were included in a special evening saluting accredited Louisiana-bred racehorses. The scholarship drawing was open to Louisiana High School graduates and Louisiana High School students graduating in 2019 plan- ning to attend a higher education institution.
While the primary goal of the LQHBA is
to promote breeding and racing in the state, the association remains dedicated to furthering higher education for Louisiana youth. The scholarship program was the vision of the late Jim Mitchell and Leverne Perry and is supported strongly by the LQHBA and its board members. Since its incep- tion in 2001, the LQHBA scholarship program has earmarked almost $600,000 for Louisiana students to attend institutions of higher education.
Pairing the LQHBA Scholarship drawings at Louisiana’s major Quarter Horse racing events continues to be a success for the organization.
“Our association will continue to offer scholar- ship drawings at each of the Louisiana racetracks,” said Bruce Salard, LQHBA executive director. “We want to support students statewide who wish to further their education at the university level.”
PELICAN STATE NEWS
Racing fans will have the opportunity to sup- port Chaplain Jimmy Sistrunk and all he does to help backstretch workers at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs - Bossier City through the Super Derby
40 Charity Golf Tournament. The charity event will take place at Northwood Hills Golf Course
on Aug. 29. For more information on how to play golf and support Sistrunk and the Winner’s Circle Church, contact Jennifer Sokol at (318) 741-2512.
On July 13, Harrah’s Louisiana Downs inducted its first class to the Racing Hall of Fame, which is designed to honor those who have made a lasting impact in the history of the Bossier City-area racetrack. The first inductees include racehorse owner John Franks; trainers
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TRACK CHATTER