Page 196 - Speedhorse December 2019

Grants Pass Downs Meet Ends
Grants Pass Downs concluded its first commer- cial meet on Nov. 4. 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. The 2020 meets will feature 35 rac- ing days, with the spring meet running from May 10 - June 8; a summer meet running from June 20 - July 12, and a fall meet from Sept. 20 - Nov. 9.
Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale Expands Schedule
The 2020 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale has expanded its schedule due to increased consignments. The sale will take place Jan. 16-18, 2020, and will start promptly at 10 a.m. each morning with the 2019 AQHA Racing Champion announcements on Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. after the pre-sale party, which begins at 5 pm.
LQHBA Fall Mixed Sale Results
The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Fall Mixed Sale was held Nov. 16 at the Equine Sales of Louisiana, LLC Sale Pavilion in Opelousas, Louisiana. Total receipts for the 107 head that sold were $460,100, down 20% from last year when 133 head sold for $492,100. However, the sale average price increased 16% from $3,700 in 2018 to $4,300 this year with a median increase of 10% to $3,200 from $2,900 in 2018. There was a 3-way tie for highest seller that included two yearlings and a broodmare. The sorrel yearling colt Custom Make, Hip # 89, was purchased for $16,000 by Benjamin Moya and was consigned by Robicheaux Ranch, Inc., Agent. Consigned by Damian Trahan, Agent for Dave Broussard, Hip #115 Jess Perry A Corona was purchased for $16,000 by Benito Garcia. The yearling filly is by Coronas Leaving You and out of Gone Celebrating. Also tied at $16,000 was Hip #125 Kite Runner. The broodmare was sold in foal to Jess Louisiana Blue and was purchased by Jerry Deville. The leading buyer was Luis Roberto Lozano with 10 purchases equaling $48,800; Robicheaux Ranch, Inc. was the leading consignor with nine head totaling $66,800; and Jess Louisiana Blue was the leading sale sire of yearlings with two head aver- aging $13,350 as well as the sales leading covering sire with two in-foal mares averaging $11,350.
Canterbury Park Requests 2020 Days
Officials at Canterbury Park requested approval for a 65-day race meet for the 2020 season, which anticipates purses to exceed $14 million. The proposed dates have the Minnesota track beginning May 15 and ending Sept. 12. “Pushing our meet back two weeks to coincide with the Preakness will allow our horse popula- tion, which winters in Arizona, Florida, Texas, and throughout the South, more time to get
race ready to race at Canterbury. This should result in better field size and better wagering opportunities for our guests,” said Vice President of Racing Operations Andrew Offerman. The requested season would begin 12 days later than the 2019 season, which ran 66 days.
Goodell To Lead ARCI Attorney’s Committee
The Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) announced on Nov.
14 that Rick Goodell has been selected to chair the organization’s Regulatory Attorney’s Committee. Goodell, who is a recipient of the ARCI Exemplary Service Award, brings more than two decades of experience to the position. A longtime prosecutor, Goodell is a recognized expert in prosecuting racing drug violations. In his current position as Associate Counsel for the New York Gaming Commission, he has been responsible for equine drug and other gaming adjudications, equine drug rules, providing legal advice, and daily horse racing legal issues for regulation of Standardbred and Thoroughbred racetracks, including oversight of rulings and investigations.
LONE STAR PARK MEET LEADERS
Lone Star Park concluded its 2019 meet on Nov. 9 and named their meet leaders. Jose Fabian Hernandez was the leading owner with four wins from 18 starts and earnings of $150,196; Josue Ponce was the leading trainer with 13 wins from 76 starts and earnings of $195,642; Francisco Calderon took the title of leading rider with 16 wins from 84 mounts; and Trump My Record was the leading horse of the meet with 3 wins from 4 starts and $467,651 banked.
New Lounge At Los Alamitos - Burgart’s
Los Alamitos revealed a new sports bar and wagering room called Burgart’s on Nov. 22. The 7,000 square foot area, named in honor of the track’s long-time announcer, features a 40-foot long granite top and mahogany bar with large
V that honors the Vessels family who first established the Orange County track. Burgart’s will offer a variety of food, a private patio deck by the finish line, as well as several TV’s, pool tables and a TouchTunes Jukebox. Burgart’s replaces the old Post & Paddock room between the grandstand and clubhouse buildings.
Trump Signs PACT Act
President Donald Trump on Nov. 25 signed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act into law. The PACT Act establishes the first federal anti-cruelty law
in American history, making animal cruelty
a felony. Many law enforcement agencies and animal groups endorse the PACT Act because of the well-documented connection between animal cruelty and violence against people. This bill provides for federal fines & imprison- ment of up to 7 years for a PACT conviction.
Triangle Horse Sale Moves to OKC
Triangle Horse Sales is relocating from the city of Shawnee to the State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, debuting as the host site with its Jan. 24-25 sale. According to owner Jim Ware, the move will provide customers more options in accommoda- tions & attractions, as well as up-to-date facilities. Triangle Horse Sales has been in existence for 40 years. The new location will allow for live cutting cattle and Triangle’s famous track cow, as well as pre-sale barrel and roping demonstrations.
192 SPEEDHORSE, December 2019
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