Page 14 - Speedhorse June 2019

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by Jennifer K. Hancock
CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCHES EMPIRE OF HOPE
In May, Caesars Entertainment Corporation announced the launch of Empire of Hope, a new program designed to help raise awareness and fund- ing for the care of horses after their racing careers are over. Developed with support from accredited racehorse aftercare programs, Empire of Hope will directly assist efforts to relocate, rehabilitate and repurpose retired racehorses.
“Empire of Hope is a direct reflection of the appreciation and pride we have for the horses that participate in Caesars’ racing program,” said Rick Moore, vice president and general manager of racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. “Our equine athletes are the stars of our sport, and we want to ensure that when they retire, they are placed in productive and loving environments to live out a long and healthy life.”
Horses that compete at Caesars’ racing
properties range in age from 2 through 14; they re- tire on their 15th birthday. It is estimated that more than 15,000 horses annually are placed in
existing aftercare programs after their racing careers are complete. Funding to relocate, rehabilitate and repurpose these equine athletes can cost several thou- sand dollars per horse. Through Empire of Hope, Caesars will provide funding
and support to accredited non-profit racehorse after- care organizations.
Empire of Hope will be launched at four of Caesars’ racing properties: Harrah’s Louisiana
Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana; Indiana Grand
in Shelbyville, Indiana; Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson, Indiana; and Harrah’s Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. With a goal to raise $30,000, Empire of Hope activities will range from food and drink specials to entertainment and promotional activities. Each property has designed numerous ways to accept donations and raise funds during the weekend of July 20-21, 2019.
ANDRADE WINS FIRST STAKES
Oscar Andrade Jr. piloted the first stakes winner in his young riding career when he guided Howard Nichols’ La Rusa to a surprising win at 23-1 odds in the $50,000 Grade 3 Miss Princess Handicap at Los Alamitos on Mother’s Day.
Trained by Jose Flores, La Rusa broke nicely from the outside post 10 and took command shortly after on the way to a hard-fought head victory over mul- tiple stakes winner Strawfinders Jessee. The victory was La Rusa’s fourth in 22 career starts and her first
Oscar Andrade Jr. guided Howard Nichols’ La Rusa to win the $50,000 Grade 3 Miss Princess Handicap
in stakes competition. The 4-year-old filly covered the distance in :17.676 while earning $27,500 for the win.
“She’s had some bad luck,” Nichols said. “She’s gotten run over a few times. She didn’t want to break. We were about to give up so we decided
to start training her a little different and give her another chance. She drew the outside and she came through for us. Maybe she still got some run in her for the rest of the year.”
Andrade Jr., who is only 17-years-old, gave his mother, trainer Elena Andrade, the best Mother’s Day present she could dream of with his first ever Quarter Horse stakes victory.
“I’m grateful that the owner gave me this op- portunity,” Andrade Jr. said. “I’ve been riding this filly for her last outs. We had a little bit of trouble. We finally got it together and won a stakes. My mother said it was the best Mother’s Day present ever. I think the owners have given me chances with amazing horses. They’ve pretty much taught me. Instead of having me make errors, they’ve given me good horses to learn on, and I’ve been correcting my mistakes from there.”
ALBUQUERQUE DOWNS RELEASES 2019 STAKES SCHEDULE
Albuquerque Downs has released its track-record 34-race, $3.647-million stakes schedule for its 2019 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet, which opens June 28.
Of The Downs’ 34 stakes races, 18 will be for Quarter Horses and 16 for Thoroughbreds. The track’s Quarter Horse stakes will be worth a track- record estimated $2.482 million, enhanced primar- ily by the American Quarter Horse Association
THE MONTH IN REVIEW
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SPEEDHORS, June 2019
Jennifer K. Hancock
TRACK CHATTER