Page 172 - May 2021

NEWS BRIEFS
Arapahoe Park To Race In August
The Colorado Racing Commission on April 13 approved 2021 race days for Arapahoe Park in Aurora, Colorado. The track, which typically runs from May to August, received dates after the state rescinded a delay in racing. Arapahoe’s 2021 live meet will begin Aug. 11 and run through Oct. 2.
Lucrative Wyoming Breeders’ Program
Revenue from Historic Horse Racing terminals is helping boost live horse racing and supple- ment incentives for horse breeders in Wyoming, as well as bringing a source of revenue to the state, municipalities and agricultural-based businesses and communities. Since 2013, over $12.5 million has been allocated to the Wyo- ming Breeders Awards Fund for eligible owners, breeders and stallion owners with registered Wyoming Bred horses, and over $2.7 million was distributed in 2020. The Wyoming Breed- ers Awards Fund has made the state one of the most lucrative state bred programs in the coun- try. The 2020 top award of $226,314 went to owner, breeder and stallion owner Mike Lipp; the top owner of the year Gerald Kaul earned $61,992; and the Wyoming Bred Stallion of
the Year Brindis Por Cayenne earned stallion owner Candice Carden $100,752. In all, over $6.7 million has been distributed to cities and counties; over $36 million has gone to local municipalities; $1.6 million want to the state of Wyoming; and $1.6 million to the Legislative Stabilization Reserve account. For 2021, Energy Downs in Gillette will race from May 22-June 27, Wyoming Downs in Evanston will race from June 12-Aug. 8, and Sweetwater Downs in Rock Springs will race from Aug. 14-Sept. 26.
Bobby Neuman New Prairie Meadows
Track Announcer
Prairie Meadows has hired veteran race caller Bobby Neuman as track announcer for their 2021 live horse racing season that began April 30 and runs through Sept. 25. For-
mer Prairie Meadows announcer Ken Miller handled race calling for the first two days
of the meet, as Neuman fulfilled his com- mitment to work the May 7 Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
for Horse Racing Radio Network. Neuman earned his Business Administration degree through the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program and has called races since the early 1990’s at tracks such as Los Alami- tos, Churchill Downs, Calder Race Course, Thistledown, and many other facilities.
Rob Tuel New Evangeline Downs Track Announcer
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel has hired Rob Tuel as track announcer to replace Mi- chael Chamberlain, who has held the position for six years. Tuel, who began calling races in 2004 at Eureka Downs in Kansas, will also handicap each race program and host the daily simulcast show.
Across The Board Purse Increases at Fair Meadows
Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Oklahoma, announced proposed purses will return to their 2019 level after a decrease in 2020 due to COVID-19. Open allowance races will return to $14,500 compared to $8,700 last year, and trials will run for $5,000 rather than $3,500 in 2020. Stall ap- plication deadline is May 3. Fair Meadows will run from June 4-July 25.
Alamitos for over 40 years, was part owner of multiple Champion sire Chicks Beduino. He also campaigned stakes winner Speedys Chick, Elite Chick, and many other top runners.
Barrel Racer Colten Farley Passes Away
Colten Farley, 23, died March 25 in Birming- ham, Alabama. Farley is described as a popular barrel racer, trainer, breeder, Quarter Horse and Appaloosa enthusiast and ambassador. A Colten Farley Memorial Silent Auction was established to help the family with medical and funeral ex- penses, and contributions are being accepted at gofundme.com under Colten’s Medical Expenses.
Hugh Tucker Passes Away
Former trainer Hugh Tucker, 82, passed away on April 12 at his home in Texas. Tucker trained show, performance and cutting horses, as well as Quarter Horse runners on the track. Among his top runners were multiple stakes winners including Lil Bit Shin- ey, the winner of the 1986 Rainbow Futurity-G1 and 1987 Kansas Derby-G1 and second in the All American Futurity-G1. Tucker was the Texas State High School Tennis Champion, and after retiring from the horse industry was a tennis pro for the City of Boerne. He is survived by three children, seven grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and many other family members and friends.
Joe Muniz
Passes Away
Joe Muniz, 94, passed away April 22 due to heart failure, according to his son-in-law John Bobenrieth. A self-taught busi- nessman, Muniz became one of the most respected pipeline contrac- tors in Southern
California. He found a love of Quarter Horses in the 1970’s and they continued to be a part of his life. Muniz, who campaigned horses at Los
World Champion Streakin Sin Tacha Dies
2002 Co-World Champion, Champion Aged Horse, Champion Aged Gelding Streakin Sin Tacha, 23, was euthanized due to old age on April 1. The 1998 bay gelding was bred by L.R. Hayes and Steve VanBebber and owned and trained by Janet VanBebber. Streakin Sin Tacha (Streakin La Jolla-Sin Tacha TB, Slew’s Royalty) won 16 of 27 starts and earned $692,842 winning such races
as the AQHA Challenge Championship-G1, Championship at Sunland Park-G1, Texas Classic Derby-G1, Sam Houston Derby-G2, Sam Hous- ton Classic-G2, TQHA Sires’ Cup Stakes, and LQHBA Colts & Geldings Juvenile where he set a New Track Record. He earned his AQHA Su- perior Race Horse and Supreme Race Horse titles and was ranked as a leader by wins and/or earn- ings in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Streakin Sin Tacha, who shared his World Champion title with Who- sleavingwho, was buried at his longtime home, at James Ranch in Wayne, Oklahoma.
170 SPEEDHORSE May 2021