Page 69 - January 2021

Justine Klaiber became the first female to win a million- dollar race at Los Alamitos in the Golden State Million F.-G1
NOVEMBER
NOVEMBER 1
Justine Klaiber became the first woman to win
a million-dollar race at Los Alamitos when she scored a neck victory in the $1,070,550 Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity aboard Apollitical Gold. Bred and owned by Grant R. Cox Revocable Trust, the 2018 sorrel gelding was sent off at 23-1 odds for trainer Eddie D. Willis. Apollitical Gold previously finished third in the All American Futurity-G1.
DECEMBER
DECEMBER
The Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA) White Horse Award recognizes courage and outstanding achievements throughout the horse racing industry. The winner of the 2020 RTCA White Horse Award is Victoria Don Dorrian, who saved a horse that got loose at Prairie Meadows Racetrack on Sept. 28, 2019. Dorrian was attempting to capture the horse when he escaped the track area and ended up on the interstate, running toward oncoming traffic. Dorrian followed, caught up to the horse, jumped over the median, and captured the escapee, showing poise and dedication in a dangerous situation. The Iowa HBPA nominated her for the award.
DECEMBER 2
The New Mexico Horsemen’s Association filed suit against the New Mexico Horse Racing Commission, seeking over $8.4 million it alleges was improperly collected from state horsemen dating back to 2004, including money to pay jockey liability insurance. The suit claims the NMRC improperly ordered horsemen to divert a portion of their money to racetracks for jockey liability insurance and to pay
a gate or starter’s fee every time a horse races. It also seeks an order for the Commission to “cease and desist from ever directing monies be spent by the New Mexico Horsemen’s Association that by the state’s statue are designated for certain purposes.”
DECEMBER 10
The Arizona Racing Commission met with representatives from Arizona Downs, Turf Paradise and Monarch Content Management regarding the state’s simulcasting contracts, with no resolution. The Commission, however, pledged to continue to work to resolve the impasse that surrounds a 2019 Arizona law requiring simulcast providers that send their races into the state to offer the products uniformly to all tracks and associated OTB’s. In January, the Arizona Department of Gaming said that since Monarch failed to comply, all signals
to the state must be turned off. Monarch filed a lawsuit claiming the law was unconstitutional since it pre-empted the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978, the federal law that covers simulcasting.
DECEMBER 12
The Haras Olimpo Racetrack in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Boliva, opened for Quarter Horse racing with its own Champion of Champions event. Although the races are not AQHA approved, the association is working with South American affiliates to further Quarter Horse racing in the region. The track was built by German Eduardo Vieira Morales from Haras Olimpo with assistance from other leading horsemen.
DECEMBER 21
Powerful Favorite (Favorite Cartel- Remember Me Rose, Corona Cartel) earned the AQHA Supreme Race Horse title.
The 2016 sorrel gelding became the 44th horse to meet the criteria, which he did
after going wire-to-wire in the Go Man
Go Handicap-G1 on Aug. 30 for owner Rosenthal Ranch LLC and breeders James Markum and Steve Burns. Powerful Favorite, who is out of an AQHA Dam of Distinction, has won 12 races with earnings of $890,222. His previous open Grade 1 victory can in the 2019 Los Alamitos Winter Derby.
DECEMBER 21
Danjer (FDD Dynasty-Shez Jess Toxic, Take Off Jess) earned the AQHA Supreme Race Horse title. The 2016 brown gelding became the 45th horse to meet the qualifications when he scored in the Bank of America Challenge Championship-G1 on Oct. 24. Danjer is bred and trained by
Dean R. Frey, who co-owns the gelding with Downtime Enterprises LLC and Billy G. Smith. Danjer previously won the Grade 1 Downs at Albuquerque Championship Handicap and has 10 victories and $852,772 in earnings.
DECEMBER 22
Los Alamitos Race Course owner Dr. Ed
Allred donated $18,560 to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Anaheim-Cypress. The amount represents the earnings pledged by Allred
from his horse Chocolatito in the Champion
of Champions.
DECEMBER 27
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which puts anti-doping/medication control and safety programs under one independent non-governmental Authority, was part of the $2.3 trillion bipartisan government funding bill for coronavirus relief that President Trump signed.
DECEMBER
Champion jockey G.R. Carter Jr. has become
an ambassador for Jockeys and Jeans, an all- volunteer group founded in 2014 that raises money for permanently disabled former jockeys through stallion season sales and a yearly fundraiser. Jockeys and Jeans has raised over $1.5 million to date, with all funds going directly to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Carter will help bring Jockeys and Jeans to the Quarter Horse racing world. G.R. Carter Jr., who retired with over $75 million in mount earnings, was the winner of the 2013 Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award presented by Speedhorse in conjunction with the Jockeys’ Guild.
Happy
NEW YEAR! from YOUR friends at
SPEEDHORSE
SPEEDHORSE January 2021 67