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Principal Chief Richard Sneed of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians speaks during a ground-breaking ceremony previously held for the nation’s newest Quarter Horse racetrack and gaming facility, Sandy’s Racing/Gaming near Ashland, Ky. Revolutionary Racing Kentucky and the EBCI have joined together in a financial partnership to bring the $55 million project into fruition.
“We are also excited about our trainers’ incentive program for the meet. It is unprecedented in the industry, and trainers are the unsung heroes in the business.” – Chairman Larry Lucas
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later this year, with Sandy Ridge slated to open for the 2024 or 2025 racing season.
The Sandy Ridge at Red Mile race meet will offer more than $1 million in purses over six consecutive days of AQHA-sanctioned live racing with average daily purses of $200,000. All owners who start a horse at Sandy Ridge at Red Mile are guaranteed a minimum of $500 per start, trainers a minimum of $200 per start, plus a $100 jockey mount fee per trip for those finishing out of the money.
Additionally, the Sandy Ridge at Red Mile meet is offering $50,000 in trainer incentives to reward the top winning conditioners over the six days of competition. The trainer with the most wins will receive $15,000, with $10,000 going to the trainer with the second-most wins, and
$5,000 to the third-leading trainer. The bonus will also reward the trainer with the most starts at the meet with $10,000, with $6,000 to be awarded to the trainer with the second-highest number of starts, and $4,000 to the trainer that starts the third-highest amount of starts.
“We are thrilled about running at The Red Mile in the interim,” Lucas said. “Interest from horsemen has been strong. We have spent over $500,000 in sand for the track from the same suppliers as Keeneland and Lane’s End Farm. Our safety record at Colonial Downs was second to none, and safety is a huge issue for us.
“We are also excited about our trainers’ incentive program for the meet,” Lucas added. “It is unprecedented in the industry, and trainers are the unsung heroes in the business.”
The six-day stand will include the Cherokee Overnight Stakes at 220 yards
for 3 year olds and up on the first night of racing and the BOCO Overnight Stakes at 300 yards for 3 year olds and up on the last night, each carry a purse of $45,000-added. Horsemen interested in competing at the inaugural meet have until March 25 (for the April 1 card) through March 30 (April 6 program) to enter horses.
Quarter Horse racing has roots in Kentucky with a history dating back to the earliest days of Daniel Boone’s “Kentucky Territory.” There were two racetracks with Quarter Horse racing in the state in 1988, but it has been absent from the state’s landscape since 2010 (at Red Mile).