Page 109 - March_2023

Rillito Park’s 80th anniversary draws large crowds.
World Champion Quarter Horse Speed Trials. But Rillito Park is where Quarter Horse racing was shaped. It was the first track to institute the photo finish and the straightaway chute system that is still in use in modern racing today.
Jelks and Haskell became two of the founding fathers of Quarter Horse racing and Rillito Park became the center of racing in the western United States. Jelks sold his farm in 1953, but Rillito Park continued to innovate, grow, and persevere despite struggles. The site became a National Historic Landmark in 1988.
Rillito Park general manager Mike Weiss, who hails from Florida, previously served
as General Manager of Beulah Race Track from 1996-2010. He was a Board member
of Equibase and the Thoroughbred Racing Association. He was appointed as a Career Coordinator and Counselor at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, and in 2006 they awarded him the John Goodman Alumni Award for his contribution to the racing industry. When Weiss first became the general manager at Rillito Park, there were
no students working at the track from the University of Arizona RTIP program, but he quickly changed that and said he will hire any student who wants to work.
“I do this for the students and the atmosphere,” Weiss said.
“The students from the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program help in so many ways. They are paid jobs. They work with the vets, at the starting gate, and in many other areas at the track, including journalism students
helping with social media. We have one freshman who wants to call races, so I have him call one race every day. They also work with the Equine Wellness Program, which focuses on safety.
“I attended a
StrideSafe symposium
and convinced them
come to Rillito Park,”
he continued. “We have students working with StrideSafe, and they are very excited to be a part of this program.
“Rillito Park is where you
will see the big crowds,” Weiss continued. “We have live entertainment every race day and you will see a thousand people dancing between the races. They really enjoy the track. We have
a great racing surface, the purses are up this year, and we are seeing horses from across the country come here to race.”
Rillito Park is a triumph of the horse industry in Arizona, with
80 years of tradition, innovation, resilience, and progress, and the track has many more good years of racing ahead .
Rillito Park was home to many top Quarter Horse runners, including
SPEEDHORSE March 2023 107
Wilcox Precision Race Camera, Inc
© Mike Weiss
1943 & 1945 Champion Stallion Piggin String TB, sire of 3-time Champion Rukin String
3-time World Champion Shue Fly, pictured in 1945
1946 & 1951 Champion Stallion Hard Twist