Page 18 - Speedhorse June 2020

AQHA RACING UPDATE
“It is all about the horse. The animal God has blessed us with to breed, own, and race is still at the heart of what we do and who we are.”
RETURNING TO NORMALCY
A few months ago, I wrote about changing times. Wow! That proved to be an understatement. Who would have guessed that we would endure the things we have faced since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic? Most importantly, I hope that you have been well and have escaped any loss of loved ones as we face the presence of the virus.
AQHA headquarters remains closed, with most employees working remotely. However, thanks to the implementation of new technol- ogy in 2019, we are indeed able to get our work done and serve your needs. With fewer races running, the Racing Department is taking ad- vantage of the time to clean up some issues that went awry during the database transition last year. We are making progress! Additionally, in the coming days AQHA will define the ‘return to work’ strategy, which will happen in phases. However, Amarillo has had an uptick of positive cases, so we are being cautious in our approach.
Despite what is happening in the Texas panhandle, much of the nation is beginning to reopen. As I write this article, I have made plans to attend the races during Remington Park’s closing weekend – the first time I have seen a live race since that meet first opened in March. Not since my youth have I gone this long with- out attending the races. But, in focusing on the positive, I am very grateful for Q-Racing Video that enables me to watch both the live races and replays. If you are not already a subscriber, you should be. Go to our website at AQHA.com/ racing for details. This is a valuable tool to stay connected to the races.
During this time of limited racing, we took advantage of an opportunity to try something new: Facebook Live! To date, we have hosted two
hour-long events, visiting with legendary horse- men and taking questions from our audience. In the first, I engaged in conversation with Russell Harris, GR Carter and Ed Burgart. Two weeks later, I visited with Tami Purcell, Danny Cardoza and John Ward. Both were well received and en- joyed a reach of 15,000 and 10,000 people, re- spectively. More importantly, they were fun. We received a lot of questions from Q-Racing follow- ers, and it seemed like the hour passed in a blink of an eye. I enjoyed the opportunity to chat with longtime friends, and our racing fans got to hear stories of their legendary careers. Given the en- gagement, these have proven to be great exposure for Quarter Horse racing.
As we move forward through these unchartered times, let’s all make sure to focus on the positive. Given the circumstances, I am grateful that:
• Los Alamitos Race Course continued operations • Remington Park continued operations
• Ruidoso Downs opened as scheduled
• Retama Park will open
• Many other meets are announcing revised dates and redefining their racing opportu- nities.The handle generated on our sport
has reached record levels. Also, innovative opportunities to place wagers have been implemented at Ruidoso Downs by affording patrons a drive through wager opportunity.
• AQHA Racing Challenge Regional Stakes have had the opportunity to be hosted at new locations, and others are being rescheduled according to the revised dates of the hosting tracks. Please see the latest schedule in this magazine, or by visiting the Challenge section of AQHA.com/racing.
Regarding the AQHA Challenge Regional Stakes, we realize it is difficult to keep up with the changing schedules. But we are here to work with you however possible. Call the Racing Challenge Hotline at (877) 222-7223 (RACE) if you have any questions, need to move your nominated horse from one region to another because of a change in the schedule, or to allow us to help you nominate for a race. We want to help you.
Having put emphasis on the positive, I do want you to know that I understand the various concerns everyone has. No doubt there will be a “new normal” because of reduced race dates, lowered purses, diminished sponsorship, and lingering concern of exposure to the virus. I am certain the locations that are operating without spectators miss the fans, not just because of
the revenue they generate, but because the enthusiasm they reflect for our sport cannot
be replaced. Know that all key stakeholders are working to ensure these issues are short term. Just like the stock market, there is a reposition- ing going on, and it requires our patience while things normalize.
In the meantime, I beseech you: stay the course. Remember... it is all about the horse. The animal God has blessed us with to breed, own, and race is still at the heart of what we
do and who we are. Be reminded that we are fortunate to engage in a sport we love, even if the parameters are bit different right now. Let’s work together to keep our industry strong while we await the return to normal.
And that, my friends, is this article’s benedic- tion. Until we can see each other at the races, please stay well.
June 2020
by Janet VanBebber, AQHA Chief Racing Officer
“Until we can see each other at the races, please stay well.”
16 SPEEDHORSE June 2020