Page 170 - SpeedhorseMarch2021

NEWS BRIEFS
Hipodromo de las Americas Begins 2021 Live Meet
by Luis Prieto Zamudio, translation by Speedhorse
Aguerrido Mazamitla wins the first race of the 2021 season. © MAE
On February 21, the Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico City began its racing season without fans and following the health measures established by the authorities, due to the preva- lence of the pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
For this same reason, in the previous season there was an interruption from March 16 to October 1, that resumed from October 2 to December 18, with the races of the 19th and 20th still pending, due to the increased risk of contagion that led the authorities to re-establish the “red” health light until February 15, 2021. On this date the Head of Government of Mex- ico City authorized the return to the “orange” health light with caution, based on the reduc- tion in the number of hospitalizations from COVID -19.
Based on the above, the agreement authorized by the Hipodromo de las Americas to open the season was issued on February 19 while applying the established protocols to provide health security for the indispensable workers and staff .
On the first day, nine races were contested, six of them for Quarter Horses and three for Thoroughbreds. The first winner of the 2021 season was the gray colt Aguerrido Mazamitla (Mazamitla Glorys-Aguerrida A Vail, Aguerrido) in a 250 yard claiming race. He is owned by Cuadra La Grande and was ridden by Valentín Castro. He was bred by Jacinto Garduño and was saddled by trainer Rafael Rizo Ojeda.
The Quarter Horse stakes book consists
of 52 events. It opened on February 28, when the Inaugural Classic, Francisco Pasquel Clas- sic, Maiden Stakes, as well as the National Day of The Charro Championship were held. The season is planned to be completed on December 12 with the Champion of Champions Clas-
sic, the Youth Championship and the Mexican Breeders’ Futurity.
EN ESPANOL
El 21 de febrero, el Hipódromo de Las Américas en la Ciudad de México, inició su temporada de carreras sin asistencia de público y siguiendo las medidas sanitarias establecidas por las autoridades, debido a la prevalencia de la pandemia provocada por el coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
Por esta misma causa, en la temporada anterior hubo una interrupción del 16
de marzo al 1 de octubre, para reanudar del 2 de octubre al 18 de diciembre, que- dando pendientes las carreras del 19 y 20 de este mes, debido al incremento en el riesgo de contagios que llevó a las autori- dades a establecer nuevamente el semáforo sanitario “rojo” hasta el 15 de febrero, en que la Jefa de Gobierno de la Ciudad de México autorizó el retorno al “semáforo naranja sin bajar la guardia”, tomando como base la reducción
en el número de hospitalizaciones por COVID -19.
Con base en lo anterior, el 19 de fe- brero se emitió el acuerdo que autoriza al Hipódromo de Las Américas a la apertura de temporada, aplicando los
protocolos establecidos para brindar seguridad sanitaria a los trabajadores y al personal indispensable para el desarrollo de las carreras.
En la primera jornada, se jugaron nueve carreras, seis de ellas para caballos Cuarto de Milla y tres para caballos Thoroughbred. El primer ganador de
la temporada 2021 fue el potro tordillo Aguerrido Mazamitla (Mazamitla Glorys
– Aguerrida A Vail, por Aguerrido) en una reclamación a 250 yardas. Es propiedad
de Cuadra La Grande y su jinete Valentín Castro; es crianza de Jacinto Garduño
y fue ensillado por el entrenador Rafael Rizo Ojeda.
El libro de clásicos para caballos Cuarto de Milla consta de 52 eventos. Se abrirá el 28 de febrero, cuando se cor- rerán los clásicos Inaugural, Francisco Pasquel, Maiden Stakes, así como el Campeonato Nacional Día del Charro. Se planea concluirlo el 12 de diciembre con el Clásico Campeones, el Campeonato Juvenil y el Futurity Criadores Mexicanos.
New Mexico Horse Woman Nan Lane Passes Away
Nannette M. Lane passed away Feb. 1, 2021, at 71 years of age. Nan and her husband Terry own and operated TNL Farms in Bosque, NM. Nan was a longtime supporter and member of the New Mexico Horse Breeders Association, American Quarter Horse Association, and the Jockey Club. Nan is survived by her husband Terrence Lane, several children, grandchildren and great-grand children, as well as many close family friends.
Stuart Steele Passes Away
Longtime trainer Stuart L. Steele Sr. passed away on Oct. 23, 2020, at the age of 69 from compli- cations due to COVID-19. A resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Steele served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. Steele was the train- er of nearly $500,000 in money earners, including 31 winners. He was ranked in the top 100 trainers by wins in 2019. His top money earner was VF Red Surprise, winner of the Grade 1 Sooner State Stakes at Remington Park. Steele is survived by two sons, a daughter, several grandchildren, and many other family members and friends.
Bigtime Favorite Dies
Bigtime Favorite si 102 (Chicks Beduino-Ms Dashin Bigtime, First Down Dash) died the first week of March at 6666 Ranch in Texas. The 2002 stakes winning stallion earned $324,020 on the track, with 4 wins and 18 of 19 starts in stakes competition. In the stud barn, he sired the earners of over $7.2 million from 12 crops to race with 27 blacktype runners, including Champion JLS Mr Bigtime si 114 ($1,031,177). The stallion is also the sire of multiple top barrel performers. Bigtime Favorite, who was bred by F. Gonsalez and Felix Banuelos Jr., was the property of Burnett Ranches LLC, Bobby Cox and Bobby Mosley Jr.
168 SPEEDHORSE March 2021