Page 14 - Speedhorse April 2021

TRACK CHATTER
THE MONTH IN REVIEW
by Jennifer K. Hancock
Jesus Ayala
JESUS RIOS AYALA LOOKS TO THE FUTURE
Jesus Rios Ayala, who has been the leading Quarter Horse rider at Los Alamitos each of the past four years, is hoping to return to rid- ing in time for the trials to the Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity on April 25. Rios Ayala has not ridden since injuring his right foot and knee when his mount became fractious in the starting gate before a trial to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on Nov. 22.
Rios Ayala required foot surgery and injured both the posterior cruciate ligament and ante- rior cruciate ligament of his right knee.
“I am hoping to be back for the Kindergarten trials,” he said. “It’ll depend on how I’m healing. I will be back soon.”
Rios Ayala won the 2020 Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Quarter Horse riding title after piloting 78 winners. He has also finished fourth or better nationally in Quarter Horse wins each of the past four years.
SAM HOUSTON MEET BEGINS APRIL 23
Sam Houston Race Park will kick off its 2021 Quarter Horse racing season on April 23, and the 23-day meet continues through June 12.
Purses are up significantly from 2019 as Sam Houston Race Park was unable to run their Quarter Horse meet last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The increases will be prominent from the claiming level through stakes races, with Texas-breds running for $3,000 more than open competition in maiden special weights.
Maiden special weights for Texas-breds will run for $27,000 compared to $9,000 in 2019; open-bred purses will be increased to $22,000. Allowance races will start at $24,000 compared to $10,000 in 2019. Texas-bred purses will be increased by $5,000 for all conditions.
Nineteen stakes will be contested, includ- ing the running of the $150,000-added Sam Houston Futurity-G2 on May 28. Past Sam Houston Futurity winners include All American winner Azoom, 2014 AQHA Champion 2-Year- Old Colt Kiss My Hocks, Especially Tres, Ivan James, This Is An Eagle and 2019 victor Trump My Record, who was honored as 2019 AQHA Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding.
Sam Houston Race Park will also pay tribute to late Texas horsemen John Buchanan and Jesse Yoakum with stakes named in their honor. Both trainers were prominent when Sam Houston Race Park opened in 1994 and for decades to follow. The $50,000 John Buchanan Memorial Stakes for 3-year-old fillies will be run May 28 and the $75,000 Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes is set for June 12.
Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing, reports that interest has been strong for the annual Quarter Horse racing season. “It was very disappointing that the 2020 Quarter Horse meet was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Hopf. “We are excited for this upcoming meet with the increase purse levels and improved stakes program, especially for the Texas breds.”
The first condition book is posted on Equibase.com. The racing office is under the direction of racing secretary James Leatherman. Visit www.shrp.com for more information.
INDIANA GRAND OFFERS MORE THAN $2 MILLION FOR 2021 STAKES.
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino will offer a record $2 million in stakes purses during the 120-day racing season, including two Regional Challenge races for the 2021 Bank of America Challenge Championships set for Oct. 23 at The Downs at Albuquerque.
“Being able to host two regional chal- lenge championships for the first time in the history of Indiana Grand is a big boost to our Quarter Horse racing program,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general man- ager of racing. “It’s a great way to lead into the Bank of America Challenge coming to Indiana Grand in 2022. We are very excited and proud to host this event and showcase some of the best Quarter Horses in the nation at our track.”
The 2021 Regional Challenge races, the John Deere Juvenile Challenge and the Q Racing Video Distaff Challenge Finals, are both set for Sept. 20. Trials will be part of the all-Quarter Horse racing day set for Sept. 4.
The 2021 Quarter Horse stakes sched- ule includes 21 stakes highlighted by the $150,000 Gordon Mobley Futurity and the $150,000 Miss Roxie Little Futurity.
“We have a full schedule of Quarter Horse stakes throughout the year,” added Chris Polzin, director of racing/racing secretary. “The first Quarter Horse stakes will be held during our first all-Quarter Horse Saturday on June 5. We are coming off a record year
in handle for Quarter Horse racing, and we hope to keep that momentum going in 2021.”
More information about the upcoming racing season is available at www.indianagrand.com.
AQHA REOPENS AMARILLO OFFICES FOR APPOINTMENTS.
The American Quarter Horse Association headquarters in Amarillo
will reopen for appointments on April 5, pending local, state and federal mandates. The AQHA Member Experience Team
will assist customers with AQHA business including, but not limited to registrations, transfers, memberships and reviewing the status of AQHA work. Customers must schedule an appointment with the AQHA Member Experience Team through AQHA’s website at aqha.com.
Got Good News to Share?
Do you have a positive story that you’d like to share? Send photos and news items to jennifer_k_hancock@hotmail.com.
12 SPEEDHORSE April 2021
Los Alamitos