Page 231 - April2022

Inaugural Claimers Series At Lone Star Park
Lone Star Park has announced the inaugural running of the 2022 StallioneSearch.com Claimers Cup, sponsored by StallioneSearch. com in partnership with Lone Star Park.
The new race series will be contested on
Dec. 17, closing day of Lone Star Park’s Fall Meeting of Champions. The Claimers Cup is
a stakes event that consists of three races for Quarter Horses, Paints & Appaloosa’s that
have competed in a claiming race in 2022 at any recognized racetrack in the United States. Each Claimers Cup race will have a set of
trials that are scheduled for Nov. 18, with an entry deadline of Nov. 4. This gives qualifiers
a 4-week period between trials and finals. The 12 fastest qualifiers will contest the finals of each race. “These races are geared towards providing a chance for the “blue-collar horse” of our industry, the claimer, a chance to compete against horses at their performance level for far more money than most horses at the claiming level would have competed before in their career,” said Greg Thompson of StallioneSearch.
Sun Downs Cancels Season For Third Year
According to an article by Jeff Morrow published on the Tri-City Herald website, Sun Downs is cancelling horse racing for the third consecutive year. Although the Kennewick Washington track was given clearance to race in 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the track
as the state used the fairgrounds parking lot
to distribute vaccinations. According to Nancy Sorick, president of the Tri-City Horse Racing Association (TCHRA), the state of Washington canceled liability insurance for all small tracks in the state. “We weren’t able to get liability insurance in time,” she said. Benton County has agreed
to a new three-year contract for the TCHRA to run horse racing in 2022-2024. “We’ll be up and running next February through June.”
Additional Protocols at Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos on March 24 made immediate policy changes following recent equine fatalities. The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) announced that the track will consult with a racing surface expert regarding the condition of the track. The track will also work with veterinary officials at the University of California-Davis regarding back injuries. The CHRB stated that eliminating the breaking bar and some toe grabs on hind shoes may reduce leg injuries.
Trainer Suspensions For Positive Zilpaterol Tests
Suspensions loom for trainers Lanny Don Keith, Manuel H. Macias, Manuel Pizana, and Rosendo Valdez Jr. for several positive Zilpaterol tests in January and February at Louisiana Downs, with track stewards ruling that the trainers had multiple Zilpaterol overages. The
trainers declined their right to split sample testing and a stewards’ hearing, and the cases have been referred to the next Louisiana State Racing Commission meeting scheduled for April 26. Several weeks after the above rulings, trainer Kenneth “Trey” Ellis also picked up four Zilpaterol positives at the track in February. Ellis also waived his right to a split-sample and steward hearing. He has been suspended him through March of 2024.
Racing Executive Joe Morris Named Jockey and Jeans Ambassador
Jockeys and Jeans named Caesars Entertainment Inc. Senior Vice President of Racing Joe Morris an official Jockeys and Jeans Ambassador. His role will be to advocate for wounded jockeys’ financial support, to help in jockey recovery, and to make known the inherit dangers of racing. Morris joins the Executive Director
of the Indiana Horsemen’s Protective and Benevolent Association and Jockeys and Jeans 2021 Man of the Year Brian Elmore, and Hall of Fame Jockeys Ron Turcotte, Laffit Pincay Jr., Chris McCarron, Jorge Velasquez, Mike Smith and Javier Castellano as a Jockeys and Jeans ambassador. “It’s hard putting into context what this level of participation means to horse racing’s fallen heroes,” said Jockeys and Jeans President Barry Pearl. Morris was instrumental in Caesars Entertainment becoming the named sponsor of the Jockeys and Jeans Fundraiser last summer
at Monmouth Park, and they will be the named sponsor for this summer at Churchill Downs. “At Caesars, we believe everyone in our industry should be active in financially assisting our fallen riders and we’re honored to take a leadership role with Jockeys and Jeans to support the PDJF and our disabled riders,” said Morris. Jockeys and Jeans is a volunteer group dedicated to raising funds for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). Founded in 2014, Jockeys and Jeans has raised over $2 million
for the charity which is currently helping 60 jockeys, of which around 40 are paraplegic or quadriplegics and whom are provided a stipend of $1,000 a month from the PDJF.
Nora Keehn Passes Away
Arizona horsewoman Nora Keehn passed away on Dec. 12 at the age of 96. Nora was raised in Scarsdale, New York, and her fascination with horses began as a toddler when her father took her on a Christmas sleigh ride. While attending the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, she met Rukin Jelks, who was looking for a girl who could work as an “all around hand” on his stud farm which eventually became Rillito Race Track. Paving the way, Nora and Betty Bowdle became the first and second licensed female jockeys in the United States. Nora was gifted a colt named Sahuaro, by Piggin String, and met
jockey J.D. Walker around the same time. They married, and she trained Sahuaro, and J.D. rode him to multiple stakes wins. Although their marriage was short lived, they had a daughter Gregg who followed in her mother’s footsteps. Together they bred, foaled, raised, trained, and showed several Champion homebreds. Nora was inducted into the Arizona Quarter Racing Association Hall of Fame in 2002.
Track To Tack Incentive
Track To Tack is a non-profit incentive
program that gives horses off the race track
the opportunity to increase their value in the performance horse industry. To be eligible, the horse must have had one official start on the racetrack. Quarter Horses, Appaloosas, Paints and Thoroughbreds are all eligible to participate. The first exclusive barrel race will be held in 2023,
but side pots are available in the meantime. $25 entry fee with 80% pay back. The other $5 goes to the non-profit fund for future plans. For more information visit Track To Tack’s Facebook. Upcoming Events:
April 9
• Barrel Bash in Guthrie, OK
April 9-10
• Toofpik Barrel Series Finals in Albion, NE April 11
• BCRA Jackpot in Pocatello, ID
April 14
• Spur L Productions – Big Spring Barrel Race in Big Spring, TX
April 16
• Racing Rebels Pro. $6,000+ Added in Shawnee, OK
• Barrel Bash in Fort Smith, AR
• AgriBest Feed $1,000 added Jackpot in Broken Bow, NE
April 18
• BCRA Jackpot in Pocatello, ID
April 25
• BCRA Jackpot in Pocatello, ID
May 1
• Local Barrel Races Association in Sapulpa, OK May 15
• Enlow Productions Summer Kick-Off in Kiefer, OK
May 21-22
• 5th Annual Sandhills Showdown in Broken Bow, NE
• Spur L Productions – Big Spring Barrel Race in Big Spring, TX
May 22
• Local Barrel Races Association in Nowata, OK May 28
• Barrel Bash in Carthage, MO
June 3-5
• Lucky Lotto Events in Marshall, TX
June 12
• KS01 Points Race 7 in Lawrence, KS
• Local Barrel Races Association in Beggs, OK
NEWS BRIEFS
SPEEDHORSE April 2022 229