Page 12 - May 2022

TRACK CHATTER
THE MONTH IN REVIEW
by Jennifer K. Hancock
BART LANG JOINS SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK
Sam Houston Race Park kicked off the 2022 Quarter Horse racing season April 22. The 25-day meet continues through June 18.
Bart Lang joined Sam Houston Rance Park as the director of racing and will oversee the racing operations for the Houston track as well as Retama Park in Selma, Texas, and Zia Park in Hobbs, New Mexico. Each of the three racetracks are owned by Penn National Gaming. Inc.
Born in Timonium, Maryland, Lang’s first job was working for Bonita Farm, grooming,
hot walking and learning the essentials of horse care and training from the highly respected Boniface family. He had tenures in the racing offices of Oaklawn Park, Arlington Park and Hawthorne early in his career prior to becoming the first racing secretary at Lone Star Park. He was on board in the Fall of 1996 throughout
the completion of the Grand Prairie, Texas, racetrack’s inaugural season in 1997. Lang directed all racing operations at Lone Star Park for both the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred meets through May 2020. Most recently, he has served as the stakes coordinator at Oaklawn Park.
Lang, 53, will be based at Sam Houston Race Park beginning May 16. “I’m excited about joining the team,” he said. “I have over 20 years in the Texas racing industry and know these horsemen and -women very well. My tenure at Oaklawn Park has been very rewarding, and it has been a pleasure working with many of the most prominent connections in the country.”
He will succeed James C. Leatherman, who has accepted a position as a Texas state steward.
Having a racing director to oversee each of the three Penn Gaming tracks has been a goal
for the organization, and Dwight Berube, Sam Houston Race Park’s manager, looks forward to Lang joining the company.
“Bart is a respected racing director with a solid history in Texas racing,” said Berube. “He will also play a key role in attracting top connections to our 2023 Houston Racing Festival.”
RUIDOSO FIRE UPDATE
In mid-April, Ruidoso Downs Race Track & Casino closed briefly in response to the fast-moving McBride Wildfire. Once out of danger, the track was able to quickly reopen simulcasting, the restaurant and casino
and continue preparations for the 2022
race meet, which are in the final stages for the start of the 2022 meet on May 27. The track also rolled out the welcome mat for emergency personnel.
The US Forestry Department along with Fire Emergency Response will be based out of the racetrack for the next few weeks to provide relief to firefighters who have been working tirelessly to extinguish the forest fires. Ruidoso Downs is allowing its parking lot to be used as a staging area.
Ruidoso Downs Race Track & Casino will also support recovery efforts through
a t-shirt sale. The track announced plans
to create and sell a #RUIDOSOSTRONG t-shirt. On Facebook, the track announced, “We are happy to take this project on in support of our community and in return will be giving 100% OF THE PROFITS to the Lincoln County Shelter Fund!”
Visit the www.raceruidoso.com/ for more details and links to the track’s social media pages for ordering details and other merchandise options.
INDIANAPOLIS BEGINS 20TH SEASON
Horseshoe Indianapolis welcomed the 20th season of live racing April 19 and plans its biggest season of Quarter Horse racing in the history of the track. A total of 29 stakes races featuring purses totaling more than
$1.9 million will be offered, highlighted
by the AQHA Bank of America Challenge Championships headed to Indiana on Oct. 22 for the first time in the history of the series.
In addition to the Challenge Championships, Horseshoe Indianapolis will offer six undercard stakes, including the $100,000 Sterlie Bertram Memorial. Numerous activities are planned for the event to complement the richest day of Quarter Horse racing in Indiana history with more than $975,000 in purses slated for the program.
Plans for the Challenge Championships night have been in the works since last year at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The track announced last fall that any yearling purchased from
the prestigious Heritage Place Sales in either September or November, will be eligible for a bonus in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge. The highest placing finisher from the sales will receive a $15,000 bonus.
“We wanted to do something that would show how invested we are in making the 2022 Challenge Championships one of
the highlights of the season,” said Vice President and General Manager of Racing Eric Halstrom. “Our program has been growing annually, and we have some very nice Quarter Horses emerging in our state. To be able to bring this series to Indiana and add a little incentive, it will boost our local program and give our horsemen a chance to step onto the national stage.”
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.
10 SPEEDHORSE May 2022