Page 197 - May 2022

NEWS BRIEFS
Sunland Honors Horseman With Award
Sunland Park ended their 2022 meet on April 3 with a special tribute to the recipients of the Bob Haynsworth Sportsmanship Award. This year’s award was presented to horsemen at the track recognized for excelling in racing, for their years of commitment, and for tutoring young people to keep racing alive in New Mexico. The award winners are Robert Cappellucci, Jimmy Collier, Gary Cross, Fred Danley, Cliff Lambert, Gerald Marr and Paul Smith.
Los Al Track Photographer Scott Martinez Retires Longtime
Los Alamitos Race Course photographer Scott Martinez retired from
racing at the conclusion of the April 3 card. Martinez had been the photographer at the California track going back to 1987. Scott took over when his father, Milt Martinez, retired after having been the track photographer since 1970. “Through my time (at the racetrack) I’ve been part of the evolution of photography from film and chemical printing to digital and computer editing,” Scott said. “I’ve enjoyed capturing images of many legendary Quarter Horses thundering across the finish line. My greatest satisfaction comes from capturing the expressions of joy in people’s faces as they gather in the win circle after a derby or futurity.”
Sanchez Arrested/Suspended For Horse Abuse
According to the Paulick Report, multiple Graded stakes winning trainer Rodolfo Sanchez has been arrested in Texas and faces felony
animal abuse charges from two videos posted
on Facebook capturing an incident apparently showing Sanchez repeatedly whipping a downed horse tied to a tree with a short tie. The Texas Racing Commission on April 9 issued a summary suspension. Sanchez, the trainer of over $4.8 million, has made just one start in 2022 as he just finished a 60-day suspension for a testosterone overage at Delta Downs, which ended April 2. The horse was seized by county officials, who are caring for him at a county barn.
Ruidoso Downs Summer Music Series
Along with many new and traditional festivals and activities planned at Ruidoso Downs every weekend of the summer racing season, a 4-week concert series will be held Saturdays in July at the track in New Mexico. The shows, which will be held in the new Santa Fe Furniture Events Center (located just outside Billy The Kid Casino), are scheduled to be held on July 9, 16, 23 and 30.
Owner/Trainer Torres Suspended
Owner/trainer Juan D. Torres was summarily suspended by the New Mexico Racing Commission after his trainee Parker Dam (Seperate Interest-No Arizona, Foose) tested positive for Clenbuterol. The 2-year-old filly finished third in her only start in the trials to the West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park on March 11. Parker Dam did not qualify to the futurity finals but was the fastest qualifier to the West Texas Juvenile. Torres has been excluded from all areas of the grounds under the jurisdiction of the NMRC. All horses owned, trained, or under the care of Torres are ineligible to be entered or start in any race in that jurisdiction, and all transfers and sales of horses trained, owned, or in the care and custody of Juan D. Torres must be done in accordance NMRC regulations.
Gorg Back At Canterbury
Racing analyst Kevin Gorg will return to Canterbury Park for the 2022 season, joining
the existing broadcast team of track announcer Paul Allen and analyst Angela Herman. Gorg replaces analyst Brian Arrigoni, who is moving to Horseshoe Indianapolis. Gorg held the position of racing analyst at the Minnesota track from 2000-2010, before moving to Bally Sports North covering the Minnesota Wild hockey team. “It
is the perfect marriage of my two favorite sports as I will work hockey with Bally Sports North in the winter and horse racing at Canterbury in the summer,” he said.
Texas Horse Racing Hall Of Fame Inductees
The Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame announced their 2022 inductees, who will be honored at a gala at Lone Star Park on Oct.
15. The inductees include: Mike Carter, a breeder and owner involved in the development of Lone Star Park who is a key manager of Phillips Ranch and the B.F. Phillips Jr. estate: C. Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath, an all-time leading trainer of Quarter Horses, including the all-time leading money earner in Ochoa, and a member of the AQHA Hall of Fame and Ruidoso Racehorse Hall of Fame; the late Stan Sigman, a successful businessman and partner in Ruidoso Downs as well as founder of Namgis Quarter Horses, which breeds top race and performance horses; Janet VanBebber, AQHA’s Chief Racing Officer and the AQHA’s all-time leading female trainer of over $13.7 million; and 2-time World Champion & AQHA Hall of Fame Horse Refrigerator, the first horse to break the $2 million mark in earnings who retired as AQHA’s all-time leading money earner with 10 Grade
1 stakes. As well as honoring these inductees, the JoAnn Weber Distinguished Service
Award will go to Jeff Hooper, a horseman who served the industry for decades with the Texas Thoroughbred Association, Lone Star Park and the National Cutting Horse Association.
World Champion Cold Cash 123 Dies
2011 World Champion, Champion 3 Year Old and Champion-3-Year-Old Gelding Cold Cash 123 (Oak Tree Special-Hot Cash 123, Takin On The Cash) died of colic at the age of 14
on April 12 at Michigan State University. Bred and owned by Carolyn C. Bay’s T Bill Stables Inc., the 2008 bay gelding won 13 of 27 starts with $1,409,781 in earnings and nine stakes wins including seven Grade 1 events. Cold Cash 123 retired in 2013 to Cornwell Ranch, which is where he was raised, along with his dam, grandam and great-grandam.
Extreme Racing At Remington Park
Remington Park in conjunction with the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association on April 24 hosted their annual Extreme Racing Day featuring exotic animals competing between the regular races. The day was also used as a fundraiser and awareness day for Remington Park Charities. There was pig racing on the apron, and Clydesdales, zebras, ostrich and camels competing in special events ridden by regular jockeys. Heather the zebra was the winner with Edwin Escobeda aboard for the Good Shepherd Clinic charity; Humper the ostrich and Antonio Perez won the bird race for the charity Freedom School Oklahoma; and Zoo the camel and Bryan Candanosa scored in their race for the charity Positive Tomorrows.
SPEEDHORSE May 2022 195
Speedhorse
Dustin Orona
Amber Mendez