American Racehorse - Summer 2017

W W W. A ME RI CA NRA CEH ORSE. C OM SUMMER 2017

In this Issue OLD FRIENDS OF THE TRIPLE CROWN GIRL POWER IN INDIANA THE MAGIC OF HORSE RACING

A Division of Center Hills Farm

LOOK FOR THE MIGHTY ACRES CONSIGNMENT! Carter Sales Co. OKC Summer Sale Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City • August 27 View the catalog at cartersalesco.com

Yearlings by the following stallions: Creative Cause • Cross Traffic • Flatter Haynesfield • Jimmy Creed • Kipling • Notional Oratory • Save Big Money • Toccet All are accredited Oklahoma-breds and eligible for the Oklahoma Classics. Many are out of stakes winners or stakes producers, and many are eligible for the Oklahoma Stallion Stakes, Iowa Stallion Stakes and the Minnesota Stallion Stakes.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE MARE OWNERS THAT BRED AT MIGHTY ACRES THIS YEAR! Mighty Acres

675 W. 470 Rd. • Pryor, Oklahoma 74361 Phone: 918-825-4256 • Fax: 918-825-4255 Randy Blair: 918-271-2266 www.mightyacres.com

MIDW EST SUCCESS BEGINS AT KEENEL A ND

CLASSIC EMPIRE

GIRVIN

INSIDE STRAIGHT

John C. Oxley ARKANSAS DERBY (G1)

Brad Grady LOUISIANA DERBY (G2)

Randy Howg OAKLAWN HANDICAP (G2)

2017 KEENELAND

SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

COWBOY CULTURE

ROCKSHAW

UNCONTESTED

Head of Plains Partners LLC and Cheyenne Stables LLC ARLINGTON CLASSIC (G3)

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong GAZEBO STAKES

Robert V. LaPenta and Harry T. Rosenblum SMARTY JONES STAKES

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 1

L E A R N M O R E AT S E P T E M B E R . K E E N E L A N D.CO M

HOW YOU DO GET A TOP QUALITY 2-YEAR-OLD? Start with a top-quality yearling from the Asmussen Horse Center consignment!

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Name Sex Sire Dam STILLAPLAY MY LITTLE TRICK PAL PLAY WESTERN WALK INTREPIDATOR UNNAMED EXPECT A CAT UNNAMED

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FILLY FILLY FILLY COLT COLT FILLY COLT COLT

INTIMIDATOR LITTLEEXPECTATIONS LITTLEEXPECTATIONS INTIMIDATOR INTIMIDATOR LITTLEEXPECTATIONS LITTLEEXPECTATIONS LITTLEEXPECTATIONS

STILLATOUCH CLEVER INTIMIDATOR KENDRAS JONES COPE WITH THE CAT EXOTICA JONES READY LIGHT CATS RULE THE GIRL ROCKS

CHECK OUT HOW SOME OF OUR 2-YEAR-OLDS ARE DOING THIS YEAR:

BUY SELL HOLD – maiden special winner at Keeneland, won $100K Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs Copper Bullet – maiden special winner and second in $100,000 Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill Downs Direct Dial – maiden special winner at Keeneland, second in Tremont Stakes at Belmont Miss Classic West – maiden special winner at Lone Star Toledo Pache – maiden special winner at Lone Star Pearl of Laredo – winner first time out at Lone Star Laudation – maiden special winner at Churchill Downs Yours Alone – winner first time out at Lone Star Plus, LOOKIN AT LEE, a Grade 1-placed 2-year-old in 2016, finished second in this year’s Kentucky Derby!

Keith Asmussen, 956-763-8907

H H

Dr. Steve Velasco, veterinarian • Dee Martinez, office manager, 956-763-7594 P.O. Box 1861 • Laredo, TX 78044 • Phone: 956-723-5436 • Fax: 956-723-5845 Email: kaasmussen@aol.com • Website: www.asmussens.com

ABOUT AMERICAN RACEHORSE

American Racehorse (formerly Southern Racehorse) covers Thoroughbred racing and breeding in the Southwest, Midwest and Midsouth regions. The magazine is mailed to all members of the following associations: • Alabama Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association • Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association • Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association • Georgia Horse Racing Coalition • Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association • Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association • Michigan Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association • Minnesota Thoroughbred Association • North Carolina Thoroughbred Association • Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners • Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma • South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association • Texas Thoroughbred Association • Plus hundreds of Louisiana horsemen.

For more information or to inquire about advertising, contact Denis Blake at (512) 695-4541 or visit www.americanracehorse.com.

CONNECT WITH AMERICAN RACEHORSE

HHH Online: www.americanracehorse.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanracehorse • Twitter: @AmerRacehorse Email: info@americanracehorse.com Phone/Text: (512) 695-4541 • Fax: (512) 870-9324 Published by Pangaea Enterprises LLC d/b/a American Racehorse American Racehorse • P.O. Box 8645 • Round Rock, TX 78683 Physical Address American Racehorse 1341 Meadowild Drive • Round Rock, TX 78664 Editor/Publisher Denis Blake • info@americanracehorse.com Senior Art Director Amie Rittler • arittler3@gmail.com Graphic Designer Julie Kennedy • julie@digitalcitydesigns.com Copyeditor Judy L. Marchman

Contributors Rick Capone Daniel J. Demers Joan Johnson Tammy Knox Jen Roytz Connie Strong Photographers Denis Blake Rick Capone Coady Photography Adam Coglianese/NYRA Mark Davis Horsephotos.com Emily Kristine Linscott Photography Dustin Orona Photography Matt Wooley/EquiSport Photos JJ Zamaiko Photography Cover Photo Horsephotos.com

Copyright © 2017 American Racehorse All rights reserved. Articles may not be reprinted without permission. American Racehorse reserves the right to refuse any advertising or copy for any reason. American Racehorse makes a reasonable attempt to ensure that advertising claims are truthful but assumes no responsibility for the truth and accuracy of ads.

4 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

WHAT’S INSIDE

American RACEHORSE

Summer 2017

24

Racing’s retired royalty at Old Friends

31 A young crop of female stars is emerging in Indiana

Departments Editor’s Letter 6 Fast Furlongs 12 State Association News

57

The Marketplace Classifieds

66

GIRL POWER

Features

Old Friends of the Triple Crown 24 Silver Charm is one of several classic race winners enjoying the good life in retirement

TAKING THE REINS AT INDIANA GRAND

Girl Power Taking the Reins at Indiana Grand

A trio of female riders are winning big at the Midwest track

31

The Story of Bricky’s Horse 37 A horseplayer, a priest and a slow steed made for a unique tale at a Missouri track The Magic of Double Tuff 42 An Indiana-bred at Oaklawn Park In a families unique twist, Indiana Grand has three female brings two together

apprentice jockeys this year and all of them are 20Race, years Born old. From left, Katie Clawson, Bred to to Compete 47Cheyanna An Oklahoma-bred finds a new home Patrick and Erica Murray.

Linscott Photography

in the dressage ring

37 A mostly true story from a century ago a trio of female riders are winning big at

Slew of Stakes 53 Spring was a busy time with state-bred stakes winners across the country AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 5

Young talent is emerging at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino this season, and it’s being delivered with a unique twist. The track just outside of Indianapolis is hosting the start-up careers of three female apprentice riders who are attacking racetrack life from

Editor’s letter

IF

you are a member of the Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners, you might be wondering how this magazine ended up in your mailbox. As part of your OTBO membership, you will now receive a free subscription to American Racehorse with four issues per year, plus the American Racehorse Stallion Register in December.

Rest assured that you will not get a bill for it and that your mailing information will not be used by the magazine for any purpose other than mailing each issue to you.

If you are not familiar with the magazine, it is designed to showcase the horses and horsemen racing in the Midwest, Southwest and Midsouth regions that are sometimes overlooked on the national scene. You’ll find a variety of content from historical features to horse health articles to retired racehorse profiles, along with racing and breeding news and state association updates in the regions we cover.

Like many of the states included in American Racehorse, Ohio has been trending up. The Ohio Derby regained graded status this year and appears to be on its way back to being one of the nation’s top 3-year-old races. New stallions are coming to the state, and according to The Jockey Club, Ohio’s purses totaled nearly $41 million last year, compared to less than half that just three years earlier. OTBO is also bringing back the Ohio Mixed Sale later this year (see page 62). We look forward to highlighting the positive stories in Ohio, along with all of the other states we cover.

On a completely different subject, during my 25 years of working in horse racing, one of the biggest—and best— changes I’ve noticed is the increased awareness regarding Thoroughbred aftercare. That increased awareness has resulted in more organizations, more money and more people working to find second careers or forever homes for retired racehorses. We’ve tried to feature at least one article about retired racehorses in every issue of this magazine, and I think we have two excellent ones in this edition about the former Triple Crown stars now residing at Old Friends and an Oklahoma-bred excelling in the dressage ring.

However, I cannot say that I’ve seen the same increase in awareness and funding when it comes to another important issue in racing—taking care of injured jockeys. It’s easy to forget just how dangerous riding racehorses really is, and it can also be easy to forget about the men and women who are injured while doing so. We’ve all seen horrific spills on the track. Thankfully, they are rare, but that’s of little consolation to the jockeys and their families whose lives are changed in a split second when it does happen.

Insurance rarely covers all of the medical expenses for an injured rider, let alone the loss of income and the myriad other financial strains on a jockey’s family.

The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (pdjf.org) does a great job of helping injured riders, but there is always more that can be done. I am as guilty as anyone for sometimes taking jockeys for granted. When jockey Paul Nolan went down after his mount collapsed galloping out at Will Rogers Downs earlier this year, it was yet another reminder to us all. The horse was OK; Paul was not. Remarkably, Paul had no broken bones but still sustained very serious injuries, including swelling of his spine. He has a long road of recovery ahead of him.

I can’t say that I know Paul. I’ve interviewed him a couple times, and he rode the first winner I ever had as an owner. That race was more than 20 years ago, but I still remember it vividly and the perfect ride he gave my filly.

If you’ve run a horse in Minnesota or Texas, or anywhere in between, chances are you’ve seen Paul ride. Even if you haven’t, he’s a part of this great sport—a sport known for taking care of its own. You can find updates on Paul’s condition and make a donation at gofundme.com/ paulnolan-jockeyfund.

So, next time you cash a nice bet, get your photo taken in the winner’s circle or receive a breeders’ incentive check in the mail, please consider donating to Paul’s recovery or to the PDJF to help our other injured riders in need.

Sincerely, Denis Blake, Editor/Publisher

6 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

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fastfurlongs Texas 2-Year-Old Sale Posts Huge Increases in Second Year of Operation The Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale held April 4 on the grounds $153,082. This year, three horses topped the $100,000 mark and a of Lone Star Park posted numbers that dwarfed those of the first total of eight brought $70,000 or more, compared to just the one juvenile auction held last year by the Texas Thoroughbred Association, last year.

The sale topper was which took over as the a Kentucky-bred colt sale’s operator from Fasig-Tipton. With 70

by Tale of the Cat conof 93 head sold, this signed by Benchmark year’s auction recordTraining Center, agent, ed gross receipts of who brought a bid $1,873,900, a jump of $120,000 from of 91 percent from Carrol Castille. Named last year when 53 of Dicken’s Tale, the 66 sold for $981,300.

February 1 foal worked The average soared an eighth-mile in :10.2 to $26,770, up 44.6 in the under-tack show, percent from last year’s which was delayed $18,515 while the mefrom Sunday to Mondian jumped 33.3 perday due to weather.

“The top end of cent to $16,000 from the market was ex$12,000.

Buybacks this year were 24.7 tremely strong thanks percent compared with to some high-quality Denis Blake 19.7 percent last year. A Kentucky-bred colt by Tale of the Cat sold for $120,000 to top the sale. stock brought in by “There were a lot of our consignors,” Sales questions about the viability of the Texas sale when Fasig-Tipton decid- Director Tim Boyce said. “And I’m also encouraged by the middle ed to leave,” TTA Executive Director Mary Ruyle said, “but the results and lower end. We had a very good median for this sale and the sales of this auction clearly show that the market is very strong here. We pavilion has not been filled with so many buyers in quite a while. After are extremely gratified with the results and are looking forward to our having last year’s sale under our belt, I think consignors and buyers summer yearling sale on August 21.” had the confidence to fully support the sale this year and now going Last year’s sale topper was a Texas-bred daughter of Too Much forward.”

Bling eventually named Bling on the Music who sold for $95,000 For complete results, go to ttasales.com. and has since won two stakes, placed in a Grade 2 and banked The Texas Summer Yearling Sale and Mixed Sale is set for August 21.

12 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

Courtesy Kentucky Horse Park

Breyer Joins Man o’ War’s 100th Celebration with Release of a Centennial Edition of Legendary Racehorse

The Breyer version of Man o’ War in front of his iconic statue at the Kentucky Horse Park Breyer will join the Kentucky Horse Park in honoring the 100th birthday of the legendary Man o’ War with a new Classics portrait model

of the racing legend. Man o’ War (March 29, 1917–November 1, 1947) is widely considered to be one of the greatest racehorses of all time. The chestnut Thoroughbred stallion, nicknamed “Big Red,” was not only a legend of the turf and the 1920 Horse of the Year, but he was also a prolific sire and his line is still prominent to this day.

The Kentucky Horse Park, home of the final resting place of the legendary racehorse, is holding a year-long celebration in honor of Big Red’s 100th birthday anniversary. The park’s iconic life-size bronze statue of Man o’ War is a popular tourist destination. It was sculpted by Herbert Haseltine and installed at Faraway Farm over the horse’s grave in 1947. In 1977, both the statue and Man o’ War’s remains were moved to the Kentucky Horse Park where they remain to this day. The statue was fully restored last year.

In honor of Man o’ War’s 100th birthday celebration, Breyer is releasing the Classics portrait model originally sculpted

by Maureen Love. Breyer’s centennial edition box features the iconic black and yellow colors of his owner Samuel Riddle in a contemporary treatment designed especially for the Man o’ War Celebration presented by Windstream. Breyer’s Man o’ War model will first be available through the Kentucky Horse Park, and then to all Breyer retailers by mid-July.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 13

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Jockey C.J. McMahon Shifts Tack to Gulfstream Park

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14 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

First Winners for Louisiana Stallions Bind and Flashpoint Freshman Louisiana stallions Bind and Flashpoint both notched their first winners earlier this spring. Coincidentally, the two horses ran against each other in 2013 in the Sam Houston Sprint Cup Stakes with Flashpoint hitting the wire first and Bind a close third.

Flashpoint got his first winner on May 19 when Flashy Coop won a maiden race at the Hipódromo de las Américas in Mexico City. Bred in Louisiana by Gerard Melancon, Flashy Coop sold from the consignment of 5 B Farm at the 2016 Equine Sales Company yearling sale.

Flashpoint, a son of multiple Grade 1 winner Pomeroy, won the Hutcheson Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park and Jersey Shore Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park as a 3-year-old and then won or placed in four more stakes as a 5-year-old.

He stands at Le Mesa Stallions in Carencro, Louisiana, as property of Spendthrift Stallions LLC for a fee of $1,500.

Bind was represented by his first winner on June 2 at Evangeline Downs when his daughter Meter scored a five-length victory against maiden special weight company. The Louisiana-bred filly, who runs for breeders Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, was ridden by Colby Hernandez for trainer Al Stall.

Bind, a stakes-placed son of Pulpit, stands at Red River Farms in Coushatta, Louisiana, for a fee of $1,500. Bind hit the board in six of eight career starts with three wins and earnings of more than $100,000.

Dustin Orona Photography

After setting a record for most wins during a Lone Star Park meet, C.J. McMahon has ventured to Gulfstream Park to seek success during the Florida track’s spring and summer meet.

“I think it might be a good opportunity to get to where I want to be in my career,” said the 22-year-old native of Lafayette, Louisiana, who rode at this year’s Fair Grounds meet.

McMahon was the leading rider the past two years at Lone Star, winning 99 races last season at a 34 percent clip and 95 races at a 33 percent clip in 2015. He had planned to return to Texas this spring until trainer Keith Bourgeois raised the idea of riding at Gulfstream Park instead.

“I had the opportunity to play golf with Mr. Keith Bourgeois and Robby Albarado,” McMahon said. “We started the conversation about here and [Bourgeois] said, ‘Man, you should try it out over there. I kind of bounced it around, and the next day, he asked me again. I said to myself, ‘Hey, he’s serious.’ I reached out to [agent] Walter Blum and he got back to me three weeks later and said, ‘Let’s go.’ ” McMahon has won more than 200 races in each of the past two years and has amassed nearly 800 wins in six-plus years of riding. McMahon rode his first winner on his first day of riding April 6, 2011, at Evangeline Downs.

Through late June, McMahon had won 20 races with earnings of $577,150 at Gulfstream to rank seventh in both categories.

C.J. McMahon

Coady Photography

Louisiana-bred Big World, by Louisiana Sire Custom for Carlos, Wins Grade 1 Race at Churchill Downs

Big World (#3) takes the lead and wins the Grade 1 La Troienne.

Average and Median Jump at Equine Sales’ 2-Year-Old Auction, Record High Price Set Equine Sales Company on May 9 held its 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age sale in Opelousas, Louisiana, and recorded a significant increase in average and median while setting a record high price. All told, 41 of 60 2-year-olds offered sold for $832,300 with an average of $20,300 and median of $13,000.

With a larger catalog last year, 60 of 92 head sold for $918,300. This year’s average jumped 37.1 percent from last year’s $14,811, and the median increased 13 percent from last year’s mark of $11,500. Buybacks for this year were 31.6 percent compared with 32.6 percent last year.

The record price for a 2-year-old had been $69,000 from the inaugural sale in 2014, but that number was easily eclipsed twice with horses from the consignment of Pike Racing, agent. The sale topper was a Louisiana-bred daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Flat

[

Out who worked an eighth-mile in a co-fastest time of :10 1/5 in the breeze show. The April foal sold for $110,000 to Keith and Ginger Myers’ Coteau Grove Farms. The next highest price was a Louisiana-bred colt from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Violence who brought a bid of $100,000 from Matt Bowling’s Bowling Bloodstock. The January foal galloped in the breeze show.

“I think we have continued to improve the quality of this sale and that shows in the results this year,” Sales Director Foster Bridewell said. “We are very pleased with the results and are looking forward to our consignor select and open yearling/mixed sales later this year.”

All graduates of this sale are eligible for next year’s Equine Sales Derby and Equine Sales Oaks to be run at Evangeline Downs.

For hip-by-hip results, go to equinesalesofla.com.

For more racing and breeding news, go to AmericanRacehorse.com

[

Dustin Orona Photography

Maggi Moss’ Louisiana-bred Big World took the lead shortly after the start and posted a 1 1/4-length victory in the $300,000 La Troienne Presented by Spirited Funds (G1) for older fillies and mares. The victory

came before a crowd of 105,100 on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Tom Amoss and ridden by Florent Geroux, Big World covered the 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy track in 1:44.91.

“I saw some speed in the race, so I left it up to Florent,” Amoss said. “He made the front end and was able to control it up there, and that made all the difference. I’ve had her all winter long. I can’t thank Maggi Moss enough to have the opportunity with this filly. She’s responsible for buying this filly, not me. We just put her in the right spots. Maggi couldn’t be here today, but I know she would say that this is one of biggest moments of her career.

The victory was worth $180,420 and increased Big World’s earnings to $608,820 with a record of 11-7-0-4. The Louisiana-bred originally sold for $98,000 as an Ocala Breeders’ Sales yearling in 2014 and the following year captured the Grade 3 Tempted Stakes at Aqueduct. She also has two stakes wins at Delta Downs and one at Fair Grounds.

Her sire, Custom for Carlos, stands at Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, Louisiana. Big World was bred by Curt Leake and Elm Tree Farm LLC out of the Louisiana-bred Broken Vow mare Tensas Wedding Joy.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 15

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Coady Photography

Oaklawn Closes 2017 Meet with Gains in Total Handle Culminating with 62,500 fans turning out to watch champion Classic Empire win the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1), the 2017 Oaklawn Park live racing season concluded with nearly a 5 percent gain in total handle and another record-setting season for purses.

Good weather along with large, competitive fields led to total handle of $189,534,228 in 2017, compared with $180,582,197 in 2016.

Classic Empire won the Horsemen racing at Oaklawn benefited Arkansas Derby in front of from the country’s highest purse struc62,500 fans. ture for the time of year. Maiden special weights grew from $72,000 to $80,000 during the season, while allowance races ended as high as $84,000 after starting out at $74,000. The record average daily purse distribution of $502,781 also contributed to

16 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

plenty of action at the claim box with 456 horses claimed for nearly $6.23 million.

“Our goal is to offer our racing fans an entertainment value that is second to none and I couldn’t be more proud of our team for helping us achieve that goal in a big way,” General Manager Wayne Smith said.

“I want to congratulate owner Danny Caldwell, trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. for leading our standings. They and all the horsemen helped us put on quite a show. It was a terrific season.”

Asmussen and Santana both enjoyed highly successful meets topped

by Gun Runner’s victory in the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) and Ever So Clever’s win in the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) for Asmussen and Whitmore’s victory in the $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) for Santana. Asmussen earned his eighth leading trainer title with 41 victories and $2,763,845 in earnings, while Santana earned his fifth straight leading riding title with 53 wins and $2,753,797 in earnings.

Caldwell earned his fourth leading owner title with 22 wins and $965,728 in earnings. Among his best horses was Domain’s Rap, who

won the $125,000 Fifth Season Handicap and finished second in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

Oaklawn made a major change to its stakes schedule in 2017, which proved successful, when it increased the purse of the Razorback Handicap to $500,000 and moved it to the Presidents’ Day card along with the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3). Race winner Gun Runner went on to finish second to Arrogate in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (G1).

The added excitement in February carried over to March, when Oaklawn enjoyed one of its best Rebel Stakes days. A crowd of 36,000 was on hand, and total handle reached $10,752,313.15, which was a non-Arkansas Derby Day record.

“We’re extremely pleased,” Director of Racing David Longinotti said.

“Gun Runner set the bar high when he won the Razorback so impressively in February, and the quality of our stakes just got better from there.

Rebel Stakes Day was super. We had last year’s champion 2-year-old in the Arkansas Derby, thrilling renditions of the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap and Apple Blossom Handicap and absolutely beautiful weather

throughout the final few weeks of the season—a true crescendo. It will be exciting to see what champions Classic Empire and Stellar Wind do from here as well as impressive stakes winners Ever So Clever and Whitmore.”

Among the other highlights of the 2017 season was the Show Bet Bonus, which was designed for casual on-track patrons and offered higher payoffs to customers.

“A lot of our patrons are brand-new racing fans on their first-ever trip to a racetrack,” Longinotti said. “We designed the Show Bet Bonus as a way to introduce new fans to racing in the hopes that they would be able to cash more tickets and have a more enjoyable experience. It exceeded our expectations in the first year. Show wagering has become one of our most popular wagers, and in fact, the show pool increased 34 percent over last year. You could hear people in the grandstand every race day talking about their show parlays.”

Oaklawn’s 2018 live racing season begins Friday, January 12, and runs through Saturday, April 14.

Racehorse Owner Receives Surprise Message at Indiana Grand “I am not very adept at Facebook and was not connected on Facebook Messenger, so the message I found from Stacy Tuttle was over a year old,” Apel said. “She had researched online and found my connection to Lady Caroline and had sent me a message that forever changed my life.”

Both Tuttle and Apel have a special connection to Lady Caroline. The Indiana-bred mare, who was originally Lady Caroline has bridged purchased by Tuttle’s cousin Dwight a connection between two Preston from the 2012 Fasig-Tipton families.

Kentucky October yearling sale for $5,000, was named in honor of her daughter, Caroline. A year later, 3-year-old Caroline and another child were killed in a crash in Kentucky when their Head Start bus left the road and overturned.

For Tuttle, the racehorse Lady Caroline holds special meaning in the memory of her daughter. For Apel, the mare has even more of a special meaning to him now.

“I realized that she [Stacy Tuttle] probably didn’t have a photo of Lady Caroline so I was able to mail her an extra one that I had,” he said. “I believe little Caroline must have been watching over us when we kept Lady Caroline in 2015. It was truly an emotional moment for me when I read a message that was over a year old from a Kentucky mom who lost her 3-year-old daughter in that bus crash.”

Racing will continue for Apel with the Johnson Stable at Indiana Grand. But he will be hard-pressed to find such a strong connection to any of his current stock as he found with Lady Caroline. The chestnut mare represents more than just a racehorse for two separate families forever linked together.

Mark Davis

Nebraska native and former newspaper journalist Jeff Apel has a love of horses, and his passion brought him to Indiana Grand when he relocated to central Indiana. He secured a job as an electronic games attendant in the casino and soon found his way to fellow Nebraska native Marvin Johnson’s barn. Today, he owns horses with the Nebraska Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer and their partnership has produced several profitable purchases, including the racemare Lady Caroline.

Lady Caroline, now age 6, was claimed as a 3-year-old by Apel and brothers Mike and Tony Jackson for $15,000 in 2014. She earned more than $36,000 for her new connections before showing signs of slowing down and giving Johnson the indication that she might be nearing the end of her racing career. Because she was one of his favorite horses, Apel negotiated a price of $2,300 and bought the Jacksons out to retain ownership as a game plan was thought out for the mare’s future.

“Marvin told me there was no guarantee Lady Caroline would ever run again,” said Apel, who worked as a sports writer for 15 years at the Grand Island Independent until 2005. “In fact, Marvin told me not to buy the mare. I told him I was willing to take a risk because she was the first horse I owned that made me a profit.”

Intuition paid off for Apel. After some time off in a field at Johnson’s farm in Grand Island, Nebraska, Lady Caroline came back to the track, notching three wins and earning Apel and Johnson almost $85,000.

In all, she completed five trips to the winner’s circle at Indiana Grand during her career, all under jockey Fernando De La Cruz. Her success made her a viable investment, and she was claimed by new connections in May 2016. After making one more start, she was retired to broodmare duty in Kentucky.

Apel thought his connection to Lady Caroline was over even though he still admired a photo collage of his prized mare hanging on the wall at home. It wasn’t until he discovered a message through Facebook that brought him back to the racemare that had meant so much to him.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 17

Dustin Orona Photography

Remington Park Announces 2017 Stakes Schedule Del Mar on November 3-4.

The Springboard Mile, the track’s signature event for 2-year-olds, has received a purse increase of $100,000 over its 2016 running. The boost elevates the Springboard Mile to the $400,000 mark, giving it shared status with the Oklahoma Derby as the richest races of the season. The Springboard Mile headlines five stakes on the meet’s final afternoon of racing that also includes the $100,000 She’s All In Stakes for older females and the $100,000 Trapeze Texas Chrome (inside) squeezes through an opening to win the 2016 Oklahoma Derby.

Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Remington Park in Oklahoma City has announced its stakes schedule The Springboard Mile is also the culmination of Remington Park’s with 31 events during the 2017 meet. The track will offer 67 days of trio of juvenile stakes. The series gets underway September 24 with the racing starting August 25 and running through December 17. $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes on the Oklahoma Derby Day undercard and The Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, won last year by Texas-bred continues with the $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes on November 3.

Texas Chrome, will headline a huge afternoon of 10 stakes races on SunThe 2017 stakes schedule at Remington Park also features 16 events day, September 24, with total purses nearing $1.4 million. The 29th for eligible Oklahoma-breds, including the $1 million Oklahoma edition of the race will be the main attraction on a program that also in- Classics night on Friday, October 20, and its eight divisional stakes for cludes the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, $175,000 Governor’s Cup, state-bred Thoroughbreds. $150,000 David M. Vance Sprint and $100,000 Remington Green. The Seven stakes races are scheduled for the Remington Park turf course, afternoon provides a well-timed opportunity for horsemen looking for led by the Remington Green. prep races prior to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships weekend at To view the complete stakes schedule, go to remingtonpark.com.

Rodney Prescott Scores Win 3,500 at Indiana Grand Rodney Prescott, Indiana’s all-time leading jockey, scored his 3,500th career victory at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino on June 2.

The win was one of two on the day for the Portland, Indiana, native who earned the milestone victory aboard Stand On It, trained by Wayne Mogge.

“I won my 3,000th race at Turfway Park for the same trainer,” Prescott said. “I wasn’t aware that it was my 3,500th win because I wasn’t counting down but I knew I was close. It takes the pressure away.”

Prescott has been riding horses since the summer of 1994. He was an apprentice the first year Linscott Photography of pari-mutuel racing at Hoosier Park in 1995 Rachel McLaughlin, on-air racing and has competed on the Indiana circuit every personality at Indiana Grand, talks with year since then. He scored his 2,000th career win Rodney Prescott after his milestone win.

18 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

at Hoosier Park in 2006 and has earned leading rider titles at River Downs, Turfway Park, Hoosier Park and Indiana Grand. At Indiana Grand alone, Prescott has nearly 800 wins with more than $13.5 million in earnings.

“When I started off as a jockey, everyone told me I was going to be too big so I thought I would ride for a couple of years and then move on to training or breaking babies,” he said. “But here I am 20-something years later and I’m still doing it.”

Prescott, a longtime director and the 2017–18 board secretary for the Jockeys’ Guild, has maintained a top 10 spot in the standings each year at Indiana Grand. In addition to his success in Thoroughbred racing, Prescott also rides American Quarter Horses at the track and is ranked third all-time for winners with that breed.

Grand Gesture Stable Offers Racehorse Ownership Opportunity at Indiana Grand Indiana Grand Racing & Casino has implemented a new racehorse ownership opportunity for the general public this season. Grand Gesture Stable has offered 50 shares at $300 per share to individuals seeking to learn more about racing and the intricate details of owning part of a Thoroughbred racehorse.

The horse selected for this partnership opportunity is A J Pacer, a 3-yearold Indiana-bred trained by Anthony Granitz, who is also the trainer of two-time Indiana Horse of the Year Lady Fog Horn. A J Pacer made three starts in 2016 at two, posting one win and one second before taking some time off to prepare for her 3-year-old season.

“This filly is a perfect horse for Grand Gesture Stable,” Granitz said.

“She has a great personality and attitude and she has been training very well. I’m happy to be part of this unique experience and can’t wait to meet all 50 owners as we kick off this new ownership venture.”

In her first start of 2017 and debut for her new ownership group on June 17, A J Pacer finished fifth in an Indiana-bred allowance race.

“She was wiggling inside the gate and she didn’t get out of the gate quick,” said jockey Richard Bracho. “All the horses put on the front had a lot of early speed, and she couldn’t make up any ground on them. She tried really hard and will be ready for her next start and will be better.”

“This type of fractional ownership program has been very successful at other tracks across the United States and I’m glad to see that we are imple-

menting it here at Indiana Grand,” Director of Racing Kevin Greely said.

“We wanted to make sure that her first race was on a Saturday evening so it would be more convenient for all of the owners of Grand Gesture Stable to be able to come out and watch her race.”

“We are very excited to be able to offer this fractional ownership program to our racing fans this season,” said Jon Schuster, vice president and general manager of racing. “This program was very successful at our sister track, Hoosier Park, last year and we are so glad to provide such a unique way to get involved in racing through Grand Gesture Stable.”

A J Pacer also has very strong ties to the Indiana racing program. She was bred by Mari Hulman George, former chair of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The official silks for Grand Gesture Stable are black with a gold sash and gold and black blocks on the sleeves. The gold letters “GG” appear on the front and the back.

Other than the purchase of the $300 share, no other money is required during the ownership venture, which extends through the 2017 racing season at Indiana Grand. Individuals, who must be residents of Indiana and 21 years of age or older, will own 1 percent of A J Pacer through October 28, at which time the filly will be sold to disperse the partnership. After the purchase price and all expenses are paid, any remaining earnings from her races will be distributed evenly among all 50 owners.

Courtesy Prairie Meadows

Prairie Meadows Racing Club’s How About Him Off to Winning Start

How About Him and trainer Kelly Von Hemel Once trainer Kelly Von Hemel claimed the gray gelding How About Him on May 12, the 95 members of the inaugural Prairie Meadows Racing Club began patiently waiting for their horse’s big debut. It didn’t take long.

Just a little over two weeks later, on May 27, How About Him competed in his first race as the club’s horse. He faced seven rivals in a $5,000 claiming event at Prairie Meadows with jockey Ken Tohill riding and sporting the club’s lime green and pink silks.

How About Him broke quickly from his number 8 post position, sprinted to a three-length lead, and finished strongly to win the 5 ½-furlong race by two lengths.

“He drew a good post position on the outside,” Von Hemel said. “I told Ken [Tohill] to do whatever he thought was best.

How About Him broke better than the others, Ken took him to the front, and that’s where you want to be running—on the lead.”

How About Him finished second with Tohill riding when the club claimed him on May 12. Tohill’s agent, Gene Short, made it clear to Von Hemel that the jockey wanted another chance. Von Hemel granted Tohill’s wish and the veteran reinsman—with more than 3,600 lifetime victories—rode How About Him to victory.

Tohill called it “one of the gifts of the game” to be part of the club’s winning debut.

“They wanted to shake my hand … they asked me to pose for quite a few photos,” he added.

How About Him returned to action on June 10 and won again against $5,000 claiming company.

Prairie Meadows introduced the inaugural Prairie Meadows Racing Club in February and at press time was still accepting new members. For additional information, visit prairiemeadows.com/racing/live-racing/ prairie-meadows-racing-club.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 19

Trusted Accreditation.

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Rick Capone

Silver Charm is one of several classic race winners enjoying the good life in retirement 24 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

A

By ByRick RickCapone Capone

s the final tour of the day approaches the paddock behind the main house at Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky, the group sees a gray horse grazing peacefully in the afternoon sun at the far end of the pasture. Seeing how beautiful the horse is from a distance, they begin to hope he will head over so they can get a closer look at him.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 25

to enjoy his retirement. In addition, they built in a stipend so that money would be sent to Old Friends each year to help take care of the horse.

Silver Charm arrived at Old Friends on December 1, 2014, with more than 100 people in attendance on a cold, rainy afternoon to watch him take his first step on the farm.

He was led off the van by Sandy Hatfield, stallion manager at Three Chimneys. Standing at the bottom of the ramp was Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends, who could not wait to greet the Kentucky Derby winner. The arrival of Silver Charm was a dream come true for Blowen, as the now 23-year-old stallion is his all-time favorite horse.

Rick Capone

When the visitors reach the paddock fence, the horse looks up, sees the people and begins to walk toward them. Then, his walk turns into a trot, and then he’s running.

Wondering if he’ll be able to stop in time, the tourists back up a bit as he gets closer. But they need not have worried. The horse stops on a dime and puts his head over the fence as if to say hello to everyone.

“This is Silver Charm, the 1997 Kentucky Derby winner,” the tour guide announces as the group “oohhhs” and “aahhhs.”

As the guide tells the rest of Silver Charm’s story, many in the crowd take his picture, while others offer him a carrot. All the while, Silver Charm just stands there patiently posing for photos and happily accepting some treats.

Such is the happy retirement life of the first—but not the only— Kentucky Derby winner to call the Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm home.

Two Decades of Memories

Horsephotos.com

It’s hard to believe how much time has passed, but this year marks the 20th anniversary of Silver Charm’s Kentucky Derby win. He also won the Preakness Stakes but fell short of the Triple Crown when he lost a heartbreaker (depending on your rooting interest) to Touch Gold in the Belmont Stakes.

What makes the 20-year span harder to believe is that when you look at Silver Charm today, he’s still in great physical shape. His muscles still show the power that carried him to 12 wins, $6.94 million in earnings, an Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old colt and a Hall of Fame induction. About the only thing that gives a hint of his age is that his gray coat is now almost white, as it shines brightly in the afternoon sunshine.

After his racing career ended, Silver Charm stood at Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Kentucky, before being moved to Japan, where he stood for the remainder of his breeding career. Before Silver Charm went to Japan, however, his owners, Bob and Beverly Lewis, made certain that when he was retired from stud duty they could bring him home to the United States.

In the intervening years, Bob Lewis passed away. But, when Silver Charm was pensioned in 2014, the couple’s son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Marge Lewis, followed through on that promise and brought Silver Charm home to the U.S., where he was sent to Old Friends

26 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

Trainer Bob Baffert and his son, Bode, pay a visit to Silver Charm.

Foaled in Florida on February 22, 1994, Silver Charm, who is by Silver Buck out of Bonnie’s Poker, by Poker, was bred by Mary Lou Wootton. In an interesting coincidence, Silver Charm’s dam, Bonnie’s Poker, also had been a retiree at Old Friends. She died in 2010.

As a 2-year-old in 1996 for trainer Bob Baffert, Silver Charm raced three times and won twice with his first stakes win in the Del Mar Futurity (G2). At three, Silver Charm put his name into horse racing’s history books. Ridden in his first two races of the season by Hall of Famer Chris McCarron, the colt opened with a win at Santa Anita in the February 8 San Vicente Stakes (G3) by 1 ¾ lengths over Free House.

He followed up with two second-place finishes, also at Santa Anita.

The first was in the San Felipe Stakes (G2), which he lost by three parts of a length to Free Silver Charm (inside) holds off Captain House, and the second was in the Santa Anita Bodgit to win the 1997 Kentucky Derby.

Derby (G1), also to Free House, this time by a head.

While his final two Kentucky Derby preps resulted in runner-up finishes, Baffert and the Lewises felt very good about their chances in the Kentucky Derby.

There are two interesting things about Silver Charm that should be noted here.

First, jockey Gary Stevens, who would enter the Hall of Fame that year, got the mount on Silver Charm starting with the Santa Anita Derby because McCarron decided to ride Hello for Ron McAnally. The trainer had been good to McCarron during his career, giving him a number of successful mounts, including John Henry, so McCarron decided to ride for his top trainer at the time.

Second, Silver Charm was never one to win his races by big margins. If you look at his race results, you’ll see wins by a head, a nose, a neck. According to McCarron, Silver Charm was “a very dogged fighter. Anytime a horse ran up alongside of him, he almost never would let the horse go by. He did a few times, but most of the time, he would out-game his competitor.”

That would play a crucial part in all three Triple Crown races, especially the Belmont Stakes.

In the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, with Stevens riding, Silver Charm battled hard and won by a head over Captain Bodgit.

Free House was third. Two weeks later at Pimlico Race Course, Silver Charm won the Preakness by a head over Free House and set himself up for an attempt at the Triple Crown.

At Belmont Park, Silver Charm looked like he just might accomplish the task. Leading down the stretch on the inside, with Free House just to his outside, Silver Charm took dead aim at Triple Crown immortality.

However, because McCarron knew about Silver Charm’s ability to fight off a charge if he saw a horse coming, his plan was to try and keep his horse, Touch Gold, behind and to the outside of Silver Charm for as long as possible and then to charge to the front late in the stretch.

McCarron’s plan worked to perfection in the race, as he kept Touch Gold to the outside of Free House, while Silver Charm raced in the lead on the inside. As they got closer to the finish line, McCarron urged Touch Gold forward, and his horse hit the wire for a threequarters length win. Silver Charm never saw him coming.

For his efforts, Silver Charm was named the 1997 Eclipse Award winner as champion 3-year-old male.

Silver Charm raced two more seasons, which included a victory in the Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba in March 1998. He was retired at the end of his 5-year-old campaign.

Rick Capone

Horsephotos.com

Touch Gold just got up at the wire to foil Silver Charm’s Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes, and now they live together at Old Friends.

Silver Charm. This is the 20th anniversary of his Triple Crown victories and they still can’t get enough of him. And I don’t blame them because he is spectacular.”

In an interesting twist of fate, among some of the unique things about Old Friends is what Blowen likes to call the “Old Friends Triple Crown.”

Blowen, a former film critic for the Boston Globe, got the idea from one of his first horse racing articles. The story is on his mentor, trainer Carlos Figueroa, known as the “king” of the New England horse racing fairs. During the three-week race circuit, there was a promotion called the “Triple Crown of the Fairs.” The goal was not to pick the horse, but the trainer who would win all three races.

The Old Friends Triple Crown doesn’t have to be the same horse that wins the races; it just has to include horses that won all three Triple Crown races in the same year.

So, standing in the paddock diagonally across from Silver Charm is his old Belmont Stakes rival Touch Gold, which gives the farm the 1997 Old Friends Triple Crown.

In addition, the farm is also home to War Emblem, the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, while just down the lane is Sarava, the 2002 Belmont Stakes winner, giving the farm its second Old Friends Triple Crown.

Silver Charm Comes Home Since the arrival of Silver Charm at Old Friends, Blowen has seen a large increase in visitors, most of them wanting to see the Kentucky Derby winner. Silver Charm has also had some big-name visitors as well; his former trainer Bob Baffert and his wife, Jill, and son, Bode, have visited him on a number of occasions, as has Gary Stevens.

“Silver Charm is like having Elvis here,” Blowen said just before this year’s Kentucky Derby. “I mean, our visitors are doubling. And the reason that they’re doubling is because of him. He’s the big star.

He always was a star. He knows he’s a star. He fits in great.

“Look, it’s a week and a half before the Kentucky Derby, and who’s on the cover of the BloodHorse? Silver Charm. Who’s the major article?

The 23-year-old champion still looks like a winner and is one of the main draws at the retirement farm.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 27

Touch Gold and his jockey Chris McCarron, 20 years after their Belmont victory.

Rick Capone

Golden Touch Touch Gold arrived at Old Friends in December 2015, thanks to the horse’s co-owner, Frank Stronach of Adena Springs.

At first, because of his love for Silver Charm, Blowen had a hard time getting used to having the horse who prevented a Triple Crown winner at the farm, but that soon changed.

“With Silver Charm, it was love at first sight,” he said. “And because I was so in love with Silver Charm, I kind of held it against Touch Gold that Silver Charm lost the Triple Crown. But, as time has gone on, I’ve really gotten to like Touch Gold.

“It’s like Ali-Frazier or Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Those are the kind of rivalries that you’re talking about. With the Celtics, I loved the Celtics like I love Silver Charm, but I respect the Lakers like I respect Touch Gold.”

Touch Gold, a son of Deputy Minister, had his best season as a 3-year-old when he captured the Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) and Lexington Stakes (G2) in addition to the Belmont.

He was retired after his 4-year old season with six wins, three seconds, one third and $1,679,907 in earnings. His career was capped in 2011 when he was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

War Emblem was retired at the end of his 3-year-old season with seven wins in 13 starts and $3,491,000 in earnings. He was also named the Eclipse Award winner as champion 3-year-old colt.

He was then sent to Japan for his breeding career but was eventually retired from stud duty due to a lack of interest in breeding.

Unfortunately, that continued when he was returned to the United States, as he couldn’t clear quarantine until he bred two test mares.

War Emblem, winner of the 2002 Kentucky Derby (pictured) and Preakness Stakes, headlines Old Friends’ second Triple Crown combination.

Another Old Friends Triple Crown As for the second Old Friends Triple Crown, it starts with War Emblem, who arrived at Old Friends in the fall of 2015 to become the second Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner on the farm.

Foaled in 1999, the son of Our Emblem won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, along with the Haskell Invitational Handicap and Illinois Derby (G2), in 2002. He lost his bid for the Triple Crown when he finished eighth after stumbling out of the gate at Belmont Park.

28 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

Horsephotos.com

Sarava is the longest shot to ever win the Belmont at odds of 70-1.

Rick Capone

ends, Blowen walks Little Silver Charm, who is the farm’s mascot and official SpokesHorse, over to Silver Charm’s paddock. Blowen had named the miniature horse after his favorite full-size horse. From time to time, he brings the little horse over to meet his bigger version, where they go nose-to-nose in greeting, before Blowen gives them each some carrots.

For Blowen, and many other Thoroughbred racing fans and horsemen, things don’t get much better than these enjoyable moments at Old Friends.

For more information about Old Friends and how to take a tour or make a donation, go to oldfriendsequine.org. H Rick Capone is a freelance writer and a volunteer at Old Friends, where he owns a retired Thoroughbred, Miss Hooligan, in partnership with his friends Michael Blowen and Tim Ford.

Old Friends’ founder Michael Blowen with the miniature and full-size Silver Charms.

Rick Capone

After a month at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, he was brought to Old Friends and placed in a specially-made, double-fenced paddock to continue his quarantine. Still, he wouldn’t breed, so the decision had to be made—geld him or return him to Japan.

The decision was made to geld him, and with many precautions taken, the surgery was a success. Today, he is enjoying his retirement at the farm.

“He’s been here a year-and-a-half just about, and for the first year, you couldn’t go near him,” Blowen said, “because he doesn’t like to be messed with because he thinks you’re going to tell him what to do.

He doesn’t like to be told what to do. He wants to call all the shots.

Every shot, no matter how small it is.

“But now, I think he’s getting a little bit more relaxed, and he allows me to pet him a little bit now and touch him without trying to bite me.”

Sarava makes up the final part of the 2002 Old Friends Triple Crown. He was the first classic winner to come to Old Friends in September 2012.

A son of Wild Again trained by Ken McPeek, Sarava made history as the longest shot to win the Belmont when he hit the wire at odds of 70-1. The Belmont was also the last win of his career. He ran eight more times, seven of those at five, but never again found the winner’s circle. He retired with three wins, three seconds and $773,832 in earnings in 17 career starts.

“When Sarava first arrived, he was the first classic winner on the farm, so he meant a lot,” Blowen said. “And the fact of the matter was Gary Drake, who owned him [along with] Paul and Susan Roy of Great Britain, they donated money [to Old Friends as well], which was really, really nice. So, we got a tremendous endowment.

“He was our first classic winner, and I think he set the stage for the rest of them, the rest of the big horses to come, because people would come and they could see how good he looked, and they could see how we treated him and they could see he got great health care.”

Old Friends was also home to 1999 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Charismatic, who returned to the Bluegrass State after a stallion career in Japan. Sadly, in February, not long after returning home, Charismatic died suddenly in his stall as a result of a pelvic fracture.

With all the Triple Crown horses at Old Friends, there is one horse who never won a race but who holds a special place. As another day

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 29

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GIRL POWER

TAKING THE REINS AT INDIANA GRAND

Linscott Photography

In a unique twist, Indiana Grand has three female apprentice jockeys this year and all of them are 20 years old. From left, Katie Clawson, Cheyanna Patrick and Erica Murray.

a trio of female riders are winning big at the Midwest track by tammy knox

Young talent is emerging at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino this season, and it’s being delivered with a unique twist. The track just outside of Indianapolis is hosting the start-up careers of three female apprentice riders who are attacking racetrack life from different paths. Katie Clawson, Cheyanna Patrick and Erica Murray are busy winning races, and all three are just 20 years old.

Just as in any other professional sport, it’s not common for a rookie to be challenging for the top spot on a team or in a league, but that’s just what Clawson is doing. The resident of Brazil, Indiana, is in contention for the riding title at Indiana Grand this season, which could put her in line to make history in the state. Through mid-June, Clawson had recorded 34 victories to lead the standings at Indiana Grand with a 10-win lead over her closest rival.

Clawson had a unique journey to the racetrack. Her love of horses prompted her parents to sign her up for riding lessons in her native Arizona before the family relocated to the Hoosier State when she was seven. She continued her love of horses and when she was old enough the home-schooled student got involved in 4-H. But it wasn’t until she stumbled across racing on TV that the sport even entered her mind.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 31

“I’ve always been a horse girl and when I was 11 or 12, I found TVG while I was channel surfing,” Clawson said. “From there, I took an interest in racing and began watching some of the horse racing movies. But it was Zenyatta that hooked me on racing. I saw her on TV when she won her 12th or 13th race, and that was it for me. I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

Since that time, she has recorded a hat trick three more times.

“When I got my second win, I was excited because that was my third double win night,” Clawson said about her first triple win

Katie Clawson won six races from 97 starts for a 6.2 win percentage last year, her first as a rider; this year through mid-June, she’s already won 42 races from 269 starts for a 15.6 percent success rate.

32 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

Linscott Photography

Through a fellow horse friend, Clawson began to meet people in the racing business and eventually landed a job at Steve Fosdick’s farm in Carlisle, Indiana. She helped him break babies and learned the initial techniques of galloping Thoroughbreds for two years.

Her first experience at a racetrack was in 2014 when she galloped horses at Indiana Grand, working with trainers such as Fosdick and Mike Lauer and then joining Tom Amoss’ team at the end of the season. That took her to Louisiana for the winter, and at age 17 she had a full-time job in racing.

“It was a slow process, but I finally started learning about being a jockey,” she said.

Clawson’s skill set was noted by trainer Kellyn Gorder, and she worked her way up for approval as a jockey, riding in her first race at Churchill Downs in June 2016. A month later, she earned her first win on one of Gorder’s horses, Street Thunder, at Churchill, and the momentum began. Many people have helped her along the way, from trainers to jockeys to agents and even her valets, but one man in particular gets a little extra credit for preparing her as a jockey.

“When I worked for Kellyn, I worked with his assistant, John Ortiz, a lot,” Clawson said. “His dream was to also be a jockey, and now he is out on his own as a trainer. I learned a lot from him on race riding and he pushed me out of my comfort zone, which is what I needed.”

Clawson, who so far has competed at seven different tracks, came into the Indiana meet in April with 14 career wins. Just two months into the meet, she has already tripled that total. Her talent was on full display on Kentucky Derby Day, May 6, at Indiana Grand, when she guided home three winners on the card, her first triple win evening.

program. “I thought I had a shot with my last horse of the night [Atlantic Slew] and then trainer Cipriano [Contreras] told me he thought the same. It was a lot of fun.”

Clawson’s decision to ride at Indiana Grand this summer came with a lot of deliberation. However, in the end, it set her up to tackle a lot of things that are important to her as she continues on her career path.

“I had a lot of pros and cons about where I wanted to go this year, but getting Jimmy McNerney as my agent was a big factor,” Clawson said. “Also, it was close to my family in Brazil and it is close enough to Kentucky to keep my connections there.”

Seeing her family is a weekly gig she tries to keep. Clawson makes the trip back to Brazil once a week to catch up with family members, stay active in church and share a passion with the entire Clawson clan.

“We are a big baseball family,” Clawson said. “We love the Arizona Diamondbacks. I don’t get to keep up with them as much now, but when I go home, my family always has their games on.”

Staying in the Midwest also has its advantages for staying close to her future family. Clawson is engaged to Nolan Ramsey, the grandson of Eclipse Award-winning owners and breeders Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

He works as an assistant trainer for Mike Maker and is currently overseeing a string in New York. Clawson and Ramsey are already

Linscott Photography

working on a plan for winter.

“We have already discussed our winter plans and will try to work it out where we will be together this winter,” Clawson said.

For now, Clawson will continue to perfect her skills as a jockey and work to put wins on her record. She’s well on her way to joining the list of successful female riders on the Indiana circuit from years past, including the mother of another female rider she shares the women’s jockey quarters with at Indiana Grand.

Cheyanna Patrick has followed in the footsteps of her mother, Cindy, who was part of the initial jockey colony at Hoosier Park when pari-mutuel racing came to Indiana in 1995. The second generation jockey is now in her fifth year on the track. However, her riding assignments have taken a backseat at times to her pursuit of a college degree. Racing is a part-time gig for Patrick so she can concentrate on her goal of becoming a criminal lawyer.

Patrick graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa in early May and will enter law school in August at the University of Kentucky College of Law. A native of Florida, she spent

Katie Clawson, aboard firsttime starter Charles River in a maiden race at Indiana Grand in May, gets the win one-half length in front of Cheyanna Patrick aboard Farmers Only.

much of her younger educational years in Indiana, Pendleton, while her family raced at Hoosier Park and Indiana Grand from April through November. Always excelling at

school work, she was able to begin college at 16 and pressed through to gain her degree early, all while keeping a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Patrick was one of some 5,700 students that walked across the stage at USF to receive her bachelor’s degree. Her mother and her father, Gary, who are among the all-time leaders for owning and training Thoroughbreds, respectively, at Indiana Grand, took a rare day off from work to attend such a momentous event.

“It was great to have my family there,” Patrick said. “They are my biggest supporters. We also had some family friends there, too. It was a special day.”

In addition to receiving her degree, Patrick also received the King O’Neal Scholar Award. Of the entire graduating class, only 34 completed their degrees with a perfect 4.0, placing Patrick in an elite group for the honor.

“It was hard at times and I had a couple of classes this year that were challenging, but I was able to keep my 4.0 GPA,” Patrick said. “I’m excited to start law school August 22.”

As with every other aspect of her career, attending the University of Kentucky College of Law was also a goal for Patrick. The school offers specific classes in equine law as well as agricultural law journals, making it a perfect fit for Patrick’s dream of working in law someday that will apply to horses and racing. Plus, she will be surrounded by horses and racing while she completes her law degree.

“UK’s law school was my top pick because of the classes they offer,” she said. “Plus, there are lots of good firms in that area, so I’m hoping I can continue my career in the Lexington area after graduation.”

One person whom Patrick continues to lean on for support and guidance is prominent owner Maggi Moss, who is an attorney in Des Moines, Iowa. Moss wrote a letter of recommendation for Patrick to enter law school, which she feels was a key component to her acceptance into UK. “I’ve never met Maggi Moss, but we have talked a lot through email AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 33

W

the past several years and her assistance and advice have been so helpful,” Patrick said.

“I hope she will continue to mentor me through law school.”

Moss, who was Indiana Grand’s leading owner last season, made her first trip to Indiana for the Indiana Derby in 2016.

However, Patrick was completing a sixweek excursion in Spain associated with her minor in Spanish through USF.

Cheyanna Patrick, her father, Gary, and mother, Cindy, pictured in the winner’s circle, made history at Indiana Grand in 2015 when they swept the year-end awards for leading apprentice jockey, leading trainer and leading owner.

34 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

Linscott Photography

Patrick received the Juan Saez Leading Apprentice Jockey Award at Indiana Grand in 2015, and she hit another career high when she guided Bipartisan to victory for trainer Carl Deville at Churchill Downs on April 29 for her first win at the prestigious oval.

Even riding only part-time, she has won more than 55 races since beginning her career as a jockey at age 16 in 2013. She plans to continue riding until it’s time to pack up and move to law school.

“I will stay [at Indiana Grand] and ride until law school starts,” Patrick said. “You are not allowed to have a job the first year of law school because it’s a full-time job, so I’m not sure how much I will ride after I start school. Also, I’m supposed to do an internship in the summers. I will be a journeyman by then, so maybe I will ride a few here and there next summer.”

Horses will always be a part of Patrick’s life. The former National Barrel Horse Association All American Youth World titleholder still has four or five barrel horses and plans to always stay in touch with that aspect of competition.

“Even after I graduate, I will always have barrel horses and will compete,” she said. “I will always be involved in horses in some way.”

Erica Murray has also made it a goal in life to stay involved with horses in some way. The jockey, who hails from northern Louisiana, began her riding career in the spring of 2015, earning her maiden-breaking victory at Louisiana Downs before relocating her tack to Fair Grounds. She arrived at Indiana Grand during the 2016 meet before competing at Turfway Park over the winter, which bridged the gap for her return to Indiana this spring. She has already made it to the winner’s circle in limited starts in 2017 as she builds up her

business in the Midwest.

Murray, Patrick and Clawson have become very close and support each other through the victories and the losses. Each one admits that having that type of support system is key to their success on the track.

Indiana has always been the home to successful female riders. From the very beginning of pari-mutuel action, jockeys such as Jerri Nichols, Paula Bacon, Mary Jo Brennan and Cindy Noll were among the top 10. But outside of Noll’s second-place finish in the standings in 2001, no female has gotten close to the top spot at either Hoosier Park, where Thoroughbred racing was held until 2012, or Indiana Grand, which has been in operation since 2003 and is now the state’s sole home for Thoroughbreds while Hoosier Park holds Standardbred racing.

In recent years, female jockeys such as Jaleina Farrell, Rhonda Collins, Carol Cedeno, Oriana Rossi and even Patrick have cracked the top 10 in the Thoroughbred standings but have not landed the top spot. The elusive leading Thoroughbred jockey title in Indiana still remains open for a female to seize the spot, and perhaps Clawson will be the rider who breaks that glass ceiling. H Tammy Knox is the race marketing manager for Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. The native of Southern Illinois has worked in racing for more than 35 years in various positions at racetracks across the nation.

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The Story of Bricky’s Horse A horseplayer, a priest and a slow steed made for a unique tale at a Missouri track

By Daniel J. Demers

Illustration by Joan Johnson AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 37

The race mentioned in the story could have taken place at the Macon County (Missouri) fairgrounds. This 1904 photo shows the grandstand with the Blees Military Academy in the background.

Courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis

T

his is one of those tragicomedies written by “an old Turfman” that appeared in the New York Sun in 1904. It was his recollection of an 1889 incident in which he was involved. Like many horse racing stories, especially those from decades ago, the details may have been embellished a bit, but it serves as a reminder of some of the characters and tales that make horse racing such a special sport.

Bricky McSweeney, the author relates, “had freckles as red as his hair” and was normally destitute; nobody knew how he got by. He did wager but was “never known to win a bet.” The Turfman recalled that Bricky “was a good-natured man [who] never lost his belief that someday” he would hit it big. Bricky maintained privileges at the racetrack at the St. Louis fairgrounds by taking plugs from disgruntled racehorse owners who got tired of paying the keep of their non-winning steeds. For eight years, Bricky always kept one of these slowpokes in his run-down shed at the racetrack and this “entitled him to get in at the gate and to move around in the paddock.”

Sadly, Bricky met a tragic end. A lovable old blind she-hound, the stable’s pet, wandered out onto the track in the midst of a race.

“A hundred stable hands yelled at her … scared her [and] she stood paralyzed plumb in the middle of the track [with] a field of horses … bearing down upon her at full speed,” the Turfman recalled.

The luckless Bricky was fond of the dog, and he raced out onto the track, grabbed her and flung her out of danger. It was too late for Bricky, however, to escape the inevitable. “Ten of the 18 maidens trampled him,” the Turfman wrote. “It didn’t take an expert eye to see that Bricky was about to make a quick cash-in.”

A call went out for a priest to anoint Bricky before his last breath.

A nearby priest was summoned. He was “a kindly old man of the cloth [that leaned over] the gasping Bricky” just in the nick of time.

With the anointment finished, the Turfman relates, “Bricky’s freckled face spread into one of his ear-to-ear grins … [and he whispered to the priest] ‘I ain’t got no kin, so I’ll leave my hoss to you,’ ” adding

38 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

in his joking way, “he ain’t much of a horse, father, but you can melt him down and git some tallow candles f ’r th’ altar out of him at that.”

Then Bricky’s “eyelids fluttered a bit and he piped out.”

All the stable hands chipped in and gave Bricky “something better than a decent burial,” presided over by the priest “who had closed Bricky’s eyes.” The Turfman rode back with the old priest, whom he described “as benign and gentle-souled a silver-haired man from the old dart [Ireland] as you ever met.” The priest inquired about Bricky’s bequest to him, and the Turfman filled him in about the deceased and his bizarre life living with non-winning cast-offs. He further surmised that the horse left to the old priest was likely not very useful, just as Bricky suggested. The Turfman volunteered to see if he could sell the horse “to some fellow with a milk [delivery] route.”

He also described the old priest’s surroundings to his readers. The priest lived in a cottage on the outskirts of St. Louis with a “little church about the size of a summer kitchen … which was mortgaged.”

The priest, the Turfman tells us, was just getting by. He was “one of those good old men of the cloth” that the bishops sent off somewhere to start up new parishes. He was “the whole works … ran the church, taught the parochial school, instructed the sodalities [religious guilds or brotherhoods], buried the dead, married the willing, christened the new ones, and all on the income that would not keep some jockeys in cigarettes for a week.”

When the Turfman visited Bricky’s shed he was “kind o’ surprised.” The 4-year-old stallion was a maiden, but in checking his pedigree the Turfman discovered “he was pretty cleverly bred.” Instead of trying to sell the horse, he decided to work and train him.

After a few weeks of training, the horse brightened up and developed better speed and stamina. The Turfman slapped the stallion on his haunches telling him: “I’m going to run you to help out the square and white-haired old man that buried your pal Bricky, and I want you to behave. How about it?”

brow [he muttered] … ‘did ye iver see a rogue of a horse travel so fast in all the life av ye?’ ” After the race, the Turfman and “a lot of us [stable workers]” went over to the old priest’s cottage and counted out the first and last $5,000 from the phony Missouri Industrial Stakes. The Turfman concluded his story telling the readers: “It was worth a good deal more to see his face … [the priest] made a humorous The race in question also might have taken place here, at the St. Louis Jockey Club fairgrounds. speech … announced his permanent reThis circa 1902 photo shows the grandstand and a newly built three-story clubhouse. Gambling tirement from the racing game and prewas outlawed soon after this photo was taken, and the track closed in 1905. sented his entire stable to me.”

As for the Turfman, he relates that he won a dozen or so profitable races with To his delight, the horse seemed to understand: “The old maiden Bricky’s horse before he was retired, but none gave him as much satisblinked his eyes rapidly and tossed his head and pawed the ground faction as the one the willing nag copped when he was the first home … he couldn’t have made it any plainer in words … he was going to in the phony Missouri Industrial Stakes. make the dog-gondest stab he knew how.”

Even so, it took two lies to a man of God to carry off. H A few days before the race, the Turfman went to the priest’s cottage and advised him of the upcoming race. He invited him to attend, to which the cleric agreed “as a looker-on but not a participant.” The Daniel J. Demers is a historical researcher and writer who resides in Turfman continued, “The boys are kind o’ talking of chipping in … Northern California. Over the past five years he has pioneered the exploraand getting down a bet for you.” Believing gambling of any kind was tion and use of the Library of Congress’ digital newspaper archives, which evil, the priest told the Turfman that may the horse “run and win for includes approximately 12 million American newspaper pages covering the glory of God … but no gambling in my name.” the period 1789 through 1924. He is the author of the book Old Wine Here’s where things got a little dicey. A dozen or so trainers ig- and Food Stories, available on Amazon.com. He invites readers to review nored the priest’s wishes and put together a $100 bet for him. The other stories at danieldemers.com. bet was placed quietly in the Turfman’s name. On the day of the race, the odds for Bricky’s horse were set at 50-1. It Courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis was a mile race with a field of 10 horses—all maidens.

“When the barrier flashed … [the other nine] went off on a false start … the whole nine went the entire route [but] the old priest’s horse wasn’t among the nine,” the Turfman wrote.

The nine were brought back and lined up for a new start. Knowing then that the priest’s horse would win due to the exhaustion of the others, the Turfman had to lie once again to explain the old man’s soon-to-be windfall. “This is the [non-existent] Missouri Industrial Stakes … and the first horse [to the finish line] gets … five thousand dollars.”

One can’t help but imagine that old priest fantasizing about how much good such an amount would mean to his poor parish. Midway through the race, the Turfman relates, “it was the first and only time I ever saw a dignified old man of the cloth flacking his arms like a stable hand trying all he knew to yell his tonsils down level with his palate … [finally sitting, embarrassedly The clubhouse at the St. Louis Jockey Club reportedly had a bowling alley and billiards saying] heaven forgive me for [being a] room, along with stained glass, ornamental urns and other elegant decorations. sinful old man … [then] mopping his Courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 39

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Coady Photography

An Indiana-bred at Oaklawn Park brings two families together

By Connie Strong

H

orseplayers have a lot in common—the rush of adrenaline at the start of each race, the belief that the next event will bring about the big score and the eternal search for “signs” that are surefire indicators of a longshot winner. Sometimes those hunches pay off, as in the case of Shannon Boshears and Double Tuff.

But Boshears’ story goes far beyond the typical excitement of cashing a winning ticket. The place was Arkansas’ Oaklawn Park; the date, March 25; and the race, an unbelievable turn of events that bonded two families and left even the most skeptical believing in the magic of possibility.

Watching for a Sign When Shannon’s dad, Clint Boshears, died in 2013, her lifelong love of horse racing followed. Without her father by her side at the track, there was no enthusiasm and far too many memories to handle.

The thrill was gone.

“Horse racing was how my dad and I bonded,” she said. “My brother, Bowden, didn’t care anything about going to the track. And my mother, Cynthia, would ‘allow’ us to go but knew we were probably going to lose money.”

Boshears said her dad, a former Marine who survived two atomic blasts, was a lover of life who always believed in signs. He spent a 42 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

lifetime as a real estate broker, but every chance he got he was handicapping horses or going to the races. According to Shannon, even his father was known to go to the track every day, limiting himself to a few dollars for betting.

“It’s in my blood,” she said.

Boshears laughed as she recalled, “On our way home from the track, mom would ask us, ‘Well, how did you do?’ We’d say, ‘We had fun!’ That meant we lost … And most of the time we lost.”

Clint owned several Thoroughbreds through the years and taught his daughter, at a very young age, to share his love of horses.

As the years passed, Boshears would pick up her dad and head to the track. She jokingly said that after her father’s retirement, her mother—who was still working in real estate—banned him from the track. But he always found a way to return. Whether it meant taking his wheelchair-bound brother to Oaklawn or a dying friend to Saratoga to strike one more item from her bucket list, Clint was at the ready.

So it came as no surprise when Boshears rented a van and broke her dad out of a hospice to take him to Oaklawn for Arkansas Derby Day. She wheeled him through the crowd of 66,000 people to claim the very last handicapped spot.

She recalled, “We got a hot dog and, even though he couldn’t read the Form, I helped him pick the horses and place the bets.”

owner and assistant trainer, 25-year-old Zack Simms, through Facebook. Little did she know that the hours that followed would bring a lasting bond and more than a few unusual coincidences.

What Are the Odds?

Courtesy Shannon Boshears

He only lasted a couple of races before Boshears had to take him home. Six weeks later, Clint passed away.

For four years following Clint’s death, Boshears avoided the track—even though it was his wish to have some of his ashes scattered at Oaklawn’s finish line. Finally, she decided it was time to return.

At dinner a couple nights before she planned to return to the track, Boshears said she had “an epiphany” and knew she needed to see the names of the horses immediately. She felt she would be given a sign, a “superstition” she had always believed in. After downloading the Oaklawn app on her phone—and refusing to move the car until it was done—she began to study the entries.

“As I was flipping through, I was up to the seventh race and still had no sign,” she said. “Then, there it was—eighth race, Double Tuff.”

Throughout their many years at the track, Clint would read the Daily Racing Form, study the horse stats and then carefully select one “winner” per day.

“He’d say, ‘This is the horse. This horse Boshears broke her father out of hospice to is ‘double tough,’ ” attend the 2013 Arkansas Derby at OakBoshears recalled. lawn; he passed away six weeks later.

Then Clint would tell his daughter to “bet it all.”

“Double tough” soon became a lasting, private catch-phrase in all situations between Boshears and her dad, so it came as no surprise when, after seeing the 4year-old gray gelding’s name, she says she could hear her dad’s voice guiding her to the winner. “Put $100 on the nose.”

Following her intuition, she reached out to Double Tuff ’s

Courtesy David Cralle

Courtesy Shannon Boshears

Shannon Boshears learned to love horse racing through her father, Clint, and that love was recently rekindled thanks to a connection through Facebook.

After hearing her emotionally charged story, Simms sent Boshears a picture of Double Tuff as a foal and told her that he was born April 9, 2013—just days before she had taken Clint to Oaklawn one last time.

As Boshears and the owner of Double Tuff became more acquainted, they realized their lives were following similar paths. Both had fathers who had overcome alcoholism and had gone on to help scores of others overcome their addictions. Both had taught their children to love and respect horses at a very young age. Boshears had lost her father after a long battle with vascular dementia while Simms’ dad, Double Tuff ’s trainer Garry Simms, was beating the odds against cancer. At one point, the trainer was given only two weeks to live, which devastated Zack, who was a senior in high The father-and-son training team school at the time. of Garry and Zack Simms.

“My dad had always told me that a trainer will never die if he has a good 2-year-old in his barn,” Zack said. “We were down to one horse and had given it all up but, slowly, my father began to progress.”

After two bone marrow transplants, Garry improved. He made it his goal to train again, making a huge impression on his son. “Dad always tells me, ‘It’s not how you fall, but how you get up that matters,’ ” said the younger Simms.

Soon Garry was going to the barn every morning, getting stronger by the day. Zack recalled, “My dad came home and told me, ‘I’m going to breed some mares. I just want to see the mares and foals running across our field one more time. That will keep me alive.’ ” As a trainer, Garry has recorded nearly 250 wins, including consecutive winners of the Debutante Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs with Flashy Lassie in 2011 and Blueeyesintherein in 2012.

The elder Simms’ health problems date back to 2009, and although he hasn’t been able to make it to the barn in quite some time, a recent Churchill Downs news release reports he is doing better.

“This week he was finally starting to feel better,” Zack said around Father’s Day. “The other day he was outside mowing the lawn. It’s truly amazing. Of course, I offered to help but he told me, ‘No, I want to do this; I can do this now.’ He’s started to call me early in the morning to check on things around the barn. It hasn’t been this way in a very long time. Who knows, maybe he’ll show up at the barn one morning.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 43

Courtesy Shannon Boshears

In addition to a memory that will last a lifetime, Boshears also went home with the Oaklawn plate from Double Tuff ’s race.

“He’s been through it all,” Zack added. “He’s had more than 200 chemo treatments, 50 radiation treatments and back-to-back bone marrow transplants. You want to talk about tough, Dad is the definition of tough.”

It was the hope of breeding a future star, Zack said, that kept his father going. Three mares were bred successfully—one of the foals was Double Tuff.

And They’re Off! Finally, on a perfect spring day, Boshears and her family made their way to Oaklawn and placed their bets on Double Tuff, an Indiana-bred son of Indiana stallion Skylord who had run eighth last time out at the track and was dismissed at odds of 32-1. Everyone held their breath as the anticipation soared.

Boshears said that it was another unbelievable feat to have this particular group all in one place at the same time, but everybody who played a role in her father’s life had taken an interest in the unfolding story of Double Tuff.

“A friend of ours, Frank Cox, who did my dad’s eulogy, only goes to the races once a year, and this was the day,” she said.

Simms invited Boshears and her anxious entourage to the barn to meet Double Tuff prior to the race. Later, as he was saddling the horse, he heard Boshears call his name.

“I looked up and saw the Boshears family waving at me,” he said.

“At this point, my heart was beating a thousand beats per minute. I wanted to win this race so badly, not only for my father and my family, but also for the Boshears family.”

44 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

Boshears said meeting Double Tuff will always be one of her favorite memories and that there was an immediate bond as the horse began to nuzzle her.

“I thought, at that moment, if I have to throw my $100 away, it will still be worth it,” she said.

Simms said his gentle horse has a better personality than most humans, but as soon as the bridle is on, he becomes a serious racehorse.

Double Tuff had been training very well coming into the race, and the trainer knew all along his horse had talent. “I’ve never in my life been around a horse with more heart as Double Tuff.”

When Double Tuff and jockey Alex Canchari broke from the starting gate, Simms was hopeful but realistic.

“This business is a business of reality,” he said. “No one would ever think that an Indiana-sired horse could win an allowance against open company at Oaklawn Park.”

Boshears, on the other hand, remained totally optimistic. She had gotten her “sign” and she had no doubt that her father’s spirit would guide Double Tuff across the finish line to win the race.

For the first half-mile, Double Tuff hung in among the leaders, gaining ground as they turned into the stretch. Simms admitted he was waiting for his horse to start dropping back, but that never happened.

He recalled the magical moment when he knew his horse would beat the odds. “Alex had a ton of horse and was just waiting to make his move. As soon as he did, Double Tuff exploded and quickly opened up by two lengths!”

Boshears was not able to see who was winning, but as she heard Simms screaming, she looked up at the Jumbotron to see Double Tuff running away from the pack.

“It was surreal! Zack was stunned. This horse was not supposed to win!” she said.

As Double Tuff crossed the wire first by 2 ½ lengths, there wasn’t a dry eye in the group.

In Retrospect Neither family will ever forget that day. Simms said it was, without a doubt, the best day of his life.

“This was a very special race to begin with; many years of hope and dedication led us to this day,” he said. “Not only was I ecstatic for my family and barn crew, but I was even more ecstatic for the Boshears family. That race meant so much to them and everything worked out exactly how we had hoped it would. It was undeniable that Clint Boshears’ spirit was with us—almost as if he had leant Double Tuff his angel wings.”

The gelding proved the win was no fluke, as he returned to his home state and won a $38,000 allowance at Indiana Grand on April 21, this time as the odds-on favorite against state-breds.

As for the Arkansas gal who has horse racing running through her veins, Shannon Boshears believed all along that Clint—an eternal optimist—would be there at the track, in spirit. That emotional day brought back fond memories of when her dad took her as a child to Oaklawn to have a full breakfast at the track kitchen and watch the horses work out.

The unbelievable win at Oaklawn brought two unlikely families together and changed the mind of a die-hard skeptic.

“After we won, my mother said, ‘I will never doubt you or make fun of you again,’ ” Boshears said.

Garry Simms, thanks partially to his newfound purpose in training Double Tuff, is still beating the odds of survival and couldn’t be happier. Zack, who plans to someday take over the business, realizes

Courtesy Shannon Boshears

that horse racing can break your heart, but on that day Double Tuff fulfilled his father’s lifelong dream, just when they needed it most.

“Horsemen dedicate their life to this career,” he said. “It isn’t just a job; it is a lifestyle.”

Boshears, who is in marketing and development by day and a blues singer by night, says Double Tuff has reaffirmed her faith that “there’s always something bigger than us going on.

Boshears, her brother and Simms get some facetime with Double Tuff.

We Have Your Money...

You Have Our Information!

Is your name on this list of breeders and owners who have earned money through the Accredited Texas-Bred Program for 2015 racing? For various reasons, the TTA has been unable to pay the individuals listed below. Usually the problem is very simple to correct. Perhaps a transfer form was never completed when you purchased your money-earning Texas Thoroughbred, or maybe you have moved and forgotten to tell us. Please call the TTA’s Accreditation Department at (512) 458-6133 so we can complete your paperwork—and so you can collect your ATB earnings!

ALHUSAINI STABLE .• $112.85 MAGNOLIA RACING STABLE & JIM WARD • $290.50 SHANNON MCDANIEL • $470.10 KELLY MYERS • $355.66 KEN PULLEN • $453.65 KATHERINE WRIGHT • $123.44 DENIS MICHELLE GANTT WYNNE • $148.57 MARLENE YEIGH • $103.70

“Sometimes you get to tap in and see a little bit of it,” she said.

“Every now and then, you get a glimpse of it. That day, we got a very large glimpse that normally people don’t get. That was the beauty and magic of it all.”

When asked what she would tell her colorful dad about the race, if she could, she is silent, then says she knows he was there with her, giving her signs from above.

As a last tribute, the families walked together to the winner’s circle for a photo. Just seconds before the shutter snapped, they scattered the ashes of Clint Boshears, and Zack handed Shannon the Oaklawn plate given to the winner.

Boshears, reflecting on the entire “miracle,” finally said, “All I can do is shake my head and smile.” H Connie Strong is a Texas-based writer whose articles have been published in numerous state, national and international magazines. Recently, she was lead writer for Raising A Hand, a photography/essay book published in support of Rett syndrome.

facebook.com/americanracehorse @AmerRacehorse

americanracehorse.com AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 45

HARMONY TRAINING CENTER HTC-trained Horses Have Earned $2,240,399 in 2017!

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In 2015, HTC-trained horses earning more than $7.7 million, including the All American Futurity winner! And in 2016, HTC-trained horses banked more than $6 million!

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• HTC is located near Tulsa and an easy haul of less than 12 hours to 12 tracks, including Remington Park, Will Rogers Downs, Fair Meadows, Lone Star, Sam Houston, Retama and Oaklawn • Approved for official timed workouts

• Completely railed, professionally-maintained training track is 40’ wide and 6 furlongs with a 350-yard chute • 152 stalls, each 11’ by 12’

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Catalog at WWW.COTBA.COM  (303) 294-0260 46 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

Coady Photography

Dancing Commander had modest success on the track with a single win at Will Rogers Downs, and now he’s excelling in a new career.

By Jen Roytz Photos by Matt Wooley/ EquiSport Photos

A

Emily Brollier Curtis and Dancing Commander (aka Winston) competing at the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover.

BRED TO RACE, BORN TO COMPETE An Oklahoma-bred finds a new home in the dressage ring

fundamental shift is taking place in the Thoroughbred business. Thanks to national organizations like the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Retired Racehorse Project, Take2 Program, Thoroughbred Incentive Program and others, plus regional and state organizations across the country, there are more opportunities for Thoroughbreds at the conclusion of their racing careers than ever before.

The result is that trainers specializing in a variety of non-racing disciplines are seeking out retiring or recently retired racehorses to retrain as riding and show horses.

A variation of that scenario is happening as well, as was the case with Oklahoma-bred Dancing Commander, whose owner specifically sought out a trainer to help give the former racehorse a second career. The gelding had shown some racing talent; in his first career start at Remington Park, he finished second to eventual Oklahoma Derby (G3) winner and Oklahoma Horse of the Year Shotgun Kowboy, albeit by nearly 13 lengths. He broke his maiden for a claiming tag at Will Rogers Downs but was also pulled up in two of his final three races. Vickie Heidlage, who acquired him off the track, then took the proverbial reins to steer his career in a new direction.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 47

Bound for the Thoroughbred Makeover

Heidlage read an article about Grand Prix dressage rider/trainer Emily Brollier Curtis competing in the Retired Racehorse Project’s $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover in 2015 that chronicled her approach to retraining racehorses for dressage. She reached out to Curtis to see if she would be willing to take on the recently retired racehorse. “[Dancing Commander] had a number of physical issues to overcome,” Curtis said, “but once we addressed those and gave him the time he needed, he started feeling good and his training flew along.”

Nicknamed Winston around the barn, the chestnut gelding had a kind disposition, was eager to learn and soon proved to Curtis that he had what it took to be her 2016 Thoroughbred Makeover mount.

He also caught the eye of one of Curtis’ clients, who was dealing with a variety of physical and mental issues with her other two horses.

“Both of my horses are tough rides; one is very naughty under saddle and the other just simply doesn’t know how to relax,” explained Wendy Wooley, a renowned equine photographer who, along with her husband, Matt, works under the banner of EquiSport Photos to photograph racing and equestrian events around the country. “One day when I was feeling pretty down about riding, Emily told me that I had two of the toughest horses she’s ever ridden.”

Curtis noticed that Wooley would often take time to visit Winston and was taking a liking to him, so she began letting Wooley get more involved with him, both on the ground and in the saddle.

“It started out with her offering to walk him out and groom him, then asking if she could take a lesson on him,” Curtis said.

A Forever Home in Kentucky

The more Wooley spent time with Winston, the more she knew he was the right horse for her. After some long discussions with her husband, she approached Curtis about purchasing him.

“My husband wanted me to enjoy riding and to be safe, and Winston does both,” Wooley said.

Wooley officially purchased Winston in June 2016 but was eager to still allow Curtis to fulfill the promise she made to Heidlage and compete with him in the Thoroughbred Makeover.

The pair ended up finishing third out of more than 80 horses entered in the dressage division. They also won several classes at open shows against all breeds, including Warmbloods specifically bred for dressage.

“I was thrilled with his performance at the Makeover and at the open shows during the season,” Curtis said. “Winston earned high point at USDF [U.S. Dressage Federation] recognized shows, scoring in the mid-70s.”

Wooley officially took possession of Winston at the conclusion of the Thoroughbred Makeover, moving him to the Kentucky farm she shares with her husband to give him some time to rest and recuperate after his first competition season.

Wendy Wooley with Winston after he competed at the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover.

48 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

Wendy Wooley (on the ground) and Emily Brollier Curtis (in the saddle) discuss Winston’s performance at the Thoroughbred Makeover.

“He was a little body sore and the time off did him some good,” Wooley said. “Our farm backs up to a very nice boarding facility that graciously allows the neighbors, like me, to use. I can ride out of our back gate and head over to their indoor arena to continue our training. It’s a perfect set up!”

Wooley and Winston have continued their training with Curtis.

Their long-term goals include showing at the local and regional dressage shows and for Wooley to eventually earn her USDF bronze, silver and gold medals, which are awarded to a dressage rider who attains required scores at the necessary levels at USDF-sanctioned competitions.

“I was so proud of Emily and what she accomplished with him at the Thoroughbred Makeover; it just blows my mind that I now own that horse!” Wooley said. “He’s a young horse, only turning five this April, and I want to bring him along at his pace.”

Wooley feels that his training and experiences as a racehorse has helped Winston easily transition to and excel in his new career.

“Racehorses are handled often and exposed to so many crazy things at a young age,” Wooley said. “This makes him easy to handle

DANCING COMMANDER (aka Winston) Breeder: James E. Helzer Born: April 4, 2012 State Bred: Oklahoma Sire: Mr. Trieste Dam: Dancing Darling Sale History: Sold at 2013 Texas Summer Yearling Sale by JEH Stallion Station for $5,000 Race Record: 9-1-1-1 Earnings: $19,980

on the ground, to give medications to when he needs them and load and transport him.”

Often people who ride Thoroughbreds in non-racing disciplines say one of the breed’s best attributes is their work ethic. Wooley agrees and says it’s one of her favorite things about her new horse, along with the unique bond she feels with Winston.

“The best part about our relationship is that we trust each other,” she said. “I had a horrible habit of riding defensively because the horses I had been riding were unpredictable and very spooky. Even though Winston is only a baby, I can relax and have learned I can trust him. He’s so fun to ride. He seems to have learned quite quickly that the arena means business and goes straight into work mode when we walk in.” H Jen Roytz is a freelance writer based in Lexington, Kentucky. She coowns Topline Communications, a marketing agency that caters to smallto medium-size businesses both in and outside of the horse industry.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 49

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IS THERE A HERO HIDING IN YOUR BARN?

$128,000 to be awarded over six categories

THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY EMPLOYEE AWARDS PRESENTED BY

USA 2017

Where would we be without all the guys and gals who work behind the scenes in our industry? All the unsung heroes whose tireless endeavor is as valuable as the jockey urging a thoroughbred over the finish line.

Well, the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards recognize and reward those very people who are at the heart of our industry.

NOMINATE NOW THE CLOSING DATE IS AUGUST 1ST

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52 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

Slew of Stakes SPRING WAS A BUSY TIME WITH STATE-BRED STAKES WINNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

A P IS LOOSE

$50,000 Minnesota Turf Stakes • Canterbury Park • 6yo gelding by Monarchos • Breeder/ Owner: Joel Zamzow (Minnesota) • Trainer: McLean Robertson • Jockey: Dean Butler

BUCKEYE BULLET

CAKE POP

$75,000 Tall Stack Stakes • Belterra Park 3yo colt by Notional • Breeder: Penny and Michael Lauer (Ohio) • Owner: Penny Lauer Trainer: Michael Lauer • Jockey: Marcelino Pedroza Notional stands in Indiana at Swifty Farms

CHANEL’S LEGACY

$78,650 Panthers Stakes • Prairie Meadows 3yo filly by Dominus • Breeder: H. Allen Poindexter (Iowa) • Owner: Poindexter Thoroughbreds LLC • Trainer: Lynn Chleborad Jockey: Alex Birzer

COINCIDENTALLY

DEFINING HOPE

$104,500 Swifty Sired Fillies Stakes and $82,750 ITOBA Stallion Season Fillies Stakes Indiana Grand • 3yo filly by Strong Hope Breeder/Owner: Colette Marie Vanmatre (Indiana) • Trainer: Barbara I. McBride Jockey: Malcolm Franklin Strong Hope stands in Indiana at Midwest Equine & Veterinary Hospital

DREAMIN

$60,000 Mamie Eisenhower Stakes • Prairie Meadows • 4yo filly by Woke Up Dreamin Breeder: Donald L. Downing (Iowa) • Owner: Danny Caldwell • Trainer: Federico Villafranco • Jockey: Ramon Vazquez Woke Up Dreamin stands in Iowa at Madison County Thoroughbreds

GOLD SHOCK

$65,000 Texas Stallion Stakes (Got Koko Division) • Lone Star Park • 3yo filly by My Golden Song • Breeder: Clarence Scharbauer III (Texas) • Owner: Douglas Scharbauer Trainer: Bret Calhoun • Jockey: Ivan Arellano My Golden Song stands in Texas at Valor Farm

GONE TOO SOON

$75,000 Sydney Gendelman Memorial Handicap • Belterra Park • 5yo gelding by Belong to Me • Breeder: Brian Poe and Robert Guciardo (Ohio) • Owner: Poe Racing Stable and Robert Guciardo • Trainer: Robert Guciardo • Jockey: Juan Velez

HAILSTORM SLEW

I ndiana - bred E vader proved elusive to the rest of the field in the ITOBA S tallion S eason H erb H oover M emorial S takes at I ndiana G rand as the gelding

recorded his first stakes victory and went over the $100,000 mark in earnings . H e also became the first stakes winner for his sire S tar C at , a son of S torm C at out of champion A shado standing at B reakway F arm in I ndiana .

$55,000 Great Lady M. Stakes • Will Rogers Downs • 4yo filly by Munnings • Breeder/ Owner/Trainer: C.R. Trout (Oklahoma) Jockey: Luis S. Quinonez

HOLD FOR MORE

$50,000 10,000 Lakes Stakes • Canterbury Park • 5yo gelding by Hold Me Back Breeder: Wood-Mere Farm (Minnesota) Owner: Dale Schenian • Trainer: Francisco Bravo • Jockey: Orlando Mojica

HONEY’S SOX APPEAL

$50,000 Lady Slipper Stakes • Canterbury Park • 4yo filly by Successful Appeal Breeder: Paul Knapper and Bob Lindgren (Minnesota) • Owner: Robert E. Lindgren Trainer: McLean Robertson • Jockey: Alex Canchari

HYPER DRIVE

$55,000 Cherokee Nation Classic Cup Stakes Will Rogers Downs • 4yo gelding by Don’t Get Mad • Breeder: Tracy Strachan (Oklahoma) Owner: Henry Thilmony • Trainer: Randy Oberlander • Jockey: Lindey Wade

Dustin Orona Photography

$75,000 Howard B. Noonan Stakes • Mahoning Valley • 3yo gelding by Super Saver • Breeder/ Owner: WinStar Farm LLC and Blazing Meadows Farm LLC (Ohio) • Trainer: Timothy E. Hamm • Jockey: Jaime Rodriguez

$85,250 ITOBA Stallion Season Herb Hoover Memorial Stakes • Indiana Grand • 3yo gelding by Star Cat • Breeder: Penny and Michael Lauer (Indiana) • Owner: Penny Lauer Trainer: Michael Lauer Jockey: Marcelino Pedroza Star Cat stands in Indiana at Breakway Farm

E merging as one of the top I ndiana - breds in training , D efining H ope picked up her second stakes win of the I ndiana G rand meet with a victory in the ITOBA S tallion S eason F illies S takes . T he daughter of S trong H ope , who stands at M idwest E quine & V eterinary H ospital , has five wins , two seconds and a third in nine starts with earnings of nearly $285,000.

Linscott Photography

$75,000 Michael F. Rowland Memorial Handicap • Thistledown • 4yo gelding by Dark Kestrel • Breeder: Mr. and Mrs. Louis V. Ruberto Jr. (Ohio) • Owner: Ruberto Racing Stable Inc. • Trainer: Sharon Ruberto Jockey: Luis M. Quinones

EVADER

Linscott Photography

Spring is perhaps the best season of the year for horsemen, as new foals are hitting the ground and the racing action hits full stride across the middle of the nation from Minnesota to Texas. While the list of state-bred stakes winners can be sparse during the winter months, it was anything but this spring as horses bred in the Midwest and Southwest piled up stakes wins at home and on the road.

Following is a list of stakes winners for the period of mid-March through June bred in the states covered by American Racehorse. (Please see the state news section for Arkansas-bred stakes winners.) For additional stakes recaps, go to americanracehorse.com.

A fter four previous stakes placings , G old S hock ( outside ) became a stakes winner in the G ot K oko division of the C larence S charbauer J r . T exas S tallion S takes at L one S tar P ark . B red by the late S charbauer and owned by his son D ouglas , G old S hock is a daughter of M y G olden S ong , whom D ouglas stands at his V alor F arm in T exas .

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 53

INAGOODWAY

Coady Photography

$55,000 More Than Even Stakes Will Rogers Downs • 4yo filly by Save Big Money • Breeder: Mike Castor (Oklahoma) Owner: Steve Dupy, Kent Blair, and Mike Castor • Trainer: Roger F. Engel Jockey: Curtis Kimes Save Big Money stands in Oklahoma at Mighty Acres

ITSALLABOUTYOU

N ever off the board in 10 starts , M innesota - bred H oney ’ s S ox A ppeal picked up her second stakes win in the L ady S lipper S takes at C anterbury P ark . T he filly by S uccessful A ppeal has earned more than $190,000.

$60,000 John Wayne Stakes • Prairie Meadows • 6yo gelding by Harlington Breeder: Dave McShane and Don Frazier (Iowa) • Owner: Danny Caldwell Trainer: Federico Villafranco Jockey: Ramon Vazquez

JAYNE’S IDEA

$63,500 Bob Bryant Stakes • Prairie Meadows 3yo filly by Woke Up Dreamin • Breeder: William E. Hazen Jr. (Iowa) • Owner: End Zone Athletics Inc. • Trainer: Karl Broberg Jockey: David Cabrera Woke Up Dreamin stands in Iowa at Madison County Thoroughbreds

JS PEARLJAM Coady Photography

$55,000 Cinema Handicap • Will Rogers Downs • 3yo filly by Dance Master • Breeder/ Owner: Shirley Wheeler (Oklahoma) • Trainer: Scott Young • Jockey: Bryan McNeil

JUSTALITTLESMOKE

O klahoma - bred I nagoodway continued to blossom as a 4- year - old and scored her first stakes win in the M ore T han E ven S takes at W ill R ogers D owns . T he daughter of O klahoma stallion S ave B ig M oney of M ighty A cres has won three times in as many starts this year and five times in 10 career starts .

$75,000 Michael G. Mackey Memorial Angenora Stakes and $75,000 J. William Petro Memorial Handicap • Thistledown 5yo mare by Smoke Glacken • Breeder: Belvedere Farm Inc. (Ohio) • Owner: Mast Thoroughbreds LLC • Trainer: Robert Gorham Jockey: T.D. Houghton

LEONA’S REWARD

$75,000 George Lewis Memorial Stakes Thistledown • 4yo filly by Parents’ Reward Breeder: Blazing Meadows Farm (Ohio) Owner: Blazing Meadows Farm LLC and Michael Friedman • Trainer: Timothy Hamm Jockey: Pablo Morales Parents’ Reward stands in Ohio at Poplar Creek Horse Center

Coady Photography

MAKIN THE DOUGH

P ersistence paid off for I owa - bred I tsallaboutyou ( outside ) as the 6- year - old gelding got his first stakes win in his 37 th career start by taking the J ohn W ayne S takes at P rairie M eadows . T he gelding won just twice in 19 starts in his first three years on the track , but he visited the winner ’ s circle six times last year and this marked his third victory this year .

$55,000 Will Rogers Handicap • Will Rogers Downs • 3yo gelding by Service Stripe Breeder: Rusty Roberts (Oklahoma) Owner: Rick S. Engel • Trainer: Roger Engel Jockey: Bryan McNeil Service Stripe stands in Oklahoma at Caines Stallion Station

MOLLECK

Zamaiko Photography JJ

54 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

NIKKI MY DARLING

$75,000 Southern Park Stakes • Mahoning Valley • 3yo filly by Creative Cause Breeder: Sheltowee Farm and James E. Evans (Ohio) • Owner: Loooch Racing Stables Inc. and Imaginary Stables • Trainer: Jeffrey Radosevich • Jockey: Luis Colon

OVERLAND PARK

$50,000 San Juan County Commissioners Handicap • Sunray Park • 5yo gelding by Snow Ridge • Breeder: Joe K. Davis (Texas) Owner: Donna Eaton • Trainer: Nancy Summers • Jockey: Duane Sterling

RETROSPECTION

$105,300 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes • Indiana Grand • 3yo gelding by Daaher • Breeder: Randy Burkett (Indiana) Owner: Beth Burkett • Trainer: Mike Maker Jockey: Robby Albarado

RISER

$50,000 Coca-Cola Stakes • Emerald Downs 3yo colt by Mizzen Mast • Breeder: Justice Farm/Greg Justice (Ohio) • Owner: Chappell Alpine Farms LLC • Trainer: Blaine Wright Jockey: Eswan Flores

RIVERS RUN DEEP

$75,000 Edward Babst/Albert Palacios Memorial Handicap • Belterra Park • 6yo horse by Ready’s Image • Breeder: Nancy J. Lavrich and Walmac Farm LLC (Ohio) Owner: Ywachetta H. Driver and James Travis Trainer: Chris Hartman • Jockey: Albin Jimenez

ROCKIN THE BLEU’S

$51,000 Miranda Diane Stakes • Will Rogers Downs • 6yo mare by Rockport Harbor Breeder: Jeff and Debora Hilger (Minnesota) Owner: Bleu Valley Farm LLC • Trainer: Michael Biehler • Jockey: Bryan McNeil

RON

$104,500 Sagamore Sired Stakes • Indiana Grand • 3yo gelding by Mondavi • Breeder: Carol S. Renn (Indiana) • Owner: Marvin A. Johnson LLC • Trainer: Marvin Johnson Jockey: Leandro Goncalves Mondavi stands in Indiana at Breakway Farm

RUMPOLE

$65,000 Texas Stallion Stakes (Stymie Division) • Lone Star Park • 3yo gelding by Too Much Bling • Breeder/Owner: Fletcher Properties Inc. (Texas) • Trainer: Robert Young • Jockey: Richard Eramia Too Much Bling stands in Texas at Valor Farm

MY MASTER PLAN

SKY T

MYWOMANFROMTOKYO

win machine known as J ustalittlesmoke notched her 15 th victory from 23 starts with a decisive score in the J. W illiam P etro M emorial H andicap at T histledown .

T he 5- year - old O hio - bred daughter of S moke G lacken has never finished worse than third , and this win pushed her career earnings to $722,870.

$65,000 Cyclones Handicap • Prairie Meadows • 5yo gelding by Include Breeder: Lane Thoroughbreds LLC (Iowa) Owner: Claim To Fame Stable • Trainer: Clinton Stuart • Jockey: Terry Thompson

$71,000 Gray’s Lake Stakes • Prairie Meadows • 3yo gelding by Henny Hughes Breeder: James R. Leech (Iowa) • Owner: Prairie Gold Diggers • Trainer: Gene Jacquot Jockey: Kevin Roman $50,000 Lane’s End Danny Shifflett Scholarship Stakes • Lone Star Park • 4yo filly

by Oratory • Breeder: Dan W. McGough (Texas) • Owner: Joyce D. McGough • Trainer: Danny Pish • Jockey: Luis S. Quinonez

T he

NET GAIN

$65,000 Hawkeyes Handicap • Prairie Meadows • 4yo filly by Neko Bay • Breeder: Crimson King Farm and Mr. and Mrs. Scott Pope (Iowa) • Owner: Crimson King Farm and Christine Rhiner • Trainer: Kelly Von Hemel Jockey: Glenn Corbett

$43,245 Aspen Stakes • Arapahoe Park 5yo gelding by Mr. Trieste • Breeder: Glen L. Scott (Colorado) • Owner: Kim Oliver Racing Stable LLC • Trainer: Kim Oliver Jockey: Scott Stevens

M olleck

D espite

a less - than - perfect trip , L eona ’ s R eward ( inside ) held on to defeat E ightthehardway in the G eorge L ewis M emorial S takes for O hio - breds at T histledown . T he daughter of P arents ’ R eward needed 12 tries to break her maiden , but since then the 4- year - old has recorded five more victories and boosted her bankroll to more than $250,000.

SOMEDAY SOON

$75,000 Tomboy Stakes • Belterra Park 3yo filly by Proud Citizen • Breeder/Owner: Tommy G. Ligon (Ohio) • Trainer: William Van Meter • Jockey: Declan Cannon

STRIKE YOUR LIGHT

$75,000 Green Carpet Stakes • Belterra Park 3yo colt by Majestic Warrior • Breeder/ Owner: Maccabee Farm LLC (Ohio) • Trainer: Thomas Drury Jr. • Jockey: Malcolm Franklin

SUPER ONE

$43,073 Ingrid Knotts Stakes • Arapahoe Park • 5yo mare by No Storms • Breeder: Monk Hall (Colorado) • Owner: Mason A. King • Trainer: Juan Ortega • Jockey: Alfredo Triana Jr.

SUPERMASON

$50,000 Premiere Stakes • Lone Star Park 5yo gelding by Grasshopper • Breeder: W.S. Farish and E.J. Hudson Jr. Irrevocable Trust (Texas) • Owner: Brad Grady • Trainer: Bret Calhoun • Jockey: Lindey Wade Grasshopper stands in Texas at Valor Farm

TRUE CINDER

$43,583 CTBA Derby • Arapahoe Park 3yo gelding by Fusaichi Pegasus • Breeder: Menoken Farms (Colorado) • Owner: Kent Bamford and Randy Patterson • Trainer: Tyrone Gleason • Jockey: David Cardoso

WELDER

$51,500 Highland Ice Stakes and $55,000 TRAO Classic Sprint Stakes • Will Rogers Downs • 4yo gelding by The Visualiser Breeder: Center Hills Farm (Oklahoma) Owner: Ra-Max Farms LLC • Trainer: Theresa Luneack • Jockey: Travis Cunningham The Visualiser stands in Oklahoma at Mighty Acres

WHISTLE STOP

$104,300 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes (Filly Division) • Indiana Grand • 3yo filly by Into Mischief • Breeder: Penny and Michael Lauer (Indiana) • Owner: Penny Lauer Trainer: Michael Lauer • Jockey: Marcelino Pedroza

T exas - bred M y M aster P lan scored a powerful victory in the $50,000 L ane ’ s E nd D anny S hifflett S cholarship S takes at L one S tar P ark . A daughter of the late O ratory , who was among the leading stallions in T exas and O klahoma , M y M aster P lan has four stakes victories and earnings of more than $223,000.

WINGS LOCKED UP

$65,000 Ed Skinner Stakes • Prairie Meadows $50,000 Dark Star Cup Stakes • Canterbury Park • 5yo gelding by Munnings • Breeder: Avalon Farms Inc. (Oklahoma) • Owner: Sad Sac Racing • Trainer: Clinton Stuart • Jockey: David Cabrera, Orlando Mojica

ZIPPIT E

$50,000 Wayne Hanks Memorial Stakes Lone Star Park • 4yo filly by My Golden Song Breeder/Owner: Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch (Texas) • Trainer: Bret Calhoun Jockey: Eddie Martin Jr. My Golden Song stands in Texas at Valor Farm

Coady Photography

C olorado - bred W ay O ut W est ( outside ), a son of F usaichi P egasus who sold for $24,500 at the C olorado T horoughbred A ssociation S ilver C up Y earling S ale in 2015, prevailed in the CTBA D erby at A rapahoe P ark . H e also won last year ’ s CTBA and S ilver C up futurities .

M innesota - bred R ockin the B leu ’ s kicked off her 6- year - old season with a win in the M iranda D iane S takes at W ill R ogers D owns to earn her first open company stakes victory . T he R ockport H arbor mare also has a stakes win at C anterbury P ark in her home state , and she has nine career wins from 26 starts .

I n a span of two weeks , O klahoma - bred W ings L ocked U p captured the E d S kinner S takes at P rairie M eadows ( pictured ) and the D ark S tar C up S takes at C anterbury P ark . T he gelding by M unnings is closing in on $400,000 in earnings with a record of 35-14-6-3.

Coady Photography

$75,000 Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial Stakes Thistledown • 3yo filly by Alcindor • Breeder: Larry Byer (Ohio) • Owner/Trainer: Michael Rone • Jockey: Hector Rosario Jr.

WAY OUT WEST

Coady Photography

$50,000 Minnesota Turf Distaff Stakes Canterbury Park • 4yo filly by Belong to Me Breeder: Tim Rosin, Jerry Miller and Mark Kane (Minnesota) • Owner: Tim Rosin, Patti Miller and Mark Kane • Trainer: Judd Becker Jockey: Orlando Mojica

Dustin Orona Photography

SOME SAY SO

Coady Photography

JJ

Zamaiko Photography

earned his first stakes victory in the G ray ’ s L ake S takes for 3- year - old I owa - bred colts and geldings at P rairie M eadows . T he son of H enny H ughes sold for $12,500 at the I owa T horoughbred B reeders and O wners A ssociation F all M ixed S ale in 2015 and has since earned nearly $100,000.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 55

Sunday, August 27, 2017 OKC Fairgrounds Join us for opening weekend at Remington Park and get the next Oklahoma Classics winner at the sale!

Carter Sales Co. grad PHANTOM TRIP (Summer Bird – Nakayama Jeune, by Petionville) wins the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup! Congrats to owner Lester Ellenz, trainer Clinton Stuart, jockey David Cabrera, breeder Center Hills Farm and consignor Mighty Acres!

SIRES INCLUDE: ALGORITHMS • ALTERNATION • APRIORITY • AWESOME PATRIOT • CREATIVE CAUSE • CROSS TRAFFIC DISCREET CAT • DOCTOR CHIT • EUROEARS • EVEN THE SCORE • FLASHBACK • FLAT OUT • FLATTER • GRAYDAR HAYNESFIELD • JIMMY CREED • KENNEDY • KIPLING • LATENT HEAT • LINE OF DAVID • LIQUOR CABINET MIDSHIPMAN • MISTER LUCKY CAT • MORO TAP • MUCHO MACHO MAN • NOTIONAL • ORATORY • PODIUM REVOLUTIONARY • SAVE BIG MONEY • SIDNEY’S CANDY • STATE CITY • STAY THIRSTY • TACTICAL CAT TAKE CHARGE INDY • TEMPLE CITY • TIZWAY • TOCCET • UNBRIDLED’S HEART • WILBURN

Catalogs online July 27 at www.cartersalesco.com 56 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

cartersalesco.com 405-640-8567

STATE ASSOCIATION NEWS Alabama-bred Update The third annual Kenneth Cotton Memorial Race, sponsored by the Alabama HBPA with assistance from the Louisiana HBPA, was run April 29 at Evangeline Downs with a field of eight. The $25,000 race was contested at six furlongs for Alabama-breds that were maidens or had broken their maiden for a claiming price of $25,000 or less and never won two races. The winner was Miss Mississippi, a 3-yearold filly owned by James A. Boyd and trained by Ronnie Ward. Jairo Rodriguez rode her to a 1 ½-length win in 1:12.80 in her career debut.

Bred by co-owner Boyd and Diane M. Harrington, Miss Mississippi is

by Lion Tamer out of Miss Cortina, by Roar. Her victory came exactly three years to the day after she was foaled.

Running second was Babalight, owned by Hackett Brothers Thoroughbreds Inc. and trained by Tim Dixon. Third was Alabama Brass, owned by Carol Howell and trained by David Lowry Jr. The Alabama HBPA once again thanks Evangeline Downs and the Louisiana HBPA for all their help and support in the running of this Alabama-bred race.

The Jefferson County Racing Commission has said the Magic City Classic will be run again this year, but no details on purse amount and date are available at this time. The race will most likely be held at Fair Grounds in December. As the details are known, we will help get the word out.

For those of you running Alabama-bred horses in Louisiana, there are still added purse funds available to those horses running in open company races at the four tracks in the state. This is in addition to the Alabama HBPA supplemental purse funds for any Alabama-bred running in open company.

The newly updated Birmingham Race Course had a crowd of 5,100 with a handle of approximately $900,000 for the Kentucky Derby this year, which was an improvement from 2016. Maybe this is the start of a new trend in horse racing.

ARKANSAS THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND HORSEMEN’S ASSOCIATION NEWS Congrats to the 2016 Award Winners The Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association presented the following awards for 2016 at its annual banquet in April: Breeder of the Year—McDowell Farm Horse of the Year—Weast Hill (by Rockport Harbor); Breeder: Starsky Weast Broodmare of the Year—Copperelle; Owner: Starsky Weast Stallion of the Year—Primary Suspect; Owner: McDowell Farm Stakes Winners: Brooke’s a Bookin (by Jonesboro); Breeder: Jess George Co Ferment (by Afleet Express); Breeder: McDowell Farm

Easter Indy (by A. P. Million); Breeders: John and Libbie E. Thiel Maize Road (by Afleet Alex); Breeder: McDowell Farm Seeking Angels (by Bob and John); Breeder: Dr. Dan W. White Trace Creek (by Harperstown); Breeder: Shortleaf Stable Weast Hill (by Rockport Harbor); Breeder: Starsky Weast

Coady Photography

ALABAMA HBPA NEWS

Horse of the Year Weast Hill (inside) won two Arkansas-bred stakes during the 2016 meet at Oaklawn.

Arkansas-bred Stakes Recap The 2017 Arkansas-bred stakes included five stakes worth $100,000 apiece at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs. The first two Arkansas-bred stakes were recapped last issue with Easter Indy taking the Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes and Racer winning the Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes. Following are recaps of the other three stakes.

Five O One, a 3-year-old gelding owned by Flurry Racing Stables LLC, took the Rainbow Stakes on March 31 by five lengths with Ricardo Santana Jr. up for trainer Brad Cox. The son of Drosselmeyer was bred by Bill McDowell and Dr. K.K. Jayaraman and finished the meet with a record of 3-2-0-1 and earnings of $111,500.

On April Fools’ Day, Ministry sprinted to a powerful 6 ¾-length win in the Rainbow Miss Stakes. Thomas Pompell rode for trainer Jaime Gonzalez and owner Starfish Stable LLC. The 3-year-old filly was bred

by Arthur Hall and C.F. Newman and sired by Arkansas stallion Ordained, a son of Pulpit who stands at Dr. Linda Robbins’ Starfish Stallions in Hot Springs.

Robert and Val Yagos’ homebred Racer became the only two-time Arkansas-bred stakes winner during the meet when he took the Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes on April 8. Jon Court rode the Jonesboro gelding to victory for trainer Timothy Martin, just as he did in the Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes. Arkansas stallion Jonesboro stood the 2017 season at Lake Hamilton Equine Associates in Royal.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 57

STATE ASSOCIATION NEWS COLORADO THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS Colorado Silver Cup Yearling Sale Set for August 5 The Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association will conduct its annual Silver Cup Yearling Sale on Saturday, August 5, at Arapahoe Park near Denver.

Sale graduates will be eligible for the $50,000-estimated Silver Cup Futurity to be run in 2018 at Arapahoe Park. In addition, fillies that went through the sale will have preference to run in the 2018 Arapahoe Debutante, a $30,000 stakes that offers a $15,000 bonus exclusively for Silver Cup graduates.

Colorado-bred yearlings also earn bonus payments for their buyers when they finish first, second or third in races run in Colorado.

Last year, owners of Colorado-bred Thoroughbreds collected nearly $250,000 in bonus awards.

The sale typically catalogs 50 to 60 yearlings. Represented sires include Awesome Patriot, Delhomme, General Quarters, Misremembered, Ready’s Image, Run Away and Hide, Sidney’s Candy, Sky Mesa and Warrior’s Reward, along with local standouts El Roblar, Oliver’s Twist and Zip Quik.

Sale graduates include Get Happy Mister, a Grade 3 winner in California and the all-time leading Colorado-bred earner at $384,928; Grade 3-placed Tenango, an earner of nearly $500,000; and multiple stakes winner Wally Van, who has banked more than $300,000.

Last year’s sale offered plenty of bargain opportunities as the sale average was $6,088 with a median of $3,600.

For more information and to view the catalog, go to cotba.com.

INDIANA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS AND OWNERS ASSOCIATION NEWS Lady Fog Horn Named Indiana Horse of the Year for the Second Time

Linscott Photography

The Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association held its annual awards banquet at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino on April 23, in conjunction with the Indiana Thoroughbred Breed Development Lady Fog Horn, the all-time leading money earner Advisory Committee.

The evening’s special among distaffers bred in Indiana, captured her guest speaker was resecond Horse of the Year title. tired jockey Otto Thorwarth, who won nearly 1,400 races and also played Ron Turcotte in the Disney movie “Secretariat.”

The ITOBA Horse of the Year title went to Lady Fog Horn, who won

58 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

five of seven starts last year and banked nearly $360,000. The daughter of Zavata also won the award for 2015. Trained by Anthony Granitz and owned by her breeder The Elkstone Group LLC, Lady Fog Horn captured last year’s Grade 2 Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs and won four races at Indiana Grand, including the Frances Slocum and Florence Henderson stakes. All told, she has banked $786,273 to rank as the highest earning Indiana-bred female of all time. In her most recent start on April 21 at Keeneland, she finished third in the Grade 3 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare Stakes.

Following is a complete list of winners from the night: Champion Indiana-Bred 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Gifted Justice Owner: PTK LLC Breeder: Justice Farm, Greg Justice Trainer: Dane Kobiskie Champion Indiana-Bred 2-Year-Old Filly Whistle Stop Owner: Penny S. Lauer Breeder: Michael E. and Penny S. Lauer Trainer: Michael E. Lauer Champion Indiana-Bred/Indiana-Sired 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Ron Owner/Trainer: Marvin A. Johnson Breeder: Carol S. Renn Champion Indiana-Bred/Indiana-Sired 2-Year-Old Filly Defining Hope Owner/Breeder: Colette Marie Vanmatre Trainer: Barbara McBride Champion Indiana-Bred 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Badabing Badaboom Owner: Penny S. Lauer Breeder: Michael E. and Penny S. Lauer Trainer: Michael E. Lauer Champion Indiana-Bred 3-Year-Old Filly Neo Verthandi Owner: Kimiyuki Kobayashi Breeder: Lake Shore Farm LLC Trainer: Y. Shikato Champion Indiana-Bred/Indiana-Sired 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Derby Express Owner/Breeder: Greenhill Racing Stables Inc. Trainer: Jeff Greenhill Champion Indiana-Bred/Indiana-Sired 3-Year-Old Filly Carmalley Chrome Owner: Tom Roche Breeder: Carmalley Valley Farm LLC Trainer: Michael Nance Champion Indiana-Bred Older Horse Bucchero Owner: Ironhorse Racing Stable LLC Breeder: Southern Chase Farm Inc. and Karen Dodd Trainer: Tim Glyshaw

Spring Sale Results, Fall Sale on Tap The ITOBA Spring 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale was held June 11 at Indiana Grand.

From a catalog of 14 head, six sold for $33,500 with an average of $5,583. That average could have been significantly higher had a couple of high-dollar horses met their reserves. Of particular note was an unraced 3-year-old gelding by Spanish Steps named Northern Commander who reached a bid of $49,000 but did not meet his reserve.

The high seller was The Last Factor, a 2-year-old gelding by Entrepreneur who sold for $10,000 to Murphy and Garcia from the consignment of Elliott Ventures, agent.

The ITOBA Fall Sale is set for Sunday, October 15, at 2 p.m. at Indiana Grand. The entry fee is only $250 per horse, and the consignment deadline is September 8.

For consignment forms and more information, check out the new and improved sales website at itobasales.com.

IOWA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS AND OWNERS ASSOCIATION NEWS One Fine Dream Named ITBOA Horse of The Year

by John Hernandez

The talented gelding One Fine Dream, owned by the Umbrella Stables II LLC of Leroy Gessmann and bred in Iowa by Gary Lucas and Linda Woods, earned dual honors from the Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association for his accomOne Fine Dream won five stakes, including four plishments last year as straight at Prairie Meadows, in 2016 to earn the 2016 ITBOA 3-YearHorse of the Year honors.

Old Iowa-bred Colt and Horse of the Year.

The son of Woke Up Dreamin out of One Fine Shweetie won five of seven starts last year under the conditioning of Prairie Meadows Hall of Fame trainer Kelly Von Hemel. One Fine Dream earned $226,998 last year and upped his career total to nearly $300,000.

One Fine Dream’s 2016 campaign started off on a bit of an inauspicious note when he finished sixth, beaten nine lengths, in a tough open allowance race at Oaklawn Park in early April. In his first start of the season at Prairie Meadows, the Iowa-bred finished third in an open allowance. But he was perfect after that!

Starting on June 4, One Fine Dream reeled off five consecutive stakes victories. He dominated the Iowa-bred 3-year-old division at Prairie Meadows with four stakes scores in the Gray’s Lake Stakes, Cyclones Handicap, Iowa Stallion Stakes and Iowa Breeders’ Derby, and then added a fifth in the MTA Stallion Auction Stakes at Canterbury Park.

“He’s a special horse,” Gessmann said. “It takes a special horse to win five straight races, especially the way he did. He is so tough when he’s challenged head-to-head. He doesn’t like to be passed.”

Here are other Iowa-bred champions of 2016: 2-Year-Old Iowa-bred Colt—Han Sense, a son of Hansen, was unraced when owner Kendall Hansen shipped him to Prairie Meadows to run in the Iowa Cradle on August 13. The Allen Poindexter-bred colt broke slowly, rallied from behind and pulled clear for a 1 ½-length victory under jockey Ramon Vazquez. Before the year ended, Han Sense had earned $121,245 with placings in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes at Woodbine in Canada and Grade 2 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct in New York.

2-Year-Old Iowa-bred Filly—Chanel’s Legacy, a daughter of Dominus, raced only once at Prairie Meadows in 2016, but that outing set the foundation for a good finish to her year. As it Coady Photography

Champion Indiana-Bred Older Mare Duchess of Duke Owner: Douglas J. Reddington Breeder: Pine Tree Mares LLC Trainer: Deborah England Champion Indiana-Bred/Indiana-Sired Older Horse of the Year Sucess Is Racing Owner: Charless Watt and Willowbrok Stables Ltd. Breeder: Everett Hammond Trainer: Kim Hammond Champion Indiana-Bred/Indiana-Sired Older Mare of the Year Lady Fog Horn Owner/Breeder: The Elkstone Group LLC Trainer: Anthony Granitz Indiana Stallion of Year Monba Maria’s Mon—Hamba, by Easy Goer Owned by Triton Farms LLC—George Hofmeister Standing at Nicks Farm Indiana Broodmare of the Year Titia Owned by The Elkstone Group LLC Indiana Horse Racing Commission Breed Development Horse of the Year Lady Fog Horn Indiana Horse Racing Commission Breed Development Breeder of the Year Michael and Penny Lauer Indiana Horse Racing Commission Breed Development Stallion Owner of the Year Tom Roche—Carmalley Valley Farm Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Hall of Distinction Don Myers and Jim Elliott

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 59

STATE ASSOCIATION NEWS turned out, it was a mere glimpse of the success that was forthcoming. Owner/breeder Allen Poindexter and his longtime trainer Lynn Chleborad sent out Chanel’s Legacy, unraced at the time, to a troubled but respectable third-place finish in the Iowa Sorority on Iowa Classic Day August 13. Less than two months later, Chanel’s Legacy had not only broken her maiden but had gone on to win a $50,000 stakes at Remington Park, ending the year with $84,394 in earnings. But she really became a force to be reckoned with during the ultratough 2017 Oaklawn Park season where she was an easy winner in both the $125,000 Dixie Belle and $125,000 Martha Washington. On April 14, she led to deep stretch before settling for second to Ever So Clever in the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy Stakes.

3-Year-Old Iowa-bred Filly—It’s the Swede, a daughter of Yes It’s True, won four of seven starts at Prairie Meadows in 2016 for earnings of $150,772. Running for breeder William “Duke” Hobbs, she reeled off three consecutive victories early in the season, including wins in the Mamie Eisenhower and Bob Bryant stakes. Transferred to the ownership of End Zone Athletics Inc. and trainer Karl Broberg before a mid-July start, It’s the Swede visited the winner’s circle again in early August when she won an allowance-level affair.

Older Iowa-bred Mare—Kera Kera, a daughter of Sharp Humor, scored one win and garnered $84,748 in earnings for owner/ trainer Satchell Stevens at Prairie Meadows in 2016. She began her career running under the colors of breeder RPM Thoroughbreds of Prairie Meadows Hall of Famers Ray and Peggy Shattuck.

Older Iowa-bred Horse—Matchlock, a son of Matt’s Broken Vow bred by Emil Kark, won three of his seven starts and $124,779 in earnings for owners Tom Allen, Dan Sears, Otto Farms Inc. and Dick Clark, who also trained the gelding. His most significant victory was a wire-to-wire score in the Governor Terry E. Branstad Stakes on Iowa Classic Day. ITBOA also named champions based on earnings at Prairie Meadows in 2016: Owner and Breeder of the Year—Allen Poindexter’s Iowa-owned and -bred runners earned a combined $823,803.

Stallion of the Year—Added Edge, who stands at Special K Stables in Runnells, had progeny earnings of $407,424.

Broodmare of the Year—One Fine Shweetie, owned by Gary Lucas and Linda Woods, had foals that earned $193,471.

MICHIGAN THOROUGHBRED OWNERS AND BREEDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS Michigan Sire Stakes, MTOBA Sale and Annual Meeting The 2017 Michigan Sire Stakes will be run on Saturday, September 2, on closing day of the Hazel Park Raceway meet. This six-race series for Michigan-sired horses includes divisions for 2-year-old fillies, 2-yearold colts and geldings, 3-year-old fillies, 3-year-old colts and geldings, older fillies and mares, and older colts and geldings. The estimated purse per race is $45,000.

60 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

A series of preparatory races will be held on August 11-12 at Hazel Park with purses of $25,000 per race.

MTOBA will be holding its annual online Michigan-bred Thoroughbred sale September 18-24 at mtoba.com. The entry deadline is July 31, and entry fees are waived for MTOBA members. Forms can be downloaded at mtoba.com, and for more information please call our office at (231) 457-4979.

MTOBA’s annual membership meeting will be held on Thursday, October 12, at the McPhail Equine Performance Center on Michigan State University’s campus in East Lansing. Nominations will be due then for the five open seats on the board of directors. Members in good standing with at least one year of membership are eligible to run. For more information, contact our office.

MINNESOTA THOROUGHBRED ASSOCIATION NEWS MTA Yearling Sale Set for August 21 The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association will hold its 2017 yearling sale on Monday, August 21, at 4 p.m. The sale will be held at the Canterbury Park Expo Center in Shakopee. A total of 58 Minnesotabred yearlings have been consigned to the sale, and the pedigrees are impressive. We’re seeing new sire lines and new mares in this year’s sale, and there’s certain to be the perfect yearling for every stable.

The catalog will be available in print, on minnesotabred.com and on thoroughbredcatalog.com. If you would like a print copy, please call (952) 233-4802 or email kay@minnesotabred.com.

In addition to being eligible for all Minnesota-bred races, the 2017 MTA sale graduates are offered a special opportunity to run in the 2018 Minnesota Yearling Sale Graduate Futurity. Following are the eligibility requirements: • Any Minnesota-bred yearling that passes through the sales ring during the 2017 MTA Yearling Sale and is purchased during the auction by a new owner shall be eligible to be nominated.

• The owner who consigns any Thoroughbred yearling to the 2017 MTA Yearling Sale that sells receives the right to nominate one other Minnesota-bred to the race. If the yearling does not sell, the consignor must nominate the yearling that was presented at the sale. The right to nominate one Minnesota-bred may be sold or transferred by the consignor. A $50 fee must be paid to the MTA to record a transfer.

• A nomination fee of $200 will be payable on or before April 1, 2018.

• Should the race overfill, sales graduates shall have priority.

• Nomination fee is non-refundable.

Festival of Champions Day Make plans to celebrate Minnesota Festival of Champions Day with us at Canterbury Park on Sunday, August 20. It will be a fantastic day of racing showcasing our Minnesota-bred horses. First post is at 12:45 p.m.

After the races, you can preview the yearling sale consignments from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and then the following day, Monday, from 10 a.m. until the sale begins at 4 p.m. It’s sure to be a weekend of great racing, and you will have the perfect opportunity to add a Minnesotabred or two to your racing stable.

MTA board member Mark E. Zamzow passed away on June 13 at the age of 59. Mark enjoyed breeding and racing Thoroughbreds.

His sweet, tender way, his gift for gab and his knowledge of and passion for all things horses will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, dearest Mark, until we meet again.

Mark was preceded in death by his father, Edmund, and his brother Tim. Mark was a loving husband, father, son and brother. He is survived by his wife, Lynn Furnstahl-Zamzow; daughters, Emily (Adam) Cardwell and Elise Zamzow; mother, Ardis (Gordon) Alexander; brothers, Joel (Kristine) Zamzow and Daniel Zamzow; nieces, nephews, in-laws and other relatives and friends; and his dog, Roman.

A celebration of Mark’s life was held June 17. The family requested that charitable donations to assist injured Canterbury Park jockeys be directed to Leg Up Fund, 1100 Canterbury Rd., Shakopee, MN 55379.

All contributions are tax deductible. Please indicate “in memoriam Mark E. Zamzow.”

Mark’s contributions to our board and our association were numerous. Mark had the uncanny ability to remember individual horses, their pedigrees, their race histories and the people who bred, owned, trained and rode them. He could vividly recall particular races from years back and make you think that they had just happened because of his detailed description.

Mark always volunteered to compile the pedigrees for our yearling sale and enjoyed writing the scripts praising the accomplishments of our award winners for the awards banquet. Mark was a positive force for our association, our industry and Canterbury Park. He enjoyed people and horses and was a friend to all. Our industry has lost a gem, and our thoughts are with his family.

NORTH CAROLINA THOROUGHBRED ASSOCIATION NEWS President’s Message There really hasn’t been much going on in recent months, but there are few items to report.

The NCTA website address has changed. Due to technical issues, we lost our site’s previous address. The new address is ncthoroughbred. com. It is very similar to the former one but the “s” at the end of “thoroughbreds” was dropped. Sarah Blanchard is currently working on a new site design. It will include a page for our members to advertise their farms or businesses for free as well as a page for free classified ads from members. A page will also be dedicated to OTTB news. She let me have a sneak peek and I am very pleased.

North Carolina probably isn’t the first state you think about when it comes to horse racing, but collectively the horses that ran for our members hit the board at a rate of 52 percent from April 29 to May 21. The following month showed a 42 percent in-the-money rate.

Those are impressive stats, and applause goes to those of you who brought home a check and safe horse. For a recap of the horses associated with NCTA members who recently had success on the track, please check out our Facebook page.

Again, I want to thank Eileen Williams for all her work and report that she and her husband, Donald, recently celebrated their 50th year of marriage. That is quite an achievement. Congratulations to this wonderful couple.

The Beholder shoe that was an RNA at our silent auction was donated to Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farms. As you may recall, they were one of the beneficiaries of proceeds raised from that auction. They were able to live auction the race-worn, dirty shoe at their homecoming party for $2,100! Thanks to Richard Mandella and B. Wayne Hughes for that donation.

Keep up your winning streak, and have a safe and fun summer. I am sure I’ll see some of you in Saratoga!

—Rebecca Montaldo, NCTA President

The Queen’s Cup Steeplechase The 23rd Queen’s Cup Steeplechase, also known as #TheGreatestShowOnTurf, was held on April 29 on the beautiful Brooklandwood

Emily Kristine

Remembering Mark Zamzow

Tickets for next year’s Queen’s Cup Steeplechase are on sale now.

Racecourse in Mineral Springs, North Carolina. Owned by longtime NCTA members William and Carrington Price, this nonprofit event had an attendance of approximately 12,000 race-goers.

The weather was warm and the turf was good for this five-race card that provided $150,000 in purse money. Four jump races and one flat race created a festive day that also included Vineyard Vines-sponsored hat contests, tailgate competitions, a Jack Russell dog race and pony rides. It was a day for dressing up, eating, drinking and celebrating with friends and making new acquaintances. After the races, revelers celebrated with the band Kingdaddy at the Hot Walk Party. By all accounts, it was the place to be in the Charlotte region. Congratulations goes out to their whole team for producing the kind of day that creates happy memories for those fortunate enough to be present.

The generosity of the Price couple was demonstrated by their hard work hosting this event that benefits the Alzheimer’s Association.

Through their Charlotte Steeplechase Foundation, donations of more than $700,000 since 1996 have helped many local and regional charities.

You can also join in this generosity by participating in the 24th annual Queen’s Cup Steeplechase. The fun will be had on the last Saturday of April in 2018, and tickets are already on sale. For more information, visit queenscup.org and to keep up with current events, like the Queen’s Cup Steeplechase Facebook page.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 61

STATE ASSOCIATION NEWS Foal News Cheers to Beth Muirhead, one of the founding members and a past president of the NCTA, on the delivery of her Astrology colt out of Frisky Cheerleader, by Roar. This is the dam’s 10th foal. Eight of her progeny are of racing age, and all are winners with cumulative earnings of more than $800,000. The mare is currently in foal to Overanalyzed. The NCTA wishes Beth good luck with her new baby who is destined for great achievements.

The Prices got it right with their new Americain filly, born March 17, out of Bourbon Twist, by Langfuhr. Americain, by Dynaformer, is now standing at Calumet Farm and is Dynaformer’s leading money earner. Truly an international horse, the stallion was bred in the United States, trained and raced in France and won the Melbourne Cup in 2010. With longer turf races featuring higher purses being written, this filly’s timing couldn’t be better.

Congrats are “Dew” to Sandy and Joanne Dew of Dogwood Plantation for the arrival in March of their Congrats colt out of their homebred Blues Legend mare. Blues Legend’s dam, Cozy Blues, won the Just a Game Stakes (G3) for these breeders at Belmont Park in 1999.

OHIO THOROUGHBRED OWNERS AND BREEDERS NEWS OTBO Reviving Ohio Mixed Sale on December 3 The much-asked question of “Are we ever going to have another horse sale in Ohio?” has been answered. With the efforts of the Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Sales Committee and strong support from the Ohio HBPA, a mixed sale will take place on Sunday, December 3, after a 10-year hiatus. The venue is the pristine Majestic Farm in Batavia, Ohio, which usually hosts dressage and hunter/ jumper competitions. The facility will host the 2017 GIAG/USDF Region 2 Championships on September 14-17. To learn more about the facility, go to majesticfarm.net.

The sales committee, led by OTBO Vice President James Fraser and George Sikora, DVM, organized a feasibility study in Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia and received replies from numerous owner/breeders (primarily from Ohio) who indicated they had horses they would enter in such a sale. As of mid-June, potential consignments totaled 146 lots with 37 weanlings, 39 yearlings, 50 broodmares and 20 horses of racing age.

The December 3 date was voted on to allow for supplemental entry for horses that did not sell or meet their reserve at one of the fall sales in Kentucky. Horses will be allowed on the grounds for inspection on Saturday, December 2. The sale date was also agreed upon because there is no live racing in the state that day, which will allow owners and trainers at the Mahoning Valley meet to attend. The sale will likely begin at 1:00 p.m., though the board will meet again to finalize certain details.

Numerous outlets will be created to expand awareness for the sale including an exclusive sale website, a Facebook ad campaign, email blasts to Ohio breeders, local and national advertising and a digital sale catalog to be posted on the sale and OTBO websites. Depending on the number of entries, OTBO expects to print approximately 2,400 catalogs, and the sale will be available to watch via a live feed.

62 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

OTBO will be working in concert with highly regarded Dan Mahaney Auctioneers on the sale. Mahaney, OTBO Executive Director John Engelhardt and Barbara McCarthy, director of horse operations at Majestic Farm, recently met to discuss details of the sale weekend and tour the grounds.

“It is an over-the-top impressive facility,” Mahaney said. “It is very safe for the horses and user-friendly for the consignors and buyers.”

For more information and updates, go to otbosales.com. There you will find a “How to Enter” section and can download an entry package. When available, the catalog will be posted there, as well.

Ohio Stallions Making the Grade A major building block to improving the breeding program in Ohio is the recruitment of stallions with proven on-track performance and classic bloodlines. It will not only improve the state’s Accredited Program but also help attract breeders who have purchased well-bred mares that are in foal to quality stallions from other states and who need the breedback rule to get that foal registered as an Ohio-bred.

Over recent years, Ohio has seen farms in the state make that effort, and breeders are looking forward to when their foals are of racing age and take to the track. A growing Ohio stallion Tidal Volume number of stallion owners from other states have recognized the potential the Ohio program now offers and are moving their studs to the state after siring several crops.

Indy Wind, who now stands at Robin Murphy’s Poplar Creek Horse Center in Bethel, sired Starship Jubilee, who captured the Grade 2, $175,000 Nassau Stakes at Woodbine on May 27, defeating two Canadian Horses of the Year in Caren and Catch a Glimpse. The Nassau win improved Starship Jubilee’s record to seven wins from 13 starts with earnings of $204,839.

As a racehorse, Indy Wind got better with age and proved his soundness. Unraced at two, he went two-for-two as a 3-year-old and won five stakes races through his next three seasons with four stakesplacings and earnings of nearly $400,000. He was raised, owned and trained by Amy Tarrant of Hardacre Farm. Jeff Garen, who manages Hardacre Farm, is glad Indy Wind has found a home at Poplar Creek.

“He originally stood in Florida and we couldn’t be happier he is with Robin,” he said. “She loves all of her horses just like we do.”

Indy Wind brings some strong bloodlines to the Ohio program. He is a son of A.P. Indy, the sire of champions Mineshaft, Bernardini, Rags to Riches, Festival of Light, Eye Of The Leopard, Marchfield, Tempera and Serenading, as well as numerous Grade 1 winners. Indy Wind’s female

THOROUGHBRED RACING ASSOCIATION OF OKLAHOMA NEWS

named Horse of the Meet.

Welder, a 4-yearold gray gelding who is becoming notorious for wins at Will Rogers Downs, earned 2017 Horse of the Meet honors for his second consecutive title. He went three-forthree with two Two-time Will Rogers Downs Horse of the Meet Welder stakes wins during the meet with is undefeated in five starts at the Claremore track.

Travis Cunningham aboard for owner Ra-Max Farm LLC and trainer Theresa Sue Luneack.

The Oklahoma-bred is by The Visualiser, who stands at Mighty Acres in Pryor, Oklahoma, as property of Center Hills Farm, which is also the gelding’s breeder.

Floyd Wethey Jr. earned the leading jockey title for the meet with 36 winners. The leading trainer was Scott Young for the second consecutive year. He sent out 23 winners. Leading owner honors were shared between End Zone Athletics Inc. and Ra-Max Farms LLC with seven wins apiece. “We saw increased activity at the entry box here last year and enjoyed very similar numbers again in 2017,” said John Lies, Will Rogers Downs racing secretary and track announcer. “It seems we are attracting a stronger caliber of horse than in years past, especially at our allowance levels. We’re drawing runners from a variety of successful winter meets in various regions beyond Oklahoma.”

Will Rogers Downs added something new to its spring season, with a starter series specifically for turf horses.

“The horsemen were responsive to our new series, one we hope will continue to grow next year,” Lies said. “We witnessed some impressive wins by stakes-caliber runners, including Welder, our Horse of the Meet.”

The starter series ran a six-week period within the meet, offering nine races, which included a sprint division and three races for fillies and mares.

Coady Photography

family is legendary. His second dam is 1978 champion older mare Late Bloomer and his third dam is Broodmare of the Year Dunce Cap II. Cowtown Cat, a multiple graded stakes winner of $562,228, made the trip from Florida to Mapleton Thoroughbred Farm in Polk. He has a few solid runners out there doing his advertising for him in 2017. His first-crop poster boy Calgary Cat, bred by WinStar Farm, was named 2014 champion sprinter in Canada after winning two Grade 2 stakes north of the border. Now seven, Calgary Cat added to his résumé with a close third in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup in June, pushing his earnings to $924,997.

Cowtown Cat has already had four allowance winners this year at four different tracks. His 3-year-old filly Rashette was third in the $75,000 Game Face Stakes at Gulfstream Park in April. Cowtown Cat’s offspring seem to have an affinity for speed, and his son Tiger Blood is a prime example. In his debut last year, he drew off by 9 1⁄4 lengths for a six-furlong maiden win in 1:09.90 for a 91 Beyer figure at Tampa Bay Downs. This season he has reeled off back-to-back $100,000 sprint stakes wins. His most recent was by 4 1⁄2-lengths while stopping the clock in 1:08.92 for six panels at Tampa, pushing his earnings to $190,902.

Cowtown Cat is a son of the popular stallion Distorted Humor, who commands an $80,000 stud fee and has sired Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Drosselmeyer and four other champions.

Tidal Volume, a son of leading sire Tapit, doesn’t have any runners at the track, but he will have a slew of them in the years ahead. He has covered 53 mares in 2017.

“In all my years at the Ohio State Racing Commission, I can’t recall a stallion who came near that number,” said Greg Viet, administrator of the Ohio Thoroughbred Race Fund.

After Tapwrit won the most recent renewal of America’s longest classic, Tapit has now sired three of the last four Belmont Stakes winners and only 2015 Horse of the Year American Pharoah and his Triple Crown triumph over Frosted prevented the sequence from being four in a row—no great embarrassment.

Tidal Volume was originally retired to Poplar Creek Horse Center unraced with a training injury. Through the patience and care of farm owner Robin Murphy, he slowly recovered and after veterinary approval was put back into training with Tom Amoss. Under his training regimen, Tidal Volume proved his soundness and became a stakes winner with eight wins at six different tracks over dirt, turf and synthetic surfaces. He stands at Poplar Creek, and his first foals are yearlings of 2017.

These sires represent the opportunities for improvement of the breed in Ohio and reasons to attract new breeders to the state.

TRAO Banquet Set for August 4 TRAO and the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission will honor the 2016 Oklahoma champions on Friday, August 4, at Riverwind Casino in Norman. TRAO members will receive an invitation by mail. For information about how to RSVP or reserve a hotel room, contact the TRAO at (405) 427-8753 or go to traoracing.com.

Welder Named Horse of the Meet at Will Rogers Downs Oklahoma Sales Reminder Horsemen are reminded that the two Oklahoma Thoroughbred for Second Consecutive Year Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs wrapped up its successful 33-day Thoroughbred meet on May 20 and a familiar face was again

sales are coming up.

Carter Sales Co.’s OKC Summer Sale is set for Sunday, August 27, at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds during opening weekend of racing AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 63

STATE ASSOCIATION NEWS

Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission Update The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission has modified its medication thresholds to take effect August 15, 2017. The changes almost mirror the Association of Racing Commissioners International thresholds except for bute and Lasix. The thresholds for those medications were not changed because the thresholds are in the rules of racing.

For more information, visit ohrc.org.

In other news, trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel joined as an OHRC commissioner on July 1.

Congrats to Trainer Joe Offolter on 1,000 Wins Trainer Joe Offolter recorded a milestone win on May 8 at Will Rogers Downs as he saddled his 1,000th win with Oklahoma-bred Heademoffatthepass. Quincy Hamilton was aboard the maiden winner by Caleb’s Posse for owners Don Von Hemel, Bill Sparks and Joe Alexander.

For good measure, Offolter recorded career win 1,001 later on the card.

His first training victory came in November 1988 at Remington Park, and since then, Offolter has been a consistent presence in Oklahoma.

His starters have banked nearly $14 million, and some of his top runners include six-figure earners Holiday Mischief, Miss Natalie and Capture the Flag.

Congrats again, Joe!

Trainers Todd Pletcher and Graham Motion put the five weeks between races to good use and had the horses in peak condition to cover the 1 ½ miles of the Belmont.

Motion was the guest speaker at the SCTOBA annual awards banquet in January.

This was Jack’s second time being in the Belmont Stakes winner’s Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit and runner-up circle. As longtime vice Irish War Cry both have strong connections to president of Dogwood SCTOBA members.

Stable, the Sadlers were at Belmont when Aiken-trained Palace Malice won in 2013.

Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Abel Tasman came east again from California to capture the Acorn Stakes (G1) on Belmont Day. Having won back-to-back Grade 1s, Abel Tasman has to be considered the leader of the 3-year-old filly division. The daughter of Quality Road (who trained in Aiken at one time with Brad Stauffer and Ron Stevens’ Legacy Stable) was prepared for her racing career at Franklin “Goree” Smith’s Elloree Training Center.

The South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association salutes these horses and their connections!

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

at Remington Park. The sale produced three Oklahoma champions in 2015 and the 2016 Oklahoma Classics Cup winner in Phantom Trip.

Plus, an Oklahoma-bred by Into Mischief now named Call a Cop who went through the 2016 sale sold for $175,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company March 2-year-olds in training sale. In his first career start in June, Call a Cop finished second in a $46,700 maiden special weight at Churchill Downs.

For more information, go to cartersalesco.com.

The sixth annual Heritage Place Thoroughbred Sale is set for October 8 in Oklahoma City. The sale will feature sessions for mixed horses, yearlings and horses of racing age. The consignment deadline is August 25. For more information, go to heritageplace.com.

South Carolina Strong at Timonium South Carolina had a strong presence at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Timonium, Maryland, on May 22-23.

Cary Frommer sold 21 head including the third-highest offering of the sale, a Ghostzapper colt for $800,000. Wes Carter had some sixdigit sales, including an Into Mischief filly who went for $425,000. Kip Elser of Kirkwood Stables consigned a Super Saver filly that brought $290,000; James Layden sold a Morning Line colt for $180,000; and Marcus and Crystal Ryan of Aiken had a successful pinhook selling a filly by Violence for $70,000.

SOUTH CAROLINA THOROUGHBRED OWNERS AND BREEDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS

TEXAS THOROUGHBRED ASSOCIATION NEWS

SCTOBA Completes Belmont Exacta

Legislative Recap

South Carolina TOBA members Jack Sadler, Travis Durr and Webb Carroll are closely connected to Tapwrit and Irish War Cry, the onetwo finishers in the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 10. Jack and Travis were at the track and ran into each other just before the horses loaded into the gate.

Along with Robert LaPenta and Bridlewood Farm, the Belmont winner Tapwrit is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. Jack is vice president of operations of that company.

Irish War Cry ran a valiant race setting the pace into deep stretch. He was broken as a yearling by Travis and Webb at the Webb Carroll Training Center. Both of these colts had troubled trips in the Kentucky Derby.

While none of the five bills relating to the horse industry were passed during the now-concluded Texas legislative session, it would be most unusual for any bill presented for the first time to get out of committee, much less be passed into law.

Each session, there are thousands of bills filed and hundreds die for various reasons, including running out of time.

We do believe that great strides were made in this session, particularly in the Senate, where two of the three bills passed. Great thought was put into drafting creative initiatives that would benefit not only the horse industry but also worthy charitable organizations, veterans, peace officers and firefighters.

64 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

We all need to continue to persevere in the time available before the 2019 legislative session, and getting to know our personal legislators is imperative. That is the only way to get horse industry issues on their radar screen.

If your senator or representative supported these bills, write a letter to thank them and ask for their future support. If they did not, respectfully ask why, and explain how the bills would have been of benefit to you—the constituent. Contact them on a regular basis so that you have the opportunity to develop a positive relationship that will provide the means for educating them about an industry that may be unfamiliar to them. Invite them to visit your farm or go with you to the races. Let’s do all we can to help our industry and livelihoods.

TTA Awards Banquet Held at Lone Star

Denis Blake

A good crowd attended the TTA Awards Banquet and Annual Meeting on June 24 at Lone Star Park to honor Texas Horse of the Year Texas Chrome and the other 2016 champions listed in the winter issue.

There were three award winners not previously announced.

TTA Past President Dr. Jacquelyn Rich was honored with the T.I. “Pops” Harkins Award for lifetime achievement. For many years Jackie has worked for the betterment of the industry in Texas and was heavily involved in the Paddock FounTTA Director Dr. David Stephens presdation, Texas Thoroughbred ents Dr. Jackie Rich with the T.I. “Pops” Educational Fund and Texas Harkins Award.

Horse Organizations for Racing, Showing and Eventing.

Ken Carson, general manager of Valor Farm, earned the Allen Bogan Memorial Award as TTA Member of the Year. Ken was instrumental in keeping the former Lane’s End Texas stallions in the Lone Star State and relocating them to Valor after that Hempstead operation closed.

Hal Wiggins was presented with the Thoroughbred Charities of America Award of Merit for the state of Texas for his work with the Paddock Foundation.

The night of racing also featured the Lane’s End Danny Shifflett Scholarship Stakes. The race was formerly known as the Lane’s End Stallion Scholarship Stakes but upon the closing of the farm was renamed in honor of its longtime manager at Lane’s End Texas. Danny was unable to attend but the race was a fitting tribute to someone who has had a big impact on the Texas breeding industry.

Thank you to the sponsors of the event: Equine Express N.A., Frost Bank, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Retama Park, Sam Houston Race Park and our host, Lone Star Park.

Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Announces Inductees The Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 21, in the Showplace Pavilion at Retama Park. This year’s inductees include Steve Asmussen, O.C. “Preacher” O’Quinn, Johnny Trotter, Steve Sexton, Thoroughbred Creole Dancer and American Quarter Horse Ochoa.

The Hall of Fame would like to extend a chance to commemorate past and present stakes winners in Texas by kicking off a paver stone project dubbed “The Walk of Fame.” The project is designed to honor past and present stakes winners that are owned, bred, raced or standing in Texas. Owners and trainers can put their name on a piece of real estate at Retama Park and become a living part of the rich history of horse racing in Texas.

For more information, go to txhorseracingmuseumandhalloffame.org.

Texas Summer Yearling Sale Set for August 21, New Owners Seminar to Return The Texas Thoroughbred Summer Yearling and Mixed Sale is scheduled for Monday, August 21, at the Texas Thoroughbred Sale Pavilion on the grounds of Lone Star Park. Although the entry deadline has passed, supplements are still being accepted. If you would like a consignment form, it can be downloaded at ttasales.com/forms or you may request one from the TTA office.

TTA will only mail printed sale catalogs to horsemen who request them. We have found that the majority of buyers and consignors instead prefer to access our online interactive catalog, featuring photos and videos, at ttasales.com.

If you would like to continue receiving sale catalogs by U.S. mail, please let us know which catalogs you wish to receive. Contact us by emailing maryr@texasthoroughbred.com, calling (512) 458-6133, faxing (512) 453-5919, using the online request form at ttasales.com or sending a note to us at 4009 Banister Ln., Ste. 230, Austin, TX 78704.

We are excited to announce that the New Owners Seminar will return this year. The seminar is free and open to the public and will be held on Sunday, August 20. Whether you have been to 20 yearling sales or this will be your first one, we invite you to attend and listen to advice and ask questions of industry experts. Look for more info at ttasales.com.

TRC Issues Changes to Therapeutics List, Penalty Guidelines and Classification Schedule The Texas Racing Commission has announced changes to rules regarding permissible levels of therapeutic medications and naturally occurring substances, penalty guidelines and classification changes that go into effect immediately.

The commission has incorporated changes to its list of medications that are permissible if found at or below the specified concentration levels that prohibit the stacking of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The new stacking prohibitions will be enforced as of June 9 for Quarter Horses (start of the Quarter Horse meet at Retama Park) and September 1 for Thoroughbreds (start of the Thoroughbred meet at Retama Park).

See txrc.texas.gov for complete information.

AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017 65

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American Racehorse Advertisers Index Arkansas-breds For Sale............................ 67

Heritage Place............................................. 9

Spectrum Real Estate........................... 16, 36

The Art of Horse Racing..........................66

ITOBA Fall Thoroughbred Sale..............10

Star Bright Thoroughbreds.................. IBC

Asmussen Horse Center............................. 3

John Deere.................................................. 11

Stemmans.com............................................14

Belterra Park.............................................. 36

KC Horse Transportation........................66

Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame............41

Bluebonnet Feeds........................................ 2

Keeneland September Yearling Sale...........1

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance............. 20

Carter Sales Co.......................................... 56

Dan Mahaney Auctioneers........................ 67

Colorado Silver Cup Yearling Sale...........46

Mallory Farm.............................................66

Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards..................................52

Dodson Training Stable............................66

MBM Horse Transport............................66

Equine Equipment...................................... 7

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Equine Sales Company.............................40

Minnesota Thoroughbred Association.... 36

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Foal to Yearling Halter..............................66

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www.riveroaksthoroughbreds.com 68 AMERICAN RACEHORSE • SUMMER 2017

THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER GREAT SEASON! RUNNERS BY MY GOLDEN SONG ARE LIGHTING IT UP AT LONE STAR PARK!

Photos by Dustin Orona Photography

GOLD SHOCK (left) captured the $65,000 Got Koko Division of the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes, and ZIPPIT E (right) took the $50,000 Wayne Hanks Memorial for her second straight stakes win.

HOWBOUTTHISCOWGIRL

MY GOLDEN TALE

SWIFT SHOCK

GOLD LABEL Through early July, MY GOLDEN SONG had four 2-year-old winners at Lone Star Park, with three winning at first asking.

BRADESTER • CONGAREE • CROSSBOW • EARLY FLYER • GRASSHOPPER MY GOLDEN SONG • STONESIDER • TOO MUCH BLING Douglas Scharbauer Ken Carson, General Manager Donny Denton, Farm Manager • David Unnerstall, Attending Veterinarian Post Office Box 966 • Pilot Point, Texas 76258 (940) 686-5552 • Fax (940) 686-2179 www.valorfarm.com • www.facebook.com/valor.farm