NEWS AND NOTES
February 22, 2013
JERSEY VILLAGE STAKES THIS WEEKEND
This weekend’s feature at Sam Houston Race Park is the $50,000 Jersey Village Stakes. A field of eight Texas-breds will compete in the mile and one-sixteenth turf contest on Saturday, February 23.
The Jersey Village attracted the most recent two Texas Horses of the Year: Skip a Smile, who won his last two turf stakes, the $50,000 Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Retama Park and the $50,000 Richard King on January 19 at Sam Houston Race Park, and Coyote Legend, returning to the turf for his 31st career start after back-to-back titles in the $100,000 Star of Texas
Spiderman Ridge and Fly the Red Eye, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Richard King, are also entered, along with Quiet Acceleration, who finished sixth in the $50,000 Richard King on Texas Champions Day Weekend
Taking on the boys, Patty’s Pride has been a steady performer for the Karl Broberg barn. Owned by Brian C. Schartz, the 5-year-old daughter of Special Rate was a game runner-up in the San Jacinto Stakes on January 18 and has made 23 starts on the lawn.
The Jersey Village Stakes will run as the eighth race (9:40 p.m.) of the Saturday evening card.
JOCKEY AND TRAINER STANDINGS
Glen Murphy continues to maintain the lead in the rider standings at Sam Houston Race Park. Gerardo Mora, who was top rider in the Retama Park fall Thoroughbred racing season, is closing in on Murphy. Chris Landeros and Alfredo Sanchez Sigala are tied for third place, followed by Roman Chapa is next in the standings.
Danny Pish has saddled 13 winners to remain in the lead in the trainer standings with Steve Asmussen in second, followed by Jack Bruner, and Brent Davidson and Karl Broberg, who are tied.
FT-TX 2-YEAR-OLDS IN TRAINING, HORSES OF RACING AGE SALE
As reported in a recent press release, Fasig-Tipton Texas has catalogued 131 head for the Wednesday, April 3, 2-Year-olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale, to be held at Lone Star Park. The sale begins at 12 noon with the 2-year-olds in training, which will be followed by horses of racing age. The under-tack show for the sale is at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 1.
“This sale continues to offer buyers top pedigrees and excellent performers in the Southwest region,” stated Tim Boyce, director of sales. “With many more stakes-winning graduates in 2012, the back cover of the catalogue, where we feature win pictures of our grads, has become very crowded!”
Consignors have reacted favorably to the flexibility of the new format, allowing entries to be included much closer to the day of sale. An addendum to the catalogue, in addition to the main catalogue, will be available online and in print at the sale.
“The Horses of Racing Age section has attracted a lot of interest and should be an excellent venue, especially right before this exciting race meet,” added Boyce. “The two different categories of horses being offered complement each other and is intended to bring more owners and trainers to the auction.”
The catalogue may now be viewed online and will also be available via the Equineline Sales Catalogue App. The print version of the catalogue will be available from all Fasig-Tipton offices and local racing secretaries after February 25th.
LOOKING LIKE WE CARE
That is the title of a great Blood-Horse article (February 23, 2013) by Eric Mitchell, who discusses the importance in providing facilities that offer customers a pleasant fan experience.
Mitchell writes, “Improving our racetracks so they become true entertainment venues will help attract fans and grow handle. Casino revenue will always be vulnerable when states need to balance their budgets or look for ways to fund new programs without raising taxes. Racing needs to invest the money available now into improvements that will pay dividends over the long haul, like our competitors. Between 1989 and 2005, more than $53 billion was spent on capital improvements on U.S. casinos or in adding slot machines to racetracks. What a difference we would see if just a slice of that had been put toward making racing more inviting.”
He goes on to say, “A racetrack doesn’t need a $100 million rooftop-to-apron renovation to improve its appeal. Smaller things such as offering card processors at concession stands, improved cleanliness, good lighting, better food, and graphics can make a big difference. And deliver a strong message to new fans.”
NOTES…Reminder – the Clenbuterol withdrawal time changes to 14 days on March 28th… Reserved seats for the Lone Star Park 2013 Spring Thoroughbred Season, April 11- July 6, are on sale now; call 972-263-PONY to reserve your favorite seats… As part of the evening’s festivities during the TTA Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday evening at Sam Houston Race Park, live and silent auctions were held to benefit the Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund and The Paddock Foundation, garnering over $5800 for the TTEF and over $2600 for The Paddock Foundation; many thanks to auction item donors and purchasers, and auctioneer extraordinaire Delwin Lovell… Our condolences to trainer Bob Pickard and his family, who recently lost their son, firefighter Gregory Pickard, in the line of duty in College Station/Bryan.