MY MASTER PLAN SCORES IN WAYNE HANKS MEMORIAL AT LONE STAR
Joyce D. McGough of Granbury, Texas is the proud owner of My Master Plan, winner of the $50,000 Wayne Hanks Memorial Stakes, a six and one half furlong sprint for Texas-bred fillies & mares, 3 & up at Lone Star Park on Sunday, April 10th.
A 3-year-old daughter of Oratory out of the Vice Regent mare One O Seven, My Master Plan was bred by Dan McGough, The win was the career fifth of seven starts for the Donnie Von Hemel trained filly, and the $30,000 win puts her total earnings at $169,567. She now has three stakes wins after picking up two during the Remington Park meet.
ACCREDITED TEXAS-BREDS IN UPCOMING STAKES
Today, Texas Chrome (Grasshopper – Margarita Mistress) is part of a field of seven 3-year-olds competing in the6-furlong $150,000 Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Bred by Craig Upham, the colt is owned by Keene Thoroughbreds LLC and is trained by J. R. Caldwell. He has a career record of 6-4-0-1 and $182,562 in earnings, and has been given odds of 12/1.
On Saturday, Giant Trick (Neko Bay – Subterfuge) will run in the $150,000 Northern Spur Stakes for 3-year-olds and up going one mile at Oaklawn. The 3-year-old colt was bred by Eureka Thoroughbred Farm, is owned by Mike Waters and is trained by Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg. Given odds of 20/1, Giant Trick boasts a career record of 10-1-3-3 with $88,184 in earnings.
Also on Saturday, Henry Witt’s homebred Witt Six (Drums of Thunder – Taitt Hill) is in the $25,000 Dowd Mile Stakes at Fonner Park. The 4-year-old gelding has a career record of 26-5-4-6 and earnings of $142,291.
Best of luck to all.
ATB AWARDS FOR SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK THOROUGHBRED MEET
Accredited Texas-bred award checks for the 2016 Thoroughbred meet at Sam Houston Race Park have been mailed.
Award totals were calculated as follows:
Breeders: 7.20% of 1st/2nd/3rd purse money earned;
Owners: 9.74% of 1st/2nd/3rd purse money earned;
Stallion Owners: 4.03% of 1st/2nd/3rd purse money earned;
Owner Bonus: 19.53% of 1st/2nd/3rd purse money earned in Open Company races.
Congrats to everyone!
APRIL 15 DEADLINE FOR FUTURITY SUSTAINING PAYMENT
For foals of 2014 already nominated to the 2016 Texas Thoroughbred Futurity, the final sustaining payment of $350 is due by Friday, April 15. That payment must be fax, credit card or postmark dated no later than April 15. Payments made after April 15 cannot be accepted. Reminder notices have been mailed. Buyers at the upcoming 2YO Sale will be handed notice of this payment.
Those horses early nominated to the Futurity as graduates of the Texas Thoroughbred 2-Year-Old Sale that do not go through the ring at that sale are no longer eligible for the 2016 Texas Thoroughbred Futurity.
Friday, May 1st is the deadline for late nomination to the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity. Foals of 2014 that go through the ring at the 2016 Texas Thoroughbred 2YO Sale, and have not already been nominated to the Futurity, may be late nominated by payment of $5,000. That payment must be fax, credit card or postmark dated no later than May 1. Nominations made after May 1 cannot be accepted.
The field for each division (fillies and colts/geldings) will be limited to twelve starters, who are determined by money earned. In order to give nominated horses ample opportunity for earnings and experience, Texas Thoroughbred Futurity nominees will have preferred entry in 2-year-old maiden races at Lone Star Park leading up to the 2016 Futurity.
Both divisions of the 2016 Texas Thoroughbred Futurity will be run on July 9 with entries taken the previous Wednesday. There is a $500 entry fee and $1000 start fee that will be deducted from your horseman’s account at Lone Star Park.
TEXAS THOROUGHBRED YEARLING SALE SLATED FOR AUGUST 29 AT LSP
The TTA’s yearling auction has been set for August 29th at Lone Star. Like the 2-year-old sale, the yearling sale will take the place of the auction formerly operated in partnership with Fasig-Tipton.
“The TTA is committed to advancing the Texas racing and breeding industry, and part of that commitment includes giving horsemen a venue to buy and sell horses in this state,” said Ruyle. “In advance of this decision, we found significant interest from Texas breeders with yearlings to consign, and with the central location and quality facility at Lone Star we also expect to attract quality consignments from around the region. We were lucky to have Tim Boyce on board to manage this sale for us, and he will do the same for the yearling sale.”
Contracts will be in the mail soon.
ARCI “TOWN HALL” MEETING AT LONE STAR PARK
As part of an effort to build a consensus on addressing the problems of racing and any regulatory structural reforms necessary, the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) is holding a series of “Town Meetings” to obtain local and regional input from industry participants, leaders and fans.
Lone Star Park will host one of the meetings on Monday, April 18th at 10:30am.
Those planning to attend and participate are asked to pre-register (there is no cost) at https://racingintegrity.wufoo.com/forms/z4bnwxl0ilas2b/.
TRC MEETING ACTION
The Texas Racing Commission met in Austin on Tuesday, April 12th and took action regarding the status of Inactive Class 2 Track Licenses. The licenses for Laredo Race Park, Laredo Downs and Valle de los Tesoros were renewed with inactive status. The issue of the Manor Downs license was referred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), which will conduct an official hearing and make a recommendation to the Commission at a future date. The Saddle Brook Park license was previously referred to SAOH. The issue of the Longhorn Downs license was tabled for future consideration.
Commissioners also approved a 3-year plan whereby Texas’ three greyhound tracks will alternate the running of a boutique meet of approximately 2 ½ – 3 months totaling 36 live race dates, with all purse money generated for greyhound racing to be allocated to the one single track running live that year. This plan provides for continued simulcast wagering on horse races at the greyhound tracks, which provides much needed funds for horse purses and the state-bred program.