EAGLE RETIRED TO VALOR FARM IN TEXAS
As reported in BloodHorse.com, Grade 1-placed, graded stakes winner Eagle has been retired and will enter stud at Douglas Scharbauer’s Valor Farm in North Texas for $5,000.
The 5-year-old son of Candy Ride (Arg) out of Sea Gull, by Mineshaft, was bred and raced by William S. Farish. He won twice at 2 and never finished off the board in four starts, including a third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2). Eagle would win his first black-type stakes at 3 then at 4 win or placed in five graded stakes. He would follow a victory in the Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at Keeneland with second-place finishes in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) and the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1).
Texas’ breeding community faces a lot of challenges, being surrounded by gaming states, but Carson said breeders have been resilient.
“The racetracks have been willing to sit at the table and figure out a way to keep it all going,” said Ken Carson, general manager of Valor Farm. “For Will to send this horse to us is a huge indicator of faith in Texas racing.”
TEXAS THOROUGHBRED ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION
Reminder: Send in your ballots to elect 7 directors to serve 3-year terms on the TTA Board of Directors.
So far, out of 990 members eligible to vote for 5 at-large directors, we have received 182 ballots. In the Central Region, we have 21 ballots for 132 eligible voters, and in the East Region, we have 19 ballots for 126 eligible voters.
You don’t even have to stand in line! Do it today, as December 15th is the deadline for receipt of ballots.
LAST ROUND OF INTERNET AUCTION OF 2018 STALLION BREEDINGS
The third and final round of bidding is now open for the TTA’s online auction of 2018 stallion breedings. Bids will close at 5pm Central on Thursday, December 21st.
Don’t miss this opportunity to purchase a breeding to a quality stallion at a special price – go to www.texasthoroughbred.com.
TEXAS RACING COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULED
The next TRC Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 20, 2017, beginning at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Department of Public Safety, 6100 Guadalupe, Criminal Law Enforcement, Building E, First Floor Auditorium. A meeting agenda has not yet been posted.
SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK
Sam Houston Race Park will begin accepting horses on December 11th and the track will be open for training on December 18th.
For additional racing info and questions, please contact Racing Secretary Matt Crawford by email to matt.crawford@pngaming.com or visit www.shrp.com/horsemens-info. The Racing Office telephone number is 281.807.8780.
January 19th is opening day for the 2018 Thoroughbred meet.
FIRE AT SAN LUIS REY DOWNS
As most in the racing community know, San Luis Rey Downs was hit especially hard by California’s Lilac Fire, and many barns have burned. As a result, horsemen made the decision to let horses go, and they are now in great part fending for themselves as rescue efforts are underway.
A GoFundMe has been created to help the horses, horsemen, and backside workers at San Luis Rey Downs affected by the Lilac Fire: https://www.gofundme.com/help-for-san-luis-rey-downs
Any and all funds raised here will go directly toward expenses related to fire damage, equine medical care, etc. Please consider donating what you can.
GRASSHOPPER COLT TOPS FT-MIDLANTIC DECEMBER SALE
Carradine (Grasshopper–Summer Moon, by Maria’s Mon), a multiple-stakes placed 3-year-old bred by W. S. Farish topped Tuesday’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December Mixed Sale when bringing a final bid of $105,000 from trainer Linda Rice. The bay colt (hip 256), second in the Gander S. in January and third in last year’s Damon Runyon S., was part of the auction’s first-ever section of horses of racing age.
DECEMBER 31 RACING AND ACCREDITATION DEADLINES
December 31 is the deadline to accredit foals of 2016 at the $200 member rate, to nominate eligible foals of 2016 or 2017 to the Texas Stallion Stakes, and to nominate eligible foals of 2016 to the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Futurity. See www.texasthoroughbred for forms and more info, or contact Jennifer Gibbs at 512.458.6133.