News and Notes for October 11, 2019

AMBER DOEGE JOINS TTA STAFF
The Texas Thoroughbred Association is pleased to announce the hiring of Amber Doege as Accreditation Manager and Racing Coordinator. Doege is replacing Jennifer Gibbs, who is retiring later this year after 20 years of service at the Lone Star State’s largest breed organization.

Doege, whose father, Glenn, was a longtime trainer based in Texas, brings nearly 20 years of experience in the industry. Her previous positions in horse racing include assistant racing secretary, stakes coordinator, horse identifier, paddock judge, placing judge and claims clerk at tracks around the region such as Retama Park, Lone Star Park, Delta Downs and Fair Grounds. Doege earned a bachelor’s degree at Texas State University with a major in animal science.

Doege’s responsibilities will cover the Accredited Texas-bred program, Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes and Texas Thoroughbred Futurity as well as the two Thoroughbred sales held jointly by the TTA and Lone Star Park. 

“I’m very excited to be joining the TTA team,” said Doege. “I know that I have big shoes to fill but Jennifer has spared no effort to make sure this transition is smooth.”

“I know I speak for countless TTA members in saying that we will miss the knowledge and passion that Jennifer brought to the position for many years, but we are also thrilled to welcome Amber to the team,” said Mary Ruyle, executive director of the TTA. “She brings a wide range of experience in the industry, and she’ll do a great job serving our membership, especially now with an increase in purses and Accredited Texas-bred program funds thanks to the recent passage of legislation.”

ONLINE AUCTION OF 2020 STALLION BREEDINGS
The TTA’s Online Stallion Season Auction will soon be underway.  Auction proceeds are designated by the stallion owner/manager to benefit the TTA’s Political Action Committee, General Fund, Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund or Paddock Foundation.  The Stallion Auction is a great way to promote your stallion while also helping the state’s racing and breeding industry. Get the donation form at https://texasthoroughbred.com/…/uplo…/2020stallionauction.pdf or call the TTA office at 5142.458.6133.

TEXAS CONNECTIONS IN UPCOMING STAKES
This evening at Delta Downs, Bret Calhoun will saddle 10/1 Special Blessing (LA) in the $100,000 Magnolia Stakes.  Also competing is 12/1 Diamond Cutter (LA) owned by World War IV Racing (Warren McFatter and John Christmann).

On Saturday at Delta, Karl Broberg trains and co-owns 6/1 Budro Talking (LA) in the $100,000 Gold Cup Stakes.

On Sunday, Steve Asmussen sends out 15/1 Sister Nova (KY) for Mark Dodson in the $100,000 Ruling Angel Stakes at Woodbine.

Best of luck to all!

NOTES: There may be a slight delay in delivery of ATB Awards checks for Thoroughbred racing at Retama Park due to changes in accounting and deposit procedures in the State Comptroller’s office. TTA staff will do everything possible to expedite awards processing and mailing…The 2020 Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 in the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Pavilion at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie.  Consignment contracts will be mailing soon…Condition books for the upcoming Thoroughbred meet at Sam Houston Race Park should be available early next week…The TRC Rules Committee will meet at 10:30 on Thursday, October 17th in Austin.