News and Notes for October 17, 2014

THIS WEEKEND AT RETAMA PARK
The 2014 Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala will be held Saturday in the Showplace Pavilion at Retama Park.  Inductees include Art Preston, Joe McDermott, Cecil Perkins, Jerry Rheudasil and Leo Wood.  For tickets and details, contact Ryan Grammer at 210-651-7045.

Saturday’s race card is highlighted by the $50,000 Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at a mile and one-sixteenth on the turf for Accredited Texas-bred 3-year-olds and up, and the $50,000 Fiesta Mile on the turf for Accredited Texas-bred fillies and mares, 3 and up.

Carded as race #6, the Fiesta Mile boasts a competitive field of 10, including 3/1 favorite Expect Royalty.  Leroy Pollok bred, owns and trains the 4-year-old daughter of Valid  Expectations, who is coming off a ½ length win in a 1-mile allowance-optional claiming race at Retama on September 26th.  She is seeking to improve her career record of 10-4-3-0 and earnings of $63,880.

Completing the field are Mescaleress, Fancy Ticket, Ruby Heartstealer, Delmersmiracle, Shezararebird, Honor Lisabeth, Ataka’s Special, I Am Jane Dough and Green Briar Kitty.

The Hall of Fame Stakes has a full field of 12 and is carded as race #8.  Magna Breeze, a 4-year-old gelding by Magna Graduate, is the early favorite at 3/1.  He was bred by Joanne Schapiro, is owned by William Butler of New York and is trained by Michael Maker.  He is coming off a 7-length win in 1 1/16 miles starter allowance on the turf at Indiana Grand Race Course on September 10th and has a career record of 15-5-5-2 and $82,324 in earnings.

Rounding out the field are F J Uncle Vic, Spiderman Ridge, Seeking West, Road Hawk, Ring Necked, Fly the Red Eye, Doctor Romane, Pagador, Special U F O, Quiet Acceleration and Texas Air.

In addition to some great racing, the evening will feature live entertainment by Chris Saucedo Band and select craft beers at the beer garden.

UPDATE ON HISTORICAL RACING TERMINALS
The future of historical racing in Texas must wait for a November 10th hearing to determine if the Texas Racing Commission has the authority to allow this form of pari-mutuel wagering.

If that ruling is favorable, the earliest date that racetrack applications for the terminals could be considered by the Texas Racing Commission is not until December.

Austin attorney Rob Hargrove has been retained by a coalition comprising the Texas Thoroughbred Association, Texas Quarter Horse Association, and the Texas Horseman’s Partnership to represent and protect the interests of Texas horsemen in legal matters pertaining to historical racing terminals.

SADDLE BROOK FAILS TO EXTEND LICENSE
Saddle Brook Park’s bid for a proposed rule amendment that would have allowed one-time license extensions for operators of temporary off-site horse race simulcast facilities failed to be brought to a vote during a Texas Racing Commission meeting Tuesday in Austin.

Commissioner Gary P. Aber moved for approval of the change to temporary licensing rules in the Texas Racing Act, but none of the other seven TRC members present seconded his motion.

“Certainly, I’m disappointed … especially since our whole business has been trending upward in 2014,” said Lynn Alexander, president of Saddle Brook’s parent company, Yellow Rose Entertainment.

Now, Saddle Brook will regroup and “explore all other options that may come up for us to have a first-class racing facility,” Alexander said.

Saddle Brook Jockey Club can continue legally taking wagers through December 12th at their present location.

According to TRC spokesman Richard  Elrod, Tuesday’s lack of action regarding the temporary license rules amendment does not affect Saddle Brook’s license to construct and operate a permanent horse racing facility, as long as the annual licensing fees continue to be paid and other licensing fees continue to be met.

TTA ONLINE AUCTION OF 2015 STALLION SEASONS
Thanks to the generosity of stallion owners across the region, you have the opportunity to purchase a 2015 breeding season while at the same time helping the TTA’s Political Action Committee, General Fund, Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund or Paddock Foundation.

Internet bidding for the on-line auction is now open with a bid closing deadline of 5pm Central time on Monday, November 3rd.  Listings may be viewed and bids placed at: https://texasthoroughbred.com/stallion-register/online-stallion-auction/

If you have questions or would like to donate a stallion season for this auction, please contact Mary Ruyle in the TTA office at (512) 458-6133.

F-T TEXAS SALE RESULTS
Yearling fillies brought the three highest prices at the Fasig-Tipton Texas yearling and fall mixed sale October 13 at Lone Star Park, with a Texas-bred daughter of Trappe Shot the top seller at $50,000 to Grand Oaks.

The auction is new this year after the sales company reformatted its annual summer yearling sale to include horses of racing age as well as breeding stock, and scheduled it six weeks later on the calendar.

Overall, 114 of 171 horses offered were sold for total receipts of $687,900, an average of $6,034. Median price finished at $3,000 with a buy-back rate of 33.3%.

Stoneview Farm bred and consigned the sale-topping filly from the first crop of Claiborne Farm stallion Trappe Shot. She is a Texas-bred who is out of the winning Silver Deputy mare Deputy G. G. The mare has produced four winners from five to race, including 2010 California Derby winner Ranger Heartley. Members of the extended family include 2014 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) winner Don’t Tell Sophia.

Legacy Bloodstock’s filly by Texas’ Valor Farms sire Jet Phone sold for $30,000, the second-highest price, to Double Infinity Ranch. Bred by Ronald and Margaret Ellerbee, she is out of the Early Flyer mare Formal Flyer, a two-time stakes winner at Lone Star Park. The family includes two-time Mexican Horse of the Year Dilic.

Sonny Ellen went to the day’s third-highest price of $21,000 for a filly by Texas sire Too Much Bling, out of the Sunny’s Halo mare Noelle. From the family of multiple graded stakes winner Lethal Heat, she was offered by Lane’s End Texas, agent for breeder Macassar Corp. Too Much Bling stands at Lane’s End Texas.

SHRP 2015 TB MEET BEGINS JANUARY 16TH
Sam Houston Race Park has announced that its 32-day Thoroughbred meet will include a stakes schedule offering nearly $1.7 million in purses, starting with Texas Champions Weekend, featuring the best Texas-breds competing over two days in seven divisions.

Opening night will feature fillies and mares in three stakes, each with purses of $50,000:  the San Jacinto Turf Stakes, Yellow Rose Stakes and the Bara Lass Stakes. Saturday will feature the boys in four stakes races, also with purses of $50,000 each:  the Star of Texas Stakes, Richard King Turf Stakes, Spirit of Texas Stakes and the Groovy Stakes.

NOTES: Leading Texas stallion Wimbledon has been sold to Texan Jack Cook and will stand the 2015 breeding season for a fee of $2,000 at Joe Kerby’s Key Ranch near Salado . Formerly the top freshman and second-crop sire in the Lone Star State, Wimbledon previously stood at Valor Farm near Pilot Point… Pre-entries for all 13 Breeders’ Cup World Championships races will close Monday, October  20 at noon local time of the place of pre-entry…A review by the board of directors of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) of state-by-state adoption of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) National Uniform Medication Program showed the majority of major racing jurisdictions will have a substantial portion of the program’s four principal components in place by the end of the year…Best of luck to everyone racing this weekend.