Voting for the 2013 Texas Champion Claimer Award is now open. Claiming horses fill the vast majority of race cards every day, but these hard-workers rarely receive recognition so the Texas Thoroughbred Association created the Texas Champion Claimer Award. The winning horse and his or her connections will be recognized alongside the other 2013 Texas Champions at the TTA Annual Conference and Awards Banquet at Lone Star Park this summer.
The Texas Champion Claimer Award is restricted to Accredited Texas-breds who won at least three claiming or allowance/optional claiming races at Texas racetracks last year.
The winner of the Texas Champion Claimer Award will be determined by online voting. Only one vote will be counted per person and automated attempts to vote will be disallowed. Voting closes on Tuesday, April 15 at 5 p.m. Central. Results will be posted online the following week.
Below are the candidates for this year’s award and a listing of their connections as of their last start in 2013. To learn more about each horse and review complete past performance information from Equibase, click on the name of any horse.
VOTING IS NOW CLOSED!
BETCHO
B, G, foaled February 20, 2007
(Olmos – Bet Me Up, by Foreign Survivor)
Trainer: Domingo Chacaltana
Owner: Domingo Chacaltana
Breeder: E. Martinez Jr.
BIRD IN THE STREET
DK B, M, foaled April 6, 2008
(City Street – Pretty Birdie, by Proud Birdie)
Trainer: Robert Meche
Owner: Michelle Godfrey
Breeder: Tommy Bullard & John Synowsky
CHARLEY’S MAILMAN
DK B, G, foaled April 16, 2009
(Uncle Abbie – Elizabeth G, by Wayne’s Crane)
Trainer: Danny Pish
Owner: Pharme Racing, Ltd.
Breeder: Robert Grunnah & Pharme Racing Ltd.
CITY ORDINANCE
B, G, foaled April 11, 2007
(Entepreneur – Jump City, by Temperence Hill)
Trainer: Allen Milligan
Owner: Danny Keene
Breeder: Judy Peek
FINAL TIME
CH, G, foaled April 17, 2009
(Final Row (GB) – J T’s Princes, by Carlisle Bay)
Trainer: Glen P. Rottweiler
Owner: P. Wayne Rottweiler
Breeder: Dallas Keen & Donna Keen
HIDDEN TICKET
DK B, G, foaled April 12, 2010
(Defer – Ticket, by Cryptoclearance)
Trainer: Jerenesto Torrez
Owner: Jerenesto Torrez
Breeder: Jose Luis Espinoza
LEGACY FLYER
B, F, foaled April 3, 2010
(Early Flyer – Flyers Legacy, by Fast Cure)
Trainer: George R. Bryant
Owner: George R. Bryant
Breeder: Jim T. Evans & Marty Evans
MIDLAND MAN
B, G, foaled April 10, 2006
(Early Flyer – On Radar, by Hadif)
Trainer: Allen Milligan
Owner: Ronald A. Ellerbee
Breeder: Clarence Scharbauer, Jr.
N J’S BOY
DK B, G, foaled June 4, 2010
(Special Rate – Shannon Lee, by Viva Deputy)
Trainer: Fernando Chavez
Owner: Jose R. Alvarez
Breeder: Pharme Racing Ltd.
ONE TRUE SUN
CH, G, foaled May 11, 2007
(Authenticate – Truly Sunlit, by Is It True)
Trainer: Ellen Williams
Owner: Carolyn Barnett and Becky Harding
Breeder: Carolyn R. Barnett
PHARME’S PHIRE
DK B, M, foaled March 18, 2007
(Sefapiano – Elizabeth G, by Wayne’s Crane)
Trainer: Danny Pish
Owner: Pharme Racing, Ltd.
Breeder: Pharme Racing LTD
SAND DUSTY
CH, G, foaled May 8, 2008
(Once a Sailor – Penny Lake, by Salt Lake)
Trainer: Justo Bustamante
Owner: Romana Angad
Breeder: Richland Ranch & Sue Cook
UNBRIDLED ELTEMPO
GR/RO, G, foaled February 14, 2005
(Unbridled Time – Joey’s Ego, by Bold Ego)
Trainer: Allen Milligan
Owner: Danny Keene
Breeder: Craig D. Upham