TEXAS THOROUGHBRED NOW ON INSTAGRAM
TTA is pleased to announce that in addition to our website, Twitter and Facebook, we are now on Instagram at https://instagram.com/p/1eEHofBJ7a/?taken-by=ttatexas. Check it out and for those who follow us on Instagram, we invite you to share your Lone Star photos. Throughout the meet, post photos of your time at Lone Star, be sure to tag @ttatexas and use the hashtag #ttalonestar – We may even share the best ones!
ATB AWARDS CHECKS ARE IN THE MAIL
Are you ready for some mailbox money? ATB awards for the recently concluded Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meet mailed earlier this week.
For ATB horses that finished 1st, 2nd or 3rd, eligible breeders will receive 6.85% of purse money earned; owners will receive 8.59% of purse money earned and stallion owners will receive 4.08% of purse money earned.
Also, for ATB horses finishing 1st, 2nd or 3rd in an OPEN COMPANY race, the owner will receive an additional bonus award of 18.71% of purse money earned!
TEXAS THOROUGHBRED YEARLING SALE SLATED FOR AUGUST 24
The Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park have entered into an agreement with Western Bloodstock, Ltd. for the production of public auction Thoroughbred sales to be conducted at the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Pavilion located on the grounds of Lone Star Park. The first auction produced by the new alliance will be the Texas Thoroughbred Yearling Sale, scheduled for Monday August 24, 2015.
“We are extremely pleased to announce this new partnership with Western Bloodstock,” said TTA President Ken Carson. “They have a 15-year track record of conducting sales at the highest level, and we are confident they will bring a new enthusiasm to the market, to the benefit of our members and horsemen throughout the Southwest.
“The TTA and Lone Star Park have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Fasig-Tipton in the production of our auctions since 1997,” Carson continued. “But with Fasig-Tipton making the decision to focus their efforts on other markets, it provided us with the opportunity to develop this new alliance with Western Bloodstock.”
“Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie is proud to be a part of this new alliance to produce Thoroughbred auctions,” added track president Scott Wells. “We are committed not only to offering the best racing possible, but also to having Lone Star Park serve as a marketplace for quality bloodstock through these sales. We believe that this new partnership provides for a bright future toward that goal.”
Regarded as the premier auction company in the performance horse industry, since its establishment in 2000, Western Bloodstock, Ltd. has offered more than 27,500 horses at public auction for total gross sales of $319 million. During the past 18 months, Western Bloodstock, Ltd. has cataloged a total of 2,382 horses for gross sales of $35,670,575. The company’s data base of over 11,400 customers offers an attractive opportunity to bring new owners into the Thoroughbred industry, as well.
“We are excited about our new alliance with the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park and look forward to bringing our knowledge and expertise in public horse auctions to the table,” said Jeremy Barwick, owner with his wife Candace, of Western Bloodstock, Ltd.
To conduct the sales in conjunction with the TTA and Lone Star Park, Western Bloodstock, Ltd. has teamed with longtime Texas Thoroughbred industry leader Jeff Hooper. Hooper’s experience includes nine years as the Executive Director of the TTA and 3½ years as Vice President of Administration at Lone Star Park.
“We are honored to have this opportunity to work with the TTA and Lone Star Park,” Hooper said. “The Texas Thoroughbred racing industry has strong roots and, combined with Lone Star Park’s commitment to Texas racing and its outstanding facilities, offers an exceptional regional market for quality yearlings and two-year-olds in training. We are proud of our track record of innovation and pledge to offer a first-class market for consignors and buyers, in tune with their needs.”
Consignment contracts for the August 24 Texas Thoroughbred Yearling Sale are available at WesternBloodstock.com or by calling Jeremy Barwick at 254/485-2542, Jeff Hooper at 817/992-0609 or the Western Bloodstock, Ltd. offices at 817/594-9210.
TRC APPROVES REVISED CALENDAR FOR RETAMA PARK TB MEET
The Texas Racing Commission has approved a revised calendar for the 2015 Thoroughbred meet at Retama Park. Rather than the traditional Friday/Saturday schedule, Retama Park will be running a three day per week schedule in 2015. The 26-day meet will begin a bit earlier this year, on August 21, and conclude on October 17. Live racing will be conducted each Friday and Saturday, along with Sundays to include August 30, September 6, 13, 20, 27, October 4 and 11. There will also be live racing on Monday, September 7th.
“We are confident that our new schedule will give us better opportunities to market our live racing product and are looking forward to a great summer of racing!” said track general manager Kevin Whelan.
NOTES: Kudos to Accredited Texas-bred Wagson, winner of the Premier Stakes and Lasting Bubbles, who won her second straight Wayne Hanks Memorial Stakes, all at Lone Star Park, and a big shout out to Accredited Texas-bred Promise Me Silver who remains undefeated with a runaway victory in the Instant Racing Stakes at Oaklawn Park last weekend…Congratulations to TTA member Jim Ward DVM, who was recently honored with an Outstanding Alumni Award from Texas A&M. The recipients of the 2015 Rising Star Award and the 2015 Outstanding Alumni Awards are all leaders in the veterinary profession, and the awards recognize them for their contributions and service…Retama Park is now hiring, with full-time, part-time and seasonal positions available in Admissions, Food & Beverage, Housekeeping, Landscaping, Mutuels and Security. For more information please visit http://pnkinc.com/career-opportunities… We offer our sympathies to the families of TTA members Grady Sanders of Aubrey and Drew Alexander, principal of Saddle Brook Park in Amarillo, who passed away recently…Save the date of June 20 to join us at the TTA Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner at Lone Star Park, where we will honor the Texas Champion horses of 2014 and their connections, along with recipients of the Allen Bogan Memorial Award for TTA Member of the Year, the T. I. “Pops” Harkins Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Thoroughbred Charities of America Award of Merit…For sponsorship information, contact Mary Ruyle in the TTA office at 512.458.6133.