RACE IN HONOR OF TERRY BLANTON TO BE RUN SUNDAY AT LONE STAR PARK
This Sunday, July 16, the ninth race at Lone Star Park will be run in honor of the late Terry Blanton. Blanton, the beloved longtime Texas Thoroughbred HBPA, Inc. (TTHBPA) Director of Racing and a former Board member for the organization, passed away on March 1st after a lengthy illness.
The race is an allowance for accredited Texas-bred three-year-olds and upward going five-and-a-half furlongs. An eight-horse field has been entered, with Raymond Todd White’s Duca’s Bling set as the morning line favorite at 5-2.
Blanton was a native of Texas, and a Texas-bred race is a fitting tribute to a man who supported Texas racing and breeding for so many years. Blanton was a lifetime member of the Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) and a firm believer in and supporter of the Accredited Texas-Bred Program.
The race is scheduled for a post time of 6:40 p.m. Central.
RACING AT GILLESPIE COUNTY FAIR THIS WEEKEND
There are 12 races carded for Saturday at Gillespie County Fair in Fredericksburg, with 2 for Thoroughbreds. Race 7 is a 4-furlong Thoroughbred maiden with a field of 10, including 4 Accredited Texas-breds.
Race 9 is a 5 ½-furlong allowance with a field of 10, of which 5 are Accredited Texas-breds.
There are no Thoroughbred races carded for Sunday. Post time both days is 1pm.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES FOR HORSEMEN In order to receive Stallion Awards on foals conceived during the 2017 breeding season, a stallion must be accredited and his annual administrative fee for the 2017 season must be paid.
If you stood a stallion in Texas for the 2017 breeding season, but have not yet accredited him, you have until August 1 to do so for $100. Any stallion accreditation applications postmarked after August 1 will not apply to the 2017 breeding season, but will apply to 2018.
If you have not yet paid your stallion’s Annual Administrative Fee for the 2017 breeding season, the deadline for late payment of $325 is August 1, 2017. If this is the stallion’s first year in Texas and he came into the state after February 1, you may pay the normal admin fee of $200. The Annual Administrative Fee cannot be accepted for the current breeding season after the August 1 deadline.
The deadline to nominate stallions to the Texas Stallion Stakes Series for the 2017 breeding season is October 1, 2017. Only Accredited Texas stallions may be nominated. The nomination fee is the greater of $1500 or the advertised stud fee for stallions standing their first season in Texas. Stallions not new to the state in 2017 must also pay a $500 late nomination fee.
October 1 is also the deadline to pay any balance owed for stallions early nominated to the TSSS for the 2017 breeding season. Invoices will mail in early September.
Rules and Regulations for the Accredited Texas-bred Program state:
“A photocopy of the annual ‘Report of Mares Bred’ shall be submitted to the TTA office on or before the date required by The Jockey Club (August 1).”
If you file your Report of Mares Bred electronically, you have the opportunity to print the report before filing so that you may make a copy to send to TTA.
We will double check the accreditation status of the mares on a report and notify the stallion owner so that breeders are more likely to be eligible for ATB breeder awards on their coming foals.
RTCA ACCEPTING WHITE HORSE AWARDS NOMINATIONS
The Race Track Chaplaincy of America is accepting nominations for the 2017 White Horse Awards, which honor individuals who have done something heroic—or above and beyond—on behalf of human or horse.
The award aims to recognize those unsung heroes of horse racing, whether their actions are headline-grabbing, or the quiet and not-so-obvious kind of heroism. The nomination deadline for this year’s awards is Sept. 8.
To submit a nomination for either the White Horse, Tribute to Excellence, or Community Service Awards, visit www.facebook.com/pg/rtcanational/events for a complete list of rules and selection criteria, as well as downloadable nomination forms.
NOTES: Jockey Lindey Wade reached a milestone July 9 when he scored his 1,000th North American career victory in the seventh race last Monday at Lone Star Park aboard Karen & Richard Boyer’s Firepit Queen… The 32nd annual Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s national awards dinner will be held September 9 at Calumet Farm near Lexington. Craig Upham, breeder of 2016 Texas Horse of the Year Texas Chrome will be honored as the Texas Breeder of the Year…The Texas Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Gillespie County Fairgrounds originally scheduled for July 15 has been postponed until August 12…Many thanks to those who donated and purchased items in the live and silent auctions during the TTA Annual Awards Banquet on June 24th. A total of $9,165 was raised to benefit the Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund and $2,280 will go to The Paddock Foundation. ..Roses to Ribbons Old-Fashioned Horse Fair at Lone Star Park tomorrow, with horses available for viewing in the saddling paddock at 11am.