ATB’S IN WEEKEND RACES
Stakes placed Gold Buyer (My Golden Song – Most Magic) will compete in a field of 8 for the $70,000 Charles Taylor Derby at Albuquerque Downs on Saturday. 

Trained by Tracy Norris for Mike Powers, the gelding was bred by Douglas Scharbauer.  Gold Buyer finished second in the $65,000 Stymie division of the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes at Lone Star on June 1.  He has been given odds of 6-1.

Carded as Race 11, the $23,000 Texas Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Gillespie County Fair Grounds on Saturday has a field of 6 ATB 3-year-olds and up going 6 furlongs.

At 2-1 is The Big Raslowski (Etesaal – Vittoria’s Day), a 3-year-old gelding bred by Joe K. Davis.  Kevin Scholl will saddle the horse for owner Tommy Piwonski.

Jack With Seven (Too Much Bling – Foolish Girl) is trained by Steve Roubion for Sondra Brown Roubion.  Bred by the late Ed Few, the 5-year-old gelding has lifetime earnings of over $93,000 and odds of 5-2.

Scholl will also send out stakes winner Galactica (Uncle Abbie – Castelli’s Ace) for Team Bryant Thoroughbreds.  The 4-year-old gelding was bred by Larry S. Huntsinger, has lifetime earnings of $136,053 and odds of 3-1.

Providing competition are Crazy Ivan (Captain Countdown – Rhonda Legs’ Storm), Dee’s Loca Motion (Bullet Train (GB) – Deeloca); and Don’t Blame Dexter (My Golden Song – Don’t Blame Wayne).

Race 12 is a 4-furlong Thoroughbred maiden with a field of 6.

On Sunday, Race 9 is a 4-furlong Thoroughbred claimer with a field of 9.

THANK YOUR LEGISLATOR
We are pleased to report that significant legislation beneficial to the Texas horse industry was passed in the recently concluded legislative session. The most promising is HB 2463, which will eventually put $25 million annually into an escrow account from a portion of the taxes collected on the sale, storage, and use of horse feed, horse supplements, horse tack, bedding and grooming supplies, and any other taxable expenditure directly related to owning, riding, or boarding horses. Of the $25 million, up to 70% ($17.5 million) will be available to racetrack operators for purses, and 30% ($7.5 million) will be available to the recognized breed registries to enhance incentive programs or for “any event that furthers the horse industry.”

It is now extremely important to thank and support our Senators and Representatives who voted for this beneficial legislation. 

We would like for each legislator who voted in favor of this bill to receive individual letters of thanks.

The list of those Representatives along with their mailing addresses can be found here and the list of those Senators can be found here. To find your legislator, enter your address at https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home . Of course you may write a thank-you note and/or contribute to anyone on the list.

Please do so today!

NOTES: Best of luck to Bowies Hero, a Kentucky-bred owned in part by Mark Martinez’ Agave Racing Stable, who will compete in Sunday’s $250,000 (Gr. 2) Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar…This is closing weekend of the Thoroughbred meet at Lone Star Park.  There are 8 races tonight, 9 races on Saturday and 10 races on Sunday.  The track will continue current training hours (6 to 10) through Friday, July 26. The track will be closed for training on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28 and every Sunday from there on. Horsemen should plan to switch training hours beginning Monday, July 29 to 6:00 am to 9:00 am with no break…Photos from the Roses to Ribbons Old Fashioned Horse Fair on July 13 at Lone Star Park are now available for viewing at www.paddockfoundation.com and on FaceBook.  Many thanks to photographer Robin Buchanan…Our condolences go out to the family of longtime horseman and TTA member Rush McGinty of Tyler, who passed away this week. Rush at one time served as Executive Director of the Texas Horsemen’s Partnership.