News and Notes for July 3, 2014

GILLESPIE COUNTY FAIR GROUNDS RACING THIS WEEKEND
Friday marks the first of 8 days of summer weekend racing for Gillespie County Fair Grounds, with six races for Quarter Horse and five for Thoroughbreds 3&up:  Race #1 on the card is a maiden claiming for going 5 ½ furlongs, #8 is a 5 ½ furlong claiming race, #9 is an Accredited Texas-bred allowance at 5 ½ furlongs, #10 is a 4 furlong claiming race and #11 is a 6 furlong maiden race for fillies and mares.  Saturday’s card consists mainly of Quarter Horse races, but includes a 7 furlong claiming race for Thoroughbreds 3&up. Post time each day is 1pm.

For a great read on the history of the racetrack, see:

http://southernracehorse.com/wp-content/uploads/gillespie.pdf.

LSP NEWS
Lone Star Park will celebrate Independence Day with their annual “Lone Stars and Stripes Celebration” with live racing and fun activities for the entire family, including a 2014 Ford F-150 Supercrew Truck Giveaway and a Jockey Dunk Tank to support the disabled rider fund.

The grandstand opens at 3pm and first post is 5pm. After the races, there will be a spectacular 20-minute fireworks display, choreographed to music.

On Saturday, first post time returns to the usual 6:35pm for 9 live races, after which the 2014 Lone Star Music Series presents Justin Moore in concert. It is also Fan Appreciation Night with the chance to win great prizes including cash, gift cards, tablets and more!

Going into this weekend, David Cabrera is at the top of the jockey standings, trainer Karl Broberg has dominated the meet and appears untouchable at the top of the standings with 56 wins and his End Zone Athletics has the lead in the owner standings with 19 wins over 2013’s leading owner Danny Keene, who has 16 wins.

EL JOVEN AND LA SENORITA NOMINATIONS
Please note that nominations for the El Joven and La Senorita Stakes close on Friday, July 11.. Both races will be run on Saturday, October 11 at Retama Park. Each race carries a $100,000 purse for 2-year-olds going a mile on the turf. To nominate, contact Retama Park at (800)4RETAMA.

“TAKING THE REINS” –  PDJF DAY ACROSS AMERICA
As reported in Blood-Horse, over 30 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racetracks throughout the U.S. have been invited to participate in the First Annual Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund (PDJF) Day Across America. Racetracks, fans, jockeys, and industry leaders are being asked to unite in a show of support for the PDJF and its mission on Saturday, July 26, 2014.

The day of awareness-building and fundraising with the theme “Taking the Reins” is to become an annual event. Working with their local jockey colony, racetracks will promote the PDJF in fan-friendly ways that may include autograph sessions, photo opportunities, video spots, and much more.

“We have contacted each race track that will be running on July 26th and have had a positive response that will raise funds for, and awareness of, the PDJF,” said Thoroughbred Racing Associations President Scott Wells. “Our goal is to educate our sport’s fans that the PDJF is a charity that must be sustained for the welfare of disabled riders and their families.”

“PDJF is not just an industry acronym or letters on a ball cap,” said Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez, Chairman of Jockeys’ Guild and PDJF Board member. “This organization is dedicated to improving the lives and welfare of the men and women who face lifelong challenges due to their disabilities. They can no longer compete or provide adequately for their families. PDJF Day Across America is an opportunity to educate our fans about the PDJF and emphasize the importance of raising funds.”

DISCOUNTED BREEDERS’ CUP NOMINATION DEADLINE
The Breeders’ Cup announced the deadline for the early discount of $100 off the $500 price for a Breeders’ Cup foal nomination is Thursday, Aug. 1.

The discount applies to all foals nominated electronically or online to the Breeders’ Cup program for the 2011 foal crop, if the nomination is made at www.members.breederscup.com on or before the 11:59 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 1 deadline. Nominators may also call the Breeders’ Cup racing department at (859) 514-9423 by the end of Aug. 1 to receive the discounted foal fee.

Any nominated horse that wins a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge race earns an immediate $10,000 award for the foal nominator. These awards and the nominator awards that are paid for horses that finish first, second, or third in a Breeders’ Cup World Championships race provide nearly $2 million each year to breeders who nominate their foals as weanlings.

All foals sired by a fully nominated Breeders’ Cup stallion are eligible for nomination to the Breeders’ Cup program in their year of birth. The standard $500 foal nomination, for those choosing not to nominate online, will remain in effect until Oct. 15, with a deadline of midnight (EDT). Late foal nominations may be made until midnight (EDT) Dec. 15 of the year of birth by payment of a one-time $1,500 nomination fee.

A Breeders’ Cup-nominated foal is eligible to participate and earn full purses and awards in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships races and in any other Breeders’ Cup racing program for as long as it races without any further nomination payments due.

NOTES:
2YO gelding Silverhill (by Silver City) finished 2nd in the $100,000 Bashford Manor S. at Churchill Downs on Saturday, making Silver City the leading first crop sire in North America by earnings ($151,668) with 2 stakes horses…Steve Asmussen has secured his 14th training title at Churchill Downs, the most titles ever won at the Louisville racetrack…The TTA office will be closed on Friday in observance of Independence Day…Remember to send in your letter of support for pari-mutuel wagering on historic races; see https://texasthoroughbred.com/your-support-needed-for-pari-mutuel-wagering-on-historical-races/ for details…Best of luck to everyone racing this weekend!