TEXAS 2-YEAR-OLDS IN TRAINING SALE MOVED TO APRIL 10
The Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, originally scheduled for April 9, has been moved to Wednesday, April 10, at 12 noon. The undertack show will be held on the originally scheduled date of Sunday, April 7, at 10 a.m. Both the auction and undertack show will be held at Lone Star Park, which co-sponsors the sale with the Texas Thoroughbred Association.
“After talking with some of our major buyers, and confirming that our consignors were in support of the change, we decided to move the date back a day,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “We think this new date on April 10 will allow as many buyers as possible to attend in person, and as always we will accept phone bids from those who cannot.”
For more information about the sale, including replays after the undertack show and live video of the auction, go to www.ttasales.com.
HORSE INDUSTRY-RELATED LEGISLATION FILED
Three important pieces of legislation have been filed in both the Texas House and Senate that could prove beneficial to Texas Thoroughbred breeding and racing.
Representative Tracy King ((D) of Uvalde) has filed HB 2463, a purse matching bill, with Senator Lois Kolkhorst ((R) of Brenham) filing identical SB 1998.
King also filed HB 1995, providing additional funding for the Texas Racing Commission, and Senator Chuy Hinojosa ((D) McAllen) filed matching SB 2274.
Representative Kyle Kacal ((R) College Station) filed HB 3366, an Accredited Texas-bred Clean Up bill, with Senator Kolkhorst filing identical SB 1997.
HB 2463 and SB 1998 redirect money from General Revenue funds collected by Comptroller on taxable sale of horse feed, supplement and tack to create a $25-million annual incentive fund for purses.
HB 1995 and SB 2274 redirect taxes on simulcast wagers from General Revenue funds to fund the Texas Racing Commission.
HB 3366 and SB 1997 take Accredited Texas-bred owner and breeder award funds out of the TRC budget and establish a new escrow account for those funds.
The House bills are expected to be referred to and considered in the Committee for Licensing & Administrative Procedures very soon. We will keep you updated on any bill movement, as well as how you can be involved in the process.
TTA ANNUAL MEETING AND AWARDS DINNER
We hope you have made plans to join us on March 23rd in the Finish Line Suite at Sam Houston Race Park to enjoy an evening of great racing and honoring divisional Texas Champion horses and their connections.
There will be live and silent auction items to benefit the Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund and The Paddock Foundation, including a round of golf and lunch for four at the exclusive Boot Ranch in Fredericksburg, one ton of Purina Feed, 2 courtside tickets with VIP parking, buffet and drinks for the Spurs v. Atlanta game on April 2nd, a Tito’s Vodka gift basket, Texas Aggie football tickets, an authenticated Houston Texans helmet signed by QB Deshaun Watson, racetrack tickets, a framed autographed photo of Triple Crown winner Justify, jewelry and more.
If you cannot attend but want to participate in the auction, contact Mary Ruyle at 512.458.6133 to authorize staff or a TTA Director to bid on your behalf.
If you haven’t made reservations to attend, please do so immediately as seating is limited.
Many thanks to event sponsors Equine Express N.A., Frost Bank, Lone Star Park, NTRA Advantage, Retama Park, and our host, Sam Houston Race Park.
NOTES: Congrats to Karl Broberg who won his eighth straight training title at Delta Downs, His End Zone Athletics was also named leading owner for the meet. It was also the first time a trainer had won more than 100 races and gone over the $2 million mark in earnings…Eleven Thoroughbreds were showcased at the March 9 Roses to Ribbons event at Sam Houston Race Park, with 5 horses placed with new owners that day to begin a new career as an OTTB.