NEWS AND NOTES FOR NOVEMBER 21, 2014
PROMISE ME SILVER, W V JETSETTER WIN TEXAS STALLION STAKES AT RETAMA
Last Saturday was a big night for progeny of the stallions at Valor Farm, as three different sires standing at the facility near Pilot Point, Texas, combined to take five of the six top-three finishers in the two divisions of the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama Park.
In the $75,000 Darby’s Daughter division for 2-year-old fillies, Robert and Myrna Luttrell’s homebred Promise Me Silver romped to a 7 ¼-length victory as the 1-5 favorite. Cliff Berry rode the filly by Silver City, Texas’ leading freshman sire, to a six-furlong clocking in 1:12.57. Bret Calhoun trains the Texas-bred, who is now undefeated with three wins from three starts and earnings of $123,355. She broke her maiden at Lone Star Park in May and then took the $108,300 Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs in June.
Danny Keene’s Carol’s Flyer, a daughter of Valor Farm stallion Early Flyer, finished a clear second, and John Silverthorne Ranch Inc.’s homebred Silver Akantha, a Silver City runner who came in undefeated after two starts, closed to take third.
In the $75,000 My Dandy division for colts and geldings, R.A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s W V Jetsetter enjoyed a big return to his home state as he drew clear to a six-length victory. Jamie Theriot piloted the colt by Valor Farm stallion Jet Phone for trainer George Weaver. Bred by the late Clarence Scharbauer Jr., who owned Valor Farm, W V Jetsetter covered six furlongs in 1:11.65. The colt began his career in Texas, where he broke his maiden and captured the TTA Sales Futurity at Lone Star. He then went east and finished third in the $300,000 Toyota Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) at Saratoga in New York and finished off the board in the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland in Kentucky. His earnings now stand at $142,296.
Silver Hill, a Silver City runner bred by Clarence Scharbauer Jr. and now owned by his son Douglas, closed to finish second. The gelding had also been facing graded stakes foes with a second in the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs and a fifth in the Sanford Stakes (G3) at Saratoga. The lone horse not sired by a Valor Farm stallion to hit the board in the two stakes was Henry Witt Jr.’s homebred Witt Six, a gelding by Drums of Thunder.
Over 40 TTA members and guests participated in TTA Night at the Races, with special seating in the Terrace Dining Room and entry into a prize drawing for a Toro Leaf Blower-Vac, courtesy of EquineSavings.com. Brian Duchscher of Driftwood, Texas was the lucky winner. Many thanks to all who attended, Retama Park and EquineSavings.com!
NEW SEASONS ADDED TO TTA ONLINE AUCTION
The second round of bidding in the TTA online auction of 2015 stallion breedings is now underway, with a bid closing deadline of 5pm Central on Monday, December 1st.
New stallions have been added, and the list of available breedings includes: A. P. Million; Brahms; Crossbow; El Amante; Hightail; Live From Appollo; Orderly; Power Storm; Sing Baby Sing; Storm Broker; Supah Blitz and Westover Wildcat
Check them out at https://texasthoroughbred.com/stallion-register/online-stallion-auction/ and place your bid today!
TRC TO ADOPT RMTC MEDICATION THRESHOLD RECOMMENDATIONS
Effective January 1, 2015, the Texas Racing Commission will adopt the medication threshold recommendations put forth by the Racing Medication Testing Consortium (RMTC) and approved by the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI)
The Safety and Medication Committee of the Texas Racing Commission has scheduled a meeting with industry stakeholders to discuss the implementation of rules governing the use of therapeutic medications in horses competing at Texas tracks. The meeting will be held in the Founder’s Room (club level) at Sam Houston Race Park at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2014. Trainers and veterinarians licensed by the Commission are encouraged to attend.
INDUSTRY LOSES A FRIEND – SAMMY JACKSON PASSES AWAY
All of us in the Texas racing industry lost a dear friend and valued coworker Monday evening with the passing of Samuel “Sammy” Jackson. With his family at his side, Sammy passed away yesterday at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center after a prolonged illness. Sammy held a variety of positions with the Texas Racing Commission since joining the agency in 1994, and most recently served as the Deputy Director for Finance and Wagering. Sammy was admired for his sense of humor and his encyclopedic knowledge of pari-mutuel issues, both within the agency and throughout the racing industry. Sammy will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.
A memorial service for Sammy Jackson has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 29, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (337-589-7358) located at 1502 Industrial St. in Vinton, LA. The Mass will be preceded by a Rosary at 10:30 a.m. and followed by a reception in the parish hall. The nearest florist in Vinton is Cabbage Patch Flowers & Gifts (337-589-2256). The family suggests that any memorial donations be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and designated for Masses in Sammy’s name or the building fund. Condolences for Sammy’s mother Jackie, brother Eddy or sister Kathy may be sent c/o Kathy Jackson, 5795 Broussard Rd., Vinton, LA, 70668.
NOTES: Today, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will kick off its 143rd season of Thoroughbred racing with an 81-day meet including 47 stakes worth combined purses of $5.73 million, headlined by Louisiana Derby Day March 28…A state representative from Illinois has introduced legislation that would allow tracks in the state to offer historical racing machines… Veteran riders James Graham, Mike Luzzi, Leslie Mawing, and Corey Nakatani, along with the recently retired Rosie Napravnik are the 2015 finalists for the Santa Anita George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award… The California Horse Racing Board passed a rule on Wednesday limiting jockeys to three consecutive strikes with a whip before they must pause to allow a horse to respond…Based on wins, David Cabrera is the leading jockey at Retama Park with 34 wins; Danny Pish is on top of the trainer list with 21 victories; owner Terry Eoff has been to the Winner’s Circle 10 times; and horses Memo Jo, Valid Cien and Betcho are tied with 3 wins each…Ballots for the TTA Board of Directors election were mailed on November 1st; if you have not received your ballot, please call the TTA office at 512.458.6133 to check the status of your membership…The November/December issue of American Racehorse is now online and will be mailing soon. This issue features articles on equine transport, year-end tax tips, buying and selling at public auction, the spirit of competition in horse racing, how to tell if your mare is overdue and much more. Check it out at www.americanracehorse.com.