NEWS AND NOTES FOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2014
UPDATE ON HRT LAWSUIT
The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas has intervened as a plaintiff in the lawsuit filed by charitable bingo interests against the Texas Racing Commission. Plaintiffs are seeking a declaratory judgment along with a temporary restraining order, as well as temporary and permanent injunctions against the implementation and operation of Historical Racing Terminals.
The Tribe operates a Class 11 bingo-based facility in Maverick County. Their petition alleges that many of their gaming patrons will be diverted to Texas racetracks with Historical Racing Terminals, thereby negatively impacting Tribal revenues.
A hearing is currently scheduled for 9 am on October 2 in the Travis County 261st Court.
COADY TO BE HONORED WITH TRIBUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARD
On October 30th, three deserving individuals will be recognized by Race Track Chaplaincy of America at the 12th Annual White Horse Awards Luncheon. One of the awards, the Tribute to Excellence, is a posthumous award presented to an individual who in their lifetime, exhibited outstanding initiative, inspiration, benevolence, and/or leadership which produced significant results directly benefiting those working in the horse racing industry.
This year’s Tribute to Excellence Award is being bestowed upon the late Jeff Coady and will be presented to his wife Nelda Coady of Luling, Texas. Jeff spent most of his life as a photographer on racetracks across the country. Jeff and his wife supported the ministry at Oaklawn Park tirelessly. Chaplain Rich Heffington from Oaklawn summed it up with this statement, “It was truly Jeff’s heart to help those in the horse racing industry any way he could.”
THIS WEEKEND AT RETAMA PARK
Tonight’s program at Retama Park serves as a prelude to the Fiesta Mile and Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Stakes, to be run Oct. 8 with each race offering a $50,000 purse.
The sixth race brings out fillies and mares to compete at one mile on the turf course as 5/2 favorite Swifterthantaylor sports the colors of the John Silverthorne Ranch.
Trained by Danny Pish, Swifterthantaylor finished fourth in this year’s Two Altazano Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. The 3-year-old filly by My Golden Song tokes on older fillies and mares but brings good credentials into the Friday contest.
Jockey Gerardo Mora pilots Swifterthantaylor after the pair recently cruised to a $25,000 claiming victory at Lone Star Park. A possible spoiler in the race could be 12/1 Mescelares for trainer Jerimiah West. Though she’s been fairly quiet lately, the 7-year-old daughter of Marquetry has the backclass to surface with a big run.
Mescelares finished third in this year’s Tomball Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park in a race that she led most of the way.
Ironically, one of the more talented fillies will be trying her hand against the boys as Expect Royalty will challenge colts and geldings in the second half of the double feature at one mile on the Retama Lawn. Owned and trained by Leroy Pollock, Expect Royalty has been stakes placed twice this year and is a winner of three of nine starts.
Jockey Iram Diego rides the 4-year-old filly by Valid Expectations as she takes on the likes of Texas Air and Cajun Don, who will be battling for bragging rights and perhaps a stepping stone to the Texas Horse Racing Hall Of Fame Stakes. Expect Royalty is the favorite at 7/2.
Then, it’s a double feature of sorts Saturday night as talented group of fillies and mares will head postward at the sprint distance of 5-1/2 furlongs.
Flashy Pearl, the favorite at 5/2, will take on seven others in the sixth race on the card for Danny Keene of Greenville, Texas. The 5-year-old daughter of Flashy Bull is trained by Allen Milligan as she makes her return to Retama Park for the first time since last December when she closed out her stay here with a two-for-two record. The speedy mare is ridden by Ivan Arellano in the Saturday dash.
In the evening’s eighth race, 3/1 favorite King Council makes his Retama debut after finishing sixth in the Prelude Stakes at Louisiana Downs behind locally owned Alamo Heights.
Trained by co-owner Terry Eoff – Johnny Evans is also owner – King Council has been knocking at the door in almost every contest among tough rivalries at Lone Star and Louisiana Downs. Jockey Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez guides the three year old son of Student Council.
In other Retama notes, Jockey David Cabrera heads into the weekend with a clear lead on the rest of the jockey colony as the young pilot has 15 wins notched away. Gerardo Mora and Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez are battling for second and third. In the trainer category, Allen Milligan has locked horns with Ronnie Cravens for the lead with Danny Pish just off the pace in third.
TEXAS STALLION STAKES SERIES DEADLINE – OCTOBER 1
The TTA reminds horsemen that deadlines are coming up for the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series. The deadline to nominate stallions for the 2014 breeding season is October 1, 2014. Only Texas accredited stallions may be nominated. The fee to nominate is the greater of $1,500 or the advertised stud fee for stallions standing their first season in Texas in 2014. For stallions not new to the state there is also a $500 late fee. October 1 is also the deadline to pay the balance owed for stallions early nominated to the TSSS for the 2014 breeding season. Invoices mailed in early September. Call the TTA at 512.458.6133 for more info.
NOTES: Come out to Scissortail Equestrian Center tomorrow for the LOPE Benefit Horse Show; see www.lopetx.org for details…The Breeders Sales Co. of Louisiana Sale held Tuesday in West Monroe experienced declines in gross and average over last year’s record auction, but numbers were up from 2012, with the LTBA reporting 120 yearlings sold for gross sales of $1,544,900, and an average of $12,874, with 52 buybacks. During the corresponding auction a year ago, 140 yearlings sold for $2,000,300, with an average of $14,288 and 45 buybacks…The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Thursday approved amendments to its penalty schedule for medication violations, bringing the state largely in line with the recommendations of national groups seeking uniform rules in U.S. racing states…Kentucky Downs, which currently has 390 Instant Racing machines, now plans to double the size of the area where they are housed… The TTA Board will meet via conference call on Wednesday, October 1st; they will vote on a slate of candidates to run for 5 at-large seats and 2 regional seats on the Board of Directors, as recommended by the Nominating Committee. Ballots will mail in early November.