Headline News

Brian Lee Gunder, a Quarter Horse breeder and owner whose Circle G Ranch breeding and racing interests reached tracks across the United States, Canada and Mexico, passed away Saturday, October 3, at his residence in Lewisburg, Ohio. He was 63.

Lone Star Park has released its second condition book for the 2026 Quarter Horse racing season, covering races from Thursday, October 22, through Saturday, November 21.

Ramiro Haro Garcia has been named the 2026 recipient of the Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award, an honor recognizing a rider’s character, sportsmanship and professionalism both on and off the racetrack.

John Creager, an AQHA Champion Jockey, esteemed horseman, and respected mentor to many young riders at Los Alamitos, passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 75.

Live horse racing will return to Eureka, Kansas, this fall when Eureka Downs conducts its inaugural mixed-breed race meet beginning Saturday, October 17.

Century Downs will offer a series of Quarter Horse stakes during its 2026 fall meet, highlighted by the $45,000 Alberta Bred Futurity (RG3) and $30,000 Alberta Bred Derby on Saturday, October 24.

Former horseman and longtime racetrack executive Scott Wells is the featured guest on the newest episode of QH Racing Talk–Weekly, discussing his notable family ties to the sport, lifelong career and love for Quarter Horse racing with host Greg Thompson.

Abelardo H. “Chacho” Flores, a longtime Quarter Horse owner and breeder whose years in racing were marked by enduring partnerships and generations of successful horses, passed away on Saturday, September 26, at age 69. He was born July 31, 1957.

Arizona Quarter Racing & Breeders has released the Quarter Horse stakes schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 Turf Paradise race meet, featuring a slate of futurities, derbies, and stakes stretching from late November through early May.

Horse Racing Alberta is welcoming new ownership of Alberta’s two “A” Circuit racetracks and looking forward to a new chapter for the province’s horse racing industry.

Arizona Quarter Racing & Breeders (AQR&B) is reminding horsemen that nominations for all 2026 Fall Futurities and Derbies are due Thursday, October 1.

The Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA) has released its September Race Nomination Summary, providing updated eligibility numbers and account balances for four upcoming stakes at Will Rogers Downs.

Horsemen are reminded that nominations close Friday, October 2, for the $35,000-added Karen Utecht Memorial Stakes for Paints and Appaloosas at Lone Star Park.

The Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association has several dates approaching for horsemen, beginning with 2027 stakes nominations. The association also announced new race conditions, the start of its board election, dates for its stallion auction and a cookout at Will Rogers Downs.

The Texas Quarter Horse Association has sent a reminder that regular nominations for the $75,000-added 2027 Texas Breeders Futurity are due October 15, 2026. The $250 fee applies to eligible horses that were not nominated during the Early Bird period, which closed May 1.

The family of Hall of Fame jockey and longtime racing steward Jerry Burgess invites friends and members of the racing community to a celebration of his life Saturday, October 10, at Lone Star Park. The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. in the track’s Dash for Cash Room.

Building on the popularity of its daytime September online contest, Los Alamitos Race Course will conduct the Los Al 123 Sunsets & Stars Challenge, a free-to-play online picking contest offering a $5,000 total cash prize pool during its nighttime Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred meet starting on Saturday night, October 3.

Trainer Jason Olmstead reached a major career milestone Friday night at Prairie Meadows when Jessa Southern Girl delivered his 1,000th career victory with a win in the $326,110 Valley Junction Futurity (G3).

All American Futurity (G1) and All American Derby (G1) winning jockey Alex Baldillez Jr. is the featured guest on the newest episode of QH Racing Talk–Weekly. Baldillez and his brother Roy, who won the 2011 All American Futurity aboard Ochoa, are the only brothers to have won the Labor Day classic.