LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JULY 17, 2018—Leading Los Alamitos Race Course rider Cesar DeAlba is home after suffering an injury in fifth trial on Saturday for the Governor's Cup Futurity at the Orange County racetrack. "I want to thank everyone for their kind words and concern,"DeAlba tweeted on Sunday (JUL 15). "I'm back at home happy to be with my ...

BOSSIER CITY, LA—JULY 17, 2018—Harrah’s Louisiana Downs has named Eric Halstrom as the new Vice President of Operations, pending all regulatory approvals. Mike Rich, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs made the announcement. Halstrom takes on the role vacated by Trent McIntosh, now the new General Manager of Hoosier Park in Indianapolis, Indiana for Caesars Entertainment. Halstrom is a graduate of the University of Arizona Racetrack Industry Program and has a strong background in in racetrack management. He served as the Vice President of Racing at Canterbury Park from 1997-2008 and then spent ...

NEW ORLEANS, LA—JULY 16, 2018—The Louisiana State Racing Commission (LSRC) voted unanimously today (Monday) to go to zero tolerance on clenbuterol for Quarter Horses. The new rule takes effect on October 3rd—opening day of the 2018 Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse meet in Opelousas. Clenbuterol is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved for treating reversible bronchospasm in horses. The drug is commonly used to treat horses with inflammatory airway disease and recurrent airway obstruction (or heaves). It is also sometimes administered to racehorses during the racing season, however some researchers have questioned the side ...

JULY 16, 2018—Eric Halstrom, assistant director of racing at Prairie Meadows, has accepted the position of vice president of operations at Harrah's Louisiana Downs, owned by casino giant Caesar's Entertainment. "I really like it here at Prairie," Halstrom told the Midwest Paddock Report. "The people here have been so nice. From Ann Atkin (SVP/COO) on down, management has been terrific and Derron Heldt (director of racing) has been great to work with. Really, the entire team here has been wonderful but Louisiana Downs was an opportunity I couldn't pass up." In his time at Prairie Meadows, Halstrom was tasked with finding ways to enhance the customer experience. "We really ...

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JULY 13, 2018—Saturday's canceled races at Albuquerque Downs have been rescheduled as part of a unique racing "doubleheader" on Wednesday, July 18. Live racing on Wednesday will begin at 1:30 p.m. (MDT). The first 10 races will be the races that were slated for Saturday, July 14. The races will be run in the order they ...

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JULY 14, 2018—Inclement weather in the area has forced Albuquerque Downs Racetrack to cancel its scheduled 10-race program on Saturday. Heavy rainstorms, including thunder, hit the Albuquerque area late Saturday afternoon, and the storms were forecast to continue through much of the evening. Live racing is scheduled to resume with a 10-race program on Sunday. First post is slated for 1:30 p.m. (MDT). * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Downs at Albuquerque Racetrack and Casino is located in the heart of Albuquerque at Expo New Mexico, the home of the New Mexico State Fair, and ...

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JULY 13, 2018—The American Quarter Horse Association has chosen Albuquerque Downs to host its 2019 Bank of America Challenge Championships. This will mark the first time that Albuquerque Downs has hosted the Challenge Championships and the first time since 1993 that the event will be held in New Mexico. That year's inaugural Challenge Championships were held at Sunland Park Racetrack.

"We are so excited about this," said AQHA chief racing officer Janet VanBebber. "AQHA appreciates (Albuquerque Downs chairman of the board) Paul Blanchard and racing director Don Cook in their enthusiasm to conduct and host the Challenge Championships. Additionally, we appreciate the commitment they've shown the industry in renovations at their track, supporting integrity ...

ALEXANDRIA, LA—JULY 13, 2018—A regular meeting of the LQHBA Board of Directors will be conducted Wednesday July 18, in the Event Center Prefunction Room at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas. Set for 10 am (CDT), all LQHBA members and the public are invited to attend. For additional information visit the association website at ...

VINTON, LA—JULY 7, 2017—Delta Downs wrapped up its 2018 American Quarter Horse season on Saturday night. During the special 12-race program, billed as Louisiana Showcase Night, the track honored its leading horsemen for the 46-day stand which began on April 20. John Hamilton won 44 races on the season while capturing his sixth leading rider title this year. The 54-year-old Vinton, Louisiana resident won consecutive titles from 2012 ...

BOISE, ID—JULY 11, 2018—Idaho's Secretary of State Lawerence Denney said Tuesday a proposal to legalize historical horse racing betting terminals will be on the Idaho ballot in November. According to Denney, the ballot initiative collected enough valid signatures from the required amount of legislative districts to get on the ballot this fall. The initiative needed at least 56,192 valid signatures, with a certain amount coming from at least 18 of Idaho's 35 legislative districts. Nearly 115,000 signatures were gathered by supporters. If approved the machines would be allowed at ...

AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—JULY 11, 2018—After earning a third consecutive berth in the Champion of Champions (G1) with a victory in Sunday’s Vessels Maturity (G1) at Los Alamitos, Zoomin For Spuds flew into the AQHA Racing National Poll for older horses, moving from unranked last week to a tie for No. 3 this week. Coincidentally, ...

THOREAU, NM—JULY 11, 2018—Maynard Buckles of Thoreau, New Mexico have made their 2018 All American Futurity buckles available for pre-purchase prior to the Labor Day event. Doing business since 1981, Maynard Buckles have produced four-buckles to commemorate the $3-Million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. The buckles are highly sought ...

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 10, 2018—More than $25,000 was raised for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) through poster sales on Sunday while the handle for last weekend’s three days of trials to the $1 million Rainbow Futurity and Rainbow Derby was up 27 percent at Ruidoso Downs. New Mexico native and Triple Crown-winning jockey Mike ...

ELGIN, TX—JULY 9, 2018—Sustaining payments for the 2018 $1 million-est. Grade 1 Texas Classic Futurity and $400,000-est. Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby are due Sunday, July 15. TQHA has reported that 278 two-year-old's are nominated as June 28th for the ...

by Greg Thompson, Stallionesearch.com VINTON, LA—JULY 8, 2018—-StallioneSearch.com concludles its webcast coverage of the Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) weekend with the release of Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby(RG3) recap on Stallionesearch.com.

On this episode, StallioneSearch.com is on hand for the running of the 2018 ...

by Greg Thompson, Stallionesearch.com VINTON, LA—JULY 8, 2018—-StallioneSearch.com continues its webcast coverage of the Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) weekend with the release of the futurity recap on Stallionesearch.com.

On this episode, StallioneSearch.com is on hand for the running of the 2018 $700,000 Lee Berwick ...

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 7, 2018—A select class, including the late owner/breeder Carl Pevehouse, was inducted in the Ruidoso Downs' Racehorse Hall of Fame before a large crowd on Thursday evening at Ruidoso Downs. Joining Pevehouse in the 2018 class is trainer Jaime Gomez, jockey Cody Jensen and champion One Famous Eagle. Lowell Neumayer will be presented with a special achievement award. The Racehorse Hall of Fame adds a select group of inductees every year. There is only one owner/breeder, trainer, jockey and horse inducted each year. Pevehouse, who died in 2014, will always be remembered as the developer of horses with "Candy" in ...

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 6, 2018—New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez has proclaimed Sunday, July 8th as “Mike E. Smith Day” throughout New Mexico. That is the day that Triple Crown-winning jockey Smith will be visiting Ruidoso Downs for the Mike Smith Triple Crown Victory Celebration. Smith won this year’s Triple Crown aboard Justify, the 13th Triple Crown winner. The rider became the oldest jockey to win the Triple Crown at age 52. Posters commemorating the Triple ...

ALEXANDRIA, LA—JULY 6, 2018—Nominations for the restricted Grade 1 2020 LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity are due Monday, July 16th. Accredited Louisiana-bred foals of 2018 are eligible. Horsemen and women should also be aware that foals of 2018 must be nominated to the 2020 futurity and paid to date through the February 15, 2019 payment ...

AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—JULY 5, 2018—There were virtually no changes to either of the AQHA Racing National Polls this week. However, the coming weekend will feature a slew of ranked horses in action. The older horses will be chasing the idle and top-ranked Jessies First Down, who has been at No. 1 for most of this year, while the ...

VINTON, LA—JULY 4, 2018—Delta Downs’s 2018 American Quarter Horse Season will wrap up on Saturday with a special 12-race program titled Louisiana Showcase Night. The entire program is devoted to horses bred in Louisiana with eight stakes races and just over $1.4 million in purse money up for grabs. The main event will be the $700,000 Lee ...

ALTOONA, IA—JULY 4 2018—The due date for stall applications is quickly approaching. Stall applications for the 2018 Prairie Meadows Quarter Horse Meet are due in the racing office by Wednesday, July 11. All documents and pertinent information for owners and trainers – including stall applications and Condition Book No. 1 – are available by ...

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JULY 2, 2018—Albuquerque Downs opened its 55-date racing season last weekend and recorded a 37-percent increase in wagering handle over the first three days of 2017. A total of $857,874 was wagered on Albuquerque's live races from Friday, June 29-Sunday, July 1, compared to $625,429 during the first three days of the track's ...

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 2, 2018—Purina Animal Nutrition, the nation's leader in innovation in animal nutrition, in cooperation with their dealers, Finish Line Feeds and Mundell Terminal Service, are the new sponsors of the Trainer of the Week program at Ruidoso Downs. The winning trainer each week will receive 250 pounds of Purina premium ...

SHELBYVILLE, IN—July 1 2018—The Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana (QHRAI) hosted their annual "Youth Racing Experience" event at Indiana Grand Saturday (June 30). The program provides an extensive look at Quarter Horse racing in the state for teenagers with the opportunity to take home scholarship money at the conclusion of the ...

POMONA, CA—JUNE 30, 2018—A celebration of life honoring Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen will be held Saturday, July 14th at 2:00 P.M. at the Sheraton Conference Center at 601 W McKinley Avenue on the Fairplex in Pomona, California. McEwen, who passed away at his home on June 10th, was 81. McEwen was voted No. 16 on the NHRA Top 50 all-time ...

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JUNE 29, 2018—The New Mexico Racing Commission announced on Thursday that the bronchodilator clenbuterol will now be classified as a Class 3 controlled substance in the state. The move enables criminal prosecution of horsemen found to be illegally in possession of the drug. The NMRC worked with the New Mexico Board of ...

PRESCOTT, AZ—JUNE 29, 2018—Friday, July 13th, will be a lucky day for those in the Arizona's Prescott Valley region wanting a new place to bet on horse racing as well as another entertainment venue. The new Arizona Downs is bringing back wagering on racetracks across the country to the site of the old Yavapai Downs on July 13. Arizona ...

AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—JUNE 28, 2018—American Quarter Horse Association, June 28, 2018 - After extending her unbeaten streak to three with a victory in Sunday’s $1.06 Ed Burke Million Futurity (G1) at Los Alamitos, Wave Her Down soared into the AQHA Racing National Poll for 2-year-olds and debuted at No. 2 in the ...

SHELBYVILLE, IN—JUNE 28 2018—There was no doubt Victor Olivo would make a seamless transfer from jockey to trainer a few years ago. Indiana Grand's fourth all-time leading Quarter Horse jockey already has a Quarter Horse track record to his credit as a trainer. His filly, Jess Kool Lady, established a new mark for 350 yards last year in a time ...

EVANSTON, WY—JUNE 27, 2018—Wyoming Downs' live race season begins Saturday (June 30). Gates open at 11:30 AM, with 1st post at 1:05 PM. The 16-race day season runs every weekend through August 19. General admission is $10.00, with children under 12 free in the general admission stands. Clockers corner seats are $20.00 per person. This ...

INDIANAPOLIS, IN—JUNE 26, 2018—The Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) met today (June 27)for a hearing to approve the transfer of ownership of the assets of Centaur Gaming to Caesars Entertainment. The commission approved the petition of the transfer of ownership of Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino and ...

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JUNE 27, 2018—This week the New Mexico Racing Commission announced the state’s approved racing calendar for 2019. Sunland Park Racetrack will once again kick off the year’s racing schedule with a 75-day season from December 28, 2018 thru May 5, 2019. SunRay Park in Farmington will follow with a 17-day meet from May 3 thru June 2. Ruidoso Downs will conduct a 54-day live racing season from May 10 thru September 2. Albuquerque Downs will conduct a 56-day season from June 28 thru September 22 and October 26 (to accommodate its hosting of the AQHA/Bank of America Challenge Championships). Zia Park in Hobbs will conclude New Mexico’s 2019 racing season with a 53-day season from September 21 thru December 18. ...

VINTON, LA—JUNE 27, 2018—An evening of racing, with total purses of $1.4 million to be awarded, is on tap Saturday at Delta Downs and include finals for the $700,000 Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1), $268,655 Delta Downs Louisiana-Bred Derby(RG3) and the $50,000-Guaranteed Louisiana Juvenile Invitational.

First post is at 5:45 p.m. ...

SHELBYVILLE, IN—JUNE 26 2018—Team USA kept its streak alive Saturday, June 23 by winning the third consecutive title in the fifth annual World Jockey Challenge at Indiana Grand. The event was represented by seven different countries with jockeys teaming up for their homeland to accumulate points. Team USA compiled 43 points over Team Mexico’s 24 to win the title. Team Mexico jumped out to an early lead with a win by Jesus Castanon in the evening’s first race of 11 on the card. Castanon returned in the second race to finish third for a total of eight points with Panama getting a boost by Marcelino Pedroza with a win in the evening’s second race. DeShawn Parker of the United ...

BOISE, ID—JUNE 24, 2018—Election officials in Idaho this week said a proposal to legalize "historical horse racing" in the State appears to have secured enough verifiable signatures to qualify for the November ballot. It will now be up to the State's election office to determine if the signatures meet legislative district requirements. According to a statement on Friday from the Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney, county clerks across the state have unofficially verified roughly 61,400 signatures that organizers submitted this year. Under Idaho rules the signatures will become official when they are delivered to the Secretary of State's office. At least 56,192 signatures were needed to qualify and those signatures must also come from 6 percent of the registered voters in at least 18 of Idaho's 35 legislative ...

DALLAS, TX—JUNE 23, 2018—StallioneSearch.com continues the Film Of The Month series of short films being sponsored by Horse Logic and presented on StallioneSearch.com, as well as on Facebook. The installment for the month of June 2018 is another episode of the ongoing StallioneSearch film series entitled "Quarter Horse Racing Relic Hunter". In the short film, StallioneSearch's Greg Thompson received an invite to tour the studio of the late Orren Mixer, a legendary equine portrait painter from Oklahoma that capture many of the legends of the sport in Quarter Horse racing through his paintings. CLICK HERE to view June's Film Of The Month: QH Racing Relic Hunter - ...

By T. D. Thornton, Thoroughbred Daily News WASHINGTON, DC—JUNE 23, 2018—Thoroughbred industry witnesses representing both pro and con sides of a federal bill requiring a uniform anti-doping and medication control program testified before a Congressional subcommittee on Friday, marking the first time that proponents and opponents of HR 2651 have been able to voice arguments while facing questioning from politicians who will decide if the measure advances. No clear-cut “winner” emerged from the June 22 proceedings before the Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection subcommittee. The most salient points of the two-hour debate came ...

SUNLAND PARK, NM—JUNE 22, 2018—The Fulton family, owners of Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, officially announced their intent to submit a bid to the New Mexico Racing Commission seeking the state’s only remaining racing license. Rick Baugh, General Manager of Sunland Park Racetrack, made the announcement on Thursday (June 21) at the New Mexico Racing Commission meeting on behalf of the family. The Fulton family has owned and operated Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino since 2000 and built it into one of the premier horse racing facilities in the country. The family’s passion for quality horse racing in New Mexico is ...

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JUNE 22, 2018—SunRay Downs announced today their $96,589 Four Corner Futurity final, originally set for June 17th, has been rescheduled for Sunday, July 1st and will be contested at Albuquerque Downs. SunRay was forced the cancel the 350 yard stakes for 2-year-old American Quarter Horses due to track conditions at the Farmington racecourse after a summer storm hit the area on closing weekend of the meet. Wallace Johnson’s Shes Got Fire, a Utah-bred daughter of leading living Quarter Horse sire Corona Cartel trained by Justin Joiner, should be the morning-line choice for Four Corners Futurity final. The fastest qualifier, Shes Got Fire made her debut with a wire-to-wire, 1-¼ length victory in the last of four trials ...

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JUNE 21, 2018—The Downs at Albuquerque has released its track-record 23-race, $2.602-million stakes schedule for its 2018 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet, which opens June 29. Of The Downs 23 stakes races, 15 will be for Thoroughbreds and eight will be for Quarter Horses. The track’s Thoroughbred stakes will be worth an estimated $1.08 million, and its Quarter Horse stakes will be worth an estimated $1.4 million. The highlight of the 55-date season, the 440-yard Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship, Presented by South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, will be one of five stakes offered on closing day, September 23. In addition to being granted Grade 1 ...

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JUNE 20, 2018—Ed Allred, the owner and chief executive officer of Los Alamitos Race Course, had successful throat surgery on Wednesday morning and will be discharged from the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona on Thursday. "I just spoke to Ed on FaceTime and he looked and sounded great," said Cathy Monji, the president of Los Alamitos Race Course. "He’s already looking forward to watching and enjoying all of the Los Alamitos races on TVG." Allred, the all-time leading owner and breeder of American Quarter Horses, ...

PRESCOTT, AZ—JUNE 20, 2018—The former Yavapai Downs horse track will reopen with a new name: Arizona Downs. Arizona Downs was the name of a former racetrack in Phoenix that opened in 1951 at one site and later ran its annual race meetings by leasing Turf Paradise before ceasing operations in 1985. Yavapai Downs last ran in 2010. The ...

AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—JUNE 20, 2018—The last AQHA Racing National Poll before summer officially arrives on June 21 did not change much compared to the previous week, but with American Quarter Horse racing’s busiest season on tap, there should be some significant movement over the next three months. In the poll for older horses, Jessies First Down held the top spot for the eighth consecutive week. The 7-year-old gelding by FDD Dynasty is undefeated this year after notching two Grade 1 wins during the Remington Park meet. No. 2 ranked BH Lisas Boy was in action this past weekend with a victory in his Vessels Maturity (G1) trial at Los Alamitos, and he’s set to return for the July ...

ALEXANDRIA, LA—JUNE 19, 2018—The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) will award two $1,500 scholarships to further the education of Louisiana students on Saturday, July 7 at Delta Downs. The final night of the 2018 Quarter Horse racing season will feature several quality stakes, including the $700,000 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) and the $268,655 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby (RG3). Through the generous support of sponsors Jet Black Patriot and Robicheaux Ranch, Inc., two $1,500 scholarship drawings will be awarded as part of the very special evening saluting accredited Louisiana-bred racehorses. Scholarship entrants must be a Louisiana High School graduate or a Louisiana High School student graduating in 2019 ...

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 16, 2018—Triple Crown winning jockey and New Mexico native Mike Smith will make a celebratory appearance at Ruidoso Downs on July 8. "Mike is a global celebrity now and we are honored by his willingness to come to Ruidoso Downs to share his Triple Crown celebration with us," Ruidoso Downs' president and general manager Jeff True said. "He is a wonderful ambassador of our sport and he never forgets where he came from. "He told me his family will fill half the ...

FARMINGTON, NM—JUNE 17, 2018—Due to track conditions SunRay Park was forced to cancel races 4 through 10 today (Sunday) including the $25,000-added Four Corners Futurity. Inclement weather hit the area overnight and track officials had worked hard to get the surface ready for Sunday. She Got Fire, a daughter of leading sire Corona Cartel from the Ed Burke Million Futurity(G1) winner Separate Fire, by Walk Thru Fire, broke her maiden in the Four Corners Futurity trials, her first career start, on June 1st. Owned by Wallace Johnston and trained by Justin Joiner, She Got Fire was a $50,000 repurchase in the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City. She was set as at the ...

SOUTH JORDAN, UT—JUNE 16, 2018—The Utah Quarter Horse Racing Association instituted hair-testing for the recent trails held at Laure Brown Racetrack. Trials were conducted for the $15,070 South Valley Futurity on June 1 and the $92,233 Beehive Futurity on June 2. "We received Positive hair tests for Jess A Success who was second fastest qualifier in the South Valley Futurity and Heza Winners King who was going to run in the Beehive Consolation Futurity Finals," a spokesman for the association said. Both horses have been disqualified and have been given a no time. Due to the disqualification in the South Valley, the 11th qualifier, Flare Up Baby, has been moved up to 10th and made eligible to enter today's (June 16) final. Flare Up Bay is a daughter of Quick To ...

NEW ORLEANS, LA—JUNE 15, 2018—Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, which opens its 10 day 2018 American Quarter Horse meet on August 16, has released their 2018 QH Stakes Schedule headed by the RG1 $150,000-added LQHBA Sale Futurity. The restricted Grade 1 sale futurity is for 2-Year-Olds who passed through the 2017 LQHBA Yearling Sale in Kinder, Louisiana or the LQHBA Fall Mixed Sale (as long as they are paid to date in the LQHBA Louisiana Million). Jrs Taylors Runaway, a $10,000 repurchase in the 2016 yearling sale, earned ...

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—JUNE 14, 2018—Jessies First Down, recent winner of the Remington Park Championship, has been voted the Horse of the Meeting for the recently completed season. The two-time defending American Quarter Horse Association World Champion won the award in balloting by media covering the Remington Park season and track racing personnel. A winner of both the Grade 1, $100,000 Leo Stakes in April and the Grade 1, $250,000 Remington Park Championship on June 2, Jessies First Down is bred and owned by Ted Abrams of Houston and is trained by James Padgett. The 7-year-old ...