Sandy’s Racing & Gaming will host eight days of live Quarter Horse racing in 2026, highlighted by the BOCO Futurity and Bluegrass Derby

© KyQHRA

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ASHLAND, KY–JUNE 1, 2026–The inaugural Sandy’s Racing & Gaming Quarter Horse meet will feature eight days of live racing August 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28, followed by September 4 and 5.

The meet will be conducted by the Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association (KyQHRA) in partnership with Revolutionary Racing Kentucky, the owner and operator of Sandy’s Racing & Gaming. The facility’s historical horse racing gaming operation is located adjacent to the track.

KyQHRA plans to offer approximately $250,000 in daily purses during the meet, representing a total purse commitment of nearly $3 million. In addition to the daily purse amounts, Sandy’s will offer multiple starter bonuses.

“We provide a $500 starter bonus for every horse that starts this year, regardless of where they finish in the race,” KyQHRA President Christine Sowders said. “We also are giving a $200 trainer bonus for every horse that each trainer starts.”

Sowders said Kentucky-breds competing during the meet will benefit from additional funding provided through the Kentucky Quarter Horse Development Fund.

“We are trying to do everything we can to get people to come to the track for the first time,” Sowders said. “We won’t have a permanent facility in place yet, so we want to incentivize people to come out and see what is happening here. We’ve got some really big plans over the next few years.”

Featured stakes events include the $125,000-added BOCO Futurity and the $100,000-added Bluegrass Derby. Trials for both races are scheduled August 19, with the finals set September 5.

The September 5 stakes program will also include the $25,000-guaranteed Cherokee Overnight Stakes. Both the BOCO Futurity and Bluegrass Derby will receive an additional $50,000 in purse support from the Kentucky Quarter Horse Development Fund.

CLICK HERE for the complete conditions book at Sandy Range.

Current nominations include more than 100 juveniles to the BOCO Futurity and more than 50 horses to the Bluegrass Derby.

Approximately 280 stalls will be available to trainers on a temporary lease basis for this year’s meet. Trainers are expected to arrive shortly before the meet begins, and additional stalls may be added as applications are received. Stall applications are available to reserve space.

CLICK HERE to download a stallion application.

No grandstand will be constructed for the inaugural meet, though plans call for one in the future. A tent will serve as a pavilion this year, with betting terminals available for patrons. Concessions will be provided by food trucks, and the grounds will include a picnic area and beer garden.

An existing building on the property will serve as the jockey quarters, while a home already located on the grounds will be used as the track kitchen.

Sowders said the long-term vision includes continued purse growth, the addition of nationally recognized racing events, and construction of permanent facilities, including grandstands, paddocks and stable areas.

“Hopefully we can add more money every year, have the races become graded and possibly host an AQHA Challenge race event,” she said.

Quarter Horse racing in Kentucky is closely linked to revenue generated by historical horse racing gaming facilities across the state. Under an agreement with Sandy’s Racing & Gaming, KyQHRA receives a percentage of gaming revenue generated at the facility. A portion of those proceeds is also directed into the Kentucky Quarter Horse Development Fund, which currently holds approximately $11 million.

The Kentucky Quarter Horse Development Fund provides purse supplements, breeder incentives and registration programs designed to strengthen the state’s Quarter Horse racing industry. Administered by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, the fund is supported through gaming-related revenue and rewards breeders, owners and participants who invest in Kentucky-bred horses.

ABOUT THE KyQHRA
The Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association represents horsemen and women throughout the Commonwealth and works closely with racetrack partners to expand racing opportunities, promote Kentucky-bred horses and strengthen the future of the sport. The association supports breeders, owners and trainers while helping participants take advantage of Kentucky’s incentive prog

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