By StallioneSearch Staff

ASHLAND, KY, AUGUST 14, 2026–A new chapter in Kentucky Quarter Horse racing will begin Wednesday, August 19, when the gates open at the newly constructed Sandy Ridge Racetrack in Ashland. Trials for the $125,000 added BOCO Futurity and $100,000 added Bluegrass Derby will highlight the historic first day of racing in Boyd County.

The opening of Sandy Ridge marks the culmination of a multi-year effort by Revolutionary Racing Kentucky to establish a permanent home for Quarter Horse racing in eastern Kentucky. Located adjacent to Sandy's Racing & Gaming, Sandy Ridge becomes Kentucky's only racetrack dedicated exclusively to Quarter Horse racing.

The inaugural meet will feature eight days of racing with approximately $3 million in total purses.

Opening Day

Opening day will feature considerably more than racing, with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear among the dignitaries expected to participate in Wednesday's grand opening festivities.

Joining the governor will be Senior Advisor to the Governor Rocky Adkins, Kentucky Senator Robin Webb, State Representatives Scott Sharp and Patrick Flannery, Boyd County Judge-Executive Eric Chaney and Ashland Mayor Chuck Charles.

Principal Chief Michell Hicks of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is also scheduled to attend, along with Revolutionary Racing Kentucky Chairman Larry Lucas and Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association President Christina Sowders.

“We are extraordinarily happy with the progress made to advance Quarter Horse racing in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Sowders said. “This meet on the new track has been a long time coming, and we are delighted to be hosting an expanded meet this year that includes both the BOCO Futurity and the Bluegrass Derby.”

The ceremonial opening will precede the first live Quarter Horse race conducted over the new Sandy Ridge racing surface.

The facility represents another major step in Revolutionary Racing's investment in Boyd County, which has exceeded $120 million, according to company officials. The racetrack was originally announced as a $10 million project on 182 acres behind Sandy's Racing & Gaming.

The opening also completes a journey that began several years ago when Revolutionary Racing and the Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association brought Quarter Horse racing back to Kentucky through temporary meets at The Red Mile in Lexington while plans for the permanent Ashland facility moved forward.

BOCO Futurity Trials Highlight Opening Card

Several promising 2-year-olds are expected to line up Wednesday in the 350-yard trials for the BOCO Futurity, with the final scheduled for September 6 at Sandy Ridge.

Among the contenders is Provocotiv, a sorrel daughter of Jess Different. She is out of the Apollitical Jess mare Apollitical Regard.

Owned by Quarter Shots (George Colby) and Ryleigh Fisher and trained by German Rodriguez, Provocotiv has compiled a 1-1-1 record from three starts while earning $30,552.

The Texas-bred filly won her 350-yard futurity trial at Horseshoe Indianapolis on June 27 before returning July 18 to finish third in the $195,000 Heartland Futurity.

Nachos Secret brings stakes experience into the BOCO trials for owner, breeder and trainer Ricardo Martinez. The Indiana-bred gelding is by Habits Secret and out of the Favorite Cartel mare Favorite Sissy.

Nachos Secret has finished second twice from three career starts and earned $10,850. He most recently finished second in the Mari Hulman George Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 30.

Kentucky racing fans will also have a home-state contender to follow in Wrs Free Spirit. Bred and owned by Williams Racing Stables Inc. and trained by Samuel E. Valdivia, the Kentucky-bred filly is out of Wrs Five Bar Button by Five Bar Cartel. She is a daughter of Apollitical Spirit.

Wrs Free Spirit has one win, one second and one third from five starts with earnings of $19,433. After breaking her maiden at Remington Park in March, she later finished second in a 350-yard futurity trial at Horseshoe Indianapolis and enters the BOCO trials following a third-place finish in the Cherokee Stakes at Fair Meadows.

AJ Remember Me Headlines Bluegrass Derby Contenders

The 400-yard Bluegrass Derby trials will provide Wednesday's other major racing attraction, with one of the nation's most accomplished 3-year-olds expected among the horses seeking a berth in the September 6 final.

AJ Remember Me, owned by Corinna Sosa and trained by Waylan Melton, brings career earnings of $559,232 to Kentucky. The California-bred colt is a son of leading sire Apollitical Jess out of the Tres Seis mare Remember Robyn.

AJ Remember Me has won five of nine career starts with two seconds and two thirds. He established himself among the nation's leading juveniles when he finished second in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity last December.

He is undefeated from two starts in 2026, including a victory in the $250,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) at Remington Park on March 21. AJ Remember Me earned a 103 speed figure in his Oklahoma Derby trial victory before returning with a 97 speed index in the final.

Lights Dynasty is another Bluegrass Derby hopeful arriving in Ashland in strong form. Owned by Joe Tavares and trained by Jason Pascoe, the Oklahoma-bred colt is by The Marfa Lights out of the FDD Dynasty mare Conspicuous Dynasty.

Lights Dynasty has won four of seven lifetime starts while earning $24,784. He has posted three wins and two thirds from five starts this season. The colt recorded consecutive victories at Ajax Downs on June 10 and July 1 before finishing third there July 19 in his final start prior to the Sandy Ridge meet.

A Permanent Home In Kentucky

Wednesday's opening ceremonies will represent more than the debut of another racing facility. For Kentucky's Quarter Horse industry, Sandy Ridge is the permanent home horsemen have been working toward since Revolutionary Racing began conducting its Sandy Ridge at The Red Mile meetings in Lexington.

Construction on the Ashland racetrack began in 2024, with extensive work required to transform the mountainous property and install roads, bridges, utilities and racing infrastructure for the new facility.

Sandy Ridge's inaugural schedule calls for racing August 19-21, August 26-28 and September 5-6, with approximately $3 million in purses available during the eight-day meet.

For Revolutionary Racing Kentucky, the Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association and the horsemen who supported Kentucky racing during the interim years at The Red Mile, Wednesday will mark the realization of a goal years in the making.

When the first field breaks from the starting gate at Sandy Ridge, Quarter Horse racing in Kentucky will finally have a racetrack of its own.

*******************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.