Tuesday, July 5 was a bittersweet day for the entire team at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., as they bid farewell to longtime racing office official Russ Ramstad.
Born in Seattle, Washington, Ramstad remembers attending the races at Longacres Racetrack in Renton, Wash., prior to attending college in Tucson, Az. He shares that his first job in racing was at Rillito Park for the mutuel department, punching $2 quinella tickets.
“I came in wearing a white polo shirt so I got to work inside in the air conditioning,” he recalled. “The ones wearing dark shirts were assigned to the outside mutuel lines!”
Ramstad attended the Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) at the University of Arizona. Since its inception in 1973, graduates of the unique program have been prominent in many areas of pari-mutuel racing and equine bloodstock industries.
“I met Pat Pope in the program,” explained Ramstad. “He graduated and accepted the position of co-assistant racing secretary at Louisiana Downs. In 1979, he hired me as an intern. I worked six days a week and was paid $35!”
Obviously, Ramstad was not getting rich in the early days, but was thrilled to be a part of the glory era, seeing superstars of Thoroughbred racing, including Super Derby champions Alysheba, Seeking the Gold, Sunday Silence and Tiznow.
His association with Pope continued for 40 years as Ramstad held key racing office and stakes coordinator duties for the Louisiana Downs Thoroughbred meet each summer. Then he enjoyed a noted tenure in the Oaklawn Park racing office, working beside his mentor through 2019.
“Pat is the best racing secretary I have ever known,” stated Ramstad. “He has a very creative mind and I am grateful to him for my start in this industry.”
Ramstad also wanted to express his appreciation to several other people in the racing community, beginning with David Heitzmann, who served as Director of Racing at Louisiana Downs through April, 2022.
“David was great to me, as was (State Racing Steward) Roy Wood,” said Ramstad. “Joe Ray Peloso, a member of our racing office and Fair Grounds, was one of my closest friends. His passing (in 2021) was a terrible blow to me and everyone who worked with him. I also enjoyed these last few months with (General Manager of Racing) Mitch Dennison and believe he has great potential at Louisiana Downs.”
Ramstad was highly regarded by jockey agents and trainers and enjoyed banter with many of them each morning at entry time and throughout afternoons in the racing office.
“Russ is a true class act and one of the smartest guys I have ever known,” said trainer Joey Foster. “You could always go to him with a question and ask him for assistance in writing a race or an extra. Most importantly, Russ was as willing to help a trainer with six horses as he was with a horseman who has sixty in his barn. We are all sad to see him go.”
The entire Louisiana Downs team saluted Ramstad in the winner's circle on his final day, an emotional moment for many of the employees who have worked with him for decades.
“We are grateful to Russ for his dedication to Louisiana Downs and his unsurpassed knowledge as a racing official,” said Mitch Dennison, Louisiana Downs General Manager of Racing. “He was respected by horsemen and every member of our team. We will miss him and wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
Ramstad and his wife of 40-years, Deb, live little over a mile from Louisiana Downs.
“I am looking forward to reading books, spending time with Deb and just enjoying life,” he said.
For everyone who worked with Russ, we hope he will drop in for some live racing, horse talk and maybe placing an occasional $2 quinella! We thank him for a great 44 years!
The post Russ Ramstad Retires After 44 Years With Louisiana Downs Racing Office appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
