Riding the wave of an unprecedented 2020 extended season of Thoroughbred horse racing, Fonner Park concluded the 2021 season with over $4.65 million in on-track mutuel handle.

Comparing numbers to 2019, rather than the 2020 season (when Fonner Park was closed to the public after the first four weeks due to the pandemic), Fonner was up 19 percent in parimutuel handle of Fonner Park guests betting on Fonner Park races.

The handle for out-of-state wagers on Fonner Park in 2021 was roughly $15.5 million, an increase of 447 percent compared to $2.8 million in 2019. The overall national horse racing industry handle was up approximately 12 percent for March and April, but Fonner Park was up 19 percent on-track.

“This year I spent extra on marketing to the horseplayers across the nation who got exposed to Fonner Park last year during the pandemic. I wanted to remind them that we were back and still a good bet,” said Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak. “In 2021 average field size bumped to 7.9 from 7.3 in 2020 and large fields are always a draw to the bettor regardless of quality.”

Sleepy Eyes Todd went on to win three stakes races after his 2020 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes win. Remarkably, he returned to defend his title off three multi-million-dollar, G1 races in three previous months. As a 2-5 favorite, he was beaten by 9-2 second-choice Mo Mosa, ridden by Armando Martinez and trained by Michael Maker.

Mo Mosa was named 2021 Horse of the Meet and First Alternate was the unanimous choice for champion older filly or mare after winning three stakes races in as many starts for trainer Stetson Mitchell.

“She's a blessing to me and my family and the special kind of horse horsemen pray for,” said Mitchell said.

By winning the final race of the year, Jake Olesiak won his sixth title as champion jockey, with a total of 46 wins, one more win than Armando Martinez.

David C. Anderson won his 15th champion trainer award at Fonner Park, with 36 wins from 169 starts. D and L Farms (Darcy and Lee Burghardt) won 15 races from 39 starts and earned leading owner honors.

The 2021 Feat of the Meet award was voted as Fonner Park's presence on the national stage with 2021 export handle five-times greater than 2019.

“I am convinced that the success and future of Fonner Park is directly attributed to our passionate community of staff, horsemen and race fans. Without our strong community support we could not survive,” Kotulak remarked.

Fonner Park

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Today, we shipped off three golf shirts and caps to Delaware from someone who says he just doesn't want to see Fonner end again.

Who buys logo gear from a track they've never been to – a track that really doesn't have a gift shop? Who? Fans! That's who.

Countless times we have taken calls from folks who want something “Fonner.” This happened last year when there were slim options due to the pandemic, but we're doing it on our own now. And we couldn't do it without you – the fans.

Three guys named Mike drove 13 hours from Shreveport, La., for a weekend at Fon. Another came from Chicago, just for one day.

But, thus far, the 2021 “Fon Super Fan” award goes to Pete Aiello Sr. – yes, father of the Pete Aiello who is on the horns at Gulfstream Park.

Papa Pete came to Fon simply to add to his list of now 96 parimutuel racetracks (dog and horse) he has visited. Pete flew from his home in South Florida and says he plans to return, even though he now has officially notched Fon on his belt.

Our season ends on Kentucky Derby day. We hope to see you next season. What's your shirt size?

Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak with “Fon Super Fan” Peter Aiello Sr.

Fans at Fonner Park.

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In 2021, one Thoroughbred ran in all three of the most important multi-million-dollar races in a three-month span: the $3-million Pegasus World Cup, the $20-million Saudi Cup and the $12-million Dubai World Cup. That's quite a feat.

The horse that won the Bosselman Pump and Pantry / Gus Fonner Stakes in 2020 is back to defend his crown in 2021; that's nice, although not quite as significant.

But, what's so incredibly remarkable is that both endeavors tie to the same horse: Sleepy Eyes Todd. And, what is even more impressive is that Fonner Park – “The little track that could” – is back in the horse racing limelight.

Fonner Park forged through an unthinkable 2020 racing season that found the tiny five-eighths-mile racetrack on the world stage as one of a very few tracks to continue racing during a global pandemic. Sleepy Eyes Todd also achieved the unforeseen after his 2020 Bosselman /Gus Fonner win by racking up three more mighty stakes wins on the way to his recent trilogy of appearances against some of the best Thoroughbreds throughout the world. Stranger things have happened in horse racing, although this is certainly one of the most unexpected turn of events.

But can Sleepy Eyes Todd win this race in a stroll with his eyes closed? Many will think so and believe him to be a deserving heavy favorite. However, will the weight of the grandstand and the toll of traveling nearly 20,000 miles by air and 635 miles by trailer from Dallas to Grand Island be just enough to open the door for his rivals? It sure could.

That's why they open the starting gate and run the races on the racetrack and not off past performances.

And, order of finish is how they payout the purse money, not off reputation. Hats off to the connections of Sleepy Eyes Todd for returning to Fonner Park as part of his planned 2021 racing campaign, and kudos to the connections of those who entered to race against a foe who is the returning champion. There are hundreds of ways to lose a horse race and only a few ways to win. And there is no predicting the pendulum of luck.

Safe travels to the horses and riders and thank you to all the horsemen, staff, fans and friends of Fon for yet another memorable season. We couldn't have done it without all of you.

P.S. Don't forget about the mandatory payout in the Dinsdale Late Pick 5; the Saturday carryover starts at $129,454.

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The late sportscaster Dick Enberg used to exclaim, “Oh my!” The late, great football announcer Keith Jackson was known to pop with an, “Oh Nellie!” If they were to opine down from the heavens, I'm certain Harry Caray would chime in with a “Holy Cow!”

All exclamations would apply after a look at the field for the 2021 Bosselman / Gus Fonner Stakes, the ninth race this Saturday at Fonner Park.

The last 365 days have been a wild ride for Sleepy Eyes Todd, who bloomed after his 2020 Bosselman/Gus Fonner win, and Fonner Park continues to shine.

Sleepy Eyes Todd has run against some of the best horses in the world in his last three races, and Fonner Park continues to remain popular in 2021 after exploding onto the scene in 2020 when there was a dearth of wagering opportunities.

The day gets a cherry on top with a mandatory payout in the Late Pick 5 Jackpot. Saturday afternoon is the place to be at Fon.

Sleepy Eyes Todd in the Fonner Park winner's circle following the 2020 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes.

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Since the majority of Nebraskans voted in casino wagering by a 70 percent majority landslide, things have been very busy in the Fonner Park executive board room.

I established an 11-person committee to find the right casino partner for Fon, and after roughly five months of interviews and deliberations, we have chosen Elite Casino Resorts, LLC.

Apart from community involvement being a mandatory element of the operation, my personal criteria was trust, partnership, and experience. Elite Casino Resorts got an “A+” in all my categories, plus their customer service culture is innate and part of their mission.

To see more, go to elitecasinoresorts.com and check out the video on Facebook here.

An artist's rendering of the planned casino development at Fonner Park.

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One month ago, trainer Kelli Martinez saddled her 500th career winner as a trainer. This weekend, Armando Martinez, her first-call jockey and husband of over 20 years, is expected to record his 2,000th career winner.

Over the years and decades, the pair has emerged as a force to contend with at Fonner Park. Together they win races with claiming horses and an occasional allowance horse; they're a no frills and hardscrabble success.

Last year, Armando won his first-ever champion jockey belt buckle at Fon. This year, he and perpetual leading jockey Jake Olesiak have been head-and-head for top jock throughout the season. Armando has paid his dues on the Nebraska circuit and deserves achieving his milestone win.

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This Saturday, we have a pair of stakes races due to the cancellation of the final two races last Saturday.

The first is the Orphan Kist named after a beast of a Nebraska-bred. In the late 1980s and early '90s, she won 28 of 100 races and finished second another 28 times, with 16 thirds.

The striking dark bay with a blaze earned over $630,000 with a remarkable 17 wins at Ak-Sar-Ben. She won four times at Fon and also won at: Arlington Park, Arapahoe Park, Canterbury Park, Louisiana Downs and Remington Park. The homebred of Jane and Michael Moreland was trained by Linda Davidson and she was typically ridden by Tim Brown or Bobby Cordova.

The Tondi is the other Saturday stakes named after a mighty Thoroughbred. Tondi won 25 of 79 races and earned just over $100,000 in the late '50s. He once held three track records at Fonner Park and was a multiple stakes winner at Fon, Ak-Sar-Ben, Centennial Park, throughout the New Mexico circuit and in Chicago.

Speaking of Saturday, seven of our ten races drew full fields. On the brink of Spring, we're finally getting our legs underneath us. Plus, the daffodils have begun to punch up.

Tondi was a multiple stakes winner at Fonner Park during the 1960s.

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The view of Fonner Park from a satellite is quite impressive as an ever-evolving, 240-acre campus of arenas, livestock and expo buildings, restaurants, home of the Nebraska State Fair and Hall County Fair, our racing facility and a casino in the plans.

Who knew? It turns out the current simulcast view of Fon is quite popular too. A peek into the last three years is worth a look.

In 2020, when all the world began watching “the little track that could,” we had four $6-million Saturdays in handle. A year before in 2019, average out-of-state handle on a Saturday was $125,000.

However, last Saturday, out-of-state handle was $634,580. That number is a tenth of some of the wildest days in our 68-year history, but it nearly quadrupled what was previously the norm.

We obviously aren't as necessary now as we were in the depths of a global pandemic. But, the point is, in 2021, bettors are back and watching – and wagering on Fon. Thank you!

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The frozen tundra has melted away, and the main and training tracks have become flooded with horses.

The entry box has seen significant improvement as well, but it won't be until next weekend before we hit full stride at Fonner Park.

Trainer Stetson Mitchell and his wife Ramsye have a training facility in Binger, Okla. (home of Hall of Fame baseball player Johnny Bench), but they didn't arrive to Fon in full force until after opening weekend. However, Stetson said he only missed five days of training due to the February Freeze.

In 2020, Stetson started 149 horses at Fon and finished fifth in the standings with 22 wins and a 15 percent win rate. He then went west to claim leading trainer honors at Arapahoe Park last summer with 22 wins from 150 starts – he's consistent. Stetson trains to race; watch for his runners at the entry box and winners circle.

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Fonner Park begins its 11 weekends of racing this Friday, just as we begin to break free from record-low temperatures that caused the racetrack to be closed for training for the last two weeks. Many horses and horsemen have yet to arrive from Oklahoma and Texas as the polar vortex has frozen nearly an entire nation.

The interruption in training and disruption of arriving horses means short fields and fewer races for opening weekend. Fonner has begun their season in February for decades and the show will mush on.

Last year, “Fon” was at the center of the racing universe due to COVID-19, and tens of thousands of new fans were born and exposed to five-eights-mile racing. Four-furlong races, up-close action and the return of the Dinsdale Pick 5 Jackpot is all on tap as they ready to Bring On The Fon!  For updated information, click here.

Groom Willie Moon gives Pickles N Me a face clip ahead of a start in Friday's opening day card at Fonner Park.

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