Fonner Files | Horse Racing Free Tips

Fonner Files: Elite Casino Resorts Chosen As Track’s Casino Partner

Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak shares slices of life from the Grand Island, Neb., racetrack throughout the 2021 meet in the Fonner Files.

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.

The post Fonner Files: Elite Casino Resorts Chosen As Track’s Casino Partner appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Fonner Files: Martinez Chases 2,000th Career Riding Win

Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak shares slices of life from the Grand Island, Neb., racetrack throughout the 2021 meet in the Fonner Files.

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.

The post Fonner Files: Martinez Chases 2,000th Career Riding Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Fonner Files: How The Orphan Kist And Tondi Stakes Got Their Names

Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak shares slices of life from the Grand Island, Neb., racetrack throughout the 2021 meet in the Fonner Files.

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.

The post Fonner Files: How The Orphan Kist And Tondi Stakes Got Their Names appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Fonner Files: The Satellite And Simulcast View Of Fonner Park

Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak shares slices of life from the Grand Island, Neb., racetrack throughout the 2021 meet in the Fonner Files.

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!

The post Fonner Files: The Satellite And Simulcast View Of Fonner Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post