Fonner Files: A Tip Of The Hat To Stetson

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

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 Files: Old Man Winter Frosts Opening Weekend

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

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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