Lights Out at Grants Pass, Injuring Two Jockeys

Grants Pass Downs was plunged into complete darkness eight seconds into the running of the final race of the meet Tuesday evening when the half-mile track's lights cut out unexpectedly, leaving the field of six sprinters barreling blindly into the first bend of a three-turn race.

Two jockeys were unseated from their mounts before the field hit the finish wire the first time, and both were subsequently treated for foot injuries at a local hospital. No horses were injured during the blackout, Grants Pass Downs president Randy Evers told TDN via phone Wednesday.

“Alex Anaya has a little body soreness and a possible broken toe. And Patrick Henry Jr. also had a couple broken bones in a foot,” Evers said. “Mr. Henry was released at 1 a.m. and Mr. Anaya was released [Wednesday] morning. In light of everything, they're actually doing pretty doggone well. We got all the horses into the paddock, and all of the horses returned to their barns safe.”

Speculation on social media about the lights being on a timer that was not properly set after the daylight savings time switch this past weekend could not be confirmed. TDN placed calls and left emails for Jack McGrail, the Oregon Racing Commission's executive director, and Mike Twiggs, the presiding state steward, but neither called back prior to deadline for this story.

Evers did not want to comment on the cause of the lights going out, citing advice from the track's attorneys. He said a statement about the incident was being drafted and was subject to vetting by lawyers. That press release was also not available in time for deadline for this story.

Race 11 on Nov. 9 at the small southern Oregon oval carried outsized implications for bettors. It was the culminating race in a jackpot Pick 5 that had carried over with $51,211 in the pool, and the bet was expected to attract several hundred thousand additional dollars in new wagers. When the race ended up being declared a “no contest,” that bet was calculated as an “all” payout for the final leg, substantially reducing the pari-mutuel winnings.

The race was a 6 1/2 -furlong sprint for fillies and mares that went off at 10:28 p.m. Pacific time, according to the stamp on the video replay. Just as the tightly packed field approached the first turn, the video feed abruptly went black.

“The lights just went off!” announcer Jason Beem exclaimed in his race call. “Somebody just turned the lights off. All the lights went off. I've got no clue what's going on, and hopefully everybody's staying safe out there because we can't see a thing.

“Unbelievable,” Beem added after a pause.

The photo-finish line lights were still functioning and so was the infield video board, allowing Beem to see and announce that two horses had lost their jockeys. He asked the riders to pull up if they could hear him, then later instructed anyone on the track in the aftermath of the blackout to bring their horses into the paddock, which was lit.

TDN reached Beem for a follow-up Wednesday afternoon while he was driving from Oregon to his next race calling gig at Tampa Bay Downs in Florida.

“It was terrifying,” Beem recalled. “They went into the turn, and I was on my binoculars, and everything just went to black. It took two or three seconds to realize what happened because our lights in the booth, the press box, and in the grandstand were still on. It was completely pitch black out over the course. The leader came running [through the homestretch] with the rider, and then the next two horses were riderless, and that was when it kind of got really scary.”

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VIDEO: ‘Somebody Just Turned The Lights Off’: Two Jockeys Injured in Bizarre Grants Pass Finale

Jockeys Patrick Henry Jr. and Alex Anaya were taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries on Tuesday night after the lights at Grants Pass Downs turned off shortly after the start of the 11th and final race of the closing night program at the Grants Pass, Ore., track.

The race was declared a “no contest” by officials.

The six horses were just starting to make their way down the backstretch for the first time in the 6 1/2-furlong claiming race on the Josephine County Fairgrounds oval when the lights went out.

“The lights just went off,” track announcer Jason Beem said when the track went dark. “Somebody just turned the lights off. All the lights went off. I've got no clue what's going on and hopefully everybody is staying safe out there, because we can't see a thing. Unbelievable.”

Two horses, Lead Actress and Don't Rub It, could be seen without their riders passing under the wire in the light of the photo finish camera. Henry had been aboard Lead Actress with Anaya on Don't Rub It. Both were racing just behind the early leader along the inside when the lights went off.

According to Beem's Twitter feed, all horses were caught and not injured.

There was a lot at stake in the race for horseplayers, including a mandatory payout in the Pick 5 that included a $51,112 jackpot going in and took in over $300,000 in new money. The payoffs leading into the 11th race, the final leg of the sequence, were $3 in the seventh race, $38.60 in the eighth, $5.60 in the ninth, and $8.20 in the 10th. The Equibase chart did not show how the multi-race wagers were resolved, but track publicist Vince Bruun said the race was considered an “all” under Oregon racing rules, meaning every selection was credited with being a winner. The bet, which effectively became a pick 4, paid $357.75, according to Bruun.

How and why the lights went off isn't clear, but the speculation is they were set on a timer to go off at approximately 10:30 p.m. and were not adjusted after the switch from daylight savings to standard time on the morning of Nov. 7.

The nine-race program on Monday, Nov. 8, ended with the final event going at 9:21 p.m. Tuesday's finale was off at 10:28 p.m.

Randy Evers, general manager at Grants Pass Downs, could not be reached for comment or additional information.

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Optimism High Ahead Of Grants Pass Downs’ Fall Meet

It's nearly post time for the fall meeting at Grants Pass Downs.

Coming off a record-setting spring/summer meeting, optimism is high as Oregon's premier racing facility begins an 18-day fall meeting Monday, Sept. 20, extending through Tuesday, Nov. 9. The eight-week season features racing every Monday and Tuesday at 5:15 p.m., and Sunday racing programs on Sept. 26 and Oct. 17 at 1 p.m.

Last year's fall meet was enormously successful, establishing records for largest total handle, average handle, average field size, and total purses paid. The momentum carried into 2021, with the 17-day spring/summer meeting establishing new records for total handle ($6,919,434) and average handle ($407,026).

“By any measure, our spring/summer meet was a great success, and I am optimistic this fall will see even better results,” said Grants Pass Downs President Randy Evers. “The track is in beautiful condition and the horses are really enjoying their cool morning workouts. Race night sponsorships are at an all-time high and we look forward to providing fans with excellent customer service and a fun night at the races.”

Since the permanent closure of Portland Meadows in 2019, Grants Pass Downs has become the epicenter of Oregon racing, securing a 99-year lease agreement with the Josephine County Fairgrounds.

Under the leadership of Evers and CEO Travis Boersma, Grants Pass Downs has made substantial upgrades throughout the 64-acre facility located west of downtown Grants Pass:

• Installing a new state-of-the-art safety rail to ensure the welfare of riders and horses and raise the standard of the meet.

• Widening the track to improve conditions for racing, with an additional 800 tons of sand laid in anticipation of wet fall weather.

• Adding a new chute making possible six-furlong thoroughbred races and 440-yard quarter horse races.

• Installing lights for evening racing.

• Building the Flying Lark restaurant and entertainment venue on the southwest corner of the Fairgrounds.

Ladies have dominated the jockeys' ranks at recent meets with Joree Scriver edging Mckenzie King for both the 2020 fall title and 2021 spring/summer crown. In fact, women jockeys finished first, second and fifth (Taylor Smith) at the 2021 spring/summer meet.

Amongst trainers, Quinn Howey has operated the track's most successful outfit, capturing last year's fall title 12-9 over Jorge Rosales and the 2021 spring/summer crown 13-9 over Billy Christian.

Several important stakes races enhance the action with the $25,000 guaranteed Grants Pass Mile—the state's richest and most prestigious event for Thoroughbreds—set for Monday, Nov. 9. Quarter Horses also are prominent at Grants Pass Downs, with the $40,000-added Far West Futurity scheduled Monday, Nov. 8.

Two stakes are scheduled opening week—$14,600 Siskiyou Stakes for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up Monday and $13,000-added Applegate Stakes for 3-year-olds and up Tuesday. Both are 5 ½ furlongs.

Monday's opener features eight races, five Thoroughbred and three Quarter Horse.

2021 fall racing dates: Monday, Sept. 20, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 21, 5:15 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 26, 1 p.m.; Monday, Sept. 27, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 28, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 4, 5:15. P.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 5, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 11, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 12, 5:15 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 17, 1 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 18, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 19, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 25, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 26, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 1, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 2, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 8, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 9, 5:15 p.m.

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Oregon’s Grants Pass Downs Completes Record-Breaking Season

Continuing its upward trajectory as Oregon's premier horse racing track, Grants Pass Downs established a new record for total handle during the 17-day spring/summer meeting that concluded Monday, July 6.

Total handle for the spring/summer meeting was a record $6,919,434, with a daily average handle of $407,026. The meet, which featured 138 total races, paid out $1,130,916 in purses and a $66,524 daily average. Average field size was 7.34.

Grants Pass Downs President Randy Evers cited the support of horsemen, the return of fans, and the nationwide support of horseplayers as highlights.

“I am so grateful for the support of our fans both locally and across the country as Grants Pass Downs continues to grow and set wagering records,” Evers said. “It was very special to welcome back all of our great fans at Grants Pass Downs as Covid restrictions were relaxed.

“To hear the roar of the crowd as the horses left the starting gate, well it was something I really missed and brought a huge smile to my face. Our entire team is working hard to prepare for our fall race meet. I have every confidence it will be another giant step forward on our incredible adventure!”

There were numerous on-track achievements during the 17-day spring/summer season:

• Joree Scriver with 23 wins and Quinn Howey with 13 wins each captured their second straight riding and training crowns at Grants Pass Downs.

• 6-year-old gelding El Alto Hombre reeled off four consecutive wins including three stakes triumphs for trainer Liz Kowalski and owner Anthony Hoover; 4-year-old filly Jaded Tiger also won four races including two stakes for owner/trainer Jaqueline Smith.

• 2-year-old gelding Five Bars Blazin scored a $34.80 upset in the $90,000 Firecracker Futurity—the richest race in the history of Grants Pass Downs—before a season-high 3,130 fans.

• 7-year-old gelding Capes Hot Rocket swept all three legs of the inaugural O B Harbor Sprint Series sponsored by Jody Peetz and the Oregon HBPA.

Grants Pass Downs resumes live racing Monday, Sept. 20, with opening day of the 18-day Fall meeting.

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