Sunlit Song Headlines 2023 Texas-Bred Honors

Texas-bred 9-year-old gelding Sunlit Song (My Golden Song) was named the Texas Horse of the Year along with Champion Older Horse honors Monday by the Texas Thoroughbred Association after a season which saw him win four stakes races from six starts. His success also saw his dam, Fly So True (Early Flyer) owned by Carolyn Barnett and Becky Harding, honored with 2023 Texas Broodmare of the Year. The full list of winners, including Texas-bred money earner and TTA Member of the Year, can be found here.

The post Sunlit Song Headlines 2023 Texas-Bred Honors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Sam Houston To Honor Executive David Hooper With Race

One of the five Texas Preview Stakes on Saturday, Feb. 17 has been renamed to honor executive David E. Hooper, who passed away May 29 following a battle with cancer, Sam Houston Race Park said in a release Wednesday.

The 88-year-old had an extensive career in the horse racing industry, which included serving as executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association from 1997-2012.

Hooper held several regulatory positions, including executive secretary of the Illinois Racing Board and he was a steward in eight states.

In 2018, he was the recipient of the Pete Pedersen Award from the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, and served as coordinator and lecturer at the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program.

“Dave did an incredible job for our association and working with him was a pleasure,” said TTA's Mary Ruyle. “He always looked forward to Texas Champions Day at Sam Houston Race Park and celebrating the growth and excellence of Texas racing.”

The post Sam Houston To Honor Executive David Hooper With Race appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Eyes Fixed On Texas Yearling Sale At Lone Star Park

At 271 head, one of the largest catalogs in its history, the Texas Thoroughbred Association's (TTA) single-session Yearling Sale will be held Monday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. (CT) at Lone Star Park Sales Pavilion.

The 2022 edition, which reported a buy-back rate of 24%, saw 161 yearlings out of 211 sell for a total of $3,416,000–up almost 6% from the previous year when 177 out of 228 grossed $3,229,600. Growth was also seen in last year's average of $21,217, an increase from $18,246 in 2021, while the median was $13,500, up from $10,000 the year prior.

Based on current trends, Mary Ruyle, the Executive Director of the TTA, is banking on the Texas racing and sales landscape continuing to blossom.

“The Texas Thoroughbred Association is very optimistic–particularly given the strong catalog for the upcoming Yearling Sale which includes what is likely the best group of Texas-bred yearlings offered,” Ruyle said. “Every horse that passes through the ring at this sale will be eligible for the $150,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity at Lone Star Park in 2024 and either the $100,000 Derby or Oaks at Sam Houston Race Park in 2025. The Derby and Oaks were run for the first time this year and were very well received.”

First made available in 2020, funds from the Horse Industry Escrow Account have been used to increase purses in Texas and provide additional Accredited Texas-Bred incentive awards to breeders, owners and trainers.

“We expect to have a good crowd in attendance and we will again have online bidding available for approved buyers. A break from our never-ending heat wave would be most appreciated,” said Ruyle.

For the second year in a row, Highlander Training Center, a state-of-the-art facility just south of Sulphur Springs outside of Dallas, Texas, is represented at the sale. This year's draft is made up of 36 yearlings, stabled in Barn E3 at Lone Star.

“We had the $100,000 sales topper last year with Too Much Kiki [Too Much Bling] who ended up winning a stakes this past season at Lone Star,” said Highlander CEO, Jeff Hooper. “Foster Bridewell, who coordinates and runs the sale for the TTA, has been able to really bring in a good mix of buyers and we saw several top pinhookers from Ocala, plus some others from around the country, at this sale.”

Out of the Highlander consignment, Hooper said that hip 149, a Louisiana-bred colt by Unified out of Mirabeau (Bind), will be among those to watch.

“He's the first foal out of a very fast young stakes-winning mare,” said Hooper. “He has a lot a class and walks like a panther. I think he will be very popular with both pinhookers, as well as people looking to buy to race.”

Click here to access the TTA website and the online catalog.

 

The post Eyes Fixed On Texas Yearling Sale At Lone Star Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Increases for Texas-Bred Purses

A new purse structure, approved by the Texas Thoroughbred Association, Texas Horsemen's Partnership, Sam Houston Race Park and Lone Star Park, will increase minimum purses for maiden special weight and allowance races. For 2024, Texas-bred maiden special weight and allowance races will carry a minimum purse of $40,000 at Sam Houston and Lone Star Park. This is being accomplished by reconfiguring the allocation of funds provided by the TTA to the tracks from the Texas Horse Industry Escrow Account (HIEA). The minimum purse of $40,000 for these races is a $7,000–or 21%–increase per race over 2023 levels for the same race conditions.

“It is gratifying to see what can be accomplished when the Thoroughbred industry and the racetracks work together. Supporting Texas horse owners and breeders and promoting the value of Texas-bred horses is our number one priority,” said TTA president Tracy Sheffield.

HB 2463 was passed in the 2019 state legislative session. Derived from a portion of state sales taxes on equine goods and services, it provides up to $25 million per year to stimulate the Texas Equine Industry, with 70% ($17.5 million) earmarked for purse funds and the remaining 30% ($7.5 million) available to the official state breed registries (TTA, TQHA, TABA, TPHA) for Texas Racing Commission-approved events and programs. Funds became available in 2020.

“The purse restructuring shows dedication to Texas-breds on the racetrack and it has a positive impact on a large number of Texas horsemen,” said Bryan Pettigrew, Vice President and General Manager of Sam Houston Race Park. “The owners and trainers I have spoken with are praising the change. It's putting more money on the table for Texas-breds.”

The post Increases for Texas-Bred Purses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights