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Owner Placed On No-Entry List At Fair Grounds After Horse Turns Up In Bail Pen

Churchill Downs Inc. officials say they have placed an owner on the no-entry list at Fair Grounds after her horse appeared in a Texas bail lot while still in the entries at the New Orleans track.

Little Red Kid was advertised on social media Jan. 30 by a kill pen, but at that time was still supposed to be headed to the ninth race on Feb. 3.

After receiving an inquiry from the Paulick Report about the horse, Fair Grounds management consulted with the stewards, who interviewed both trainer Jacoby Landry and owner Kim Jackson, in addition to Jackson's veterinarian. After some detective work, Louisiana state steward Charlie Ashy Jr., said he learned the horse, who was well off the board in claiming contests Jan. 10 and Jan. 23 at Fair Grounds, worked the week before Feb. 3. Ashy said Landry told the stewards the horse had come out of the work poorly, and a veterinary exam revealed that “the horse was full of mucus.”

Landry contacted the owner about retiring the horse, who had not hit the board since finishing second in a claiming race in July 2019 at Louisiana Downs. The owner took possession of the horse, which was not stabled at Fair Grounds. Somehow, Ashy said wires were crossed in Landry's barn and the horse was placed on the entry list anyway.

From there, Ashy said the stewards established the horse was taken to a livestock auction in Opelousas, La.

“She said she was going to sell the horse in the Thoroughbred sale at a stockyard,” Ashy said. “It's a cattle stockyard and they have a cattle auction every week or every two weeks, and then maybe once a month they'll sell Thoroughbreds as well that people want to get rid of. People might buy the horse and train it for other things.”

Ashy's investigation revealed that was where Thompson Horse Lot purchased the horse. On Jan. 28, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture announced sanctions against the operators of Thompson Horse Lot stemming from its owners buying and selling livestock without licenses. The lot subsequently moved its sale operation to Texas.

“The owner and trainer had nothing to do with the horse ending up there other than she put the horse in the sale, but she didn't do anything wrong doing that,” said Ashy. “Normally we wouldn't even look into this, but because Jason [Boulet, Fair Grounds racing director] asked us to, we did. Nobody did anything wrong from the racing side.”

Landry was issued a fine of $500 on Feb. 19 by the stewards for “entering a horse no longer under his care.”

The decision to place the owner on the no-entry list came from Fair Grounds/CDI management.

“As you know, CDI and all of our tracks take slaughter of race horses very seriously,” said Dr. William Farmer, equine medical director for Churchill Downs Inc. “Fair Grounds remains vigilant to making sure those horse that race at our facility have productive second careers. To follow through with Fair Grounds commitment to prevent race horses from going to slaughter, the owner of this horse was placed on a no-entry list to deny future entries in races at Fair Grounds.”

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Sam Houston: Extended Meet Produces 28 Percent Average Handle Increase

The Sam Houston Race Park closed the curtain on a highly successful Thoroughbred live racing season on Saturday, April 3. The 43-day meet, which began on Jan. 8, was one of the best since the northwest Houston racetrack opened in 1994.

A total of $12.6 million in purses were offered for the 2021 Thoroughbred racing season supplemented by House Bill 2463. Passed by the 86th Texas Legislature on September 1, 2019, the bill contributes $25 million annually to the Texas horse racing industry, split equally between Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse interests. Sam Houston Race Park set a very lucrative $2.4 million stakes schedule, up from $1.8 million in 2020.

The Houston Racing Festival on Sunday, Jan. 31 jumped off the pages with a record-setting handle of $5.3 million on the day. The premier day of the season is highlighted by the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic, won by Letruska, who is pointed to the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park and victory by Spooky Channel in the Grade 3, $200,000 Connally Turf Cup. Horsemen and horseplayers responded in an unprecedented fashion, so much so, that purses were increased twice throughout the season.

The end result produced an all-sources handle of $96,440,736, an increase of 57 percent from $61,416,156 wagered over the 35-day meet in 2020 and $41,352,391 for the 2019 season encompassing 32 days.

Average daily handle over the 43 days of live racing was $2,242,808, a 28 percent increase over last year. A total of 424 races were run compared to 337 in 2020 with an average per race handle of $227,500 compared to $182,244 in 2020. Average field size for 2021 was 8.02.

In addition to longtime support from leading North American trainers Steve Asmussen and Karl Broberg, Sam Houston Race Park welcomed new horsemen including New Mexico-based Todd Fincher and west coast conditioners Frank Lucarelli and Jonathan Wong. Trainer J. R. Caldwell was one of many conditioners who began pointing their horses to Houston once it was announced that overnight purses would start at $225,00 per day.

“The 2021 thoroughbred season was a culmination of the blueprint we set into place in 2019,” said Sam Houston Race Park's Senior Director of Racing Operations Frank Hopf. “The success of the 2021 meet is a credit to the tremendous support SHRP received from the owners, trainers, horseplayers, hard-working staff and partners. We will build upon this meet and continue to improve moving forward.”

The leading owner, trainer and jockey awards were presented on the final day of the meeting. Steve Asmussen, won his 13th training title at the northwest Houston racetrack, furthering his respected legacy in Houston. He was honored as top trainer here in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017,2018 2019 and 2020.

Asmussen started 310 runners, finishing with a record of 70 wins, 38 seconds, 50 thirds and earnings of $1,884,600. He won two stakes this season with 2018 Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) Horse of the Year Direct Dial taking both the $75,000 H-Town Stakes and the $100,000 Star of Texas.

The nationally prominent horseman, who tops the Equibase leader board in 2021 in both wins and earnings, has always shown his allegiance to Texas racing. Encouraged by the passage of House Bill 2463 by the Texas Legislature on Sept. 1, 2019, which was initiated to boost the state's racing and breeding industry, Asmussen wanted to strengthen his commitment to Texas racing this year.

“The Bill has improved the quality of Texas racing,” stated Asmussen. “To have purses generated by equine generated tax revenues is an excellent model. You can see our surrounding states that have depended on casino funded purses struggle. Look at the handle this year at Sam Houston! This program needs to be supported.”

In addition to the purse and stakes increases, Asmussen lauds the track surfaces in Houston.

“The racing surfaces are excellent and frankly, the main track does not get the credit it deserves,” he added.

Asmussen once again, thanked his longtime assistant, Pablo Ocampo, for overseeing the day-to-day operation in Houston.

“Pablo is the longest continuous employee for me and continues to do a wonderful job,” said Asmussen of Ocampo, who will head next to Lone Star Park.

J. R. Caldwell was second in the standings with 34 victories, including back-to-back stakes victories by Sky Ride. Trainer Austin Gustafson had his best showing this year, winning 29 races and Karl Broberg rounded out the top four conditioners with 22 winners.

This was the seventh leading owner title for Asmussen, who began his streak here in 2005. His runners won 18 races this meet. End Zone Athletics, Inc. continues to be a strong supporter of the Sam Houston meet, finished second with 10 victories. Michael J. and Linda Mazoch finished third with eight wins. Four owners tied for fourth in the standings: Washington based owners Chad and Josh; Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; Empire Racing Stables LLC and Keene Thoroughbreds LLC.

Jockey Stewart Elliott picked up his first leading rider title at Sam Houston Race Park in pretty much gate-to-wire fashion. The nationally respected veteran rode first call for Asmussen this meet, riding 62 winners from 271 mounts, earning $1,597,545 and finishing in the money at a lofty 55 percent. The successful union between Elliott and Asmussen began in Houston one year ago and continued at Lone Star Park and Remington Park.

“Stewart brings professionalism and consistency in every race he rides,” stated Asmussen.

In turn, Elliott shared his gratitude to the Hall of Fame conditioner.

“I especially have to thank Steve who kept me loaded up pretty good throughout the meet,” he said.

In accepting his leading rider award, Elliott also acknowledged the support of his wife, Lilibeth and son Christopher, as well as his agent, Scott Hare.

Versatile on turf and dirt, Elliott guided Texas-bred Direct Dial to his two stakes wins this season calling the W.S. Farish homebred “a really cool horse”.

Elliott, 55, will head to Lone Star Park for their 2021 Thoroughbred meet. He began riding in 1981 and has a remarkable 5,133 career wins, including the victory aboard 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones. Retirement talk will have to wait for now, as Elliott is truly enjoying this stage of his exceptional career.

“It's been great,” he acknowledged. “I'm looking forward to Lone Star and hope to keep things going.”

Ry Eikleberry was a new addition to the Sam Houston jockey colony this year and made an impressive debut, winning 42 races to finish second in the standings. Leandro Goncalves also had an excellent meet, with 41 victories, including his 2,000th career race on March 27. Lane Luzzi continues to be one of the up and coming riders in the region. The son of New York veteran jockey Mike Luzzi made 35 trips to the winner's circle to finish fourth this year.

Sam Houston Race Park will host its annual Quarter Horse meet beginning Friday, April 23. The 23-day season will continue through Saturday, June 12. A complete list of the 2021 Quarter Horse schedule, including trial dates, is available on shrp.com.

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Indiana Grand Donates Old Track Surface Material To Community Project

In preparation for a project on the horizon for Shelby Parks and Recreation, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino delivered two loads of dirt to Blue River Memorial Park Thursday, April 1. The dirt, which was formerly used as racing surface on the track, will become part of the amphitheater area to be constructed at Blue River Memorial Park.

“The amphitheater at this time has no particular time frame,” said Karen Martin, Executive Director of Shelby Parks and Recreation. “It is in our master plan. As we get dirt to create the mound for the audience to sit on, then preparations will get started for the rest.”

Indiana Grand Track Maintenance Team Members Paul Jordon and Doug Boring delivered two truck loads of material to the site of the future amphitheater. The dirt equaled a total of 20 tons.

Once enough material has been collected, Doug Hunt, City of Shelbyville Street Commissioner, will begin forming the dirt into a “U” shape mound that will extend up at least 12 feet high. Once the mound is in place, drainage will be added and a staging area with dressing rooms will be constructed.

“After an extended period of time, the materials we use on the racetrack become less effective and it loses its bounce when the horses travel over it,” said Roy Smith, Track Superintendent. “We take the material off and replace it with a fresh mixture of sand, silt and clay. The stockpile of previously used dirt will be perfect for the creation of the amphitheater.”

Smith and his team are in final preparations for the upcoming 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing, which begins Tuesday, April 13. They are working on both the one-mile dirt course as well as the seven-eighths mile turf course, which is currently equipped with turf blankets to strengthen the grass base and speed up the process of growth. Turf racing is set to commence in early May, pending weather conditions.

Live racing in 2021 will be conducted at 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with first post on Thursday set at 3:25 p.m. In addition, six all-Quarter Horse racing dates are set on select Saturdays starting June 5 at 10 a.m. A special Indiana Champions Day highlighting the state's top Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses will be held Saturday, Oct. 30 beginning at 12 p.m. More information about the 2021 racing season is available at www.indianagrand.com.

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Economic Indicators: Average Daily Wagering Sees Slight Decline In March

Equibase, LLC released its third monthly report of 2021 on Economic Indicators in Thoroughbred Racing on Monday, April 5. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Equibase has been providing monthly economic indicators advisories. The Advisory is typically disseminated on a quarterly basis to provide key metrics used to measure racing's performance throughout the year.

With the return of March Madness in 2021, the competition for a wagering dollar increased dramatically over the same period in 2020, when the tournaments were cancelled due to the pandemic. Accordingly, the average daily wagering in March of 2021 showed a 3.25 percent decline over the same month in 2020, when there was almost no competition outside the racing industry.

However, increased race days in March of 2021 (292, compared to 214 in 2020) meant that the overall wagering totals showed a 32 percent increase to $965 million.

Year-to-date wagering remains up 10.27 percent over the first quarter of 2020, while average wagering for the first three months of 2021 remains strong at 14.15 percent higher than the same period last year.

Moving forward, the continued return of fans to the racetracks could play a major role in handle, as those fans will shift from primarily ADW wagering to in-person.

March 2021 vs. March 2020
Indicator	March 2021	March 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$965,796,545	$731,609,777	+32.01%
U.S. Purses	$81,797,768	$55,774,436	+46.66%
U.S. Race Days	292	214	+36.45%
U.S. Races	2,563	1,787	+43.42%
U.S. Starts	19,452	13,919	+39.75%
Average Field Size	7.59	7.79	-2.56%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,307,522	$3,418,737	-3.25%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$280,129	$260,628	+7.48%

1st QTR 2021 vs. 1st QTR 2020
Indicator	1st QTR 2021	1st QTR 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$2,766,096,277	$2,508,529,406	+10.27%
U.S. Purses	$214,998,406	$205,227,651	+4.76%
U.S. Race Days	766	793	-3.40%
U.S. Races	6,702	6,616	+1.30%
U.S. Starts	52,211	51,973	+0.46%
Average Field Size	7.79	7.86	-0.83%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,611,092	$3,163,341	+14.15%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$280,677	$258,799	+8.45%

* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

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