tommy pompell | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘It Means A Lot’: Indiana Grand Jockeys Host Annual Toy Drive

Collecting toys for local children has become an annual event at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. As the 2021 racing season winds down, this year's jockey colony brought in over 75 new toys to distribute to area children just in time for the holiday season.

“We just want to see everybody have a good Christmas,” said Tommy Pompell, who owns a home locally in Shelbyville, Ind. “It means a lot for us to all come together like this for these kids in our area.”

The jockeys came together after the third race Wednesday, Nov. 10 and surrounded the pile of donated items that will be distributed to local children in need. Twelve of the jockeys joined Rachel McLaughlin, on-air racing analyst, for the presentation in the paddock. Jockeys included in the presentation were Jose Riquelme, Santo Sanjur, Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Alex Achard, Andrea Rodriguez, Tommy Pompell, Perry Ouzts, Rodney Prescott, Joe Ramos, DeShawn Parker, Agustin Bracho and Joshua Morales. Many of the jockeys grew up in countries where presents were sometimes not available around the holidays. Being able to share happiness during the holidays has become very important to them.

Alex Achard, a native of France, may be a long way from home, but he still knows how important it is to give back to the community he calls home six months out of the year. Achard donated several toys to the drive with hopes it will put smiles on the faces of kids around Christmas.

“It is a pleasure to help kids who need a little help,” said Achard. “For us, it is not much to do, but we hope for them it will mean a lot. We hope to give brightness to their Christmas.”

The 20th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is set to resume Tuesday, April 19 and run through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Racing will be held Monday through Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. with Thursday racing beginning at 3:30 p.m. A total of 12 Saturday racing programs will be held in 2022. For more information on events and racing, go to www.indianagrand.com.

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Jockeys Hold Annual Toy Drive at Indiana Grand

Collecting toys for local children, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino hosted its annual event Wednesday, this year's jockey colony brought in over 75 new toys to distribute to area children for the holiday season.

“We just want to see everybody have a good Christmas,” said Tommy Pompell, who owns a home locally in Shelbyville. “It means a lot for us to all come together like this for these kids in our area.”

For the presentation, on-air racing analyst Rachel McLaughlin was joined by 12 members of the local jockey colony, including Jose Riquelme, Santo Sanjur, Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Alex Achard, Andrea Rodriguez, Tommy Pompell, Perry Ouzts, Rodney Prescott, Joe Ramos, DeShawn Parker, Agustin Bracho and Joshua Morales.

“It is a pleasure to help kids who need a little help,” said Achard, who donated several toys to the drive. “For us, it is not much to do, but we hope for them it will mean a lot. We hope to give brightness to their Christmas.”

The 20th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is set to resume Tuesday, Apr. 19 and run through Wednesday, Nov. 23.

For more information on events and racing, go to www.indianagrand.com.

The post Jockeys Hold Annual Toy Drive at Indiana Grand appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Indiana Grand: Apron Strings Leads Trio Of Wins For Randy Klopp In Season Opener

The 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing at Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, Ind. got underway Tuesday, April 13, with Apron Strings and Tommy Pompell winning the season opener. The Indiana-bred mare was one of three winners on the card for Trainer Randy Klopp, longtime Indiana horseman and Rushville, Ind. Resident.

Apron Strings got out of the gate well and tracked Long Legged Linda and Sant Sanjur through the early stages of the five furlong sprint before pressing forward and getting the lead midway through the stretch, holding on gamely through the wire. Archie's Girl and Manny Esquivel closed well for second followed by Bold Concept and Joe Ramos, who moved up the inside through traffic to finish third.

Owned by Spiess Stable and Klopp, Apron Strings was making her first start of 2021 since taking the winter off from racing in Indiana. The Kodiak Kowboy six-year-old mare now has five wins in 12 starts.

Klopp also greeted Tale of Fame and Jockey Joe Ramos in the winner's circle for the third race and Tapit's Spirit, also ridden by Ramos, for the eighth race, giving Ramos a riding double on the card.

Newcomer Jose Batista also scored two wins on the season opener. The Panamanian native recently finished 10th in the jockey standings at Tampa Bay Downs and moved his tack to Indiana for the 2021 racing season. Batista connected with Gran Rojo in the second race followed by Day in the Country in the fifth race.

One Quarter Horse race was carded on the first program of 2021 with L.D. Martinez and Anthony Cunningham winning with Beach Shakin. The Indiana bred son of Escondido Beach scored his first career win in the race, his first of 2021.

A sizeable crowd was trackside for the season opener. Wagering for the nine-race card topped $1.7 million, outperforming opening day in April 2019 by nearly $400,000.

Live racing extends through Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. Racing 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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