SHELBYVILLE, IN—OCTOBER 27, 2017—Owner Anthony Cunningham and trainer Randy Smith accepted awards today as the Leading Owner and Trainer of the 2017 Quarter Horse meet at Indiana Grand and Casino.

Tony Cunningham Repeats as 2017 Leading Quarter Horse Owner at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino

Owner-trainer Tony Cunningham has a long history of winning races in Indiana. The Clarksville, Mich. native has competed in every year of pari-mutuel Quarter Horse racing in the state of Indiana since its inception in 1997. For the second straight year, Cunningham takes home the title as the 2017 Leading Quarter Horse Owner at Indiana Grand.

Cunningham had 10 winners in 58 starts as an owner with purses of more than $129,000. He carried a 41 percent “in the money” average during the season that stretched from April through October. Cunningham also finished second in the leading Quarter Horse trainer standings, earning 27 wins and more than $525,000 as a trainer. Rachel McLaughlin, racing broadcast production manager, made the presentation.

“It goes to the support of the team,” said Cunningham. “They are working hard to get better every year. We are finished for the year now. We will go to the farm and break babies and get ready for next season.”

One yearling will be especially exciting to get on the track for Cunningham this winter. He purchased the half sister to this year’s two-year-old standout Stone Cold Leader for his wife at the recent QHRAI Speed Sale.

“We don’t raise babies anymore,” noted the multiple stakes winning trainer and owner. “It just got too hard to breed our own stock anymore since we are racing out of state. We generally just rely on our owners and the sales for our yearlings. We have roughly 20 to break this year.”

Cunningham keeps a string of horses at Indiana Grand during the racing season but also oversees operations at his farm in Michigan. It generally takes three trips to Indiana Grand per week with a trip that is nine and one-half hours round trip to keep up with both sites, relying on the capable hands of Salvador Villalobos while he’s back in Michigan.

“Salvador takes care of things at Indiana Grand when I’m not here,” said Cunningham. “He’s been with me for the past four years and has done an excellent job.”

Randy Smith Earns Third Consecutive Quarter Horse Training Title at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino

Trainer Randy Smith had another banner year of racing at Indiana Grand. The Broughton, Ill. native completed the season with 32 wins to score his third consecutive title at the Shelbyville, Ind. racetrack.

Smith, who missed the first two months of action and still retained the title, also took over as the track’s all-time leading Quarter Horse trainer. Smith now has 175 wins since taking out his trainer license in 2009. His best year to date was recorded in 2015 when he won 46 races at Indiana Grand and accumulated more than $1.1 million in purse earnings, both records at the track. Smith also became the first and only Quarter Horse trainer to eclipse the $1 million mark in purse earnings for one season, a feat he repeated in 2016.

Last season, Smith added his name to one more record in the books at Indiana Grand. He saddled seven winners during an August 2016 program to establish the record for most wins in one night by a Quarter Horse trainer. Smith always reverts to his standard saying, “good owners, good horses, good help.”

“It’s been another good year,” said Smith. “We appreciate all the help and their work. If it wasn’t for good help, we couldn’t be successful.”

Kevin Greely, director of racing made the trophy presentation. Rachel McLaughlin, racing broadcast production manager, conducted the interview with the Smiths.

Smith said that plans after the meet are still undecided, but they may head West. Wherever he goes, his owners have already purchased some yearlings so he will keep busy breaking babies for the 2018 season at Indiana Grand.

Smith and his wife, Debbie, built a beautiful training center just minutes from Indiana Grand in 2015. The 60-stall barn also includes a quarter mile indoor jog track along with an Equicizer under roof and multiple paddocks.

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About Indiana Grand Racing & Casino: Indiana Grand Racing & Casino holds multiple awards from industry publications for customer service, entertainment, gaming and dining. Located in Shelbyville, Ind., Indiana Grand features 2,200 of the latest slots and electronic table games in addition to a one-mile dirt race course and a seven-eighths mile turf course offering live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing each year. Simulcast wagering is also offered year-round at Winner’s Circle Brewpub & OTB located on the casino floor as well as an off-track betting facility located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit  www.IndianaGrand.com.

Editor's note: There was tie for the Indiana Grand leading jockey. A story will be forthcoming.