This will be the first live race meet at Great Falls since 2010.

Commissioner Joe Briggs cast the lone “no” vote, saying that, by his calculations, the county stands to lose as much as $48,000 in the deal.

However, supporters told the Great Falls Tribune that racing can turn a profit after initial investments are made to get the track up to speed. “I wouldn’t be pushing for this if I thought it was going to lose money,” said Kelly Manzer of the Great Falls Turf Club, which has worked for two years to revive racing. Manzer called approval of the contract “a huge step forward.”

“It’s a huge relief,” she added. “Now we can get rolling. And we’re ready to run.” Under the terms of the contract, the GFTC will produce a four-day race meet on July 20-21 and July 27-28 at Montana ExpoPark. The final two dates of the meet will fall on the first weekend of the Montana State Fair and are expected to attract hundreds – if not thousands – of fair goers.

Horse racing was scrapped in 2011 and 2012 after California-based Montana Entertainment, which operated horse racing at ExpoPark in 2009 and 2010, surrendered its license with the state to run simulcast betting. The company also gave up operating live race meets at Montana venues, including Great Falls.

Cascade County, which owns ExpoPark, couldn’t reach an agreement with another party to run racing, and county commissioners also expressed concerns about the county losing money by running races.

GFTC president Sparky Kottke told commissioners that getting the contract signed with the county is necessary to attract donations, sponsorships and revenue from the Montana Board of Horse Racing.

“They keep asking, ‘Do you have a contract with them?’” he said. “Some people are a little reluctant to give us funds when there isn’t a set contract.”

“We’re going to hit the road hard now,”Kottke added.

Manzer said she’s expecting the Board of Horse Racing to contribute $30,000 to the Great Falls races. Under the contract, Cascade County will contribute $20,000 to the club for running the races and an additional $30,000 for purse money.

Cascade County will receive revenue from concessions sold during the races. With horse racing added to the entertainment lineup, Manzer predicted the county would see additional revenue from State Fair gate receipts as well.

Commissioners Bill Salina and Jane Weber voted for the contract. Both said they had rarely seen a group so committed to an issue.

“I want to see whether it can work, and I want to give the opportunity to have it work,” Weber said.

The ExpoPark racetrack has not been maintained for several years, so it will need an additional investment to make it safe, Weber added.

Salina said residents had stopped him in the supermarket to talk about horse racing.

“This was driven by a community effort,” he added. “The commission didn’t one day decide we were going to be in the horse racing business. It was brought to us.”

Though he voted against the contract, Briggs said after the vote that he would do what he could to help it succeed. But he questioned whether it can be economically viable in competition with other forms of gambling and if it can be a cost-effective addition to the entertainment package at the fair.

Weber noted that the county has many events at the ExpoPark where it doesn’t recoup its expenses. The upcoming races need to be promoted, she added, and it needs to be shown that the community really wants horse racing.

“The county looks at this as providing entertainment,” Salina added.

If the county takes in concessions comparable to those received during the last race meet in 2010, Manzer thinks the numbers will work out.

“Ideally, we’re hoping to make a profit and if there’s any profit made it will go back into improving facility and the horsemen purses,” she said.

Residents missed racing when it was gone, Manzer added.

“It didn’t seem like it was that important until the two years it was gone, and the people just loved it and they wanted it back and it had been here for years,” she said. “The economic impact is bigger than anybody really imagines.”

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Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed the Senate Enrolled Act 528 into law last week, ending for now at least any hopes of bringing live gaming tables to the state's two racinos.

The legislation adjusted the gaming tax structure and allowed limited use of mobile gaming devices approved last year by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. Some sections of the law became effective the date of signing, while others will become effective July 1.

Pence said in a news release that he believed the legislation will provide casinos enough tools to improve their competitiveness against gaming in neighboring states while at the same time not expanding gaming in Indiana. Two Shelby County legislators -- State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg), a co-author of the bill; and State Rep. Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville), who co-sponsored it in the House -- strongly supported the live gaming component, saying it would provide millions in additional revenue to the state and hundreds of new jobs at the two racinos, Indiana Downs and Hoosier Park, owned by Centaur Gaming LLC.

Centaur chief operating officer Jim Brown said that while he is disappointed the creation of jobs with live table games wasn't approved, he was grateful for the other provisions contained in the bill, including the non-taxing of a limited amount of free play complimentary casino cash provided to its customers.

"We believe more needs to be done in the coming years because of all the new competition that we face," he said. "But we're going to continue making our facilities at Indiana Grand (at Indiana Downs) and Hoosier Park more exciting for our customers.”

Pence opposed a provision in the original Senate bill to include live table games at the racinos and riverboat casinos to move onto their own properties and threatened to veto the bill if it was still included by the time it reached his desk for signing.

Also in Indiana, Centaur Holdings announced last Wednesday the appointment of Hoosier Park Racing & Casino’s general manager of racing, Rick Moore, and Indiana Downs’ general manager of racing, Jon Schuster, to the position of vice president and general manager of racing for their respective properties.

Moore and Schuster will continue to report directly to Centaur’s vice president of racing, Brian Elmore, and will oversee horse racing operations at Centaur’s two racino properties.

Schuster’s career in the horse racing industry spans several decades and two states. Before joining Indiana Downs as its general manager of racing in 2002, Schuster served as pari-mutuel manager and simulcast coordinator at Penn National Race Course. He holds a B.S. degree from the University of Arizona and is a graduate of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program. "Since Indiana Downs was acquired by Centaur in February, Rick and Jon have worked together to implement one breed, one track and make company-wide improvements to our racing product,” said Elmore. "Their combined knowledge and passion for the sport of horse racing will continue to provide dynamic, fan-friendly racing entertainment experiences for our guests."

Indiana Downs is in the midst of its 120-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet,, the longest in the track's history. Its first all-Quarter Horse racing day of the season will take place on Saturday.

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New Mexico needs to strengthen its regulatory oversight of a billion-dollar gambling industry that includes horse racing tracks and casinos operated by Indian tribes, legislative auditors recommended on May 15.

A report by staff of the Legislative Finance Committee said the New Mexico Racing Commission and the state Gaming Control Board are understaffed and hampered by limited regulatory powers. The Racing Commission regulates the five race tracks in the state, all of which operate casinos. The Gaming Control Board oversees the state's gambling compacts with 14 tribes as well as non-tribal gambling at race tracks and by non-profit groups and fraternal organizations.

Gambling generated revenue of about $1 billion last year, with the state receiving $133 million in taxes and a share of tribal casino profits. However, Sen. John Arthur Smith (D-Deming), the LFC vice chairman, said the state needed better regulation to ensure the integrity of gambling at tracks, casinos and by charitable organizations.

"We have a mess on our hands," said Smith.

The audit said the Racing Commission, despite a law enacted this year, needs more money to increase the frequency of testing of horses to detect illegal drug use. Lawmakers approved a measure earlier this year to earmark about $700,000 for drug testing of horses starting in 2015.

The report also said that racing regulators need to improve their auditing of pari-mutuel wagering to ensure that tracks are paying the proper amount of taxes. The LFC auditors added that the commission also "struggles to address" unlicensed horse racing that illegally occurs in the state.

In a written response to the audit, Racing Commission executive director Vince Mares said that the commission is working with state police to try to stop illegal racing but that state law needs to be changed, such as giving commission investigators law enforcement powers statewide rather than just at licensed tracks.

Mares said the commission has taken steps to try to stop performance-enhancing drugs from being administered to horses. The commission has implemented a necropsy program to determine whether drugs played a role in the death of horses at tracks.

At a committee hearing on the audit, Sheryl Edgar, an Albuquerque certified public accountant who has worked as a race track controller, said there were "gaping holes in the audit process" by regulators of casino revenue that supplements winnings paid at horse races.

"We need real internal controls and real audits for the maintenance of integrity and safeguarding of all of this money," Edgar told lawmakers.

Auditors also recommended that Indian gambling compacts be amended to give the Legislature access to financial information about casinos to allow lawmakers to better oversee gambling and the state's regulation of it. However, Gaming Control Board chairman Jeffrey Landers said that tribes and pueblos are unlikely to agree to expand access to confidential gambling information.

"Simply put, the recommendation is to ask a sovereign nation to open up an existing compact to obtain that sovereign nation's consent to subject its gaming operations to oversight by the legislative body of another sovereign government," Landers said.

Landers also took issue with an audit recommendation that the state gaming representative, who monitors tribal gambling and is the state's liaison with tribal governments, be made an independent office rather than being part of the Gaming Control Board.

Landers said the position historically has been filled by governors as a political appointee but that Gov. Susana Martinez's administration had the board make the appointment. He also said there always have been interim gaming representatives, even when the position was vacant.

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Delta Downs Racetrack in Vinton, Louisiana, will present a total of four stakes during its weekend programs, two on Friday and two on Saturday.

In addition to the 330-yard, $246,142 Louisiana Breeders' Lassie Futurity (RG2) for state-bred 2-year-olds on Friday, the track will feature a full field of 10 state-bred older runners matching strides in the 350-yard, $50,000 Louisiana Purchase Stakes (R). The race is restricted to Louisiana-breds who have not won a stakes race.

Heading the field in the Louisiana Purchase is Brandon Haywood's Haystretcher, an 8-year-old gelding by Heza Fast Dash trained by Vann Haywood. Haystretcher finished tenth at odds of 3-1 in the April 27, 350-yard John Alleman Stakes (RG3), after a Louisiana Downs campaign in which he ran second, a nose behind winner Political Option, in the 350-yard, $35,000 Mr Jess Perry Stakes (R).

Alfonso Lujan will ride Haystretcher from post 10 on Friday.

Another Louisiana Purchase contender, Eric P. Johnson's Fast Talkin Henry, is one of four 3-year-olds entered. Trained by Heath Taylor, the son of Heza Fast Dash is coming off of a victory against state-bred non-winners-of-three allowance company at Delta Downs n May 2. The gelding has won three of his five starts, all of which have been made at Delta, and his stakes record includes a third-place finish behind Ms Jingles and Shiney Aufluential in last year's $551,000 Lee Berwick Louisiana-Bred Futurity (RG1).

The complete lineup for the Louisiana Purchase stakes, in post position order including jockey and weight assignments – Cougar Hill (Eddie Cox, 124), Fance Oak Tree (Raul Ramirez Jr., 124), Corona Dashin Bye (David Alvarez, 126), Fast Talkin Henry (John Hamilton, 124), Oak Tree Corona (Saul Ramirez Jr., 126), Dashin Fireball (Martin Rubalcava, 126), Champions Passage (Antonio Alberto, 124), AB Game Effort (Bobby Ransom, 126), Shezadashinatcha (Donald Watson, 126), and Haystretcher (Alfonso Lujan, 126).

Saturday's 10-race program at Delta Downs includes the 330-yard, $271,460 Louisiana Breeders' Laddie Stakes for state-bred colts and geldings, and the Grade 3, $25,000 Develop A Plan Stakes for open older runners.

Named to honor the 1994 AQHA champion 3-year-old gelding, the Develop A Plan has drawn a full field of 10 going 350 yards. Contender The Lizzard King, a 4-year-old son of Valiant Hero campaigned by Brett Mennen from the barn of Heath Taylor, is coming off of a close second-place finish to Logans Dash in the 250-yard, $20,000 Delta Dash Stakes on April 26. John Hamilton will ride the gelding from post 8.

Also, Flirtingwithamiracle ships in from Sam Houston Race Park, where the 3-year-old colt by champion Dean Miracle won both of his outs, including the 350-yard, $197,000 Sam Houston Derby (G3) in his most recent start. Flirtingwithamiracle is owned by Marina Nino and trained by Juan Saucedo.

The complete lineup for the Develop A Plan, in post position order including jockey and weight assignments – Katillac Man (Alfonso Lujan, 126), Sparrow Contender (Martin Rubalcava, 126), Flirtingwithamiracle (Eleazar Hernandez, 124), Jess Fly With Me (Luis Vivanco, 126), Dianetobeacartel (Floriberto Maldonado, 126), Laynes Corona On Ice (Jose Vega, 126), Charal Kid (Santos Carrizales, 126), The Lizzard King (John Hamilton, 126), Dash For Cache (David Alvarez, 126), and Heza Gonna Dash (Raul Ramirez Jr., 126).

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Canterbury Park Quarter Horse racing secretary Keith Kelley has received eight nominations for Monday's 350-yard, $20,000-added Skip Zimmerman Memorial Stakes, the 69-day meet's first stakes race for Quarter Horses.

Leading the list of nominees is BF Farm Boy, a 5-year-old son of champion Hawkinson racing for Wade Siegel and Don Boyle and trained by William Harris. A multiple graded stakes placed gelding, BF Farm Boy has earned $124,472 from 28 starts, and he is coming off of a third-place finish behind 2011 world champion Cold Cash 123 and The Sunday Assassin in the May 12, 440-yard Bank of America Oklahoma Challenge Championship (G1) at Remington Park.

Other prominent nominees include Huckleberry Mojito, a 4-year-old mare by Feature Mr Jess who ran third in last year's 440-yard, $350,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1) at Prairie Meadows, and Painted Lies, a 4-year-old PYC Paint Your Wagon gelding who has won four of his six races at Canterbury.

Entries for the Skip Zimmerman Memorial Stakes will be taken on Friday.

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Ed Melzer's Priceless Feature, a 4-year-old gelding by Feature Mr Jess trained by Eddie D. Willis, has been assigned top weight of 127 pounds for Sunday's 400-yard, $50,000 Boyd Morris Memorial Handicap (R) for Oklahoma-breds at Remington Park.

Priceless Feature has won nine of 19 races and has earned $433,921. The gelding has won seven of his 11 starts and has banked $245,602 at Remington, and his stakes record at the track includes a three-quarter length victory as the 19-10 favorite in the 400-yard, $100,000 Sooner State Stakes (RG1) on May 4.

Remington Park racing secretary Mike Shamburg has received 19 nominations for the Boyd Morris Memorial, and he has assigned 126 pounds to both A Toss Up and Fast Prize Jordan. Also trained by Willis, A Toss Up is a 4-year-old graded stakes winning son of Sweet First Down who has earned $369,795 from 18 starts for owners James Sills and Abel Flores.

Fast Prize Jordan, a homebred 4-year-old stallion by PYC Paint Your Wagon campaigned by Weetona Stanley and W.E. Smith and trained by Brian Muse, has won two Oklahoma-bred stakes during the current Remington meet, and he ran second to Priceless Feature in the Sooner State.

The remainder of the weight assignments – You Can Call Mr Earl (125), BPS Jumpin Frisco (124), Finche (124), I See Candy Paint (123), Fly On The Lake (122), Louisana Corona (122), Mi Vengador (122), Mr Sippin Corona (122), Thru The Fire (122), Wagons West (122), BV Mr Tellercartel (121), Just Wave (121), Novas Gold (121), Blazen Getaway (120), Broman (120), and Mondays Lady (120).

Also at Remington Park, Cruzin The Wagon has been assigned to tote high weight of 126 pounds in Sunday's 350-yard, $50,000-added Easy Date Handicap (R) for Oklahoma-bred distaffers.

A 4-year-old PYC Paint Your Wagon mare racing for Reliance Ranches LLC and trained by Eddie D. Willis, Cruzin The Wagon has won six of her 10 outs at Remington, and her stakes record over the course includes a one-length win as the even-money choice in last year's 350-yard, $50,000 Jack Brooks Stakes (R). On March 30, the mare ran second as the 2-1 favorite in the 350-yard, $50,000 Decketta Stakes (G3).

The Easy Date Stakes honors the Oklahoma-bred daughter of Easy Jet who was the AQHA world champion in 1975. This year's Easy Date drew 25 nominations. The remainder of the Easy Date weight assignments – Candy Cartel (125), Kuhl Wave (125), Send Me A Candy Tree (125), Eye A Spit Curl Girl (124), Last First Kiss (124), Ride My Wagon (124), Send Candy Power (124), Chics Delight (123), Corona Mit Go (123), Daltsguninforsuccess (123), Glory Rider (123), Louisana Corona (122), Oklahoma Cartel (122), Redneck Sis (122), CC Dynasty (121), DM Screamin Chick (121), Mondays Lady (121), Bobbies Chico (120), Chicks Candy Wagon (120), Hy On Luck (120), Spit Curl Mission (120), Zoomin Airess (120), Jones Laico Bird (119), and Miss EG Special Ways (118).

Entries for the Boyd Morris Memorial Handicap and Easy Date Handicap will be drawn on Thursday.

Les Bois Park is coming off of its first full season of racing since 2008. The track has experienced a revival since it was taken over by Treasure Valley Racing LLC, an ownership group consisting of Boise-area business people.

"I think there's just a different attitude around here," said Les Bois general manager Duayne Didericksen at a Media Day event last week. "The horsemen like the ownership group, our employees want to make things right, and things are heading in a good direction."

After two years of no live racing, Treasure Valley Racing obtained a lease through 2016 from Ada County in 2011, running an abbreviated season that year. Les Bois Park drew about 3,300 fans per race day last year, about 600 fewer than in 2011, but also had 21 more dates. The track's handle reached nearly $2.6 million last year.

"They had a pretty good year last year, and I think things are looking better," said Ada County commissioner Jim Tibbs. "Once something leaves, it takes some time to get interest back. I think both sides know it isn't where they want it to be yet, but (they) are seeing good, sustained growth, and that's what you want.

“It's great for the (local) economy because it brings a lot of jobs to this area, up to 300 or 400,” Tibbs added.

"All the people that are in this now are long-term Idahoans, long-term Boiseans," offered Larry Williams of Treasure Valley Racing. "They just have a vested interest in not only the horses but the people."

Didericksen is a new, yet veteran presence at Les Bois, where he worked in various capacities from 1975-2003. He helped bring simulcasting to the track during his first tenure, and he envisions major improvements for the 2014 season to include, among other things, new stables. In the meantime, there are indications of immediate improvement at Les Bois Park, like expecting a larger selection of horses for the track's live races. Last year's field sizes averaged about six head per race.

"I've seen it when it was doing great and when it was struggling, and with the commitment I've seen from the ownership, the county and the public, the road blocks are gone - I see big things," Didericksen said.

Les Bois Park's opening-night card features the 350-yard, $6,000-added Premier Stakes, which has drawn a field of nine Quarter Horses. David Newbold's Lil Bitts A Dash, a 5-year-old gelding by the winning First Down Dash stallion Dashair, won two stakes at Los Alamitos last season, including the 400-yard, $39,000 Blane Schvaneveldt Handicap in October. Nick Newbold will ride Lil Bitts A Dash from post 9 on Wednesday.

The highlight of Les Bois Park's stakes schedule will once again be the 350-yard, $100,000-est. Bitterroot Futurity (RG3) on May 27. Past winners of the Bitterroot include Royal N Perfect, who went on to qualify for the 1997 All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs. This year's Bitterroot trials will be held on May 11.

. For more information on the Les Bois Park meet, visit the track's website at www.lesboispark.com.

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Boyd Gaming Corp. reported a modest loss in the first quarter, as the gaming company added new casinos and other one-time costs related to selling noncore assets to strengthen its balance sheet.

Boyd Gaming reported a loss of $7.2 million, or 8 cents a share, compared with a year-earlier profit of $5.9 million, or 7 cents a share. Eliminating items like the costs of acquiring Peninsula Gaming LLC, the Las Vegas-based company reported a penny per-share profit.

Revenue rose 16.4 percent to $737 million. Analysts surveyed by Yahoo Finance expected a loss of 7 cents a share on $734 million in revenue.

“We saw positive momentum across our operations in March, driving first-quarter results that were ahead of previous expectations,” said Keith Smith president and CEO of Boyd Gaming.

The company announced its first quarter earnings before Wall Street opened on April 24. Shares of Boyd Gaming were up 97 cents, or 10.61 percent, to $9.90 in early morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Boyd Gaming’s revenue gains in the quarter were attributable to five former Peninsula Gaming properties, which the company bought in November for $1.45 billion. Peninsula held riverboat and racino properties in Iowa and Louisiana, as well as the Kansas Star Casino.

In Atlantic City, revenues at the Borgata, Boyd Gaming’s 50 percent joint venture, declined to $165.6 million, compared to $176.2 million in the first quarter of last year.

“As we look forward, we are excited by the potential of our online gaming strategy,” Smith said. “New Jersey and Nevada are now laying the regulatory groundwork for online gaming and other states are considering legalization as well.”

Smith said the emerging business provide Boyd Gaming with an opportunity to significantly grow and diversity its business.

“We intend to take full advantage of it,” he said.

Boyd Gaming currently owns and operates 22 gaming properties in eight states, including two Louisiana racinos: Delta Downs in Vinton and Evangeline Downs in Opelousas.

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A new penalty schedule for medication violations that would include harsh sanctions for multiple violations of prohibited drugs was introduced to regulators during last week's Association of Racing Commissioners International convention in New Orleans.

The recommended penalty schedule, which has been devised in several iterations by multiple groups over the past two years, was presented to the RCI’s Drug Testing Standards and Practices Committee on Tuesday and the RCI’s Model Rules Committee on Wednesday by Alan Foreman, the chairman of the National Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. The proposal is now expected to be distributed to stakeholders throughout the racing industry in an effort to get feedback in advance of a mid-year effort to adopt a model rule based on the new policy.

Supporters of the new penalty schedule consider the adoption of stricter sanctions for repeat offenders the final stage of a multi-year effort to change the regulation of medication in U.S. horse racing. If all goes as supporters plan, the penalty schedule will be affixed to a set of model rules governing allowable therapeutic medications that eight states have already pledged to adopt by Jan. 1, 2014. More states are expected to join the effort to adopt the model rules as the year progresses.

Many of racing’s critics contend that racing regulations do a poor job of meting out punishment to the sport’s chronic offenders, contributing to carelessness and experimentation with drugs. According to a analysis conducted by the Jockey Club using six years of data on medication violations, a small minority of trainers account for the vast majority of U.S. medication violations, but nearly all of those violations are overages of commonly used therapeutic medications such as the painkiller phenylbutazone, the anti-bleeding medication furosemide, and several corticosteroids.

Under the new penalty schedule presented to the RCI committees last week, horsemen would compile points for violations of medication rules, with the amount of points linked to the severity of the violation. Once a trainer reaches a certain level of points, then the regulations would require additional penalties, over and above the penalty assigned for the specific violation.

Violations for most of the most commonly used therapeutic medications would count for one point, while others in the therapeutic category would count for two points. Violations for prohibited substances – those that are not on a special list of 24 “controlled medications” – would count for anywhere from one point to six points, with the amount determined by a classification system containing a laundry list of both human and animal medications, based on their ability to influence a horse’s performance.

A trainer who accumulates as little as three points will be handed an additional suspension of 30 days – a trainer could hit that level with three overages of furosemide, or one overage of clenbuterol with one overage of phenylbutazone. At six points, a trainer would face an additional 60 days; at nine points, 120 days; and at 11 points or anything over, a 360-day suspension.

Also under the proposal, points can be expunged from a trainer’s record under a timeline based on the category of the drug. For violations for those drugs in the lowest category, the points will be expunged after one year; the next category up, two years; and the next category after that, three years. Points for a violation of a drug in the so-called A category – drugs that have a high potential to affect racing performance and which have no known therapeutic value – will never be expunged from a trainer’s record.

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California Sen. Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood) believes expanded legalized sports betting is coming to the United States, and he wants his state to be ready when it happens.

Wright presented his bill, SB 190, during a committee hearing on April 23, and it received unanimous support. If passed, the bill would allow California's race tracks – including Los Alamitos – and tribal casinos to offer sports betting.

The law would only go into effect if the federal government amends or overturns the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), which prohibits all but four states -- Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon -- from offering forms of legal sports betting.

"The idea is we want to get this statute in place so that should the federal law make a change, or should New Jersey be successful, we'd be ready to go," said Wright during the hearing.

New Jersey is currently in a legal battle with the NCAA, NFL and other professional sports leagues to bring legalized sports betting to its race tracks and casinos. New Jersey is appealing an initial ruling in favor of the leagues, and oral arguments are expected to be heard in June in the 3rd District Court of Appeals.

Wright, whose district includes Hollywood Park Racetrack, told the Senate that there are no plans to take on the federal government in a similar legal battle, but he did add that he anticipates the federal government will eventually open up a window to allow states to opt-in and offer legalized sports betting. Wright added that the state has already sent two resolutions to the federal government asking it to overturn PASPA.

SB 190 faces several more steps before it would reach Gov. Jerry Brown's desk, but the outlook is positive. Harsh P. Parikh, a gaming attorney for Snell & Wilmer, says the bill may require some amending to appease concerns from California's various tribal communities. Parikh believes that if the bill's author can alleviate many of the tribal concerns, the bill has a good chance of passing.

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The city of Clovis in eastern New Mexico might be in the running for the state’s sixth and only remaining racino gambling license. Paul Stout, a rancher and wind-energy entrepreneur, confirmed on April 24 that he represents a client interested in the license and has looked at property near the city.

According to a report in the Clovis News Journal, city manager Joe Thomas confirmed that a national gaming concern had contacted his office within the last year to express an interest in locating a racino in or near Clovis.

However, it doesn't appear likely that the license will be opened to applications until at least June, according to Warren Frost, an attorney representing a renewed bid to locate the racino in Tucumcari. Frost said that developer Michael Moldenhauer has asked the New Mexico Supreme Court for permission to appeal a lower court’s decision upholding the expiration of his license for La Mesa Racetrack in Raton.

“We’re very confident that the Supreme Court will deny (Moldenhauer’s) request,” said Frost.

Tucumcari is one of four locations where gaming concerns have publicly declared an interest in the racino license. The others include Hobbs, Raton and Lordsburg.

Stout declined to identify his client by name but said it was an out-of-state entity.

“I really can’t discuss any details,” Stout told the News Journal. “We’re still looking at this.”

Thomas also declined to specify the name of the group that made contact with the city.

The prospect of a racino locating in Clovis isn’t a new one. In 2010, the city presented a package to move the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino to Clovis.

The issue of the state’s last racino license has been five years in the making and includes a two-year legal fight between Moldenhauer and the New Mexico Racing Commission. In 2008, the commission granted Moldenhauer’s group the license for Raton,, but two years later it declared Moldenhauer’s license expired, claiming he failed to complete La Mesa by a May 2010 deadline.

Moldenhauer sued to have the license reinstated and has lost all appeals so far.

A group headed by former Raton city manager Pete Kampfer has also said it plans to seek the racino license. The Lordsburg group, which lost a bid for the license along with Tucumcari in 2008, has indicated it plans to re-apply if the racing commission offers the license.

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State-bred 2-year-olds will be in the spotlight at Delta Downs this weekend, as the track presents 330-yard trials for the Louisiana Breeders' Lassie Futurity (RG2) on Friday and Louisiana Breeders' Laddie Futurity (RG2) on Saturday.

This year's Lassie Futurity trials have drawn 110 fillies in 11 heats. Top contenders include Sandra Sue Blue, a gray daughter of champion Jess Louisiana Blue who won the 300-yard, $282,000 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) at Louisiana Downs for owners Jose and Dianette Garcia as the ninth-fastest qualifier. Trained by Jose Garcia, Sandra Sue Blue drew post 6 in the second trial. Eddi E. Martinez, her rider in the Mardi Gras Futurity, has been named to ride the filly on Friday.

Other fillies to watch in the Lassie Futurity trials include Mardi Gras trial winners Raunchy (fifth heat) and Shakemupjettie (11th heat), and Feisty Favorite, a sorrel daughter of Bigtime Favorite who won a 300-yard state-bred maiden dash with a 95 speed index at Louisiana Downs on March 12.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $75,000-added Louisiana Breeders' Lassie Futurity final on May 24.

The Louisiana Breeders' Laddie Futurity trials feature 129 colts and geldings in 13 heats. Bradys March Madness, the runner-up to Sandra Sue Blue in the Mardi Gras Futurity, drew post 9 in the seventh trial. A Jess Louisiana Blue gelding owned by Jesse Rodriguez Jr. and trained by Miguel Rodriguez, Bradys March Madness has earned $48,785 from two starts.

Maria Guadalupe Perez's First Corona Man is coming off of a third-place finish in the Mardi Gras. The bay son of the Heza Fast Man stallion Hez Fast As Cash will break from post 10 in the sixth trial.

Other horses to watch in the Laddie trials include Ana Lilia Alvidrez's T Boy G (eighth heat), a Sir Runaway Dash gelding who won an open 300-yard maiden dash at Louisiana Downs with a 98 speed index on March 25, and Jose Luis Ozuna's Nealy Bug (sixth heat), a Jet Black Patriot gelding who earned a 90 speed index in his 250-yard state-bred maiden victory on March 11.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Saturday's trials will face off in the $75,000-added Louisiana Breeders' Laddie Futurity final on May 25.

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Diane Heath's All About Larry is one of 18 distance specialists nominated to Sunday's 870-yard, $35,000 Marathon Stakes at SunRay Park.

A 6-year-old son of Heza Motor Scooter trained by John Stinebaugh, All About Larry is coming off of a four-length victory in the March 31, $50,000 Red Cell Sunland Distance Challenge (G3). The gelding won four stakes last season, including the Marathon Stakes and the Grade 1, $125,000 Red Cell Challenge Championship (G1) at Prairie Meadows.

Other prominent Marathon nominees include Fishin For Dough, Im Royal Quick, and Oh Jess Fly. A 3-year-old gelding by Fishers Dash racing for Victor M. Diaz, Fishin For Dough won two 870 races during the Sunland Park meet, including the $50,000 Getaway Stakes for sophomores on April 16.

Im Royal Quick, a 6-year-old Royal Quick Dash gelding owned by Anna Garcia and Jose G. Orquiz, won two graded 870 stakes at Zia Park last fall and was that track's top distance Quarter Horse for the meet, and Oh Jess Fly, a 5-year-old gelding by Fly Jess Fly campaigned by Hugo Barron Sierra, is coming off of of Sunland Park meet in which he won all three of his starts, all at the 870-yard distance.

Entries for the Marathon Stakes will be drawn on Tuesday.

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Sam Houston Race Park racing secretary Eric Johnston has received 21 nominations for Saturday's 110-yard, $15,000 Texas Twister Stakes (R) for state-breds.

One of the leading nominees, Eleazar Martinez Sr.'s The Hot List, is a 5-year-old Streakin La Jolla gelding who has won five of his eight starts, and whose stakes record includes a three-length victory in the third division of last year's Texas Twister. Trained by Yasmine M. Fierro, The Hot List began his 2013 season with a neck win as the 3-5 favorite in a 350-yard, $7,200 allowance race at Houston on April 13.

Nominee SS Poker Face Dream has not raced at a distance less than 300 yards in his nine-race career. A 3-year-old Primetime Dream colt racing for Ace Walker, Buddy Walker, and JK Running Horses LLC, SS Poker Face Dream ran fifth, 1 ½ lengths behind winner Flirtingwithamiracle, in the 350-yard, $197,000 Sam Houston Derby (G3) on April 13.

Entries for the Texas Twister Stakes will be taken on Wednesday.

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A pair of Oklahoma-breds with two-race stakes winning streaks, Fast Prize Mike and Fast Prize Jordan, are among the 22 state-breds nominated to Saturday's 400-yard, $100,000 Sooner State Stakes (RG1) at Remington Park.

A 4-year-old son of PYC Paint Your Wagon owned by Evelio Salazar and trained by Steven Salazar, Fast Prize Mike ran second, a half of a length behind Chicks Smart Money, in the September 29, $174,000 Dash For Cash Derby (G3) at Lone Star Park. The stallion proceeded to score consecutive victories in the first division of the 400-yard Evangeline Downs Derby on November 17, and the 350-yard, $50,000 Eastex Handicap (G2) at Remington on March 10. Fast Prize Mike has won four of 13 starts and has earned $134,515.

Fast Prize Jordan is a homebred 4-year-old stallion by PYC Paint Your Wagon who has banked $169,041 from 11 outs for his owners, Weetona Stanley and W.E. Smith. Fast Prize Jordan has opened his Remington Park campaign with victories in the 250-yard, $50,000 Mighty Deck Three Handicap (R) on March 10 and 350-yard, $50,000 Mr. Jet Moore Handicap (R) on April 6.

Past winners of the Sooner State Stakes, which began its 22-year history in 1991, including AQHA champions A Real Man (2003) and Country Chicks Man (2005-08). Entries for this year's Sooner State will be taken on Wednesday.

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Our handicapping blog update last weekend featured two races that were postponed when Sam Houston Race Park cancelled its Saturday card due to inclement weather.

Those races, the Merial Texas Distaff Challenge and Zoetis Texas Starter Allowance Challenge, have been rescheduled for this Friday. So, we will rerun our analysis of those races in this week's handicapping blog, and we will take a handicapper's look at two other major stakes.

Designed by Dr. James Tibone, a California-based sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon, the “Dr. Tibone protocol” includes a questionnaire designed to establish a rider’s history of injuries and a physical examination that focuses on motor strength and range of motion.

Tibone has worked with the University of Southern California athletic department as well as with the five major professional sports teams in the Los Angeles area.

“The protocol is a pre-race screening for jockeys, like those done annually in other professional and amateur sports,” said Tibone. “The protocol is designed to protect and keep jockeys safe.”

Turf Paradise requires all riders to undergo the Tibone protocol prior to participating in the meet. The protocol has the blessing of the Jockeys' Guild. Darrell Haire, the Guild's western regional manager, said the protocol will improve rider safety.

“With someone as qualified as Dr. Tibone, I am confident we are moving in the right direction with this protocol,” Haire added.

Turf Paradise's 2012-13 meet runs through May 7 and features several Quarter Horse stakes, starting with the 440-yard, $60,000-added Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge (G3), and the 350-yard, $20,000-added John Deere Turf Paradise Juvenile Challenge on Sunday . For more information, visit the track's website at www.turfparadise.com, and click on the “Owners/Horsemen” link on the top of the homepage.

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The resurrection of Yavapai Downs at Prescott Valley, Arizona, took a step closer to reality last Thursday, when a bankruptcy trustee filed a motion for a $5.5-million sale to Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association president Gary Miller.

“If we get bankruptcy court approval, we're very confident we can open on Memorial Day weekend (of 2013),” Miller told the Prescott Daily Courier.

Miller added that he also would like to bring the Yavapai County Fair back to the site, and he would consider reviving other events including car races and horse shows at the county-owned events center next door that has been leased to the racetrack owners in the past.

"I think this is going to be a community place, in addition to the racetrack," Miller said.

Live racing was last held at Yavapai Downs during the summer of 2010. The track's former owner, the Yavapai County Farm & Agriculture Association, filed for bankruptcy in July 2011.

Miller submitted the top bid of $3.25 million for the track facilities during a bankruptcy court auction on April 3, but three days later the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development rejected the bid. Miller then increased his offer to $3.5 million and was again rejected. The USDA and Miller have been negotiating ever since.

Along with the bankruptcy court, the USDA has to agree to the bankruptcy sale because it holds millions of dollars worth of loans on the track.

USDA Rural Development originally loaned the Yavapai County Fair Association about half the money it needed to build a new $22 million track in Prescott Valley in 2001 to replace the half-mile track and aging grandstand facilities in Prescott.

USDA still held about $14.7 million worth of loans on the track when the bankruptcy occurred.

The tentative agreement between Bankruptcy Trustee Brian Mullen and Miller's company, Prescott Valley Race Course LLC, allows Miller to assume $5.5 million of the existing loan. He also will pay as much as $400,000 worth of closing costs. Miller said he can live with the financial agreement.

"It's going to provide me with the ability to open the track and put people back to work," he said.

Mullen wants the sale hearing to take place by October 24. It's possible that someone could attend that hearing and outbid Miller, but no one else has been in the picture since the failed bankruptcy auction.

If the court approves the sale, Miller and the trustee will have an unspecified period of due diligence in which Miller examines the facilities before the two sides close on the deal.

The Yavapai Downs facilities include a one-mile horse racetrack, the 93,328-square-foot grandstands, about 860 horse stalls and a neighboring car racetrack. Miller said he has visited the site but at this point has no idea how long it would take to bring it back to operating condition.

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In the wake of three high-profile suspensions of Quarter Horse trainers in the last few weeks, officials at the New Mexico Racing Commission are saying they'd like to increase the size of the penalties they can administer, as well as increase their budget to conduct more frequent tests and boost the manpower needed to enforce its rules.

To do that, the New Mexico legislature must pass a bill to increase the commission's budget.

“Our budget in the last three to four years has been cut in half for testing racehorses,” commission chairman Rob Doughty told the Capitol Report New Mexico website. “I think (the legislature) understands that and realizes we need the money.”

Doughty added that the New Mexico Racing Act currently limits fines to $10,000. The commission would like to increase fines to $50,000 per violation, which is in line with the model rules established by the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

Commission executive director Vince Mares told the website that he is optimistic his agency will get the increased funding it's asking for. State Sen. Mary Kay Papen (D-Las Cruces) said that if she is re-elected in November, she will introduce a bill calling for tougher penalties for owners and trainers who are caught cheating.

“There's some money out there for testing right now,” Papen sald. “If we're going to keep this a viable industry – and this industry brings a lot of money to the state – then we're going to need to figure out a way for the dollars that are coming into the state from the general fund, what piece of that do we need to put back out for (drug) testing to make sure that we're a clean racing state.”

A 2009 study conducted by researchers at New Mexico State University estimated that horse racing had a $386-million impact on the state's economy, not including the effects of the tracks themselves or associated gaming.

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Hollywood Trickster, a two-time stakes winner during the Canterbury Park meet, is one of 21 sprinters nominated to Saturday's 440-yard, $45,000-added Two Rivers Stakes (G3) at Prairie Meadows.

A 5-year-old gelding by Favorite Trick (TB) racing for Christine A. Hovey and trained by Ed Hardy,, Hollywood Trickster has won all three of his starts this season, including the May 28, 350-yard Skip Zimmerman Stakes and July 3, 440-yard Great Lakes Stakes. Hollywood Trickster also scored a two-length victory in a non-winners-of-three 550-yard allowance race at Remington Park in his season debut on May 10.

Other prominent Two Rivers Stakes nominees include Samuel A. Valeriano's Jess Lips, a 3-year-old Mr Jess Perry colt who ran third behind Ochoa and Priceless Feature in the July 21, $904,000 Rainbow Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs; JK Running Horses LLC's Jess A Runner, the winner of the 440-yard, $75,000 Hialeah Invitational Championship Stakes back in February; and Kay J. Sage's Wheres Your Wagon, an Iowa-bred 4-year-old gelding by PYC Paint Your Wagon who ran third in the 440-yard, $74,000 Bank of America Prairie Meadows Championship Challeneg (G3) on September 15.

Entries for the Two Rivers Stakes will be drawn on Thursday.

Zia Park's Quarter Horse stakes schedule includes 13 graded events, topped by the 440-yard, $200,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship (G1) for 2-year-olds on November 25, and the 440-yard, $150,000 Zia Park Championship (G1) on December 2. The Southwest Juvenile Championship is one of only two 440-yard graded stakes for 2-year-olds; its past winners include AQHA champions Brenda Beautiful, Runnning Brook Gal, and Cold Cash 123.

Three graded stakes for state-breds will be contested on New Mexico Cup Day, October 28 – the 440-yard, $140,000-added New Mexico Cup Derby (RG2); the 400-yard, $140,000 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2); and the 440-yard, $170,000-added Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1).

Horsemen are reminded that Zia Park has produced an update version of its Horsemen's Guide, which this year contains a code of conduct applicable to all participants in racing activities at Penn National Gaming Inc.'s 11 pari-mutuel facilities in the United States. It also contains a list of all local rules and regulations pertaining specifically to Zia Park.

“The guide was developed in early 2011 to raise awareness among all participants within our various racing programs with a focus on accountability, integrity, and safety,” said Christopher McErlean, vice president of racing for Penn National Gaming, owner of Zia Park. “Each property also has the ability to create a customized 'local rules' section to fit their own needs, but the main body of the guide provides a clear roadmap for horsemen and racing individuals on meeting our expectations.”

“The guide will be widely distributed in English and Spanish, and there should be little question as to where we stand on matters of integrity for this upcoming meet,” added Zia Park assistant general manager Rick Baugh. “We are hopeful that other racetracks in New Mexico will look closely at adopting a similar type of guide for their respective race meets.”

For more information on the Zia Park meet, including a complete stakes schedule and first condition book, visit the track's website at www.ziaparkcasino.net, and click on the “Racing” link at the top of the homepage.

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The Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame will hold its 12th annual induction gala on November 10 at Retama Park Racetrack near San Antonio. The event will be held before and during the races that day, beginning at 4 p.m. (CST).

The five 2012 nominees include Kool Kue Baby and Allen and Jeanette Moehrig. Quarter Horse racing's all-time leading stakes winner with 24, Kool Kue Baby was the AQHA champion aged mare in 1996 and '98. The 1992 foal by the Dash For Cash stallion Gone To The Man retired in 2000 with 34 wins in 64 starts and earnings of $783,519.

The Moehrigs, residents of Seguin, Texas, bred and raised Special Effort, the AQHA world champion in 1981 and the only horse in history to sweep all three of the Grade 1 futurities at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack.

The other inductees are Valid Expectations (TB), Texas Thoroughbred Breeders' Association founding member T.L. “Pops” Harkins, and Bill Casner, a native of El Paso, Texas, and former owner of WinStar Farm in Versailles, Kentucky.

Tickets for the gala are priced at $125 per person. For more information, contact Sharolyn Grammer at (210) 651-7000 or retama@flash.net.

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A total of $619,706 was wagered in the win, place, show, exacta, quinella, trifecta, and superfecta pools on Monday's $2.4-million All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs. This figure represents a decrease of less than 1 percent from the $624,961 that was handled in those pools on last year's All American Futurity (G1).

However, the handle on this year's All American Futurity was 8 percent higher than the handle of $571,911 from two years ago.

The Quarter Horse titles for the 61-day Ruidoso Downs meet, which ended on Monday, went to Jaime Leos (jockey), Juan M. Gonzalez (trainer), and Reliance Ranches LLC (owner).

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Will Rogers Downs racing secretary Kelly Cathey has received 31 nominations for Saturday's 350-yard, $20,000 Don Steele Memorial Stakes for 3-year-olds.

One of the nominees, DM Strait Up, is a stakes-placed gelding by Ivory James racing for Reed Land & Cattle Co. LLC and Bill Moler from the barn of trainer Heath Reed. DM Strait Up has earned $162,020 from 10 races, and he was a finalist in last year's Grade 1 Heritage Place and Texas Classic futurities.

Hipolito Pina's BV Eye Am First, a Mr Eye Opener gelding trained by Bonifacio Almanza, ran second in last year's $113,400 Oklahoma Horsemen's Association Futurity (RG2) at Will Rogers. The gelding has won five of 17 races and has banked $99,238 while racing primarily in Oklahoma.

Entries for the Don Steele Memorial will be taken on Wednesday.

The inductees, all of whom are residents of Minnesota who will be honored in a ceremony at the track on Saturday, are: breeder Camelia Casby of Shakopee, owners Robert and Julie Petersen of Cokato, and outstanding contributor Sheila Williams of Roseville. Glitter Star (TB), a Minnesota-bred stakes winning mare by Glitterman (TB), will also be honored.

Casby, who operates both locally and nationally, has bred and raced several stakes-winning Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. Her runners have won the Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity (R) four times, and they also won several Thoroughbred stakes.

The Petersens are Canterbury Park's all-time leading Quarter Horse owners in wins and purse earnings. They have campaigned Seis It Fast, a gelding by Tres Seis who won three stakes at the track in 2010 and was that season's horse of the meet at Canterbury, and Stone Cold Roller, a stakes-winning gelding by Takin On The Cash and Canterbury's Quarter Horse of the Meet in 2010.

Williams served as media relations manager at Canterbury Park from 1994-2001. During the years the track operated as Canterbury Downs, she reported for several weekly publications, including the Shakopee Valley News, and she also served as a public handicapper for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The Canterbury Park Hall of Fame was founded in 1995, and during its 17-year history it has honored more than 40 people and horses. Its selection committee consists of representatives of local horsemen's organizations, local media, and Canterbury Park.

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Officials at North Dakota Horse Park deemed their recently concluded four-day meet, conducted after a two-year hiatus, as a success.

However, a number of challenges remain for NDHP, according to a report in a recent edition of the Fargo Forum. The North Dakota Racing Commission has called meeting for this Thursday to discuss the final results of the 2012 meet along with the future of the track.

“(The track) had gone through a difficult set of circumstances,” commission director Winston Satran told the newspaper. “As everybody knows there was a period of no racing; now I would say we are in a rebuilding period.”

Satran also said that the success of this year's meet, held the weekends of July 14-15 and 21-22, was encouraging, but it doesn't ensure that racing will return in 2013.

“The races were extremely successful so it sets the tone for the racing commission and Horse Race North Dakota (the nonprofit that operates the meet) to do everything they can to have horse racing again in 2013,” Satran added.

NDHP closed in April 2010 after racking up about $150,000 in debt since its opening in '05, not including the payback of more than $2 million in debt tied to the construction of the track in north Fargo. In 2009, the racing commission granted $587,000 to Horse Race North Dakota (HRND), but expenditures totaled about $823,000.

The racing commission approved four days of racing for this year and put up $89,000 for purse money and $18,000 for operating expenses. Out-of-state wagering companies also donated more than $75,000.

After this year’s meet, HRND president Wes Heinert estimates the horse park is about $120,000 in the black. In previous years, HRND operated its own concession operation. This year it contracted with a Fargo bar for concessions, receiving a 25 percent cut of profits, which was about $12,000.

About $112 million was wagered through simulcast companies licensed in North Dakota in 2011, generating about $380,000 in tax income for the commission. Commission dollars can be used for purses and marketing expenses, but they cannot be used to help pay track debts.

Heinert told the Forum that NDHP might need to consider hiring a full-time manager again. Volunteers and HRND board members donated their time to ensure the track was up and running for this year's meet.

NDHP manager Heather Benson was let go after the debt-laden 2009 season. Heinert said a racing commission audit found no wrong-doing by Benson, but the reins would be tight if a new manager is hired.

“Whoever we hire, we just wouldn’t give carte blanche,” he added. “We couldn’t dig out of another fiasco.”

Both Heinert and Satran said early planning for next year will be key to growth if races happen in 2013. This year's meet followed the meet at Chippewa Downs in Belcourt, North Dakota's only other horse track. Heinert said the dates were set in hopes of attracting horses already running at Chippewa Downs.

Satran said the commission will begin preliminary planning at its meeting later this month. The commission will then meet again, likely in November, to hear final year-end reports from both HRND and Chippewa Downs.

“What HRND and the racing commission will have to do this year is begin to organize early this fall for the races next year,” Satran said. “Then we will also have to work hard at increasing the financing to cover the cost of races.”

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Terri Wyatt has been hired as Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino's new director of marketing sales.

Wyatt recently told the Las Cruces Sun-News that one of her goals is increase Sunland Park's marketing presence in the Las Cruces area.

“I don't think we do a very good job,” Wyatt told the newspaper when asked about her company's outreach to the Las Cruces area. “Las Cruces is important to me. Horse racing has a wonderful heritage in New Mexico. It is, believe it or not, an affordable experience – if you're not doing $100 exactas. You can have a good time and enjoy it, take the kids out to the paddock (to see the horses). It is something that is fun for the region.”

Even though Sunland Park is located in New Mexico, the track draws the bulk of its customers from nearby El Paso, Texas, and even from across the international border in Juarez, Mexico.

An El Paso native, Wyatt told the Sun-News that the El Paso market can be “arrogant” and not appreciate the draw of Las Cruces, which is about 40 miles west of Sunland Park.

“We weren't working together as a region,” Wyatt said of the two cities. “We were working as El Paso and Las Cruces. How can we entice the Las Cruces community to drive a few miles and have a good time.”

Sunland Park group sales and transportation manager Tammy Pargoud said that there is shuttle service available between Las Cruces and the racino, but she admitted she'd like to see more options.

“We've been trying diligently to make ourselves open to more (transportation options),” she added. “We've always served Las Cruces, but we're looking to enhance that service.”

Sunland Park's 2011-12 racing season opens December 7. The 76-day meet runs through April 16, 2013.

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Luis Vivanco and Guy Hopkins were the leading jockey and trainer, respectively, during Retama Park's 22-night Quarter Horse meet, which ended August 18.

Vivanco, who was also leading Quarter Horse jockey during the 2012 Gillespie County Fair meet in Fredericksburg, rode the winners of 30 races, eight more than runners-up Rodrigo Vallejo and Luis Ramirez. Ricardo Aguirre and Santos Carrizales tied for fourth with 20 wins each.

Hopkins won 13 races, one more than runners-up Cindi Keeton, James Gerhards, and Trey Wood. Judd Kearl finished fifth in the standings with 11 wins.

Retama Park's 26-night Thoroughbred meet opens October 5.

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As reported in the Previews section of this website, two-time AQHA champion Noconi will make the final start of his six-year career in Sunday's $40,000 All American Gold Cup (G3) at Ruidoso Downs.

Noconi has been assigned to carry 124 pounds by racing secretary Robert Junk. Three other contenders have been assigned 124 pounds for the 440-yard stakes – JD Baccarat, Prospect To The Top, and Rare Walker.

Both Noconi and JD Baccarat are trained by 10-time AQHA champion trainer Paul Jones. A 4-year-old gelding by Mr Jess Perry, JD Baccarat has earned $179,510 from 17 races, and his six wins include the 350-yard, $30,000 Higheasterjet Handicap (G3) at Ruidoso on July 1.

Rare Walker and Prospect To The Top ran first and second, respectively, in the 400-yard, $30,000 Mr Jet Moore Handicap (G3) on August 5. A 5-year-old Walk Thru Fire from the barn of Hector Jaime Hernandez, Rare Walker also ran third, a neck behind Noconi, in the 400-yard, $50,000 La Plata Stakes (G3) at SunRay Park in May.

A total of 12 older horses have been nominated to the All American Gold Cup. Entries for the race will be drawn on Thursday.

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A special note: Our next blog update will be posted on Saturday. In it, we will analyze Sunday's AllAmerican Derby (G1) and All American Gold Cup (G3), as well as Monday's 440-yard, $2.4-million All American Futurity (G1).

The winner of the California Distaff Challenge, which drew nine starters, will earn a slot in the Grade 1, $100,000 Merial Distaff Challenge Championship at Prairie Meadows on October 27. Our top selection in this deep field is Flying Fig, a 4-year-old daughter of Corona Cartel who is taking a big class drop off of a fourth-place finish in the 400-yard, $200,000 Vessels Maturity (G1) on July 8. Flying Fig faced the top 3-year-olds in the country last year, and her record as a sophomore includes a half-length victory and a 110 TrackMaster speed rating in a Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1) trial at this 400-yard distance.

Another class dropper, Thisfeatureisspecial, won both of her starts during the competitive Remington Park spring meet. A 5-year-old Feature Mr Jess mare, Thisfeatureisspecial earned a 98 speed rating in her half-length victory in the 400-yard, $50,000 Junos Request Stakes (G2).

Fredaville, ran second as the 13-10 choice in the Junos Request. The 6-year-old mare by Mr Jess Perry out of Grade 1 winner Fearless Freda prepped for her return to California with a 220-yard work in :12.30, the fastest of six drills at the distance on August 3.

Touch Of Paso, an 8-1 morning-line longshot, makes her first start for trainer Charles Treece here. A 4-year-old daughter of the Chicks Beduino stallion Jumpn and one-time $5,000 claimer, Touch Of Paso returns to Los Alamitos following a less than successful spring campaign in Oklahoma. However, it's worth noting that she has made the exacta in seven of her eight outs at Los Alamitos, and she is a stakes winner over the track.

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The rich history of the Bank of America California Championship Challenge dates back to its inaugural running in 1993. Past winners of the stakes include several champions: Down With Debt (1994 and '95), Winalota Cash ('97), The Casanova ('99), Catchmeinyourdreams (2003 and '05), Apollitical Time ('06), Strawkins ('07), and Leading Spirit ('08).

The winner of Sunday's 20th running of the California Championship Challenge will earn a berth in the 440-yard, $300,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1) at Prairie Meadows on October 27. As an added bonus, the winner of the Challenge Championship race will earn a starting spot in this year's 440-yard, $750,000 Champion of Champions (G1) at Los Alamitos, Quarter Horse racing's richest and most prestigious race for older runners.

Our top selection, Sparky E Boy, hasn't raced since February 19, when the 5-year-old gelding by champion Hawkinson finished a well-beaten eighth after a rough start in the 400-yard, $226,000 Los Alamitos Winter Championship (G1). Sparky E Boy ran second, a nose behind Good Reason SA, in last year's Champion of Champions, and he showed that he's ready for his first start in six months with a :17.80 gate drill on July 21, the fastest of seven at the 350-yard distance that day.

Shining First Dash, a multiple graded stakes placed 5-year-old stallion by First Down Dash, ran second to Favorite Cartel in this race last year. Shining First Dash prepped for this year's edition with a solid third-place finish against state-breds in the 400-yard Spencer Childers California Breeders' Championship (RG1) on July 28, a race in which he earned a competitive TrackMaster speed rating of 103.

Ambush Alley is getting his first test going 440, but the 4-year-old gelding by Snowbound (TB) is bred to like the distance – his dam, the winning Dash Ta Fame mare Fames Easy, has produced five Grade 1-placed runners. Ambush Alley also has some back class, as he was a finalist in last year's Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super and Golden State derbies.

This year's All American trials drew 257 entries, including eight $50,000 supplements – Gonna Cha Cha, Just Wanna Corona, Brotherman, Rockin Disco, PYC Kant Katch Me, SS Poker Face Dream, PJ Chick In Black, and BP Cartels Alibi.

Without further delay, let's take a closer look at all 26 All American Futurity trials, starting with the first, which gets underway at 9:30 a.m. (MDT).

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ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY TRIAL 1 – Lighting Regard won a Ruidoso Futurity (G1) trial with a solid 95 TrackMaster speed rating on May 25; the Oklahoma-bred Chicks Regard gelding has won two of four starts. Scatmandu won his first two races and is coming off of a fifth-place finish in the 400-yard, $700,000 Rainbow Futurity (G1) on July 22. The Scat Daddy (TB) gelding is bred to want this longer distance. The dam of first-time starter Heyly J, Royal Classic Native, is a half sister to three stakes winners, including 1994 All American Futurity winner Noblesse Six and Mexican champion Pure D Dash. Maiden First Alibi Snow ran third, three-quarters of a length behind next-out winner Rightamountofwrong, in the April 14, $25,000 Sam Houston Juvenile Stakes.

TRIAL 2 – Gonna Cha Cha was supplemented to the trials for $50,000 after his longshot victory in the 400-yard, $395,000 Zia Futurity (RG1) for New Mexico-breds on July 29. The brown gelding by Gonna Ro Sham Bo is undefeated in three starts. Teller Ima Dream has also won all three of his starts. He is a half brother to 2010 champion 2-year-old American Runaway, and his sire, champion Teller Cartel, won the 2005 All American Futurity (G1). Captain Strawfly earned a 92 speed rating in his 2 3/4-length maiden victory on July 30. The bay gelding by the Mr Jess Perry stallion Captain Courage was a finalist in the May 25, $1,115,000 Heritage Place Futurity (G1) at Remington Park.

TRIAL 3 – Yield To Libby will me making his first start since April 15, when he ran second in the Grade 1 West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park. The Azoom filly has two solid works over the track, and his dam, the Corona Cartel mare Libbys Cartel was a graded stakes winner at 2. Klassy Chick won two races during the Remington Park meet, including a 350-yard Heritage Place Futurity (G1) trial on May 5. Nellie Delaney is a stakes-placed daughter of FDD Dynasty. The filly was the 10th-fastest qualifier to the July 22, $700,000 Rainbow Futurity (G1). Fit For Glory, a Texas-bred gelding by Ivory James, was a finalist in the July 15 Rocky Mountain Futurity (G3) at Arapahoe Park and March 17, $358,000 Oklahoma Futurity (G2) at Remington Park.

TRIAL 4 – Twilight Corona is an undefeated daughter of Corona Cartel and two-time graded stakes winner Check Her Twice. The filly breezed 220 yards in :11.56 on June 24, the fastest of 24 works at the distance that day. Somethin Like This has been an odds-on favorite in his last three races. The bay gelding by Carters Cartel earned a 95 speed rating in his one-length Rainbow Futurity (G1) trial win on July 3. A maiden after her first three outs, Distant Fury was a finalist in the Rainbow Futurity. The FDD Dynasty filly's dam, the Check Him Out mare Checknbac,won five races at age 2, including the $418,000 Governor's Cup Futurity (RG1) at Los Alamitos. The dam of maiden Significant Heart, the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Significant, won five races at 2, including the $500,000 Rainbow Futurity (G1).

TRIAL 5 – Vancouver Moon has won two of three races and has earned $118,660. The sorrel daughter of FDD Dynasty and half sister to champion First Moonflash is coming off of a second-place finish in the Rainbow Futurity (G1). Valiant Dreamgirl, a maiden winner at Remington Park in her career debut back in March, is a half sister to 2010 champion 2-year-old American Runaway. Martin Ray ran a close second in a 400-yard maiden race on July 21. The FDD Dynasty gelding is a half brother to champion Alice K White and Grade 1 winner and one-time 440-yard world record holder Kendall Jackson. Big Sluggo prepped for his debut with a 300-yard breeze in :16.01 on May 8. The sorrel colt by the Oak Tree Special stallion First Timber has been favored in all three of his outs.

TRIAL 6 – Prince Of Alexander made his debut with a two-length victory in a Ruidoso Futurity (G1) trial on May 25; the Stel Corona gelding was the second-fastest qualifier to the $600,000 final. JR Dynasty Mountain ships in from the intermountain region, where the FDD Dynasty colt won all three of his starts. He has two works over the track, including a 220-yard breeze in :11.98 on July 16. Washita Dash earned an 85 TrackMaster speed rating in his nose victory in the 23rd Ruidoso Futurity trial on May 25, a race which marked her career debut. The Mr Jess Perry Filly ran second to Vancouver Moon in the sixth Rainbow Futurity (G1) trial.

TRIAL 7 – Jess A Sign is coming off of a three-quarter length win as the 9-5 favorite in the 18th Rainbow Futurity (G1) trial. The undefeated Mr Jess Perry colt also has two solid morning breezes over the track. Ground Hero ran second behind next-out winner Eyegotitgoinon in the May 20, $50,000 Easy Jet Stakes (RG3) for Oklahoma-breds at Remington. A sorrel daughter of Mr Jess Perry, Higher Fling was a longshot winner of the 16th Rainbow Futurity trial. The filly's dam, Higher Fire, was a two-time Grade 1 futurity winner in California in '05. Native Tea Rose scored a half-length victory against next-out winner Joy Roses Eagle SA in a 300-yard maiden sprint at Los Alamitos on May 11. The First Down Dash filly has since had a race and two solid morning works over the track.

TRIAL 8 – Eight of the 10 entries in this heat are maidens. One of the two winners, Gray Menace, is a is coming off of a neck victory in a 300-yard maiden dash over the track on August 3. The other winner in the field, West Texas Futurity (G1) finalist Greater Still, scored a 2 ½ length win in the 20th Ruidoso Futurity (G1) trial in his first start over the track.

TRIAL 9 – Wonderboy is three weeks removed from a head victory in a 400-yard maiden race over the track. The Shazoom colt's dam, First Place Queen, won the 2002 Los Alamitos Million (G1) and Golden State Million (G1) futurities at Los Alamitos. Carters Cookie has won both of his outs, including the 400-yard, $700,000 Rainbow Futurity (G1) on July 22. Just Wanna Corona has been well bet and has run second in both of his starts, including a Heritage Place Futurity (G1) trial at Remington Park on May 5.

TRIAL 10 – Cocoa Creme was a prompt 7-10 favorite in the 22nd Rainbow Futurity (G1) trial. The Utah-bred Corona Cartel colt was the second-fastest qualifier to the March 17, $378,500 Oklahoma Futurity (G2) at Remington Park. An Oklahoma-bred daughter of 2001 champion 2-year-old colt Tres Seis and two-time Grade 1 futurity winner First Place Queen, Tres Queens ran third in a 400-yard maiden race on July 28, a race which marked his debut.

TRIAL 11 – This heat has drawn nine entries, eight of whom are maidens. The lone winner, the Snowbound (TB) gelding East Bound N Down, scored a one-length victory in a 300-yard maiden $15,000 claimer at Remington Park on March 16. He was a beaten favorite in his last out, a 350-yard Heritage Place Futurity (G1) trial on May 4. Marozzi hasn't finished better than fifth in his two starts, but his dam, the Duel Fuel mare Significant Speed, was the AQHA champion sophomore filly in 2000 and the champion aged mare two years later. The second dam of Jess A Valentine, the Rare Form mare Joanna Kate, was the champion aged mare in 1999.

TRIAL 12 – Nine of the 10 entries here are maidens. Dontblinkorulemissme, a California-bred filly by the multiple graded stakes winning First Down Dash stallion Volcom, made her debut with a head victory in a 250-yard maiden dash over the track on July 2. Azooming On Bye ships in from Louisiana, where he most recently ran a close fourth in a 300-yard maiden race at Delta Downs on June 29. The Azoom gelding's dam, the Dashin Bye mare First Dashin Bye, won five stakes in Louisiana from 2007-08, including one at age 2. First-time starter Dreamin Dynasty is a New Mexico-bred gelding by FDD Dynasty who traces back to his second dam, 1986 champion 3-year-old filly Dashing Phoebe.

TRIAL 13 – Feature Hero finished fourth as the 5-2 choice, two lengths behind winner Carters Cookie, in the July 22, $700,000 Rainbow Futurity (G1). The Valiant Hero gelding's record includes a third-place finish against Oklahoma-breds in the 300-yard, $100,000 Remington Park Juvenile Stakes (R) back in April. The August Heat prepped for this start with a 220-yard breeze in :11.31, the second-fastest of 23 works at the distance on July 29. The Corona Cartel colt was a beaten favorite in his Rainbow and Ruidoso (G1) futurity trials. Cartels Lady has won both of her outs, but she hasn't raced since March 30, when she scored a half-length victory as the 13-10 favorite in a Remington Park Futurity (G1) trial. The Carters Cartel filly has a pair of solid drills over the track, including a 220-yard breeze in :11.65 on July 7, the second-fastest of 44 works at the distance that day.

TRIAL 14 – Solid Anita Jo is a consistent daughter of Rock Solid Jess who has made the trifecta in five of her six races. The filly broke her maiden with a neck victory in the 400-yard, $20,000 Rainbow Juvenile Invitational Stakes on July 22. Elisas Secret, a Texas-bred filly by the graded stakes winning First Down Dash stallion No Secrets Here, has won both of her outs, including 14th Rainbow Futurity (G1) trial with an 84 TrackMaster speed rating on July 3.

TRIAL 15 – All 10 starters in this trial are maidens. First-time starter Cameron Hughes, a California-bred colt by Stel Corona, breezed 220 yards over the track in :11.47 on June 25, the third-fastest of 30 drills at the distance that day. JJs Gone is an Oklahoma-bred gelding by Mr Jess Perry who has finished second or third in four of his races. His third dam, the Easy Jet mare Teller Queen, won the 1988 Golden State Futurity (G1) at Los Alamitos.

TRIAL 16 – The lone winner in this field of 10, Fate Cant Weight, will be making her first start since July 3, when she scored a neck victory in the 10th Rainbow Futurity (G1) trial. Secret Dynasty is a California-bred daughter of FDD Dynasty who ran second in her career debut at Los Alamitos on May 12; the filly's half brother, No Secrets Here, won the 2006 All American Futurity (G1) in a stakes-record :20.88.

TRIAL 17 – Rockin Disco has won two consecutive races, including the August 4, 350-yard John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge Stakes with a 96 TrackMaster speed rating. Maiden Prince Valleyant has run third in both of his outs. The Valiant Hero gelding prepped for this race with a 300-yard gate breeze in :17.13, the fifth-fastest of 21 works at the distance on July 31. Maiden Wicked Courage has made the trifecta in all four of his outs. Uzoom Corona finished well back at 43-1 in the sixth Rainbow Futurity (G1) trial, a race which marked her career debut, but the Azoom filly's dam, Corona Cash, won the 1997 All American Futurity (G1) and was that season's AQHA champion 2-year-old.

TRIAL 18 – A winner of two of her six races, Jesastar was a finalist in both the Rainbow (G1) and Ruidoso (G1) futurities. Brotherman will be making his first start against open company; the New Mexico-bred colt by Jesse James Jr is coming off of a three-quarter length victory in a Zia Futurity (RG1) trial on July 13. Top Flite Ace was a prompt 2-1 favorite in a 300-yard maiden special weight dash on July 15; the filly by Hawkinson is a half sister to Grade 3 winner Zulu Dragon.

TRIAL 19 – Kerrys Wave Carver has won two consecutive starts, including the sixth Ruidoso Futurity (G1) trial by three-quarters of a length as the odds-on choice. Wild Game was a prompt 13-10 favorite in the 21st Rainbow Futurity (G1) trial on July 3. A stakes-placed daughter of Game Patriot and 2007 Rainbow Futurity (G1) winner Wild Six, Wild Game ran second, a half of a length behind winner Generating Cash, in the 350-yard, $75,000 Heritage Place Juvenile Invitational Stakes at Remington Park on May 26. Conn Creek finished third, two lengths behind eventual Ruidoso Futurity (G1) winner PJ Chick In Black, in the April 8, $251,000 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) for New Mexico-breds at Sunland Park. The Dash Ta Fame colt is a full brother to Grade 1 winner and one-time 440-yard world record holder Kendall Jackson, and a half to '09 champion 3-year-old filly Alice K White. Blazin Rich is a Chicks A Blazin gelding coming off of a second-place finish to Solid Anita Jo in the July 22, $20,000 Rainbow Juvenile Invitational Stakes.

TRIAL 20 – Blaze Carver ran third, 1 ¾ lengths behind winner Carters Cookie, in the Rainbow Futurity. The Wave Carver colt's dam, Blazin Fire, was the AQHA champion aged mare in '07. RC Tres Times Seis has won two of three outs, and he finished fifth as the third-fastest qualifier to the March 18, $221,640 Harrah's Entertainment Futurity (G3) at Louisiana Downs. DM Red Tide will be making his first start since May 25, when he scored a 1 1/4-length victory in the third Ruidoso Futurity (G1) trial. The Wave Carver gelding is a half brother to the Grade 1-placed DM Streakn Thru Fire. Runs Like He Stolit hasn't raced since March 23, when the Florida-bred colt scored a half-length victory and posted an 85 TrackMaster speed rating in a 300-yard West Texas Futurity (G1) trial at Sunland Park. He's out of the Glitterman (TB) mare Her Sparkle Time (TB), so he's bred to like the extra distance; his sire, champion Stoli, won the 440-yard All American Derby (G1) in 2001.

TRIAL 21 – Jess A Zoomin has won two of his three starts, and he was the 10th-fastest qualifier to the June 9, $600,000 Ruidoso Futurity (G1). Krash Cartel scored a visually impressive 4 1/4-length victory and earned a 110 TrackMaster speed rating in the second Ruidoso Futurity trial on May 25; the Corona Cartel colt ran second as the fastest qualifier and odds-on favorite, a neck behind PJ Chick In Black, in the final. CR Sweet Te ran a close second to next-out winner Pyro in the June 9, $20,000 Ruidoso Juvenile Invitational Stakes; the Tres Seis filly has made the trifecta in all four of her outs. Sashay Hot won the 25th Ruidoso Futurity trial by one length with a 94 speed rating; the Walk Thru Fire filly ran second, a head behind winner Volcoms Special Pop, in the 300-yard, $50,000 West Texas Juvenile Stakes at Sunland Park on April 14.

TRIAL 22 – Lota PYC has won all three of his races by large margins; the PYC Paint Your Wagon colt is coming off of a 2 ¼ length victory as the even-money favorite and second-fastest qualifer in the 330-yard, $720,000 Remington Park Futurity (R) for Oklahoma-breds on April 14. The dam of debut runner Big Jo Red, the Rare Form mare Joanna Kate, was the AQHA champion aged mare in 1999. Jet Black Legend ships in from Louisiana, where he won two of four starts at Delta Downs and ran second, a head behind winner RDD Dashin Effort, in the 330-yard, $81,000 Old South Futurity on May 25. The Game Patriot gelding is a full brother to graded stakes winner and 2008 All American Futurity (G1) runner-up Jet Black Patriot.

TRIAL 23 – This might be the strongest trial, as two of the nine entries are undefeated stakes winners and $50,000 supplements. SS Poker Face Dream ships in from Texas, where the colt by the Royal Shake Em stallion Primetime Dream won all four of his races, including the June 30, 350-yard TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity (RG2) as the fastest qualifier at Retama Park. PYC Kant Katch Me is also undefeated, as this Oklahoma-bred colt by PYC Paint Your Wagon out of the Disco Jerry (TB) mare Wanna Be Me won all three of his outs at Remington Park, including the 330-yard, $100,000 Remington Park Juvenile Stakes (R) on April 14. Mahna Mahna is coming off of a three-quarter length score in the eighth Rainbow Futurity (G1) trial. In her career debut on June 11, a 300-yard maiden sprint for fillies, the daughter of Corona Cartel ran second to next-out winner and eventual Rainbow finalist Vancouver Moon.

TRIAL 24 – A $50,000 supplement to the trials, PJ Chick In Black has won all four of her outs, including the June 9, $600,000 Ruidoso Futurity (G1), and the April 8, $251,000 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) against state-breds at Sunland Park. Maiden Jess Tenacious is a half brother to Desirio, the winner of the 440-yard All American Juvenile Invitational Stakes (RG3) in 2004, and Grade 2 winner Corona For The Lady.

TRIAL 25 – BP Cartels Alibi won two of his three races at Remington Park, including the 350-yard, $1,115,000 Heritage Place Futurity (G1) on May 26. The Corona Cartel colt hasn't raced since then, but he has two solid works over the track; on July 2, he breezed 220 yards in :11.32, the fastest of 46 drills at the distance that day. Katana Regard has worked nicely for her first out in five months. In his career debut at Sunland Park on March 4, the Chicks Regard filly ran a close second to next-out winner Xquizit in a 300-yard maiden special weight dash. Aha Moment has been well backed and has made the trifecta in all three of his races.

TRIAL 26 – One Dashing Eagle raised eyebrows in California, as the colt sprinted to a 1 1/4-length win in the June 24, 350-yard Ed Burke Million Futurity (G1) despite lugging in badly. A colt by the Mr Jess Perry stallion One Famous Eagle, One Dashing Eagle is a half brother to 2010 Golden State Million Futurity (G1) winner One Sweet Dash. Pajarita Sita has won two of five races and was a finalist in the Grade 1 Ruidoso and West Texas futurities. The undefeated Sudden Thoughts scored a one-length victory against a field that included next-out winner Mines Bigger in the ninth Rainbow Futurity (G1) trial.

The winner of the Retama Juvenile Challenge will earn a spot in the Grade 2, $150,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship at Prairie Meadows on October 27. Our top selection, Gone Too Soon T, is an accomplished daughter of Game Patriot who has made the exacta in all five of her starts. Gone Too Soon T is coming off of a close second-place finish to Adoring Jess in what might have been the toughest of the five trials on July 28.

Ottyes Valentine Gal was a prompt 8-5 favorite in her trial, as the sorrel filly by the Corona Cartel stallion Mr Ottyes earned an 83 TrackMaster speed rating while scoring her second win in three outs. Ottyes Valentine Gal also competed during the tough Remington Park spring meet, where she recorded a 1 3/4-length Heritage Place Futurity (G1) trial victory against a field that included last-out maiden winner Perfectoll and next-out maiden winner JC Lil Wagon.

Making her first start for trainer Bobby Martinez, Adoring Jess won the second trial by a nose with a solid 83 speed rating. TrackMaster stats show that Martinez has been winning with 21 percent of his 2-year-old starters and wagers on his young runners show a positive ROI.

Sheaintcrynrealtears must be respected in her role as the fastest qualifier. A chestnut daughter of unraced Corona Cartel stallion Jet Cartel, Sheaintcrynrealtears won the third trial heat as the 2-1 choice, and she was a finalist in the 330-yard, $81,000 Old South Futurity at Delta Downs back in May.

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A full field of 10 has been entered back in the Retama Derby Challenge. The winner of the race will earn a starting berth in the Grade 1, $200,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship at Prairie Meadows on October 27.

Our top choice, Jess Tee Off, is a gelding by champion Tres Seis who began his career with a four-race win streak that included last year's 330-yard, $600,000 Sam Houston Futurity (G2). Jess Tee Off is coming off of a second-place finish as the 13-10 choice in the first of two trials on July 27 – a race that marked his first start in more than seven months – and he has made the exacta in all six of his outs.

Jumpn Beau Chick, ran a close third as the 8-5 favorite in the second trial. A gray daughter of the graded stakes placed Chicks Beduino stallion Jumpn Chic, Jumpn Beau Chick was coming off of a half-length victory in the 400-yard, $50,000 TQHA Sires' Cup Derby (RG3) on June 30, and the consistent filly has made the trifecta in all six of her starts at Retama and all three of her outs at this distance.

Fastest qualifier Jess A Comment has followed a strong 2-year-old campaign by winning two of his first three races as a sophomore. The sorrel gelding by the graded stakes winning First Down Dash stallion First Comment was a finalist in three stakes last season, including the Grade 1, $1,159,000 Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star Park.

The federal agency holds about $14.7 million worth of loans on the 11-year-old racetrack facilities, so it has final say on the purchase. Miller submitted the top bid of $3.25 million for the Yavapai Downs facilities during a bankruptcy court auction on April 3, but the USDA rejected the bid three days later.

After unsuccessfully trying to find a better offer, including negotiating with the second-highest bidder, the feds called him a few weeks later, Miller told the Prescott Daily Courier.

"I find the USDA really positive now,” he added. “They want to get a deal rolling.”

Diana Jennings, public affairs officer for the USDA's Arizona office, confirmed that negotiations are ongoing. She said she didn't know if the USDA is negotiating with anyone other than Miller, and Miller – who told the newspaper that he has submitted a higher bid for the track – said he is unaware of any other bidders at this time.

"I think I've given them a fair offer," Miller said. "Do I think we're close? I don't know, but I hope so."

The Yavapai Downs facilities include a one-mile horse racetrack, the 93,328-square-foot grandstands, about 860 horse stalls and a neighboring car racetrack. Most of the annual Yavapai County Fair took place on adjacent property, but that property is not part of the sale.

Yavapai Downs employed about 300 people during the summer race meet, in addition to hundreds of horse trainers, jockeys, and assistants until it failed to open last year.

"I never stopped thinking we could get this track open, but it's more and more of a long shot for this year," Miller said. The summer season typically ran from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend.

"I'm optimistic about the track opening next year," Miller said.

USDA Rural Development originally loaned the Yavapai County Fair Association about half the money it needed to build a Yavapai Downs, which opened in 2001 and replaced the half-mile oval track in Prescott. The summer racing meet in the Prescott area had been operating since 1960, and horse racing here dates back to territorial days.

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The California Horse Racing Board has revoked trainer Adan Farias’ license for two years and fined him $25,000, after the Maddy Laboratory at the University of California-Davis reported the urine samples collected from six horses in his care contained zilpaterol – a beta-2 agonist typically used in livestock production to promote lean muscle growth that the Association of Racing Commissioners International says has no legitimate purpose in horse racing. These were Class 1 violations involving Class A penalties.

Concerning a separate violation involving clenbuterol, the CHRB suspended Farias an additional six months and fined him an additional $10,000. Under the terms of a settlement agreement with Farias, the Board stayed this additional six-month suspension and $10,000 fine provided that should Farias reapply for a license after two years and resume training, he would be on probation for one year, and any further Class 1, 2, or 3 violations during probation would trigger the stayed penalties.

The CHRB agreed to the settlement during a closed session meeting on July 19. In the agreement, Farias agreed to all of the conditions, most importantly the revocation of his license for two years and the probation for violating CHRB Rules 1843 and 1887.

These were Farias’ first Class 1 violations. He previously had five Class 3 violations involving clenbuterol before the one referenced in the settlement, his sixth.

Six horses trained by Farias showed zilpaterol in the official urine samples and two of those horses showed zilpaterol in the blood sample as well. All eight samples – six urine and two blood – were confirmed at the University of Pennsylvania. All six horses were subsequently disqualified from their races and the purses redistributed. All the races took place at Los Alamitos in 2011.

The horses and race details are:

In a Separate Class, first in the fourth race on October 23.

Azshecanfly, second in the second race on October 29.

Illegal Smile, first in the eighth race on October 29.

FDD Moon, third in the eighth race on October 29.

T Gold J, first in the ninth race on October 29.

Deep Creek Bobbie, first in the 12th race on October 29.

In the clenbuterol matter, the Maddy Laboratory reported the blood and urine samples collected May 15, 2011, from In a Separate Class contained clenbuterol in excess of the authorized decision levels. Clenbuterol is a beta-2 agonist bronchodilator commonly used in horses. In a Separate Class finished first in the fourth race May 15 at Los Alamitos. The gelding was disqualified from that race in a ruling last fall and the purse was redistributed.

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With new marketing efforts, facility enhancements, and an increase in the quality of racing given most of the credit, attendance and handle increased during Hoosier Park's 2012 harness meet, which ended July 14.

On-track handle on Hoosier Park's live races increased 6 percent, while export handle rose 10 percent. Hoosier Park simulcasted its races to more than 500 sites throughout the United States.

On-track attendance during the 80-day meet increased 19 percent.

“During the off-season, we focused on all facets of racing and how we could present live racing in the most effective and entertaining manner possible to both new and existing live and simulcast fans of all ages,” said Hoosier Park president and chief operating officer Jim Brown in a release. “By measure of our spring meet, these efforts are paying off.”

“In addition to providing an enhanced experience to our core customers, we must continue our commitment to provide an improved overall entertainment experience to new and casual visitors,” he added. “If we expect to create new loyal race fans and ask them to return to the track to experience the excitement of horse racing, these efforts will be fundamental to future successes.”

Hoosier Park’s commitment to improve the on-track entertainment experience featured a number of facility upgrades, including the installation of a new state-of-the-art infield tote board, which is more than 20 feet high and 140 feet wide. Also, the track's Winner's Circle Pub, Grille & OTB in downtown Indianapolis launched its FastBet Mobile wagering system. The first of its kind in Indiana and granted under a pilot program by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, FastBet Mobile offers patrons an opportunity to wager directly through their smartphone or mobile tablet device.

Located in Anderson, about 40 miles northeast of downtown Indianapolis, Hoosier Park will be dark until August 1, when its 63-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet begins. Racing will be held on a Tuesday-Saturday schedule. The track's Wild West Quarter Horse Day, which will feature an all-Quarter Horse racing card, is scheduled for October 13.

For more information, visit the track's website at www.hoosierpark.com, and click on the “Racing” link at the top of the homepage.

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If the California legislature passes a gambling measure now under consideration, the state will join New Jersey in an effort to overturn a partial federal ban on sports wagering.

According to a report in last Sunday's Las Vegas Review-Journal, the measure would legalize sports betting at licensed gaming establishments such as tribal casinos and racetracks, including Los Alamitos.

"The bill is still alive," said Paul Donahue, a consultant for the measure's author, state Sen. Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood).

"Wright authored the bill because he believes California residents should be able to wager on sports," Donahue added. "Another reason was to help the horse racing industry, card rooms, tribal casinos and generate revenue for the state."

Federal law currently prohibits sports betting in 46 states. California residents who want to place a bet on sports now must do it illegally or travel to a state where it's legal to operate a race and sports book, such as Nevada, where patrons wagered about $2.87 billion on sports last year.

Donahue told the Review-Journal that Sen. Wright's bill, SB 1390, is "enjoying bipartisan support" in the California legislature, where it awaits a hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. On May 29, the bill passed the state Senate on a 32-2 vote.

California Gov. Jerry Brown has not indicated if he will sign the bill if it passes both houses. However, a recent Field Poll showed a majority of registered voters - 58 percent to 35 percent - support the legalization of sports betting.

Wright is chairman of the Committee on Government Organization, which oversees horse racing. Wright's district is home to Hollywood Park Racetrack. The measure is also expected to help the state's horse racing industry, which has unsuccessfully tried to get slot machines to boost revenue.

The committee analysis of SB 1390 doesn't mention tax figures, saying only that the "passage of this bill will capture significant economic activity that has been transferred out of state." Total handle at California's racetracks last year declined by more than $537 million, according to the California Horse Racing Board's annual report. The total dipped to $2.9 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, a 15.6 percent drop from the $3.44 billion in fiscal year 2009-2010.

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Noconi has been assigned to carry 126 pounds for Sunday's 400-yard, $30,000 Mr Jet Moore Handicap (G3) at Ruidoso Downs.

A two-time AQHA champion racing for R.D. Hubbard and J Bar 7 Ranch LLC, Noconi has earned $1,338,959 from 34 starts. The 7-year-old Mr Jess Perry gelding has won two of four races this year, including the Grade 3, $50,000 La Plata Stakes at SunRay Park on May 12.

Ruidoso Downs racing secretary Robbie Junk received 15 nominations for the Mr Jet Moore, which honors the memory of the 1972 AQHA world champion. Other prominent nominees include graded stakes winners JD Baccarat, Prospect To The Top, and Double Chiseled.

Entries for the Mr Jet Moore will be taken on Thursday.

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Retama Park racing secretary James Leatherman has made JC My Diamond Man and Kite Flyer the 125-pound co-highweights for Saturday's 870-yard, $12,500 San Marcos Handicap.

Kite Flyer is a 5-year-old stallion by champion Royal Quick Dash racing for the Dark Horse Partnership. An earner of $86,626 from 20 outs, Kite Flyer has won six races, including the May 19, $25,000 Governor's Cup Marathon Stakes at Sam Houston.

JC My Diamond Man has won four of six races this year for his owner, Clem D. Nava III. The gray 7-year-old gelding by the late Streakin La Jolla put together a four-race win streak that included two stakes from May 4-June 29.

Entries for the San Marcos Handicap will be drawn on Wednesday.

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Ice On The Lake, a 6-year-old gelding by the First Down Dash stallion Granite Lake owned and trained by Jackie D. Kirby, drew post 3 for Friday's 870-yard, $22,500-added Walter Merrick Memorial Stakes (R) for Oklahoma-breds at Fair Meadows at Tulsa.

Ice On The Lake is one of eight entered in the Walter Merrick Memorial, which honors the memory of the longtime breeder, who died six years ago at the age of 94. The gelding has won eight of 38 races and has earned $95,241, and his stakes record includes a second-place finish to Docs Dusty Okie in last year's Walter Merrick.

Rob and Jill Waters' Oh Cooper Go, a 4-year-old Apollo (TB) gelding, drew post 5. The runner-up to Takin Quick Cash in last year's 400-yard, $54,120 Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association Derby at Hialeah Park, Oh Cooper Go ran second in a non-winners-of-three $20,000 claimer at Remington Park on May 28, a race which marked his debut at the 870 distance.

A total of $942,500 in purse money will be at stake on Saturday. The big money is bringing out the horses, as an average of 8.6 horses have been entered per race, and the 13-race program will feature three Pick-4 wagering opportunities for handicappers.

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The first race we'll analyze is the 400-yard, $222,500 Governor's Cup Derby (RG2) for California-bred 3-year-olds. This stakes dates back to its inaugural running in 1980, when the Vikingson (TB) filly Callie Can banked the winner's share of a $114,000 purse.

Though it has been restricted to California-breds since its inception, the Governor's Cup Derby has produced a number of AQHA champions, including Griswold (1989), Corona Chick ('92), Corona Cash ('98), Separatist (2000), Apollitical Time ('05), Wave Carver ('06), and FDD Dynasty ('07). The 400-yard stakes record of :19.34 was set by Wave Carver, who eventually was voted the 2006 AQHA world champion.

Our top choice for this year's Governor's Cup Derby is New Look, a sorrel gelding by Walk Thru Fire who was a prompt odds-on favorite in what might have been the toughest of the three trials on July 14. New Look is undefeated in three starts at this 400-yard distance, and he has won five of his last three races, including the 400-yard, $184,000 El Primero del Ano Derby (G2) against open company on April 7.

Ima Chickie Two was a beaten favorite in his trial, as the gray daughter of Chicks Beduino finished a half of a length behind second-fastest qualifier Kindly Fellow in the third and final heat. Ima Chickie Two was making her first start off of a more than nine-month layoff, so she might have needed the race. Also, she has some class in her resume, as she scored a half-length victory as the third-fastest qualifier in last year's 350-yard, $500,000 PCQHRA Breeders' Futurity (G2).

Kindly Fellow was also coming off of a long layoff in his trial, but this brown gelding by TR Dasher responded off the shelf with a TrackMaster speed rating of 104. Kindly Fellow ran second, a neck behind champion Separate Fire, in last year's Grade 1, 350-yard Ed Burke Million Futurity.

Terrific Synergy, the fastest qualifier and 7-5 morning-line favorite, scored an impressive 2 1/4-length win in the second trial. A sorrel gelding by FDD Dynasty, Terrific Synergy has won three previous trials for Grade 1 stakes at Los Alamitos, but it's worth noting that the best he's been able to do in a final is a fourth in last year's Ed Burke Million Futurity (G1).

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The first running of the Governor's Cup Futurity (RG2) took place during the Fresno District Fair meet in 1964. The race had many different homes until it settled at Los Alamitos in '86. EG High Desert Farms' Magic Show Czech, a homebred Corona Czech gelding, holds the stakes record of :17.22, which he set five years ago.

This year's Governor's Cup Futurity will carry a purse of $388,000 – its lowest since 2004 – and be the night's richest race. Our top selection, sixth-fastest qualifier Secretly Hot, has won her last two starts, including what might have been the toughest trial by a half of a length. A bay daughter of Walk Thru Fire, Secretly Hot earned a solid 97 TrackMaster speed rating when she scored a 1 1/4-length maiden win against a field that included next-out winner Illthinkaboutit on June 8, and she posted a pair of bullet works before she made her career debut in late April.

Remembering Spence ran second as the 3-5 choice in Secretly Hot's trial. This nicely bred TR Dasher colt won the June 24 Ed Burke Memorial Juvenile Stakes with a 97 speed rating, and it's also worth noting that 2-year-old foals produced by his dam, the unraced Bono Jazz mare Sables Bono, have been winning at 25-percent clip from 20 starts.

Henoshersecret, a colt by No Secrets Here trained by two-time Governor's Cup Futurity winner Paul Jones, was a prompt 1-2 favorite in his trial. Two-year-old starters out of this colt's dam, the winning Corona Cartel mare Shenoshercorona, have won 42 percent of their 24 starts.

Don Loncho won his trial by a half of a length as the 13-10 favorite. A colt by Walk Thru Fire, Don Loncho has been well bet in all three of his races, and his morning work tab includes a :12.00 gate work on March 24, the fastest of 48 drills at the 220-yard distance that day.

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This year's 400-yard, $100,000 Spencer Childers California Breeders' Championship (RG1) has drawn a full field of 10 older runners, including longshot Precisionist RM, a 10-year-old gelding by Separatist who has made 64 starts dating back to his debut eight years ago.

The Spencer Childers California Breeders' Championship dates back to its first running in 1993, when John and Kathie Bobenrieth's Chicks Got Pazazz – the dam of 2000 world champion A Ransom – earned the winner's share of a $20,000 purse. The race first earned graded status two years later. The 400-yard stakes record of :19.06 is held by Stern Ranches Ltd.'s Chivalry SR, a homebred Walk Thru Fire gelding who won this stakes last season.

Our top choice, Hot Hitter, shows some nice morning drills for this, his first out in more than seven months. A 4-year-old son of Walk Thru Fire and the productive Chicks Beduino mare Chickasis, Hot Hitter earned a 107 TrackMaster speed rating when he won last year's 400-yard Governor's Cup Derby (RG1) as the fastest qualifier, and he is a horse for the Los Alamitos course, as he has made the trifecta in 13 of his 15 races over the track.

Creston Goer, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, is untested at this distance, but the 4-year-old TR Dasher gelding earned a 108 speed rating in his three-quarter length victory against a tough field in the Grade 3, 350-yard Kaweah Bar Handicap on April 22. In his season debut, Creston Goer defeated a stakes-quality field that included 2011 Southern California Derby (G1) runner-up Feature My Corona and the Grade 1-placed Fabulous Fifties.

A one-time $12,500 claimer, Twelve Stepper has earned 100-plus speed ratings in his last three races, including a second-place finish as the 2-1 favorite in the 350-yard, $25,000 Independence Day Handicap on July 1.

Upset-minded handicappers might want to include Walkin Bac, a 15-1 morning-line longshot, in their exotic wagers. This 4-year-old stallion by Walk Thru Fire hasn't won this year, but he earned some solid three-figure speed ratings while he chased the toughest sophomores in California last year.

The Rainbow Derby is just one of two Grade 1 stakes to be held at Ruidoso Downs this weekend. On Sunday, a field of 10 promising 2-year-olds with 2012 championship aspirations of their own will square off in the 400-yard, $700,000 Rainbow Futurity (G1).

First contested in 1965, when H.W. Huntley's Nippy Bars earned the winner's share of a $177,890 purse, the Rainbow Derby has long been one of American Quarter Horse racing's top races for 3-year-olds. Its list of past winners include several champions, most recently reigning world champion Cold Cash 123, who won the race last year. The current stakes record of :20.73 was set by champion Strawkins in 2006.

The purse of this year's Rainbow Derby is a stakes record, breaking the previous mark of $873,441 set two years ago. Our top selection is Ochoa, a sorrel gelding by Tres Seis and last year's champion 2-year-old. Ochoa is undefeated at this quarter-mile distance, and his three wins at the trip include a 1 1/2-length score in last year's Grade 1, $2.4-million All American Futurity. The third-fastest qualifier and 5-2 morning-line favorite, Ochoa won his Rainbow trial by three-quarters of a length and earned a TrackMaster speed rating of 101.

Feature Mr Bojangles is still seeking his first stakes victory this year, but this colt by 2001 Rainbow Derby winner Feature Mr Jess is coming off of a solid second-place finish to Ochoa in his trial. Feature Mr Bojangles has won four of his six starts at this track, and from June 16, 2011 through May 26 of this year, the colt put together a solid seven-race win streak that included last year's Rainbow Futurity.

Jess Lips was the beaten favorite in the sixth of seven trials, but this nicely bred son of Mr Jess Perry and the productive First Down Dash mare Loose Lips had a solid 2-year-old campaign that included a second-place finish in the 400-yard, $1.218-million Golden State Million Futurity (G1) at Los Alamitos. Jess Lips raced at Remington Park last spring, where he qualified to the Grade 2, $248,000 Heritage Place Futurity.

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The Rainbow Futurity began its rich history in 1964, when Clarence Scharbauer's homebred filly Double Queen banked the winner's share of a $90,090 purse. Since then, several noteworthy champions have had their pictures taken following the race, including Tiny's Gay (1974), Real Wind ('76), Merganser ('88), A Delightful Dasher ('99), Leading Spirit (2005), and Stolis Winner ('08).

The Rainbow Futurity first achieved Grade 1 status in 1983, and the stakes has held that level ever since. Carl and Shawnea Smith's Thewayouwantmetoo holds the 400-yard stakes record of :19.20, which the homebred daughter of Mr Eye Opener set eight years ago.

Our top choice in this year's Rainbow Futurity is fastest qualifier Jessastar, a sorrel colt by Mr Jess Perry who was a prompt 1-5 favorite in what might have been the strongest of the 24 trials run on July 3. Jessastar earned a TrackMaster speed rating of 101 in two-length trial win, and his stakes resume at the track this summer includes a solid third-place finish to PJ Chick In Black in the 350-yard, $600,000 Ruidoso Futurity (G1) on June 9.

Pedigree players will like second-fastest qualifier Vancouver Moon, an undefeated daughter of 2006 champion 2-year-old colt FDD Dynasty and a half sister to champion First Moonflash. Vancouver Moon has won both of her outs by margins of two and three lengths, and she also has impressed in her morning drills on the track.

Eyegotitgoinon, a 10-1 morning-line longshot and co-sixth fastest qualifier, has won all three of his outs by an average margin of nearly one length. A gray gelding by Mr Eye Opener, Eyegotitgoinon is the lone graded stakes winner in the field, as he scored a visually impressive 1 3/4-length victory in the 350-yard, $50,000 Easy Jet Stakes (RG3) for Oklahoma-breds at Remington Park back in May.

Scatmandu has been a prompt favorite in both of his outs – in his debut at Los Alamitos on May 12, the colt by the Johannesburg (TB) stallion Scat Daddy (TB) scored a 1 3/4-length win against a maiden special weight field that included next-out winner Blistering Speed and the well-bred colt Secret Dash. Scatmandu is coming off of a half-length win as the odds-on choice in the first Rainbow trial, and his morning works include a :12.00 gate drill at Los Alamitos, the second-fastest of 46 moves at the 220-yard distance on April 28.

Every race drew a full field of Louisiana-bred runners, all of whom will be vying for their share of a total of $1,047,055 in purse money. The richest race on the card, the 350-yard, $551,055 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1), honors the memory of the man who built Delta Downs in the early 1970s. His widow, Betty Berwick, and daughter Kathryn will be on hand to present the trophy to the winner of this year's race.

The history of the Lee Berwick Futurity dates back to 1981, when the race was known as the Delta Downs Louisiana Breeders' Futurity and Earl Hall's Lucky Lil Moon earned the winner's share of a $109,151 purse. Teddy Abrams Jr.'s Vals Fortune won the race in 2003, the year the chestnut Dashing Val gelding was voted AQHA champion 2-year-old, and Jet Black Patriot, a homebred colt by Game Patriot, won the '08 Berwick Futurity before he shipped to Ruidoso Downs and ran second to world champion Stolis Winner in the All American Futurity (G1).

The Lee Berwick Futurity was contested at 400 yards from 1981 through '95; the distance was shortened to 350 the following year. Robert Latham's Little Bit Trashy holds the 350-yard stakes record of :17.23, which the Game Patriot gelding set last year.

Our top choice for this year's Lee Berwick Futurity is Ms Jingles, a brown daughter of the Chicks Beduino stallion who was a prompt 1-5 favorite in her trial and posted the second-fastest qualifying time. Ms Jingles has won four of five races, including the 330-yard, $252,000 Louisiana Breeders' Laddie Futurity (RG2) on May 26, and she tops all the Berwick finalists with career earnings of $177,320.

Fast Talkin Henry, the fastest qualifier and 9-5 morning-line favorite, is coming off of a 1 1/2-length victory in the sixth of 10 trials, a race in which the Heza Fast Dash gelding earned a lifetime-best 91 TrackMaster speed rating. Fast Talkin Henry's trainer, Heath Taylor, has won this race three times, most recently with Dynomax in 2006.

Dreamers Fast Dash, a 12-1 morning-line longshot, is winless in two starts, but the gelding by Heza Fast Dash improved his TrackMaster speed rating by 13 points when he ran second to Fast Talkin Henry in his trial. Also worth noting is his solid work tab, which includes an :11.90 220-yard breeze over the track on June 12.

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The second-richest race on Saturday's card, the $100,000 Louisiana Classic Stakes (RG2), pits a full field of 10 aged state-bred runners going the classic distance of 440 yards. This race has been run every year since 2002; Patrick A. Huckman's Somekinda Beau set the current 440-yard stakes mark of :21.34, which the Gros Oreille gelding set in 2011.

Our top selection, JLS Mr Bigtime, is the 4-5 morning-line favorite, and for good reason. This 4-year-old gelding by Bigtime Favorite takes a significant class drop off of a solid second-place finish to reigning world champion Cold Cash 123 in the 440-yard, $250,000 Remington Park Invitational Championship (G1) on May 27. JLS Mr Bigtime also returns against Louisiana-breds after he competed against the best 3-year-olds in the country at Ruidoso Downs last summer.

The Louisiana Classic also drew a pair of 440-yard specialists, Louisiana Rangler and Louisiana Panther, both of whom are undefeated in three starts at the distance. A 5-year-old gelding by champion Jess Louisiana Blue, Louisiana Rangler will be making his first start since May 19, when he scored a half-length victory as the 13-10 choice in the $55,000 Delta 550 Stakes (R). Also worth noting is that Louisiana Rangler earned a 102 speed rating when he won the December 10, 440-yard Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes (RG2) at odds of 34-1.

Louisiana Panther is a 6-year-old gelding by champion Panther Mountain who scored two quarter-mile allowance-optional claiming wins last winter at Louisiana Downs. Louisiana Panther is coming off of second-place efforts in the Delta 550 Stakes and 400-yard Vals Fortune Stakes (RG3).

Zupers Quick Dash is a horse for the course, as this 6-year-old Heza Fast Dash gelding has made the trifecta in 13 of his 15 starts at Delta. Zupers Quick Dash is five weeks removed from a head victory in the Vals Fortune.

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The Q-Racing Aces will be making appearances at tracks in California and Colorado this weekend. Aces Denis Blake and Jen Perkins will be at Los Alamitos Racecourse on Saturday, as that track is expected to draw a large crowd due to the17th annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals daschund races. Blake and Perkins will offer selections on Los Alamitos' nine-race card, which features three 400-yard Governor's Cup Derby (RG2) trials.

Also, Q-Racing Ace Jennifer Hancock will be at Arapahoe Park near Denver on Sunday. She and track announcer Jonathan Horowitz will conduct a handicapping seminar where they will analyze Arapahoe's nine-race program, including the Grade 3, $90,000 Rocky Mountain Futurity.

Junk replaces Mike Shamburg, who will be the racing secretary during the 2012 Remington Park Thoroughbred meet. Junk is currently serving as racing secretary at Ruidoso Downs, whose 61-day summer season runs through September 3, and he has served in the same capacity at Zia Park and several tracks in Arizona, including Prescott Downs and Yavapai Downs.

Sunland Park's 76-day season runs through April 16, 2003.

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Michigan lawmakers are taking steps to try to revive the state's horse racing industry.

According to WWJ-TV, the CBS affiliate in Detroit, a bill that has been working its way through the state legislature would revamp Michigan's existing Horse Racing Act in a way that racing stakeholders say would improve their financial situation.

“We've taken a business that's been in the state for 80 years and we've run it down the tubes,” said Rep. Kevin Daley (R-Lum), a supporter of the bill. “What we want to do is allow instant horse racing – it's a machine that allows you to bet the same way you do any existing actual race that's going on, but you do it on historical races.”

If the bill passes, the instant racing machines would be located at Michigan racetracks, including Mt. Pleasant Meadows, which is in the midst of its 2012 mixed-breed meet. The legislation is opposed by local casinos, who eight years ago successfully promoted a ballot proposal that banned slot machines and other expanded gaming at racetracks.

WWJ-TV reporter Tim Skubick, the station's bureau chief at the state capitol in Lansing, said that Gov. Rick Snyder has sent word that this issue is not on his agenda.

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The Texas Racing Commission unanimously adopted rules to govern the identities of “active,” “active-other,” and “inactive” track licenses during its regularly scheduled meeting on June 19 in Austin.

No speakers appeared in opposition to the proposed rules, whose amended version gives the commission broader discretion in making a classification of an existing track license. The TRC Sunset Bill, passed during the 2011 session of the Texas legislature, mandates that all tracks be classified by September 1, 2012.

In other action, the commission established an application period for 2013-14 race dates. The application period began June 20 and runs through July 20.

The commission also approved Retama Park’s request to add two racing days, August 17-18, to its current Quarter Horse meet, which expands the number of weekend racing programs from 20 to 22.

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Two-time AQHA champion Noconi tops the list of 17 nominations to Sunday's 350-yard, $30,000 Higheasterjet Handicap (G3) at Ruidoso Downs.

A 7-year-old gelding by Mr Jess Perry, Noconi is coming off of a neck victory as the 4-5 favorite in the 400-yard, $50,000 La Plata Stakes (G3) at SunRay Park on May 12. Noconi was campaigned at Los Alamitos last winter, where he ran third, one length behind winner El Aguila Real, in the $226,050 Los Alamitos Winter Championship (G1).

Noconi, the AQHA champion 3-year-old gelding in 2008 and champion aged gelding two years later, has been assigned by racing secretary Robbie Junk to carry 129 pounds in the Higheasterjet.

Other prominent Higheasterjet nominees include Double Chiseled, Kool Angel, and A Toss Up. Double Chiseled won two Grade 2 stakes during the 2011 Zia Park meet, Kool Angel was a graded stakes winner at Sunland Park in January, and A Toss Up was a three-time stakes winner and banked $193,074 during the Remington Park spring season.

The Higheasterjet Handicap honors the memory of the winner of the 1980 All American Futurity and '81 All American Derby. Entries for the race will be drawn on Thursday.

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JC My Diamond Man and Kite Flyer are the 125-pound co-highweights for Friday's 550-yard, $12,500 Tower of the Americas Handicap at Retama Park.

JC My Diamond Man is a 7-year-old Streakin La Jolla gelding who has won three consecutive races, including the 870-yard, $12,500 Universal City Hanidcap at Retama on June 9. Seven of JC My Diamond Man's 14 career wins have come at the 550 distance.

A gray 5-year-old stallion by Royal Quick Dash, Kite Flyer would be making his first start at the 550-yard distance in the Tower of the Americas. Kite Flyer has earned $85,376 from 19 races, and his six wins include the $25,000 Governor's Cup Marathon Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park on May 19, and last year's $30,000 AQHA Lone Star Distance Challenge at Lone Star Park.

Entries for the Tower of the Americas Handicap will be taken on Tuesday.

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Fair Meadows at Tulsa racing secretary Kelly Cathey has received 14 nominations for Saturday's 350-yard, $20,000 Belles Stakes for fillies and mares.

One of the nominees, Sumokin, is a 3-year-old daughter of Country Chicks Man who is coming off of a second-place finish to Valjean in the April 22, $34,140 Miss Olene Handicap for sophomore fillies at Remington Park. All told, Sumokin has won four of 14 outs and has banked $304,311.

Nominee Candy Cartel won the March 24 Decketta Stakes (G3) at Remington and finished second, a neck behind winner A Toss Up, in the 400-yard, $100,000 Sooner State Stakes (RG1) for Oklahoma-breds on April 28. The 4-year-old bay daughter of Corona Cartel has earned $70,422 from four starts this season.

The Yellowstone Horse Racing Alliance informed MetraPark – a multi-facility events center located in Billings, Montana – of its decision to scrap the meet on Thursday. A letter from alliance president Jim Espy and director of racing Ben Carlson stated that “the funding generated from the Montana Board of Horse Racing is nonexistent for this year.”

“We sent a letter to MetraPark saying we wouldn't be able to sign a contract for 2012,” Espy told the Billings Gazette. “But we also said that we'd like to reserve dates for spring training and race dates in 2013, depending on financing. It's all about money.”

The cancellation is partly due to the late start for simulcast racing in Montana this year. The Montana Board of Horse Racing canceled simulcasts in December because it was facing a budget deficit of more than $600,000.

Montana Simulcast Racing LLC brought back the simulcasts on May 17.Carlson says that is partly due to the late start for simulcast racing in Montana this year.

The Board of Horse Racing cancelled simulcast racing in December because it was facing more than a $600,000 budget deficit.

Montana Simulcast Racing, LLC brought back the simulcasts on May 17, and the simulcasts are available at a few off-track betting sites across the state. State funding from simulcasting, advance deposit wagering, and fantasy sports betting have helped supplement purses and pay the salaries of track officials at the live meets. However, Espy said that this year those funds will likely be used by the Board of Horse Racing to pay down its debt.

Racing at Yellowstone Downs was scheduled to start on August 25. The eight-day meet was to be spread over four weekends through September 16.

“This (canceling the meet) is something we've been contemplating since the state shut down simulcasting in December,” Espy said. “We weighed the possibility of having a very short meet (this summer), but all that would do is take away money we would need to have a real good meet next year.”

The Yellowstone Downs meet is Montana's largest. Last year, the track drew an average of 3,957 per day, and average wagering handle reached $87,034.

“It's like having a kid leave home,” Espy said of having to cancel the 2012 season. “There's like a little hole there.”

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The California Senate on May 29 approved by a 32-2 vote legislation that would legalize sports betting in the state, but only if federal law is also amended.

SB 1390, sponsored by Sens. Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood) and Joel Anderson (R-Alpine), would make such betting legal at currently licensed gambling establishments, including racetracks and satellite wagering facilities. The bill would not make betting legal anywhere that does not already have a license.

Wright said that he thought the federal law that now prohibits sports wagering “will be amended.”

"When this law is changed, and we believe it will be, (we) want California to be in the position to move forward with this," he added.

New Jersey has passed a similar law and is suing the federal government to amend its law. Wright said that he was encouraging California to wait to see what happens in that court case, rather than file a lawsuit of its own.

The bill now goes to the Assembly.

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The Illinois legislature on Thursday approved a measure that would allow a city-owned casino in Chicago, as well as new casinos in four other locations in the state and slots at racetracks.

Sponsoring Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan) told the Chicago Tribune that the measure could raise as much as $400 million in license application fees in the budget year that begins July 1 and could generate between $300 million and $1 billion for the state when all of the gambling is operational.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has said he would veto the bill, but Link said he hoped to get enough votes to override a veto and force the governor to work with lawmakers on the issue.

“I think there's a lot of legislators who realize that while we're slashing and cutting...and doing things that are hurting people left and right, we can do something that will create jobs and bring in new revenue without a tax increase on any person in the state of Illinois,” Link said. “There's a will to get this done and get this over with.”

A similar-type measure passed last year, but Quinn criticized it as being too expansive. This year, Quinn criticized the bill for failing to ban political contributions from gaming interests.

The measure passed the Senate 30-26, the bare minimum needed for approval and six votes shy of a veto-proof majority. When it passed the House earlier in May, it received 69 votes, two shy of the number needed for a veto override.

In an appeal to Quinn to sign the measure, Link told the Tribune that he filed a new bill with more oversight of the Chicago casino and a ban on political contributions from gambling licensees. The separate bill would also take $75 million in state gambling revenues and use them to help fund financial need-based college grants.

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Retama Park near San Antonio opens its 20-day Quarter Horse season on Friday. Post time for the first race is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. (CDT).

During the meet, Retama will present live racing on a Friday-Saturday schedule through closing day, August 11. The track's stakes schedule features 21 races, starting with the 350-yard, $20,000 Selma Stakes for fillies and mares on Friday. Highlights of Retama's stakes slate include the 350-yard, $50,000-added TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity (RG2) and 400-yard, $25,000-added TQHA Sires' Cup Derby (RG3) on June 30, and the 400-yard, $75,000-added Retama Park Derby (G3) and 350-yard, $100,000-added TQHA Sale Futurity (RG2) on July 28.

Racing secretary James Leatherman has received 36 nominations for the Selma Stakes. The most prominent nominees include Zoomin To Win, Jakes Charming Jody, and Bertha Venation. A 4-year-old filly by Azoom owned by Herman and Kimberly Hogue, Zoomin To Win scored her first career stakes victory in the $25,000 Mother's Day Stakes at Delta Downs on May 12.

Jakes Charming Jody, a homebred 4-year-old daughter of Jody O Toole racing for Gary Kurz, is coming off of a Remington Park campaign during which she scored a three-quarter length win in the 110-yard, $25,000 Blink Of An Eye Stakes on May 25, while Bertha Venation has earned $126,081 from 18 starts for owner Jose Salazar and is coming off of a second-place finish in the $29,000 AQHA Houston Distaff Challenge Stakes on May 13.

Entries for the Retama Park's opening-night program will be drawn on Tuesday.

Also, Dark Horse Partnership's Kite Flyer has been made the 125-pound highweight for Saturday's 870-yard, $12,500 Universal City Handicap. One of 14 nominees, Kite Flyer was a prompt 11-10 favorite in the May 19, $25,000 Governor's Cup Marathon Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.

Entries for the Universal City Handicap will be taken on Wednesday.

For more information on the Retama Park meet, visit the track's website at www.retamapark.com.

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Hubaldo Solis' Osbaldo is one of 13 New Mexico-breds nominated to Sunday's $75,000 Jimmy Drake Stakes (RG3) at SunRay Park.

The only 3-year-old nominated to the 400-yard stakes, Osbaldo is a gray colt by Jesse James Jr trained by Oscar Carrete. Osbaldo has earned $232,806 from eight starts, and his six wins include last year's $248,491 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) at Sunland Park and $176,040 New Mexico Breeders' Futurity (RG2) at SunRay.

Other prominent nominees include KH Logax Inc.'s Snow Regard and Melvin Neugebauer's Here Kittykittykitty. A homebred 4-year-old Chicks Regard mare, Snow Regard won two stakes and banked $161,600 during her sophomore campaign, while Here Kittykittykitty has lifetime earnings of $413,928 from 16 outs and is coming off of a neck victory in the 350-yard, $110,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) at Sunland on March 11.

Entries for the Jimmy Drake stakes will be taken on Tuesday.

Last year, the CHRB took emergency action at Los Alamitos Racecourse when it banned clenbuterol, an FDA-approved bronchodilator, because of alleged misuse of the drug, which can mimic anabolic steroids at higher doses. During a meeting of the CHRB's medication and track safety committee in March, a spokesman for the horsemen at Los Alamitos expressed satisfaction with the move.

The additional ban takes effective immediately under the CHRB's emergency powers. The board plans to consider a similar ban of the use of clenbuterol in Thoroughbreds at its next meeting in Albany on May 24.

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At its April 23 meeting in Dallas, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium board of directors approved an agreement with The Jockey Club to engage the full-time services of Jamie Haydon as RMTC interim executive director.

Haydon has worked for The Jockey Club as manager of industry initiatives since 2008, and he has also previously served as promotions manager for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and director of incentive and development at the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

The RMTC Executive Director Search Committee will continue to look for a permanent executive director for the organization.

The RMTC board also heard updates from the drug testing initiatives and scientific advisory committees. Items presented for discussion included updates on RMTC-funded drug administration studies and the research being conducted under the RMTC-funded post-doctoral program, future research efforts and current threats to racing integrity, including clenbuterol.

Dr. Scott Stanley, director of the University of California-Davis Kenneth L. Maddy Laboratory, told the RMTC board that a research study on the effects of the FDA-approved bronchodilator clenbuterol on muscle development and long-term elimination is currently in process at that lab. Results are expected to be announced in about 60 days.

The RMTC board has scheduled a conference call following the results of Dr. Stanley’s work.

“The RMTC recognizes that there is an issue with the abuse of clenbuterol as a substitute for anabolic steroids,” said RMTC Chairman Dr. Bobby Lewis. “The use of illegally compounded clenbuterol and substances which mimic clenbuterol is also a serious concern.

"Many of these substances are manufactured illegally and pose a significant threat to the health and safety of the horse," he added.

A resolution was approved by the RMTC board emphasizing that illegally compounded products mimicking clenbuterol should not be present in a racing environment. The Ventipulmin® brand of clenbuterol is the only form of clenbuterol that has been approved for use in horses by the FDA. According to the resolution, any other form of clenbuterol should be considered contraband by racing jurisdictions.

Also at last week's meeting, RMTC research consultant Dr. Rick Sams provided an update on ongoing administration and threshold level research for several therapeutic medications, including the most commonly prescribed corticosteroids. Acting upon a recommendation of the Scientific Advisory Committee, the RMTC board approved a threshold level of 20 nanograms/mL in plasma or serum for the medication firocoxib (Equioxx®). A 14-day withdrawal period prior to racing is recommended.

Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the RMTC consists of 25 racing industry stakeholders and organizations that represent Thoroughbred, Standardbred, American Quarter Horse and Arabian racing. The organization works to develop and promote uniform rules, policies and testing standards at the national level; coordinate research and educational programs that seek to ensure the integrity of racing and the health and welfare of racehorses and participants; and protect the interests of the racing public.

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Hialeah Park Racetrack has been cleared to install slot machines after the Florida Supreme Court dismissed a case last Friday to block slots at the Miami-area track.

Last year, a three-judge panel in the First District Court of Appeals upheld a 2009 law allowing slots at Hialeah, but the case was taken to the state Supreme Court. Opponents of slots at Hialeah contend that the track was not included in a 2004 constitutional amendment that allowed casino-style gaming at pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Those counties are currently the only two in the state where casinos are allowed.

Five of the seven Supreme Court justices supported the District Court's ruling.

Hialeah Park completed its third annual winter Quarter Horse meet on February 19. Last year, the Tallahassee-based Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association announced that it had entered into a six-year agreement to run an annual Quarter Horse meet at the track. The agreement runs through fiscal year 2015-16 and calls for at least 30 days of racing over 10 weeks.

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Saturday's 440-yard, $50,000 Sam Houston Classic Stakes (G2) has drawn 23 nominations, including Jose Socorro Vera Jr.'s Kool Country Man and Jorge Haddad's Giorgino, the winner and runner-up, respectively, of the $101,000 AQHA Sam Houston Championship Challenge Stakes (G1) on April 14.

A 4-year-old gelding by AQHA champion Country Chicks Man, Kool Country Man has won five of 18 starts and has earned $93,286, and his stakes resume includes a second-place finish to Cocopata in the first division of the November 19, 400-yard Evangeline Downs Derby. Giorgino, a 4-year-old stallion by Apollo (TB), has banked $287,778 from 18 outs, and his eight wins include the 2010 Sunland Park Winter Futurity (G2).

Another Sam Houston Classic nominee, Williams Racing Stable Inc.'s WRS Special Shoe, scored a one-length win in last year's 400-yard, $50,000 Terrace Hill Stakes (RG3) for Iowa-breds at Prairie Meadows. The homebred 10-year-old gelding by First Down Laveaux has earned $873,937 from 71 starts, and $443,196 of his bankroll has come from his 19 races at the 440 distance.

The Sam Houston Classic has a rich history that dates back to Sam Houston Race Park's first Quarter Horse meet in 1994, when Sound Dash banked the winner's share of a stakes-record $176,665 purse. Past winners include AQHA world champions Tailor Fit (1999) and Streakin Sin Tacha ('02). Also, AQHA champion Kool Kue Baby won the stakes three times in the late '90s.

Entries for this year's Sam Houston Classic will be taken on Wednesday.

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SunRay Park racing secretary Jim Collins has received 21 nominations for Sunday's 870-yard, $50,000 Marathon Handicap for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds.

One of the Marathon nominees, Victor Diaz's Coronas Boy, is coming off of a one-length victory in the 870-yard, $50,000 Getaway Handicap for 3-year-olds at Sunland Park on April 17. The bay gelding by the Dash For Cash stallion Mr Houston is undefeated in three outs at the 870 distance.

Another nominee, Git Er Done, scored a 4 1/4-length victory in last year's SunRay Marathon. A 9-year-old Holland Ease gelding owned and trained by Martin Orona Sr., Git Er Done also won last year's 870-yard, $55,000 Herman Jefferson Stakes (G3) at Zia Park.

Other prominent nominees include George and Judy Weldon's JW A Royal Flirt and Kathryn Maynard and Carla Feerer's KC Royal Flush. JW A Royal Flirt won the Grade 3, $55,000 AQHA New Mexico Distance Challenge Stakes at Sunland on April 1, and KC Royal Flush won the 870-yard, $110,000 Challenger Six Handicap (R) for New Mexico-breds at Sunland in his most recent start.

Entries for the Marathon Handicap will be drawn on Tuesday.

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A total of 26 fillies and mares have been nominated to the May 12, $25,000 Mother's Day Stakes at Delta Downs.

Pantherinthefastlane, a homebred 4-year-old Panther Mountain mare racing for Wade Loup Jr. and Kay Loup, won last year's $40,000 Treme Derby (R) for Louisiana-breds at Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans. Pantherinthefastlane also ran third in three stakes last season, including the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Derby (RG2) on December 10.

Another nominee, Gerald D. Libersat's Unrealistic, ran third in last year's Mother's Day Stakes. The 4-year-old daughter of Heza Fast Dash also won last season's Bill Montgomery Stakes (R) for state-breds at Louisiana Downs and ran second to Eyesa Flash in the Mardi Gras Derby (RG3).

Entries for the 350-yard Mother's Day Stakes will be taken on Saturday.

CGA legal counsel Mark Grueskin said he believes that the Colorado constitution, which was amended in 1990 to allow limited-stakes gambling in three former mining towns in the state, already prohibits VLTs from being operated elsewhere.

The Denver Business Journal last week reported that, because horse track owners are backing legislation that they believe would allow them to operate VLTs as an extension of the Colorado Lottery, the CGA feels a need to run a ballot initiative cementing its position.

“This is to mandate voter approval of all forms of slot machines, which is really a clarification of existing law, we believe,” Grueskin said at a recent review and comment hearing with state legal officials. “But this issue seems somewhat on the order of the movie 'Groundhog Day' the way it comes up over and over.”

House Bill 1280, sponsored by Republican Reps. Jerry Sonnenberg and Don Coram, would allow a horse track owner to operate as many as 2,500 VLTs in one Western Slope location, likely near the Mesa County Fairgrounds or Montrose County Fairgrounds, where a track with an annual race meet could be established.

Supporters of HB 1280 contend that the measure, which has been approved by its first House committee, would generate $35 million a year in tax revenue for the state, thus supplying funds to tourism marketing and community colleges, among other recipients.

The CGA claims that VLTs are just gaming devices that in Colorado can't be located off Native American reservations or outside the designated gambling towns of Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek.

One constitutional amendment would require that any city or county outside the designated gaming towns that wants to install VLTs must receive approval from statewide voters and from voters of that locality. The other would allow any jurisdiction to permit VLTs but would not allow any of the proceeds to go to private parties — HB 1280 would allow the horse-track owners to keep 70 percent of proceeds — unless statewide electors vote otherwise.

A CGA spokesperson said that her organization plans to proceed with plans to get both amendments certified for the ballot. Bill Ray, a spokesperson for Mile High Racing and Entertainment Inc., which owns Arapahoe Park near Denver, said he hoped the Legislature would be allowed to decide whether VLTs can be operated outside of the three gaming towns. He added that Mile High will fight either amendment if they were to appear on the statewide ballot in November.

“These are just ways they're looking to protect their monopoly,” Ray said of the CGA. “We believe the Legislature has the ability and the right to expand lottery and is debating that right now, and, once again, the casinos want to stop that debate. They don't want competition or a free market for gaming.”

A title board of the Secretary of State's office will hear the proposed ballot titles next.

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The White Earth Nation of Ojibwe Indians in northwestern Minnesota has proposed giving $12 million to the state's two racetracks in exchange for permission to build a casino in the Twin Cities area.

The proposal also includes a $400-million grant to the state to build a state-of-the-art stadium to keep the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League from leaving the state.

According to the Duluth News-Tribune, the money would come only after a casino receives final approval, which might not come until after a lengthy court challenge. Opponents to the plan include the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, which represents most Minnesota American Indian tribes with casinos, but not White Earth.

The White Earth Nation would foot the entire $700-million bill to build the casino and would split its profits with the state. Nation chairwoman Dr. Erma Vizenor said casino planners are looking at several potential locations, including Minneapolis, Arden Hills and Anoka.

The tribe says it does not get enough profit from its existing casino in Mahnomen and since 2005 has sought a Twin Cities presence. White Earth members make up 40 percent of the state’s American Indians and it is the poorest tribe.

The $12 million proposed for Minnesota's racing industry would help improve purses at the state's two tracks, Canterbury Park in Shakopee and Running Aces Harness Park in Columbus. The two tracks long have sought permission to expand their own operations to allow casino-style gambling, but bills introduced this year appear to lack votes to pass.

State Sen. Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) said the White Earth plan would not ban racinos. House Speaker Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) called the White Earth idea interesting, but doubted there would be enough votes to pass it. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton earlier downplayed its chances.

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The Gem County Fairgrounds at Emmett, Idaho, will open its 27th race meet this Saturday and Sunday. Unlike years past, there will be an off week before racing resumes on April 28.

Conducted on a half-mile oval, the Gem County Fair meet opens the 2012 racing season in Idaho. Track officials are expecting participation from horsemen from Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Colorado, and Nevada.

The major stakes of the three-day meet, the 300-yard, $5,000-added Dutch Masters III Futurity, will be run on April 28. For more information, visit www.gemcountyfairgrounds.com or call Kathy Black at (208) 365-6828.

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Tote and gaming company Sportech, through its Sportech Racing subsidiary, will provide Evangeline Downs Racetrack in Opelousas, Louisiana, with a customized wagering website, a smart-phone/tablet wagering application, and turnkey services, including customer care and marketing support.

Until now, the racetrack has not had a dedicated ADW system.

“Entering the online pari-mutuel wagering market in Louisiana is an important venture for us, and so it was vital to choose the right partner in order to succeed,” said Evangeline Downs chief operating officer Jonathan Swain. “Our player relationships are a top priority for us, and we value the ability to at once offer great online and mobile wagering experiences while still being able to manage that player relationship.

“We're confident that our new website will position Evangeline Downs competitively in Louisiana's pari-mutuel wagering marketplace,” he added.

According to its website, Sportech Racing – consisting of the former Scientific Games Racing and the former Autotote Enterprises – processes more than $13 billion in bets in 30 different countries.

Evangeline Downs' 2012 Thoroughbred meet runs April 18-September 8 and will be followed by a 46-date Quarter Horse season starting in October. For more information, visit the track's website at www.evangelinedowns.com.

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Horse Race North Dakota has announced that it has raised enough money for a second weekend of racing at the North Dakota Horse Park in Fargo.

HRND president Wes Heinert said that the extra weekend will help the track attract more interest in the meet from horsemen and racing fans. The four-day race meet will run July 14-15 and 21-22.

“Without that second weekend, we wouldn’t have the horses or the crowds,” Heinert told the Grand Forks Herald. “This way, we can build up the excitement. More horses will come in for more racing.”

Heinert added that Integrated Betting Network, a simulcast company, agreed to pay the $36,000 in operational costs for the second weekend. The North Dakota Racing Commission has approved the second weekend of racing and requested the financial commitment be submitted in writing.

The North Dakota Horse Park opened in 2003, and its first race meet drew a total of 41,725 fans. This year's racing season will be its first since 2009.

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The Montana Board of Horse Racing on April 2 voted to ask for a one-year extension for its first repayment of about $76,200 of a loan it received from the state, saying it needs that much time to get the money together.

According to the news website Montana Watchdog, the board also turned the reins over to simulcast operators to devise a plan to have simulcast wagering return to state's eight off-track betting locations in time for the Triple Crown races, which begin with the $2-million Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 5.

Last December, the board suspended simulcasting for what it hoped would be two months, while an advisory committee appointed by Gov. Brian Schweitzer determined why it lost more than $609,638 operating off-track wagering sites in Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, and Missoula. Board officials reportedly cannot find six of the eight vendor contracts.

The board, administratively linked to the state Dept. of Livestock (DOL), began managing simulcasting in November 2010 after ending its contract with Montana Entertainment, which took over the previous year. Prior to that, the state had a longtime contract with a nonprofit group, Montana Simulcast Partners, which reportedly had successfully managed the racing.

At its March 8 meeting, the board approved allowing DOL staff to pursue a loan from the Montana Dept. of Administration (DOA) to pay off the deficit, which had been estimated at one time to be $614,249. Officials said the board had to resolve the financial shortfall by the end of this fiscal year, June 30.

The DOA approved the loan on March 30. DOL administrator George Harris told the board it had eight years to repay the loan to the state, and added that the first payment was due in a little more than two months.

“We don’t have the cash sitting around now to pay off what we need to pay by June 30, so we will be sweating,” said Harris, who at an earlier meeting suggested using revenue from fantasy sports and advance deposit wagering to pay the loans.

Tom Tucker, a previous simulcast operator, has been analyzing the board's financial information to determine how the deficit occurred. He also said the board should consider getting the simulcast operation up in time for the first Triple Crown race and limit simulcasting to four days a week.

Tucker added that he approached some independent operators but was told they were not interested in coming to Montana. Officials tried to enlist Tucker to help start the simulcasting again, but he declined, saying he didn't have the time. However, he did offer to help others who wanted simulcasting to return.

Board member John Hayes of Great Falls said he has heard from several bar owners who want the simulcast operation back up and running again. The simulcast operators will meet and said they would come back to the board with a proposal at its next meeting.

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Two-time graded stakes winner Call Me A Blazn Chic is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 350-yard, $110,000 Sunburst Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred 3-year-old fillies at Sunland Park.

A brown daughter of Chicks A Blazin out of the stakes-winning Calyx mare Willie Call Me, Call Me A Blazn Chic has earned $379,885 from nine races for her owner, Javier Marquez's J & M Racing and Farm of Monahans, Texas. The filly's three wins include last year's 400-yard, $331,000 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) at Zia Park and 400-yard, $384,000 Zia Futurity (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.

Call Me A Blazn Chic is coming off of a fourth-place finish in the January 7 Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park.

Other prominent Sunburst entries include Sparklin Royal and Fysta, the respective winner and runner-up of last year's New Mexico State Fair Senorita Futurity (RG3) at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Also, Sunland Park racing secretary Mike Shamburg received 17 nominations – including five Thoroughbreds – for the 870-yard, $50,000 Getaway Stakes for 3-year-olds on closing day, April 17.

One of the Quarter Horses nominated, Lewis Dillree's LD Kinky Biscuit, is a homebred gelding by champion Jess Louisiana Blue who has won two 870-yard races during the current Sunland meet. Two of the Thoroughbred nominees – Black Hawk Stable's Alsvid and Michael Stinson's Worthington – were stakes winners last year. Alsvid won the 6-furlong, $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes at Remington Park, and Worthington was the 2 1/4-length victor of the 5-furlong, $50,000 Minstrel Stakes on the turf at Louisiana Downs.

Entries for the Getaway, along with the rest of Sunland Park's closing-day program, will be taken on Tuesday.

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Remington Park racing secretary Dan Fick has received 27 nominations for Saturday's 300-yard, $50,000 Bob Moore Memorial Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds and older. The race honors the memory of the longtime Oklahoma breeder who died 1998, and its past winners include AQHA champions Joanna Kate, who won the inaugural running in '99, and Spit Curl Diva (2010).

Topping the list of this year's Bob Moore nominees is Wcrseperateandcool. A 7-year-old gelding by Separatist racing for Saul Acosta, Wcrseperateandcool has banked $131,205 from 18 outs, and his eight victories include the 350-yard, $26,000 Mr Jet Moore Handicap at Remington on March 18.

Other prominent nominees include Denis and Julie Schoenhofer's First Klas Fred and Dan W. Nicks' John The Banker. First Klas Fred has earned $538,443 from 20 races and was the AQHA champion 2-year-old gelding three years ago, and John The Banker ran second, a neck behind winner Sixes Streak, in last year's $414,000 Dash For Cash Futurity (G1) at Lone Star Park.

The Bob Moore is one of seven Quarter Horse stakes scheduled for this weekend at Remington. One of the track's other stakes, Sunday's 350-yard, $30,000-added Mr Master Bug Handicap (R) for Oklahoma-bred sophomore colts and geldings, has drawn 21 nominations. Gregory Cullum's Katillac Man, the 124-pound highweight, put together a four-race win streak last year that included the $80,000 Iowa Double Gold Futurity (RG3) at Prairie Meadows. The sorrel gelding by champion Country Chicks Man also ran second, a neck behind winner Sumokin, in the 400-yard, $427,000 Black Gold Futurity Championship (RG2) at Will Rogers Downs.

Five other nominees have been assigned 123 pounds – Cashin The Wagon, Second Painted Sign, Smokin Bye You, YM Quick, and You Can Call Mr Earl.

Entries for Saturday's program will be drawn on Wednesday, and Sunday's entries will be taken on Thursday.

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Here are a few more notes on the two-horse Quarter Horse race held at Gulfstream Park near Miami on Sunday:

The riders of both horses – Wendy Culberson (on winner Born To Boogie) and Tracy Bishop (on Zan Parr Taker) – did not carry whips. Also, Gulfstream Park offered only one-dollar (minimum) win wagering, on track only, and the race handled $1,758.

The favorite Born To Boogie paid $3 to win.

Portland Meadows has carded nine stakes, at least two of which will be official AQHA stakes – the 350-yard, $10,000 Far West Futurity on September 30, and the 400-yard, $21,000-added Baxter Andruss Futurity (R) for Oregon-breds on December 2.

Also, a Quarter Horse race – the 350-yard, $7,000 Memorial Stakes (R) for state-bred 3-year-olds – will be part of Portland Meadows' Oregon Championship Day on November 17. In addition, the 440-yard, $5,000 Portland Meadows Championship on September 23 will be part of the American Quarter Horse Association's Bonus Challenge program.

“We're very thankful to the Oregon HBPA, Oregon Quarter Horse Association, and the Oregon Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association for all their support in helping us create the stakes schedule,” said Portland Meadows director of racing Jerry Kohls, who added that support from the HBPA and Oregon Racing Commission has allowed the track to maintain the same overnight purse schedule it had during its recently concluded 2011-12 meet.

For more information about racing at Portland Meadows, including a complete Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred stakes schedule, visit the track's website at www.portlandmeadows.com.

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In spite of a state-imposed temporary shutdown of operations at Canterbury Park last summer, Canterbury Park Holding Corp. reported positive financial figures for 2011.

Net income for the company was $397,667 for the year, compared with a net loss of $992,206 in 2010. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2011 reached $305,036, an increase from $161,279 for the final quarter of the previous year.

Net revenue for 2011 was up nearly 2 percent due to a 5.5-percent increase in revenue at the Canterbury Park card club. Fourth quarter revenue increased nearly 12 percent from the same period in 2010.

Canterbury's operating expenses were $39.5 million in 2011, a decrease of 4 percent from $41.2 million the previous year. In a release, the company said the decrease “is partially attributable to reduced live meet expenses in 2011 because the company was forced to suspend its operations during the July shutdown of Minnesota government, as well as continued management of operating expenses throughout the year.” Also, Canterbury's 2010 operating expenses included a one-time charge of $909,540 related to the remodeling of its card club.

“The company believes the economic recovery has encouraged increased consumer spending on entertainment options such as our card casino and simulcast wagering,” said Canterbury president Randy Sampson. “We also believe fourth-quarter results benefited from mild winter weather, in contrast to the severe winter weather in late 2010 that discouraged visits to our facility and forced cancellation of many race days from other tracks simulcasting their signal to Canterbury Park.

“Our business continues to be challenged by many factors, including competition from Native American casinos that are able to offer a wider variety of gaming products, competition from out-of-state racetracks where pari-mutuel horse racing is supported by revenues from other forms of wagering, and illegal Internet wagering,” he added. “We are, therefore, continuing to vigorously advocate for legislation that would authorize Canterbury to offer slot machines and other forms of gaming at the racetrack.”

Canterbury Park's 2012 meet runs from May 18-September 3, with racing held primarily on a Thursday-Sunday schedule. For more information, visit the track's website at www.canterburypark.com.

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Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., a publicly traded casino company based in Las Vegas, is reportedly negotiating to become involved in the operations of Retama Park Racetrack in Selma, Texas, near San Antonio.

According to the San Antonio Express-News, Retama Park chief executive officer Bryan Brown disclosed in March that track officials were negotiating with an unnamed casino group – presumably Pinnacle – that would fund the facility's losses for the next six years and repay millions in track debt.

Even though Pinnacle is based in Las Vegas, the company has no casinos there. Most of its gaming operations are in Louisiana, though it also owns casinos in St. Louis and Indiana. It also owns River Downs Racetrack in Cincinnati, which it acquired for $45 million last November.

When contacted by the Express-News last week, Pinnacle spokeswoman Kerry Andersen declined to comment on whether the company was pursuing a deal with Retama Park.

“If and when we would have a pending deal, speaking generally on any project, as a publicly traded company we would not comment on pending deals anyway – and I'm not saying we have one here,” she said.

During a meeting last Thursday with the Retama Development Corp., a municipal subdivision of Selma that owns the racetrack, Brown said that the parties hope to have a deal completed by April 6.

“We had hoped to come to this meeting with an announcement of our deal,” Brown said. “We are getting close. We had two major issues to solve. We're down to … one major issue.”

A deal with a casino group would provide Retama Park with needed financial support and buy track officials more time to persuade state lawmakers to let voters decide whether to permit casino-style gaming at Texas racetracks. Past efforts have failed.

Pinnacle generated about $1.14 billion in revenue last year but lost $2.5 million, according to financial reports. The company had $1.95 billion in assets and $1.43 billion in liabilities at the end of 2011.

Retama Park's 2012 Quarter Horse meet opens June 8 and runs through August 11. It will be followed by a Thoroughbred season from October 5-December 29.

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The operation of simulcast racing was scheduled to be an action item during an emergency meeting of the Montana Board of Horse Racing held in Missoula on Monday.

Montana Department of Livestock executive director Christian Mackay, who heads the three-man horse racing business advisory council, was expected to report on that panel's activities. Also, Tom Tucker of the Billings-based Yellowstone Horseracing Alliance was scheduled to report on his findings during a review of the racing board's simulcast operation from November 2010-December 2011.

The board was then expected to vote on a plan to revive simulcast operations, the revenue from which would help live racing opportunities increase in Montana. Signals to the state's six simulcast sites have been suspended since January.

We will report on the results of this meeting in a future blog.

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A full field of 12 state-bred 2-year-olds, including two on the also-eligible list, is entered in Saturday's 300-yard, $50,000 New Mexican Spring Fling Stakes (R) at Sunland Park.

Restricted to horses who raced in the New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) trials on March 16, the Spring Fling is the first 2-year-old Quarter Horse stakes of the season in New Mexico and is followed by the Spring Futurity final on Sunday.

The likely Spring Fling favorite, Runin Sixes, is a gray filly by Sixes Royal racing for Peter B. Gallegos, Valle Guadiana Corporation, and J. Patricia Gonzalez. Runin Sixes is coming off of a second-place finish to Spring Futurity fifth-fastest qualifier Gotcha By The Jewels in her Spring Futurity trial. The filly made her career debut on March 2, and she scored a three-quarter length victory going 300 yards against New Mexico-bred maiden special weight company.

Runin Sixes is a full sister to 2010 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG1) winner Streak Of Sixes.

Scheduled post time for the New Mexican Spring Fling is 2:25 p.m. (MDT). Entries for the 300-yard, $251,333 New Mexican Spring Futurity final will be drawn on Tuesday.

Since Blue Ribbon Downs closed for live racing two years ago, business owners say the local economy has suffered, but now there's new hope for the track that became the state's first pari-mutuel racetrack in 1984.

According to KHBS-TV, the ABC affiliate in Fort Smith, Arkansas, a statement from the Cherokee Nation, which owns the track, said, “If we can find something that's a good fit for everyone involved, the Cherokee Nation will pursue possibly reopening Blue Ribbon Downs in some form. However, at this time it's simply too early to definitively say yes.”

The Cherokee Nation acquired Blue Ribbon Downs for $2.5 million in December 2009. The track is currently being used as a training facility.

“I grew up racing horses – it's the only way I know of right now to make a living,” said trainer Brian Muse. “I think the whole city of Sallisaw and Sequoyah County kind of revolves around the racetrack.

“I employ 10 people here myself, and if racing was here we would probably employ more,” he added.

Raymond Merrill, a Sallisaw business owner, said that the lack of racing at Blue Ribbon Downs has adversely affected the local economy.

“Our sales probably dropped 20 percent after the track closed,” Merrill said. “We have a lot of horsemen in Sallisaw who moved here for just that reason. A lot of them are still here. Their families are still here. They have other jobs now, maybe, and a lot of them are leaving.

“We need to turn that around,” he added. “We need the ones who are here to stay, and we need some more to come.”

Blue Ribbon Downs is located on 100 acres bordered on the south by Interstate 40 and on the north by State Highway 64, about two miles west of Sallisaw. The track had a history of financial troubles before it was closed.

Racing in Oklahoma is currently conducted at three tracks – Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Fair Meadows in Tulsa, and Will Rogers Downs in Claremore.

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The Polk County (Iowa) board of supervisors voted 3-2 last week to allow Prairie Meadows to borrow nearly $11 million to expand its casino.

According to the Des Moines-based RadioIowa.com, the two supervisors who cast no votes – Robert Brownell and John Mauro – questioned the casino's financial figures. Prairie Meadows general manager Gary Palmer told the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission that the question of expanding the casino became an issue after relatively mild winter weather led to better profits for the facility.

“Because we had a good year it was expected by some that we should change the contract and give them more money – and I think that was the stem of the problem,” Palmer said. “But we worked it out with a majority of the board of supervisors and we are going to move ahead on that.”

Commissioner Jeff Lamberti said he was not happy to hear about the supervisors, the landlords for the track, creating problems for the previously planned expansion.

“I understand they have constituencies they represent, but I would hope they also understand so do we, which is the entire state,” Lamberti added. “And when you make those kinds of decisions I would hope that they would see that. We’re going to answer to a bigger constituency, and it just troubles me, some of the discussion I had heard.”

Lamberti told Palmer his concerns were not with Prairie Meadows' management.

“When I look at expansion and whose going to control it, I don’t think the legislature intended it to be controlled by a landlord,” Lamberti explained.

Commissioner Andrea Rivera of Des Moines said she agreed with Lamberti.

“This commission serves the state of Iowa and all of the citizens in it, and it just seems to me that this is one sided where you are concerned and the supervisors of Polk County,” Rivera said. “It's unfortunate that they can’t overcome certain interests for the betterment of Iowa.”

Palmer told the commission that he eventually plans to ask permission to add up to 300 more slot machines to go in the new addition.

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Emily Gaskin has been named the racing publicist at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino in Anderson, Indiana.

Gaskin will replace Tammy Knox, who left the post to take a job as publisher of a small newspaper in Illinois. Gaskin will also serve as executive assistant to Hoosier Park general manager of racing Brian Elmore.

A resident of Pendleton, Indiana, Gaskin graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in agricultural communication. Most recently, she served as a reporter for Harness Racing Update. She has an extensive background in harness racing, as her parents, Ernie and Darla Gaskin, own and operate Crimson Lane, a harness training facility just south of Hoosier Park, and she has owned a number of Standardbreds that have competed at the track.

“In addition to her duties as racing publicist and administrative assistant for the racing department, Emily will assist with the race marketing and promotions,” Elmore said. “Her enthusiasm for racing, passion for the equine athlete, and overall appreciation of Hoosier Park Racing and Casino will make her a great addition to our team."

Hoosier Park has made a number of facility enhancements and improvements prior to its 80-day harness meet, which runs from March 27-July 14. The largest and perhaps most noticeable improvement is the addition of a state of the art infield toteboard. Fans will also be able to watch the races from the grandstand on a 16' x 27' video board that will be installed on the top of the reconstructed toteboard.

“This is a great enhancement to the live racing experience,” said Elmore. “It's going to be especially beneficial to our patrons, as they will now be able to see the horses like they've never seen them before.

“Our chairman and chief executive officer, Rod Ratcliff, and Jim Brown, our president and chief operating officer, are both very committed to improving the racing product here at Hoosier Park,” he added. “It was at their direction that we did this project, and I think it's a great reflection of their commitment to racing.”

Hoosier Park's Standardbred meet will be followed by the track's Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet, which runs from August 1-October 27.

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Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer has appointed three new people to the state Board of Horse Racing – Dale Mahlum of Missoula, who replaces board chairman Al Carruthers, who died in January; Allen Fisher of Ashland, who replaces Cody Drew; and John Hayes of Great Falls, who replaces Mike Tatsey.

The board is currently trying to determine how it incurred a $535,000 shortfall in 13 months to its simulcast program. Mahlum, a former legislator who served on the board during Gov. Ted Schwinden's administration, told Montana Watchdog (an independent news-gathering organization) on March 5 that he is not shy about tackling the problems facing the board.

“I don’t know the answers to them but I will find out,” he said, adding he was not the kind of person who dwelled on problems of the past. “I am the kind of guy wants to get the future going again.”

Mahlum added that simulcasts have always been “a good revenue source for our horse people in Montana,” and that he wanted to ”make it an asset again.”

Fisher is the economic development coordinator for the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority, and Hayes is a licensed insurance agent and director of the Cascade County Tavern Association.

In December, the Board of Horse Racing suspended simulcasting for up to two months while an advisory committee appointed by Gov. Schweitzer determined why the board lost an estimated $535,000 operating off-track betting at eight sites in Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula. Officials reportedly cannot find six of the eight vendor contracts.

The Board of Horse Racing began managing the state's simulcasting operation in November 2010, after it had ended its contract with the California-based Montana Entertainment, which took over the previous year. Prior to that, the state had a longtime contract with a non-profit company, Montana Simulcast Partners, which reportedly had successfully managed the operation for 18 years prior to losing the contract to Montana Entertainment.

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A full field of 10 has been entered in Saturday's 400-yard, $20,000 Streakin La Jolla Stakes at Louisiana Downs.

The Streakin La Jolla honors the memory of the stakes-winning son of Streakin Six who died in June 2009. Gerald D. Libersat's Taylors Toastin Papa brings in a three-race win streak, which includes a longshot neck victory against Louisiana-breds in the February 25, $50,000 Mr Jess Perry Stakes (RG3).

A sorrel 5-year-old stallion by Toast To Dash, Taylors Toastin Papa has earned $127,541 from 25 races. He drew post 8 and will be ridden by Donald Watson on Saturday.

Other Streakin La Jolla contenders include Awholeseparategame, a 4-year-old Game Patriot gelding who won the December 10, $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Derby (RG2) at Fair Grounds for owner Dehart Farms, and Malinche Cattle Company Inc.'s Charal Kid, a 6-year-old gelding by Streakin La Jolla who is coming off of a second-place finish to Eyesa Effort in the 350-yard, $15,000 Swift Stakes on January 28.

The Streakin La Jolla is the featured race on Louisiana Downs' nine-race program. Post time for the stakes is scheduled for 3:48 p.m. (CDT).

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Friday's 300-yard New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG1) trials at Sunland Park have attracted 74 state-bred 2-year-olds in eight trial heats. Post time for the first heat is scheduled for 2:25 p.m. (MDT), while the last trial is scheduled to go off at 5:20.

Gary L. Thompson's Tombstone, the 8-5 morning-line favorite in trial 5, made his career debut with a neck victory in a state-bred maiden special weight race on March 2. The homebred gelding by Get Down Perry earned an 83 speed index while covering 300 yards in :15.274.

Another contender, Runin Sixes, is coming off of a three-quarter length win in a maiden special weight dash on March 2. The gray filly races for Peter B. Gallegos, Valle Guadiana Corp., and J. Patricia Gonzalez, and she is a full sister to 2010 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) winner and $480,445 earner Streak Of Sixes.

Runin Sixes is the 9-5 morning-line choice in the third heat.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $110,000-added New Mexican Spring Futurity final on April 8. Qualifiers 11-20 will have first preference for the 300-yard, $50,000-added New Mexican Spring Fling Stakes (R) on April 7.

The SLM Big Daddy Stakes honors the two-time AQHA world champion and three-time winner of Remington Park's Eastex Handicap (G2). Our top selection for Saturday's race, Chi Ter, is a 5-year-old gelding by Granite Lake who won two of three races during the Hialeah Park winter meet and is dropping in class off of his close second-place finish to Jess A Runner in the 440-yard, $75,000 Hialeah Invitational Championship. Chi Ter has won only one of his 10 starts at Remington, but that victory came in a 550 allowance race last year.

Docs Dusty Okie will be making his first start since October 29, but the 5-year-old Okey Dokey Dale gelding has two solid works over the track for trainer Monty Brooks. Docs Dusty Okie is a middle-distance stakes winner over this track, as he scored a half-length victory with a 97 TrackMaster speed rating in last year's $25,000 Aggie Stakes.

William Henry a 15-1 morning-line longshot, ships in from Hialeah, where on February 12 he won a 550-yard stakes quality allowance race with a 102 speed rating and broke the three-race win streak of the stakes-placed Riden With The King. This 4-year-old gelding by Brimmerton has shown consistent form since moving to the barn of trainer Ralph Muniz.

Mr Truly Uno will be getting his first test at the 550-yard trip, but the 5-year-old Feature Mr Jess gelding drops in class off of a second-place finish to Louisiana Senator in the October 1, 440-yard Refrigerator Handicap (G1) at Lone Star Park. He's been training nicely for trainer Sleepy Gilbreath, who has won at a 21-percent clip with his last 19 layoff runners. BV Eyesa Shazoom is coming off of a layoff and gets a class test here, but the 4-year-old gelding is undefeated in two outs against claiming company at this middle distance.

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Remington Park's 11-race program on Saturday includes the 330-yard, $30,000 Prissy Gold Digger Handicap (R) for state-bred 3-year-old fillies. The Prissy Gold Digger honors the Oklahoma-bred and owned daughter of Easy Jet who won three major stakes at Los Alamitos from 1978-79.

This year's Prissy Gold Digger attracted a relatively small but evenly matched field of seven fillies. Our top choice, Ranch Candy, has won two of her four races, and she ran third in last year's $1-million Heritage Place Futurity (G1). She shortens up in distance off of a close fourth-place finish to graded stakes winner Jess Tee Off in a 400-yard Texas Classic Futurity (G1) trial back in October, and she recorded a solid 220-yard work over the track on March 3.

Haulin Candy Salt has also won two of her four outs against solid foes, and she's made the exacta in both of her races over the track. The bay daughter of PYC Paint Your Wagon hasn't started since July 23, when she ran a close second in the 350-yard, $383,000 Speedhorse Gold & Silver Cup Futurity (RG2), but both of her victories have come off the shelf and her trainer, Clinton Crawford, has won with half of his 16 starters coming off of a layoff of six months or longer.

BV Valentine Wagon won last year's 330-yard FL Lady Bug Stakes (R) for Oklahoma-breds off of a 10-week layoff, and she earned a 94 speed rating in that victory, an above-average figure for a 2-year-old in the spring.

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The American Quarter Horse Association Q-Racing Aces will be visiting tracks in Louisiana and Arizona this weekend. Denis Blake will be at Louisiana Downs and will be conducting a handicapping seminar in which he will analyze a nine-race card that includes the $256,604 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) and $95,684 Mardi Gras Futurity (R).

Ace Jen Perkins will conduct a handicapping seminar at historic Rillito Park in Tucson, where that track's eight-race program will feature four Quarter Horse races, including two 350-yard trials for the Rukin Jelks Stakes for older runners.

Both Blake and Perkins will distribute tip sheets and $2 wagering vouchers, while supplies last. For more information on the Q-Racing Aces, visit the AQHA's racing website at www.aqharacing.com, and click on the “Q-Racing Aces and Handicapping Information” link on the bottom of the page.

For the second consecutive year, the Sunland Championship has drawn a group of accomplished sprinters with more than $5.1 million in combined lifetime earnings. First Moonflash, the AQHA champion aged stallion in 2009, holds the stakes record of :18.73, which he set as a 3-year-old in '08.

We're going to take a chance and make Time For A Cigar our top selection in this year's Championship. A 10-1 morning-line longshot, this 5-year-old Corona Cartel gelding will be making his first start since October 16, when he scored a two-length victory against slightly easier company in the 440-yard, $60,000 AQHA Turf Paradise Championship Challenge (G3). The layoff isn't a concern, as he's won off the shelf before, and the 400-yard distance suits Time For A Cigar to a tee – the gelding has won six of his eight starts at the trip, including this year's Grade 3 Mr Jet Moore Handicap on a sloppy track at Ruidoso Downs.

Louisiana Senator drops in class off of a fifth-place finish in the 440-yard, $750,000 Champion of Champions (G1) at Los Alamitos. This 5-year-old stallion by champion Jess Louisiana Blue broke the Remington Park track record and earned a 110 TrackMaster speed rating when he won the March 26, 400-yard Leo Stakes (G1) by 1 ¾ lengths.

The class edge in the Sunland Championship goes to Cold Cash 123, who will be racing for the first time against older company and seeking his first win at this 400-yard distance. Despite his lack of success at the trip (he's 0-for-3 with one second in a 2010 Texas Classic Futurity [G1] trial), the bay Oak Tree Special gelding must be respected for his recent visually impressive three-quarter length win against a strong field of sophomores in the 440-yard, $373,000 Texas Classic Derby (G1) at Lone Star Park.

Another 3-year-old making his first start against older, Prospect To The Top, has made the trifecta in six of his eight outs at this distance. The Coronas Prospect colt scored a 1 1/4-length victory in the 440-yard, $155,000 Hobbs America Derby (G3) at Zia Park back in October, and it's also worth noting that his summer campaign at Ruidoso Downs included a close second-place finish to Llano Teller in the 440-yard, $1.5-million All American Futurity (G1).

Here Kittykittykitty faces open company after his victory against New Mexico-breds in the 400-yard Jess Burner Memorial Handicap (RG1) on December 10. He's earned competitive 108 TrackMaster speed ratings in his last two 400-yard starts.

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Hialeah Park's nine-race program on Saturday features the 440-yard, $169,300 Hialeah Derby for 3-year-olds. Our top choice, second-fastest qualifier Wagon To Hollywood, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite. A brown colt by PYC Paint Your Wagon, Wagon To Hollywood has won four consecutive races, including the October 8, $153,000 Dash For Cash Derby (G2) against a tougher field at this quarter-mile distance at Lone Star Park.

Fastest qualifier Jazz Be First made an impressive comeback in the first of three trials on December 17, as the brown colt by Bono Jazz won by 1 ½ lengths in his first start in eight months. Jazz Be First has made the exacta in four of his five races over the track, and he was one of the top runners during the 2010-11 Hialeah meet.

I Am That Hero ran third as the 7-5 choice, two lengths behind Jazz Be First, in the first trial. The bay gelding by the First Down Dash stallion Sweet First Down is reunited with jockey Stormy Smith, who rode him to two stakes victories at Prairie Meadows last summer.

Both the La Nina Invitational Stakes for fillies and El Nino Invitational Stakes for colts and geldings drew full fields of 10 going 400 yards. Our top selection in the La Nina, Drinkin The Gold, made her Hialeah debut with a second-place finish to Deer Oh Deer in the third of four Hialeah Lassie Futurity trials on December 10. In her previous start, the Oklahoma-bred daughter of Gold Medal Jess scored a nice victory against a good field of entry-level allowance sprinters at Prairie Meadows back in August.

Another La Nina contender – if she can mind her manners – is Luxurious Attire. This Texas-bred filly by Stoli was a beaten favorite in the first Lassie trial, but she was coming off of a Governor's Stakes trial at Hoosier Park in which she chased a tough group that included $135,425-earner and two-time stakes winner Rapid Ivory.

Morning-line favorite Arbeka Raincloud had a rough trip in her Lassie trial. A sorrel daughter of the Shazoom stallion Voghts Gold, Arbeka Raincloud is bred to win early – her sire has won at a 22-percent clip with 2-year-olds, and the 2-year-old foals produced by her dam, the Royal Quick Dash mare Arbeka Bee Quick, have also been clicking at a 22-percent rate.

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Country Boy Deluxe gets the nod as our top choice in the El Nino, as this sorrel gelding by Country Chicks Man is coming off of a win in the first of five Hialeah Laddie Futurity trials on December 11. Campaigned against some tough youngsters at California earlier this year, Country Boy Deluxe finished fourth, one length behind winner Testing The Ice, in the October 29, $25,000 Markel Stakes on the Bank of America Challenge Championship undercard at Los Alamitos.

A 20-1 morning-line longshot, Pescado Fuerte is a maiden, but this Fishers Dash gelding has made the trifecta in four of his six outs. Pescado Fuerte ran fifth in what might have been the strongest of the Laddie trials, and his stakes resume includes a close second-place finish to the aforementioned Rapid Ivory in the October 22, $75,000 Governor's Stakes at Hoosier Park.

Eyema Little Ten is a lightly raced gelding by the Streakin La Jolla stallion Ten Streaks. Also a maiden, Eyema Little Ten ran a close second to next-out allowance winner BV Fly First Class in a maiden claiming sprint at Fair Meadows at Tulsa back in June.

Our top selection, second-fastest qualifier JLS Party Wagon, has won all three of his starts in Louisiana, including the 300-yard, $249,000 Harrah's Entertainment Futurity (G3) at Louisiana Downs back in March. A colt by PYC Paint Your Wagon – a Grade 1 futurity winner himself in 2005 – JLS Party Wagon won his trial by three-quarters of a length as the 13-10 favorite.

Jess Tee Off has won all four of his outs, including the April 9, $600,000 Sam Houston Futurity (G2). The gelding by 2001 AQHA champion 2-year-old colt Tres Seis is coming off of a visually impressive 1 1/2-length victory in his trial heat.

Fastest qualifier Sstrickortreat has missed the exacta in only two of his seven races. The bay gelding by the Shazoom stallion Zoomin For Bux won his trial by a half of a length as the 19-10 choice.

Out Of Memory was an impressive three-quarter length winner of his trial heat, a race which marked his first at the 400-yard distance. The sorrel gelding by Grade 1 futurity winner Check Him Out shows improving TrackMaster speed figures, a good handicapping angle for 2-year-old races this time of the year.

Longshot players might want to take a look at eighth-fastest qualifier Oceanica, as the gray daughter of Ocean Runaway returns to Louisiana after chasing tougher 2-year-olds in Texas. Oceanica was a finalist in the August 27, $131,000 TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity (RG2) at Retama Park.

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Evangeline Downs' closing weekend program includes a rare Quarter Horse race on the turf, Friday's 870-yard, $35,000 Au Revoir Stakes.

The Au Revoir drew a full field of eight, including 5-2 morning-line favorite and our top selection Slinkys Fortune. A 7-year-old gelding by the Royal Quick Dash stallion Dashs Slinky, Slinkys Fortune was a beaten favorite in his last start, and he has a good record in 870 races this season, including a three-quarter length victory in the September 17, $30,000 Faubourg St. John Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Panther Warrior has won two of his last three starts, all at the 870 distance. The 4-year-old gelding by Panther Mountain breaks from the 7 post – not the best draw – but his recent form at the distance must be respected in this spot.

Toast To La La gets a class test here, but the 8-year-old gelding by Toast To Dash has won three of his four races – including two at the 870 trip – since he was claimed for $5,000 by trainer Larry Kopycinski back in May.

According to an Associated Press report, Thomas suggested that the state should consider scaling back the subsidy, which was $58 million in 2010, to pre-2009 levels. He added that what started off as an attempt to jump start the industry might have to be re-evaluated.

In 2009, the subsidy was expanded to include a percentage of slot machine revenues from the state's two pari-mutuel racetracks, Indiana Downs and Hoosier Park. Those revenues also subsidize purses for the tracks' races. The state subsidy before the tracks opened was $28 million, or about 48 percent of what it was last year.

“Assuming that a continued subsidy to the horse racing community is deemed proper by the Indiana Legislature, we respectfully recommend that the Legislature consider evaluating the amount of the subsidy and consider a monetary cap at pre-racino figures,” Thomas said.

The Legislature created the subsidy in 1993, funding it from taxes on riverboat gaming, in an effort to grow the industry. Since then, the industry has received $427 million in subsidies, and considering that horse racing's direct economic impact has grown from $181 million in 2005 to $733 million last year, according to a Purdue University study, the funds appear to have made an impact.

Herb Likens, chairman of the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, told Associated Press that cutting the subsidy would devastate the industry.

“The quality of racing in the state of Indiana would go down rapidly,” Likens said. “I know there's a lot of competition for dollars, but people don't realize how important horse racing is to Indiana.”

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The Montana Board of Horse Racing will meet on Friday, December 2, to discuss 2012 race dates and introduce the new Business Advisory Council, a three-member group tasked with providing financial, budget and business strategy advice to the board.

The meeting will take place at the Montana Lottery Building in Helena, beginning at 10 a.m. (MST).

Created by Gov. Brian Schweitzer earlier this month, the council consists of State Sen. Cliff Larsen of Missoula, and Dore Schwinden and Christian Mackay, directors of the state departments of Commerce and Livestock.

The executive order creating the council, which is attached directly to the Governor’s Office, said that Montana has an interest “in the economic viability of the board (of racing) and the industry, which have been struggling financially to support race events in Montana.”

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Canterbury Park has received approval from the Minnesota Racing Commission to conduct a 62-day meet next year. The meet, which will run from May 18-September 3, will feature Thursday and Friday racing beginning at 7 p.m. and weekend and holiday racing starting at 1:30 p.m.

Featured race days in 2012 will include the Minnesota Festival of Champions, a day dedicated to the best state-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, and the second annual Fillies Race For Hope, a day of races exclusively for fillies and mares that will benefit Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation. Dates for those events and a complete stakes schedule will be announced in January.

“The 2012 race meet will closely resemble the meet we ran this year, minus the state government shutdown that caused Canterbury and the horse owners, trainers, and breeders to lose 20 days of business," Canterbury Park president Randy Sampson said. “While the shutdown and loss of revenues had a negative impact on next season's purses, it is necessary to offer sufficient racing opportunities so that Canterbury continues to attract enough horses to make the meet a success.”

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The New Mexico State Fair Commission on Monday voted 4-3 to approve a 25-year lease for The Downs at Albuquerque.

The commission's decision must now go to the state Board of Finance for review.

The lease includes construction of a modern $20-million, 52,000-square foot casino, which would replace the casino located on the third floor of the grandstand while doubling the amount of slot machines on the property, closer to the heavily traveled intersection of Central Avenue and Louisiana Boulevard.

The Downs current lease expires on January 1. The finances of Expo New Mexico, the 236-acre fairgrounds that hosts the annual State Fair in Albuquerque, are reliant on the annual $2-million lease payments by The Downs.

Expo New Mexico is a state enterprise that is required to pay its own way. Expo general manager Mourning has said that Expo can't survive without the lease payments.

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The Arizona Historical Society's Historic Sites Review Committee has approved the application submitted by Rillito Park Racetrack and the J. Rukin Jelks House, which is located on a wildlife corridor adjacent to the track. The application will move to the National Historic Society for approval.

Rukin Jelks purchased the land in 1943, after which he built his home and began racing at what is now Rillito Park. Jelks was one of the founding members of the Arizona Quarter Racing Association.

Rillito Park's upcoming 70th anniversary season will run weekends, with the exception of Super Bowl weekend (February 4-5) from January 28-March 25.

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A total of 18 state-bred distaffers have been nominated to Saturday's 400-yard, $140,000-added New Mexico Fillies & Mares Championship (RG2) at Zia Park.

Topping the list of nominees is Jenuine Joy, a homebred 5-year-old daughter of Genuine Strawfly racing for Fredda Draper. Jenuine Joy has won three of six starts this year, including the 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Championship (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs, and the 400-yard, $85,000 Tommy “Duke” Smith Handicap (RG2) at SunRay Park.

Jenuine Joy is coming off of a close second-place finish to Down With You in the October 31 New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1) at Zia.

Other nominees include Miss Chicks Vision, a stakes-winning 3-year-old filly by Chicks A Blazin campaigned by SM Cattle Export Co. and Jaime Dominguez. Miss Chicks Vision would be making her first start since August 21, when she ran second to By By Corona in the 400-yard, $50,000 Pelican Stakes (RG3) for state-bred sophomore fillies at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Worth a stakes-record purse of $1,158,941, this year's Texas Classic Futurity pits a competitive group of 2-year-olds going 400 yards, including fastest qualifier and 8-5 morning-line favorite Sixes Streak. Past winners of the race include AQHA champions Heza Fast Man, who won the first running in 1993 at Trinity Meadows, Mr Jess Perry ('94), Winalota Cash ('95), Toast To Dash ('96), Eyesa Special (2000), and Tempting Dash, who holds the stakes record of :19.20 set two years ago.

Sixes Streak must be respected as the fastest qualifier, but our top selection for this year's Texas Classic Futurity is Fast Prize Jordan. A nicely bred son of PYC Paint Your Wagon and the Mr Jess Perry mare Fast Prize Doll, Fast Prize Jordan is coming off of a 2 1/2-length victory in the 11th of 13 trials on October 22. The colt earned a 102 TrackMaster speed rating in that race, and he retains the services of jockey G.R. Carter Jr., who qualified two other finalists, including Sixes Streak.

Sixes Streak will be ridden by Jarrod Deschamp in the final, and the jockey has been winning at a 32-percent clip when he teams with trainer Heath Taylor. A bay gelding by Streakin Sixes, Sixes Streak posted a 108 speed rating when he won the 13th trial, and he brings in a four-race win streak that includes a victory as the fastest qualifier and 6-5 choice in the 400-yard, $414,000 Dash For Cash Futurity (G1) on October 8.

The Long Knife has never missed the trifecta in his five outs, and he ships in from New Mexico after chasing a tough group of 2-year-olds last summer at Ruidoso Downs. The sorrel Tac It Like A Man gelding ran second, a half of a length behind multiple graded stakes winner Feature Mr Bojangles, in the Grade 1, 400-yard Rainbow Futurity, and he is coming off of a close second-place finish to Sixes Streak in his trial.

Sure Shot B has won four of his five outs, including an August 18 All American Futurity (G1) trial against a field that included Grade 1 winner Mighty B Valiant. Tee Cos also ships in from New Mexico, where he ran third in the September 5, $2.4-million All American Futurity (G1). The consistent Corona Cartel colt has run first, second, or third in all six of his starts.

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The Texas Classic Futurity shares the spotlight with the 440-yard, $335,631 Texas Classic Derby (G1). The Derby was also inaugurated at Trinity Meadows in 1993, and its past winners include champions Mr Jess Perry (1995) and Dashing Perfection ('97), and world champions Streakin Sin Tacha (2001), Oak Tree Special ('03), and Stolis Winner ('09). Dashing Perfection holds the long-standing 440-yard stakes record of :21.08.

Fastest qualifier Llano Teller is our top selection. The 5-2 morning-line second choice, this bay gelding by Teller Cartel won his trial by a visually impressive 1 ¾ lengths on October 21, and he is coming off of a Ruidoso summer campaign in which he won five of his six starts, including the 400-yard, $703,000 Ruidoso Derby (G1) on June 11, and the 440-yard, $1.317-million All American Derby (G1) on September 4.

Third-fastest qualifier and 8-5 morning-line favorite Cold Cash 123 also had a strong Ruidoso meet, as the bay gelding by 2003 world champion and Texas Classic Derby winner Oak Tree Special won three of his four outs, including the 440-yard Rainbow Derby (G1) on a sloppy track on July 23. Cold Cash 123 won his Texas Classic trial by a head as the 3-10 favorite.

The Printing Press is coming off of a one-length victory in his trial. This consistent son of Feature Mr Jess chased some tough foes at Ruidoso with some success, and note that he has made the trifecta in nine of his last 11 races. Executive Prince, a 15-1 morning-line longshot from the barn of Judd Kearl, is a horse for the Lone Star course – the gray gelding by the Chicks Beduino stallion Executive Menace is coming off of a second-place finish to The Printing Press in his trial, and he won three consecutive starts over the track last year, including the $84,000 Texas Futurity Consolation and the $51,000 Dash For Cash Juvenile Invitational.

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Q-Racing Ace Martha Claussen will be at Lone Star Park on Saturday, handing out wagering vouchers, tip sheets, and answering any questions fans might have about Quarter Horse racing.

Martha will also be joining track announcer John Lies and handicapper and morning-line maker Rick Lee for a handicapping seminar, which will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Top officials of Global Gaming, the subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation that owns and operates Lone Star Park, made this announcement during a meeting at the Texas Thoroughbred Association office on November 1.

When the Post Time Pavilion at Lone Star Park opened in May 1996, it received accolades for being a state-of-the-art facility. However, after 15 years of almost daily use, Global Gaming targeted the simulcast facility for a complete $2.7-million remodeling and renovation to include a high-end sports bar, additional and larger VIP rooms, all incorporating the latest technologies to wager on live and simulcast races.

At the racetrack itself, Global Gaming plans to replace the original tote board with a modern version adjoined by a new large-screen Daktronics board in the infield. The company has other improvements planned for the grandstand, including making the Champions Room more group-sales friendly and installing flat-screen televisions. The backstretch dorm rooms and restrooms will also undergo significant upgrades.

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Historic Rillito Park in Tucson will open its 2012 Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred meet on Saturday, January 28. The 16-day meet will run weekends through March 25.

No live racing will be held at Rillito during Super Bowl weekend, February 4-5. Instead, a sale sponsored by the Arizona Quarter Racing Association, will be held on February 4. The AQRA will hold its annual awards banquet later that day, beginning at 6 p.m. in the track's clubhouse.

Admission to Rillito Park during its 2012 meet will be $5 to the grandstand and $8 to the clubhouse. General parking is free, and valet parking will be available for $5.

For more information about the race meet, contact Pat White (520) 887-4386, or e-mail here at pawhite10@yahoo.com. For additional information about the AQRA Sale, e-mail Loretta Brasher at lbaqra@hotmail.com.

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The New Mexico Horsemen's Association, which represents the state's licensed racehorse owners, trainers, and grooms, says problems at The Downs at Albuquerque are hurting horse racing, and that negotiations with any new lessee should address the problems.

On October 24, NMHA executive director Jack McGrail sent a letter to interim Expo New Mexico general manager Dan Mourning outlining the problems at the aging racetrack facility. The Downs has leased the property at Expo New Mexico since 1985, but its lease expires January 11, 2002.

“It's no secret that the horsemen have had a contentious relationship with current management (at The Downs),” McGrail said in his letter. “Our livelihood depends upon revenue generated from the casino and on-track handle. There has been little effort to maximize either revenue stream.

“In fact, Mr. (William) Windham (part-owner of The Downs) acknowledges in the September 25, 2011, edition of the Albuquerque Journal that 'The Downs was very poorly managed' and that 'we have a third-story casino in a dump,'” the letter continued. “These statements should certainly give pause when considering the award of a 25-year lease to the same group that has overseen the deterioration of the existing facility.”

McGrail added that the grandstands at The Downs are “antiquated and obsolete,” and the simulcast area lacks common amenities like “box seats with televisions, quality food and beverage service, modern tote board and video screens.” He also said that New Mexico horsemen are being shortchanged because, although the state's racinos can operate up to 600 slots and lease another 150, the casino at The Downs has only 317 machines.

“This has a debilitating effect on the very industry gaming was designed to support,” McGrail wrote.

The letter also questions The Downs' proposal to build a $20-million casino at the southern end of its grandstand, which would be well out of view of the finish line and grandstand.

“Any plan that would isolate (the casino) from the track area does a disservice to both business,” McGrail said. “Any model that has a casino separate from the track is fundamentally flawed. The model at every other racetrack/casino in New Mexico and throughout the country is to integrate the two gaming options, not separate them.”

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In an effort to build Minnesota's horse industry and support rural economic development, Racino Now has adopted a new name and elected new officers.

Under its new name, the Equine Development Coalition of Minnesota (EDCoM) will advocate on behalf of horse owners and breeders and the tens of thousands of state residents who depend on a healthy equine industry in the state. Jeff Hilger, a longtime Minnesota business owner, Thoroughbred breeder and owner of Bleu Valley Farm in Stillwater, has been named president of EDCoM.

“The equine industry touches all 87 counties in the state,” Hilger said. “It will be an enormous economic engine for Minnesota if legislators are willing to make the same investment in horse racing purses and equine development that other states have successfully made.”

Rosemary Higgins, a Quarter Horse owner from Princeton, will serve as executive director of EDCoM, and Quinn Cheney has been retained as the organization's lobbyist at the state capitol in St. Paul.

A 2004 study conducted by the Dept. of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota revealed that the state's equine industry created an economic impact of approximately $1 billion. Dr. Brian Buhr, the department's director, added that the economic impact could be improved with an increase in racing purses and breeder awards.

EDCoM supports racino legislation for Minnesota, which would provide $135 million in new revenues for the state and make significant investments in the equine industry.

“Putting the new revenue aside, there is a much bigger picture here,” Hilger said. “If our state is like the 12 other states that have passed racino legislation, it can more than double the dollar value of our equine industry. We are talking jobs here, for farmers, feed suppliers, veterinarians, fence and barn builders, and many other businesses.

“Larger purses will allow Minnesota breeders to be more competitive, attracting trainers, breeders, and owners and causing a ripple effect around the state,” he added. “In the short term, we have a vehicle that allows the Legislature to address a few of the toughest problems facing the state, and in the long run increase jobs and help an agricultural industry that has been hard hit. Simple logic dictates that it is time to move this economic engine forward.”

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The Downs at Albuquerque racing secretary Jim Collins has received 14 nominations for Sunday's 440-yard, $50,000-guaranteed New Mexico Breeders' Championship (RG3) for state-breds, the feature race on the track's closing-day program.

One of the nominees, Melvin and Mary Neugebauer's Miracle Snow, is coming off of a third-place finish in the October 30, 440-yard New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1) at Zia Park. The homebred 7-year-old gelding by Dean Miracle also ran second, a neck behind winner Jenuine Joy, in the 400-yard, $85,000 Tommy “Duke” Smith Handicap (RG2) at SunRay Park back in July.

Entries for the New Mexico Breeders' Championship will be drawn on Thursday.

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Salty King Corona puts his five-race win streak on the line in Saturday's 220-yard, $25,000-added EVD Dash Stakes at Evangeline Downs.

A 4-year-old Louisiana-bred King Corona gelding racing for Ana Lilia Alvidrez, Salty King Corona has won seven of nine races and has earned $111,586 this season. His win streak includes a neck victory as the 4-5 favorite in the 250-yard, $30,000 Gentilly Dash Stakes at Fair Grounds Racecourse on September 16.

Other prominent entries include Malinche Cattle Co. Inc.'s Charal Kid, a two-time stakes winner during the 2011 Delta Downs meet, and Bertha Venation, a 4-year-old Corona Caliente mare owned by Jose Luis Salazar who is coming off of a second-place finish to EBW Obsession in the October 1, $43,000 Merial Lone Star Distaff Challenge.

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Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Oklahoma, ends its fall mixed-breed meet with a scheduled 12-race program on Saturday. Post time for the first race is 12 noon (CST).

Will Rogers Downs' closing-day card includes six stakes, four of which are for Quarter Horses. Racing secretary Kelly Cathey has received 31 nominations for the 440-yard, $20,000 Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association Fall Classic Stakes.

Topping the list of Fall Classic nominees is Williams Racing Stables Inc.'s WRS Special Shoe. A homebred 9-year-old First Down Laveaux gelding who has earned $865,499 during his 69-race career, WRS Special Shoe has won two races this season, including the 400-yard, $50,000 Terrace Hill Stakes (RG3) for Iowa-breds at Prairie Meadows on October 1.

Another nominee, Believers Gathering, is coming off of a three-quarter length victory in the 400-yard, $20,000 Charlie Claborn Stakes for distaffers at Will Rogers Downs. The homebred 5-year-old daughter of Agouti races for Walter and Pat Fletcher of Lakin, Kansas.

Also at Will Rogers Downs, a total of 58 2-year-olds have been nominated to the 350-yard, $20,000 Bill Hedge Memorial Stakes, including J. Baxter Brinkmann's Find Me A Hero. A homebred colt by Valiant Hero, Find Me A Hero won the July 23, $383,000 Speedhorse Gold and Silver Cup Futurity (RG2) at Fair Meadows at Tulsa.

Another Bill Hedge nominee, Ranch Candy, ran third in the 350-yard, $1.03-million Heritage Place Futurity (G1) at Remington Park back in May. The homebred Wave Carver filly is campaigned by Rick Sumner.

Entries for Will Rogers Downs' closing-day card will be drawn on Wednesday.

The Los Alamitos Super Derby was first contested in 1954, when AQHA world champion Josie's Bar won the winner's share of a $15,000 purse. The stakes was known as the PCQHRA Derby then. Its name was changed to Los Alamitos Derby in '66, and it became “Super” in 2004, when world champion Be A Bono took home the lion's share of a $579,450 pot.

Reigning AQHA world champion Apollitical Jess, last year's winner, holds the 400-yard Los Alamitos Super Derby stakes record at :19.133.

Our top selection, Flying Fig, is coming off of a half-length victory as the 7-5 favorite in what was likely the strongest of the four trials on October 15. This bay daughter of Corona Cartel was the beaten choice in last year's Los Alamitos Two-Million Futurity (G1), and she has won or finished second in all eight of her outs over this track.

Fastest qualifier Miss Racy Jess earned a career-best 108 TrackMaster speed rating in her half-length trial victory. The Mr Jess Perry filly was making her first start over the track, having shipped in following a three-quarter length win in a 440-yard All American Derby (G1) trial at Ruidoso Downs.

Morning-line favorite One Sweet Jess is another who likes Los Alamitos, as the Mr Jess Perry colt returns to the track after chasing the country's best sophomore – Llano Teller – at Ruidoso Downs. One Sweet Jess was a beaten 3-5 choice in his Super Derby trial.

A 20-1 morning-line longshot, Jess Before Dawn has finished second against tough competition in her last three starts. This Mr Jess Perry filly might not be able to beat the top selections, but she's made the trifecta in all four of her races over this track.

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This year's 400-yard, $25,000 Town Policy Stakes has drawn a field of seven 3-year-olds, five of whom made their last start in the October 15 Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1) trials. Our top selection, West Coast Hawk, hasn't had much success this season, but this colt by champion Hawkinson is facing perhaps the easiest group he's faced all year. West Coast Hawk is coming off of a sixth-place finish in a Super Derby trial that included Miss Racy Jess, One Sweet Jess, and Significant Cartel, and his stakes resume includes a third-place finish in the 400-yard, $216,000 Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G2) back in February.

Hawks Dream Girl had a good 2-year-old campaign that included a close third-place finish to Hot Hitter in the $428,000 Governor's Cup Futurity (RG2) for California-breds. This sorrel daughter of Hawkinson ran a troubled seventh in a PCQHRA Breeders' Derby (G2) trial on September 16, her only out of the year, but she posted a solid 220-yard work in :12.00 since then.

Blazin Son is a First Down Dash gelding out of 2007 AQHA champion aged mare Blazin Fire who outran his 37-1 odds to win a Los Al Super Derby trial by a nose. This could also be considered a class drop for Blazin Son, as his beaten opponents that night included Governor's Cup Derby (RG2) runner-up Walkin Bac and the stakes-placed filly Vivid Lady.

The Symposium, which will be held December 5-8 at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, will include real-time demonstrations of the power of QR codes and their potential uses in pari-mutuel racing. Students from the RTIP and the School of Information, Science, Technology and Arts collaborated in designing and creating the applications.

“The panel sessions reflect topics of importance not only to the racing industry in North America but participants worldwide,” said RTIP director Doug Reed. “(The symposium topics include) racehorse ownership, internet business management, new wagering platforms, cutting-edge computer applications, drug testing and medication use, and regulatory issues.”

Also during the Symposium, the Turf Publicists of America will present the Mark Kaufman Workshop titled “Reaching and Teaching the Horseplayer of Tomorrow.” The TPA will also present the Big Sport of Turfdom award during a luncheon on December 6.

. The complete Symposium agenda can be accessed at www.ua-rtip.org/symposium.

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Penn National Gaming Inc. had net income of $70.8 million on revenue of $710.9 million during the third quarter of 2011, according to financial statements the company released last Thursday.

The company’s revenue figure for the quarter included $20.2 million for the sale of its minority stake in Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park earlier this year.

PNGI's $70.8 million net-income figure was a 47-percent improvement over its third-quarter net income of $48.3 million last year. The company’s gambling revenue increased from $582.3 million in the third quarter of last year to $636.4 million in the third quarter of this year, primarily due to the recent legalization of table games at its casinos in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

PNGI is one of the largest casino operators in the United States. Its racing properties include Zia Park in Hobbs, New Mexico.

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The Montana Board of Horse Racing will hold a conference call meeting on Wednesday, October 26, beginning at 4 p.m. (MDT).

The meeting's agenda will include a discussion and approval of the board's budget and the setting of a deadline for 2012 race date applications.

For more information or to be placed on the conference call list, contact board executive secretary Ryan Sherman at (406) 202-2795.

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Lone Star Park racing secretary Jeanette Hughes has assigned Charal Kid and First Klas Fred the co-high weights of 125 pounds for Saturday's 400-yard, $25,000 B.F. Phillips Jr. Handicap (RG3).

One of 25 Texas-breds nominated to the race, Charal Kid is a 5-year-old Streakin La Jolla gelding racing for Malinche Cattle Co. from the barn of Eusevio Huitron. Charal Kid has earned $43,650 from six starts this year, and his stakes record includes a neck victory in the 350-yard, $25,000 Develop A Plan Stakes at Delta Downs.

The AQHA champion 2-year-old gelding in 2009, First Klas Fred is campaigned by Denis and Julie Schoenhofer and trained by Heath Taylor. First Klas Fred's entry in the B.F. Phillips is doubtful, as the gelding recently ran third in last Saturday's Cherokee Challenge Stakes at Will Rogers Downs.

Other prominent nominees include Tony Doughtie's Six Toast, a 4-year-old Toast To Dash stallion who is coming off of third-place finish in the 400-yard, $100,000 Refrigerator Handicap (G1) on October 1, and Jerry Windham's Texas Icon, a homebred 3-year-old Corona Cartel colt who ran second to Capo De Capi in the May 28, $286,000 Heritage Place Derby (G2) at Remington Park.

Entries for the B.F. Phillips Jr. Handicap will be taken on Wednesday.

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Zia Park's 11-race New Mexico Cup program on Sunday will feature four state-bred Quarter Horse stakes, including the $140,000 New Mexico Cup 870 Championship (R) and the 440-yard, $170,000-added Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1).

Rogelio Carrasco's BRT Opulence tops the list of nominees to the 870 Championship, as the 7-year-old gelding by Real Runaway has won two of three races this year, including the $85,000 New Mexico Horsemen's Association Handicap (R) at SunRay Park on July 10.

Other nominees include Isidro Rodriguez's Littlesouthernswing, a 4-year-old Southern Corona gelding who won this race last year, and Robert and Barbara Bauer's Mary For Money, a homebred 3-year-old filly who in her most recent start won the 870-yard, $50,000 Getaway Stakes at Sunland Park in April.

The New Mexico Cup Championship has attracted 20 nominations. One of the nominees, Fredda Draper's Jenuine Joy, has won three New Mexico-bred stakes this year, and she his coming off of a fourth-place finish against open company in the $55,000 Lubbock Stakes (G2) on October 1.

The New Mexico Cup program also will feature the 400-yard, $322,283 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2), and the 440-yard, $140,000-added New Mexico Cup Derby (RG2), the qualifiers for which appear elsewhere on this website.

Entries for all 11 New Mexico Cup races will be drawn on Tuesday.

The Cherokee Challenge Stakes has drawn a field of 10 sprinters, and it anchors a competitive 12-race card at Will Rogers Downs. Our top selection, 8-1 morning-line longshot Mt Rob This Corona, most recently placed second in a 110-yard open allowance dash. A 3-year-old daughter of the Corona Cartel stallion The Corona, Mt Rob This Corona has raced in good form all season, and two starts back she defeated a field of sophomores that included 2011 Remington Park stakes winners Fame Fatale and Blackwater Command in the 350-yard, $20,000 Don Steele Memorial Stakes.

Another morning-line longshot, Jesse In Town, finished second to Grade 3 winner Cruzin To Victory in the September 17, $20,000 Prairie Meadows Bonus Challenge. There were only four horses entered in that 350-yard sprint, but the 4-year-old Feature Mr Jess gelding posted a 99 TrackMaster speed rating, and he shows three wins in four starts at this shorter 300-yard trip.

Chics Delight is coming off of a three-month layoff, but this 5-year-old mare by the Chicks Beduino stallion Chicks Doit has shown an ability to win off the shelf. Chics Delight won this race last year, and her 2011 record includes a runner-up finish to multiple stakes winner Diamond For Jess in the 300-yard, $50,000 Bob Moore Memorial Stakes (G2) at Remington Park.

Nine-year-old veteran WRS Special Shoe is relatively untested at this short distance, but his back class must be respected. The gelding by First Down Laveaux is coming off of a visually impressive one-length victory over Iowa-breds in the 400-yard, $50,000 Terrace Hill Stakes (RG3) at Prairie Meadows, a race in which he earned a 102 speed rating.

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Sunday's Wild West Futurity matches a full field of 10 2-year-olds, most of whom cut their racing teeth in the Intermountain region. Our top choice, fastest qualifier and 5-2 morning-line favorite Fly Chet Fly, outran his 20-1 odds to win the second of two trials by a half of a length on October 2. This lightly raced Washington-bred gelding by Fly Jess Fly finished fourth to the undefeated (7-for-7) Illtacmanhattan in the 350-yard, $103,000 Bitterroot Futurity (RG3) at Les Bois Park.

Fly Chet Fly is one of four finalists from the barn of Bret Vickery. Another gelding qualified by Vickery, third-fastest qualifier Veyron, is a nicely bred son of Ivory James out of graded stakes winner Leading Diva. Prior to running third in the second Wild West trial, Veyron finished third, 1 ¾ lengths behind Illtacmanhattan, in the Bitterroot.

A two-time futurity finalist for trainer John Hammes at Arapahoe Park last summer, second-fastest qualifier Ivory Riches was runner-up to Fly Chet Fly in the second trial. Ivory Riches has since moved to the barn of reigning AQHA champion trainer Paul Jones, and she is a well-regarded Oklahoma-bred daughter of Ivory James and multiple stakes winner Rare Encore who was favored in three of her four outs in Colorado, including her convincing victories in her Mile High (G3) and Rocky Mountain futurity trials.

The Albuquerque Journal reported on September 25 that the committee will decide which proposal is best, then negotiate a contract with the best bidder and present it to the five-member New Mexico State Fair Commission. If the commission approves the contract, it will be examined by the state Department of Finance and Administration and the state Board of Finance.

The proposals have come from The Downs at Albuquerque, which has leased 93 acres of land at Expo New Mexico since 1985 for its racetrack and casino, and Laguna Development Corp., which operates two casinos west of Albuquerque. Both groups plan to build new state-of-the-art casinos at the racetrack, along with other features such as a bar and a restaurant.

The Downs at Albuquerque's current lease expires on January 11, 2013. The Downs, which is in the midst of its 54-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet, proposes building a new $20-million, 52,000-square-foot casino at the southern end of the current grandstand. Downs majority owner and then-president Paul Blanchard proposed a similar plan seven years ago, but it was strongly opposed by neighborhood groups.

Blanchard has since been replaced as president by minority owner Bill Windham, who told the Journal that negotiations are underway to reduce Blanchard's ownership stake in the racino.

“The truth is, the Downs was very poorly managed,” Windham said. “I have to take some fault for that as an owner, but I also have to pass the buck because we didn't have any oversight of mangaement, by contract.”

The Downs at Albuquerque has been losing money for years. A statement of income filed last year with the New Mexico General Services Dept. reported that the Downs' revenues from 2003-09 averaged $28.8 million per year, but it's annual losses averaged $541,441. It showed a profit only once during that period, a little more than $1 million in 2003.

According to the Downs’ new proposal, the new casino would include two gaming floors, a simulcast parlor, an upscale restaurant, a lounge and sports bar, a 150-seat food court, and business offices. The facility would accommodate 600 slot machines, nearly double what the current casino holds.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” Windham said, referring to the Downs' chances of getting the new casino and another 25-year lease. “I know our proposal is really good, really strong. We developed it like we were going to have a hundred bidders.”

Formed 13 years ago and owned entirely by Laguna Pueblo, Laguna Development Corp. hopes to build a $30-million, 36,000-square-foot casino with 600 machines at the south end of the Downs’ existing grandstand after demolishing the mostly unused, open-air portion of the building. Plans also call for remodeling the glass-enclosed portion of the grandstand and adding a new simulcast parlor, bar, restaurant, and exhibit area.

Although Laguna Development is owned by the pueblo, the corporation's chief of sales and marketing Skip Sayre told the Journal that the racino would be subject to the same regulations imposed on every other racino in the state, which include a ban on any form of gaming but video slot machines.

None of New Mexico's existing racinos are tribally owned.

Though the current racino averages more than $28 million in revenues annually, both Laguna Development and the Downs say a new casino could produce more than $40 million in revenue within three years of opening.

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The September 28 edition of the Houston Chronicle featured a story on Dr. Robert Schmidt of Fort Worth, the new chairman of the Texas Racing Commission.

A successful orthopedic surgeon for more than three decades, Schmidt also has a keen interest in horses – particularly race horses. He was born and raised in Montclair, New Jersey, college-educated in Massachusetts, and he attended medical school in Virginia. Even with a heavy academic load, Schmidt found time to visit the racetracks around the northeast region.

Schmidt also paid a few visits to Del Mar while he was serving his surgical residency at UCLA.

“Del Mar is so beautiful,” Schmidt told the Chronicle. “You can stand by the track and see the Pacific Ocean.”

Schmidt, 60, replaces Rolando Pablos as the Texas Racing Commission's chairman. He estimates a time commitment of four to five hours every week, except during the weeks before TRC meetings, which he says will require more time.

“I've had a good career," said Schmidt, 60. "People find other activities as they move on in their lives. This is a good way for me to branch out."

One of Schmidt's interests include finding ways to revitalize the racing industry in Texas.

"What seems to work best is the boutique meet, a meet with fewer race days and greater quality,” he said. “That's better than having too much racing. I've never understood why Aqueduct races during Christmas week. The New York area has 12 to 14 million people, (and) maybe 5,000 of them go to Aqueduct. You understand why – it's 32 degrees. To me, cutting back on days and racing larger fields makes more sense."

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Even though it's been reported elsewhere on this site, this news is worth repeating here – a national fundraiser for injured jockey Jacky Martin will be held this coming Saturday at racetracks across the U.S.

“It's critically important that the funds raise enough money to help with the long-term care for Jacky,” said Jockeys' Guild national manager Terry Meyocks. “Insurance only covers so much of the needed costs. We're asking jockeys and individuals to help Jacky carry on with his life after this catastrophic event. All donations are appreciated.”

To raise awareness about Martin's injury, which occurred after a spill at Ruidoso Downs on September 2, Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred jockeys will be riding on Saturday with a boot decal featuring Martin's name. Riders are also being asked to contribute a losing-mount fee to help with costs associated with his long-term care.

The Ruidoso Downs Chaplaincy Benevolence Fund will be contributing to part of Martin's long-term care costs. To contribute to the fund, send a check to Ruidoso Downs Racetrack Chaplaincy, Ruidoso Downs Racetrack, P.O. Box 449, Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346. Indicate on the memo line of the check that the donation is for the benevolence fund. All contributions are tax deductible.

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Zupers Quick Dash is one of 22 Louisiana-bred sprinters who have been been nominated to Saturday's 400-yard, $30,000 Don Cravins Stakes (RG3) at Evangeline Downs.

A 5-year-old gelding by Heza Fast Dash racing for Claude Jumonville and M.C. Morris, Zupers Quick Dash has won four stakes since the beginning of the 2010 season, including last year's Don Cravins Stakes. At Delta Downs on April 16, Zupers Quick Dash won the 350-yard John Alleman Stakes (RG3) as the 1-2 favorite.

Other prominent Louisiana-breds nominated include Patrick Huckmann's Somekinda Beau, the winner of the July 3, $100,000 Louisiana Classic Stakes (RG1) at Delta Downs; Tony Doughtie's Jes A Game, the winner of the recent 350-yard, $40,000 Audubon Stakes (R) for state-bred distaffers at Fair Grounds; and Terry Bell's Jess Big Time, the winner of the July 3, $60,000 Flashy Hemp Stakes (RG3) at Delta Downs.

Also, Salty King Corona might put his winning streak on the line. A 4-year-old King Corona gelding racing for Ana Lilia Alvidrez, Salty King Corona has won four consecutive starts, including the September 16, 250-yard Gentilly Dash Stakes against open company at Fair Grounds.

Entries for the Don Cravins Stakes will be taken on Wednesday.

First contested in 1960, the Go Man Go honors Quarter Horse racing's world champion from 1955-57, and its recent past winners include world champions Winalota Cash (1997), Whosleavingwho (2002 and '05), and Be A Bono (2006). Two-time AQHA champion Jess You And I holds the stakes record of :19.29, set two years ago.

Our top selection, Chivalry SR is coming off of a 1 ½-length victory against a tough field of state in the 400-yard Spencer L. Childers California Breeders' Championship (RG1). The 4-year-old Walk Thru Fire gelding covered the distance in a track-record :19.07, and the victory marked his fifth win in his last six starts.

Good Reason SA hasn't raced since June 19, when he ran fourth in the 400-yard Vessels Maturity (G1), but the 4-year-old stallion by Favorite Trick (TB) has recorded a pair of nice recent works over the track for trainer Paul Jones. Back in February, Good Reason SA scored a nice half-length victory in the Grade 1, 400-yard Los Alamitos Winter Championship.

Divide The Cash has missed the trifecta only twice in his nine outs at this distance, and he has an excellent record over the track. This 4-year-old Separatist stallion ran third in last year's $750,000 Champion of Champions (G1), and he finished second in both of his 2011 starts, including the Vessels Maturity.

Freaky and Snitcher also must be respected. The sport's world champion two years ago, Freaky is coming off of a second-place finish to our top selection in the Spencer Childers, and Snitcher scored an upset victory with a 114 TrackMaster speed rating in the Vessels Maturity.

“It helps Prairie Meadows, it helps the Iowa agricultural economy, it helps everybody,” Palmer told the Des Moines Register. “It’s a great bill.”

To become law, the bill must be signed by Gov. Terry Branstad. The bill, which passed by a 72-21 vote, removes the need for a referendum every eight years to continue casino gambling at Prairie Meadows, as well as changes that are expected to reduce the facility's annual racing expenses by more than $2 million.

The bill also makes permanent the track's purse fund, which was scheduled to expire in 2021, and it guarantees that the racing season will get no shorter than the current schedule of 67 days for Thoroughbreds and 26 days for Quarter Horses.

Harness racing will no longer be held at Prairie Meadows, but that industry's owners will get approximately $1.8 million from the purse fund for its county fair races.

Prairie Meadows is currently in the midst of its Thoroughbred meet, which runs through August 13. The track's Quarter Horse meet runs August 19-October 1.

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Pocatello Downs at the Bannock County Fairgrounds in southeastern Idaho opened its race meet with a seven-race program on Saturday.

According to track reports, Pocatello Downs drew 651 fans who wagered $12,043 on the live races. The track also simulcast several out-of-state races, including the $2-million Kentucky Derby (G1) from Churchill Downs.

Pocatello Downs president Jeremy Price expects the track to offer six to seven races each day on Saturday and Sunday. Inclement weather forced a cancellation of last Sunday's scheduled seven-race card.

Post time throughout the meet is 1 p.m. (MDT), and admission to the track is $2 per person, or two cans of food, which is donated to the local food bank. Price said Pocatello Downs donated over 6,500 pounds of food to the local food bank in 2010.

The Idaho racing industry received some good news a few weeks ago, as a group of five local business people formed Treasure Valley Racing, which has taken over the race meet at Les Bois Park in Boise. Les Bois hasn't held live racing in three years, but the partnership plans to open a 15-day meet on July 2 and plans to add more dates in 2012.

The reopening of Les Bois Park means that the Bitterroot Futurity (RG2) will head back to the Boise track, where it began in 1981. The race, the richest in Idaho for any breed, had been held at Pocatello Downs while Les Bois was closed.

This year's Bitterroot Futurity trials are scheduled for July 9, followed by the final on July 23.

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Indiana lawmakers have passed a two-year budget that will reduce the amount of casino subsidies going to the state's three racing breeds by approximately $3 million, or 5 percent lower than the amount distributed in 2010.

State legislators had initially proposed a more than 50-percent reduction in the subsidies from casino revenues for the Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and Quarter Horse industries, so the much smaller cuts were good news for Indiana horsemen.

Casinos were legalized at Indiana’s two racetracks, Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Downs in Shelbyville, in 2007. Indiana Downs' current Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet runs through July 13, followed by a 62-day season at Hoosier Park from August 2-October 23.

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Fort Erie Racetrack in Ontario opened its 114th season last Saturday, marking the first full season that the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium will be handling day-to-day operations at the track.

Mike Dimoff has been hired as the new track announcer. Dimoff moved to Fort Erie from Western Canada, where he had been calling the races at Northlands Park in Alberta. Dimoff will also work alongside Elissa Blowe on the track's simulcast show.

Located in Fort Erie, Ontario, about five miles west of Buffalo, New York, Fort Erie Racetrack opened for its first Thoroughbred season in 1897 and is the home of the Grade 1 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown for 3-year-olds. The track will play host to Quarter Horse racing for the second consecutive year, and its sprint stakes schedule will include the 440-yard, $100,000 Bank of America Fort Erie Championship Challenge on July 4, the 870-yard, $35,000-added Fort Erie Bonus Challenge on October 8, and the 400-yard, $50,000 Fort Erie Futurity on October 15.

For more information on Fort Erie Racetrack, visit www.forterieracing.com. For more information on the Quarter Horse stakes program for the province of Ontario, including Ajax Downs near Toronto, visit the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario Inc.'s website at www.qrooi.com.

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The Western Montana Fair at Missoula will not host a race meet this summer, but instead will focus on hosting a season in 2012.

The decision came at a May 3 meeting between Missoula County Fairgrounds director Steve Earle, two senior members of the Western Montana Turf Club, Missoula County chief administrative officer Dale Bickell, and Montana Board of Horse Racing executive director Ryan Sherman.

"There were so many ifs and buts about the whole thing," Toni Hinton of the Western Montana Turf Club told the Missoulian newspaper. "It was everything together – the shortage of horses, trying to do everything in three months, not getting accurate (funding) numbers.

"We thought about it, but then I thought that instead of just scraping by this year, I guess if we did it in 2012 and the turf club was involved, we'd have an opportunity to make this an every-year thing again,” Hinton added.

Montana Entertainment, a California-based company run by Eric Spector, conducted race meets at Great Falls and Missoula last year. Earle said he met with local horseman Merritt Pride, who was willing to manage the 2011 meets at the two sites, but Pride's negotiations with Cascade County fell through in April, primarily because the county wouldn't agree to a two-year contract.

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Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has announced her appointments to the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission.

On May 2, Gov. Fallin selected Phillip Kirk, Joe Lucas and Ran Leonard and reappointed Melvin Bollenbach,, each of whom will serve a six-year term. Senate confirmation is required.

Kirk, of Tulsa, is a part-time charter pilot. Before retiring, he served as owner and chairman at Resonant Machines, a highway contracting firm in Tulsa, and he is a former racehorse owner and breeder. He succeeds Cassie Barkett.

Bollenbach, of Oklahoma City, is serving his second consecutive term on the commission. He is a financial adviser at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and owns a ranch in Kingfisher.

Lucas, of Goldsby, is owner of Red Earth Training Center, a horse-racing training facility. Lucas is the past president of the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma and is a past board member of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. He succeeds Patrick Grimmett.

Leonard, of Oklahoma City, is president and managing partner of RML Thoroughbreds and Cres Ran, both horse racing management facilities. He also serves on the board of directors for the Oklahoma Thoroughbred Association. Leonard succeeds John Smicklas.

Barry Broad, an attorney representing the Jockey’s Guild, said that all 322 jockeys licensed in the state are eligible to participate in the plan, which was established in cooperation with the Guild. Broad added that the pension plan is a defined contribution plan for jockeys who retire on or after January 1, 2009.

According to a report on Bloodhorse.com, a board made up of CHRB and Guild representatives will oversee investments. Seven investment firms have been selected to submit proposals to run the plan, which was authorized as part of advance deposit wagering legislation passed in 2009.

The plan will be originally funded with about $1.5 million taken from market access fees generated by ADW, and annual contributions are expected to add $650,000 to that total.

Broad said that funds invested collectively will be paid out individually to jockeys based on their participation in California racing. Jockeys must sign up for the program by the end of the year to be eligible for any part of the original funding.

The program is restricted to retirement benefits to jockeys, who must be 50 years old to collect, unless they become permanently disabled. Depending on their participation, riders who claim benefits will be paid through a lump sum or an annuity.

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Hoping to capitalize on the state’s high unemployment rate, supporters of horse racing in Georgia are poised to introduce another bill that would legalize pari-mutuel wagering.

WABE-TV, the Public Broadcasting System affiliate in Atlanta, reported last week that state representative Harry Geisinger, the chairman of the House Equine Industry Study Committee, plans to sponsor a bill that would put the question of horse racing to the voters in the 2012 elections. A bill failed in the legislature last year, but a new session is scheduled to begin in January 2011.

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On Friday, historic Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans will host this year’s Bank of America Challenge Championships for the first time in the program’s 18-year history. Purses are expected to top $1.1 million, and four graded stakes will be contested, including the 440-yard, $350,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1), which offers its winner a berth in the December 11, $750,000 Champion of Champions (G1) at Los Alamitos.

This Friday’s blog update will include a look, from a handicapper’s perspective, at the Bank of America Challenge Championship and several other races on the card.

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CLOCKER’S CORNER

FRIDAY

OUR COWBOY MAGIC (Roll Hennessy Roll [TB]-Magic Storyteller by Magic Dozen) prepped for his debut by working 220 yards in :11.90 at The Downs at Albuquerque. Bred in New Mexico by Donna McArthur, the 2-year-old gelding is a half brother to 2005 Prescott Valley Laddie/Lassie Futurity (G3) runner-up Ms Gypsy Magic.

Julien R. Stevens III’s Royal Holland Ease (Special Crown Royal-Too Coronas by Corona Cartel) topped a light work tab at Delta Downs, as the homebred 3-year-old gelding breezed 220 in :11.02, the fastest of seven moves at the distance. Campaigned exclusively in Louisiana, Royal Holland Ease has earned $105,891 from 11 outs, and his four wins include last year’s 330-yard, $60,000 Big Easy Stakes (R) at Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans.

ALYSA M (Hail Corona-WW Shuboom Shuboom by Osceola Warrior) breezed 220 in :12.41 at Evangeline Downs. Racing for Darrell Williams, the homebred 2-year-old filly was a finalist in the March 6, $249,272 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) at Louisiana Downs.

Unraced 4-year-old Zip Streakin (Streakin Sixes-Zippy Zanza by Zevi [TB]) breezed 660 yards in :36.18 at Zia Park. The gelding was bred in Texas by Gary W. Hartstack, and he is a half brother to 2002 Ruidoso Futurity (G1) winner Zip First.

SATURDAY

Woody Dungarees (Woodbridge-Gingham Dungarees by Now I Know) worked 220 yards in :11.70 at The Downs at Albuquerque. Campaigned by Ron and Kay Jenkins’ Holy Bucket LLC and trained by Mike Barber, the 3-year-old filly sports a five-race win streak that includes the September 26, $55,188 New Mexico State Fair Breeders’ Derby (R).

Woody Dungarees’ half brother, FAMOUS DUNGAREES (Dash Ta Fame-Gingham Dungarees by Now I Know) worked 220 in :11.77 at Albuquerque. The homebred 2-year-old gelding also races for Ron and Kay Jenkins, and he hasn’t raced since May 30, when he ran third in the $172,100 New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity (RG2) at SunRay Park.

Sisters Mountain Cat (Panther Mountain-Sister La Jolla by Streakin La Jolla) breezed 220 in :11.43 at Evangeline Downs, the fastest of 11 works at the distance. Owned by Mars Racing, Robicheaux Ranch Inc., and Joel Saenz, the 3-year-old filly is coming off of a second-place finish in the 400-yard, $50,000 Flashy Hemp Stakes (RG3) at Delta Downs on July 10.

Also at Evangeline, unraced 2-year-old KS SUMMER CANDY (Quick To Flare Up-Toy Dreams by Dreams For Us) breezed 220 from the gate in :12.34. The gelding was bred in Louisiana by Karl H. Smith, and he one of two foals from his dam, who won the 2003 Alabama Bred Futurity (RG3) at Delta Downs.

SOUTHERN FORMED (Southern Corona-Pass The Form by Rare Form) breezed 220 from the gate in :12.01 at Lone Star Park. Bred in New Mexico by Richard and Patricia Shearer, the unraced 2-year-old filly is one of six foals produced by her dam, who won the 2003 Clovis Classic (RG3) and Sunland Park Fall futurities in New Mexico.

Also at Lone Star, Zupers Quick Dash (Heza Fast Dash-Oh Shez Zuper by Zuppardo’s Prince [TB]) breezed 220 in :12.39. The 4-year-old gelding races for Ponderosa Ranch PC Inc. and MCM Farms from the barn of Katie Carlos, and his three career stakes victories include the October 9, $33,000 Don Cravins Stakes (R) at Evangeline Downs.

MONDAY

THE GRAY MENACE (Executive Menace-Rapid Form by Rare Form) breezed 220 yards in :12.34 at the Delta Training Center. Racing for Omar Vela and trainer Jose R. Espinosa, the 2-year-old colt ran third in the June 5, $113,502 TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity (RG2) at Sam Houston Race Park.