Luis L. Vivanco won the Leading Jockey title at the 2024 Retama Park Quarter Horse Meeting.

© Coady Photography

SELMA, TX–AUGUST 20, 2024–The 2024 Retama Park Quarter Horse live racing season concluded on Saturday, August 17, and was a success in many ways for horsemen and fans.

Major improvements to the 30-year-old facility were made last summer and continued this year. Successful promotions, including Camel and Ostrich races, Family Fun Night, the July 3 Fireworks Show presented by the City of Selma, the Diamond Dig presented by Americus Diamonds, and Weiner Dog Races, attracted impressive crowds. A total of 49,616 fans were in attendance this year compared to 26,682 in 2023, resulting in an increase of 86%.

A large number of Quarter Horse breeders and trainers reside in the South Texas area and look forward to a mid-summer respite when they can stay home, run three to four nights a week, and attend the annual Texas Quarter Horse Association (TQHA) Yearling Sale.

The weekend of July 26-27 shattered records, with 3,153 fans in attendance, compared to last year’s 2,231, a substantial increase of 41%. A total of $111,560 was wagered on track Friday, July 26, compared to $95,921 on the 2023 Texas Summer Showdown figures, an increase of 16%.

The live on-track handle of $196,457 on Saturday, July 27, was up 37% from last year’s $143,791. This number is the fourth highest in the track’s history for a Quarter Horse card and the largest live on-track handle since July 30, 2011 ($197,534). The all-time record for a Quarter Horse card was set on June 7, 2008, with a handle of $206,027 (Big Brown’s Triple Crown attempt) with over 7,700 fans in attendance.

The number of fans eager for one more night of racing was even more encouraging! On Saturday, August 17, the closing night of the meet, $886,425 was wagered, setting an all-time handle record at Retama Park.

Overall, officials were pleased to announce that total average handle (on-track and export) was up 27.8% compared to 2023.

“We made a commitment to improving Retama Park fourteen months ago,” said Bryan Pettigrew, Vice President and General Manager of Texas Racing Operations for PENN Entertainment. “Serving the Quarter Horse community in central Texas is a high priority, and we thank each of the horsemen and women who supported our 2024 live racing season. Our Horseplayers and fans were out in force this summer, and we are looking forward to building on that for next year!”

Jockey Luis Vivanco Continues His Success in 2024

Veteran rider Luis Vivanco notched the Sam Houston Race Park leading rider title in June and wasted no time showing fans he was hungry for more! The 41-year-old native of Vera Cruz, Mexico, topped his fellow riders with 27 wins, 28 seconds, and 20 third-place finishes.

“First, I thank God and say that I am very happy to win this title,” stated Vivanco. “I am proud to ride for great trainers, including Toby Keeton, as well as Jose Sanchez, Luis Muniz, Jose Luis Barrera, and other horsemen who believed in me to ride their horses.”

Vivanco began riding professionally in 2007. Texas has always been his preferred circuit. He has piloted 7,303 mounts, 1,207 victories, and purses in excess of $15.9 million.

He was joined for the presentation by his wife, Elizabeth, 12-year-old daughter, Lorena, and 10-year-old son, Jesus. Vivanco will ride next at Lone Star Park in hopes of securing that title as well.

“I believe that in 2014, I was leading rider at Sam Houston, Retama, Lone Star, and Gillespie,” said Vivanco. “When you are responsible and work hard, you will have good results!”

Victor Urieta, Jr. finished second with 19 wins. Oscar Andrade, Jr. followed with 17 trips to the winner’s circle, and  Nestor Duran and Noe Villatoro rode 13 winners to finish fourth in the standings.

Juan Diaz, Jr. Wins His Third Leading Trainer Title at Retama Park

Juan Diaz, Jr. was named the 2024 Retama Park Leading Quarter Horse Trainer on Saturday. © Coady Photography

Texas horseman Juan Diaz, Jr. held a commanding lead in the trainer standings throughout the meet, finishing with 27 wins from 71 starts and $1,081,304 in purses. The 35-year-old from Floresville,Texas once again captured the richest race of the meet, the $606,121 TQHA Sale Futurity (RG1 ), on August 5 with Joose Box. The son of Kiss My Hocks, owned by Javier De Los Santos Muzquiz, has won four of his six starts this year, as well as a fourth-place finish in the $1 million Heritage Place Futurity(G1) at Remington Park on June 1. Diaz also won the $205,000 Sires’ Cup Futurity(G2) with CH Horse Racing, LLC’s Machiavelli, who moved forward after a third-place finish in the 2024 Sam Houston Futurity(G1).

“The Retama meet has been a blessing for us,” acknowledged Diaz. “To have several months to run close to our farm is great for my team and our families.”

With his success earlier this year at Sam Houston, as well as wins at Louisiana Downs and Remington Park, Diaz is the second-ranked Quarter Horse trainer in the country by wins (95) and purses ($3,786,739).

“As I have said every time, my success would never be possible without my owners, who buy quality horses at the sales and trust me and my team in their training,” stated Diaz. “My jockeys Victor, Nestor, and Jorge play a very important role; we could not win these finals without their input in training and the trials.”

Toby Keeton was second in the standings with 14 wins, followed by Jose Sanchez, who saddled ten winners. Tammy Kay Johnson had a solid meet, winning eight races.

John Boegner Repeats as Leading Quarter Horse Owner and Rosebrook Farms, LLC Takes Top Arabian Owner Honors at Retama Park

John Boegner was named the 2024 Retama Park Leading Quarter Horse Owner on Saturday. © Coady Photography

For the second year in a row, the leading owner title went to  John Boegner who finished with five victories from 32 starters, including a return win by Howdy Bok and a solid win from 2-year-old Houdini Special.

“I felt that Houdini Special was going to qualify for the TQHA Sale Futurity but got run over in his trial,” said Boegner. “He came back three weeks later and broke his maiden by a length. That’s the way it goes!”

Boegner spoke of the challenges of the blazing summer temperatures and praised the Retama management team for their commitment and improvements to the racetrack.

“Bryan Pettigrew came on board last year and promised to turn things around,” added Boegner. “There was construction on a few barns and more will be repaired for next year, which means a lot to the horsemen.” 

There was a three-way tie for second between Rancho el Huajillo, Rockin J Running Horses, and Jesus A. Molina. Each won four races.

With many of the Retama Park programs beginning with an Arabian race, Retama Park salutes owner  Rosebrook Farms, LLC, for winning six races this season. Their homebred RB Malexis, trained by Jerenesto Torrez, set a new track record on August 16, winning the $38,000 Texas Arabian Oaks(G3). The filly covered one mile in 1:49.13 under jockey Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez.

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About Retama Park
Retama Park is a Class 1 pari-mutuel horse racetrack located in Selma, Texas, just 20 minutes from downtown San Antonio. Live Quarter Horse races take place each summer, while simulcast wagering and races from around the world are shown daily. Managed by Penn Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ – PENN), Retama Park opened in 1995 and hosted its 30th year of racing in 2024. For more information and racing schedules, please visit www.RetamaPark.com follow on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.