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Month: November 2018
Clear Creek Stud to Host Stallion Presentation, Saturday, December 1
Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, Louisiana is hosting its annual stallion presention this Saturday, December 1, 2018 from 10:30 a.m. till 2:30 p.m. with the stallion show beginning at noon.
The event will include a catered cajun style lunch, entertainment, and special guest speakers including state officials and representatives from the Racing Commission and the HBPA. For the kids there will be face painting, pony rides, and a special appearance from Santa Claus. Door prizes will be given throughout the event.
Clear Creek Stud is standing Clearly Now, Custom For Carlos, G.W.’s D’Oro, Half Ours, Ole Rebel and Star Guitar for the 2019 breeding season.
Two Scholarships to be Awarded at Louisiana Champions Day
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Louisiana Champions Day will take place on Saturday, December 8, at Fairgrounds Race Course and Slots in New Orleans, La. The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will award a total of two scholarships, each valued at $1,000, during the event.
The requirements for the scholarship are as follows:
- Must be a college student enrolled full-time for Spring 2019.
- Must be in good standing with the college or university.
- Must be present to win at the Winner’s Circle when the announcement is made.
- Must have college ID and government-issued ID.
For Louisiana Champions Day:
- Registration: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the designated booth
- Races begin: 12:30 p.m.
- Drawing Time: The scholarships will be awarded after the fifth race. The scholarship will be deposited directly into the student’s account at the college or university. The student is asked to know the name and address of the college that they are attending.
“The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association continues to make an investment in the future of our state by investing in our students and the education process,” said Roger Heitzmann, secretary/treasurer for the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “This type of investment is for our future, the state, as well as the organization. Our hope is that these scholarships get the younger generations invested in LTBA so that our organization stays the top breeding incentive program in the United States.”
Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association manages the best incentive program for breeding thoroughbreds in the United States. Since the organization formed, this has led to increased purses, better quality horses, and increased interest in racing and breeding horses. The thoroughbred racing and breeding industry generates over $1 billion and employs over 60,000 people in the state of Louisiana.
For more information about Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association visit louisianabred.com or call (504) 947-4676.
GEMOLOGIST RELOCATED TO LOUISIANA FOR 2019
Grade 1 winner Gemologist, who won a grade 2 race in his perfect juvenile sea- son, has been relocated from WinStar Farm to Acadiana Equine @ Copper Crown in Opelousas, La., for the upcoming breeding season.
In the deal brokered by David Tillson and Docatty Stables, the 9-year-old stallion will stand for $4,500.
A top five first-crop sire in 2016, a top 10 second-crop sire in 2017, and a leading third-
crop sire by winners for 2018, Gemologist sired Frizette Stakes (G1) winner Yellow Agate in his first crop and also is represented by Futurity Stakes (G3) winner Theory and
grade 3 winner Golden Diamond. The son of Tiznow also is the sire of promising 2-year-old colt Federal Case, an impressive maiden special weight winner at Keeneland in October, who was a $650,000 acquisition by Robert and Lawana Low out of the WinStar Racing consignment at the recent Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
Winner of the Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) at 3, Gemologist capped an undefeated juvenile campaign by capturing the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. He was bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and Louise Ireland Humphrey Revocable Trust – 2, andretired in 2012 with five wins from seven career startsand earnings of $794,855.
Out of the Mr. Prospector mare Crystal Shard, the regally bred stallion is a half brother to stakes winners Sydenham and Clear Destiny and hails from a rich female family cultivated by breeder Ned Evans.
OAKLAWN ANNOUNCES $100 MILLION-PLUS EXPANSION WITH CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH-RISE HOTEL, EVENT CENTER AND EXPANDED GAMING AREA
NOVEMBER 19, 2018
Oaklawn Racing and Gaming today announced plans to build an expansion project in excess of $100 million that includes the construction of a high-rise hotel, multi-purpose event center, a larger gaming area, and additional on-site parking.
The project is one of the largest hospitality investments in the history of Arkansas.
“This historic announcement represents a new chapter in the rich 114-year history of Oaklawn,” said Louis Cella, president of Oaklawn Jockey Club. “As we enhance the entertainment experience for our customers, we will also further elevate thoroughbred racing and help make Arkansas and Hot Springs even stronger regional tourism destinations.”
The yet-to-be-named hotel will be seven stories with 200 rooms, including two presidential suites. Amenities will include an outdoor swimming pool, a luxury spa, fitness center and restaurant.
“The hotel will offer a unique vantage point for our patrons in that it will overlook the track. Imagine the spectacular view as the horses are heading down the stretch,” said Cella. “Our goal is to achieve 4-star status.”
Adjacent to the hotel will be a 14,000 square-foot multi-purpose events center that will accommodate up to 1,500 people for various events such as concerts, meetings, banquets and weddings.
The project also includes the addition of approximately 28,000 square feet of gaming space and significantly expanded parking.
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said the Oaklawn expansion will be monumental.
“The state of Arkansas is grateful to Louis and his family for their commitment to growing their business right here at home,” said Gov. Hutchinson. “This project, which will be financed exclusively with private funds, not only represents one of, if not the largest, tourism related expansion projects in our history, it will also rank among the state’s largest economic development projects in 2019.”
Kane Webb, director of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, says the Oaklawn expansion will create more success stories for Arkansas’ thriving tourism industry.
“Hot Springs is already one of the top tourism destinations in the South,” said Webb. “This expansion will thrust Hot Springs into the category of the nation’s elite vacation and recreation locations.”
Cella says the development will create new partnership opportunities with the city of Hot Springs in that marketing efforts will be designed to complement those of the city’s. He says while various on-site amenities will be offered, Oaklawn will want guests to enjoy all that Hot Springs has to offer including Hot Springs National Park, lakes, hiking and biking trails, museums, restaurants, shopping and more.
Steve Arrison, CEO of the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission, says the events center and hotel rooms will be beneficial to Hot Springs and Arkansas.
“Oaklawn’s project will allow Hot Springs to attract more and larger meetings and conventions,” said Arrison. “This creates exciting opportunities for Hot Springs tourism.”
An expansion project of this magnitude, Cella says, requires years of planning and the development of infrastructure.
“While one may assume that today’s announcement comes in response to the passage of Issue 4 on November 6, we actually began planning for this during our last expansion in 2014,” said Cella. “Our goal then, as it is now, is to use a quality gaming experience to enhance racing and help attract even more great champions to Arkansas such as Smarty Jones, Zenyatta, and American Pharoah.”
Construction on the project will begin in May immediately following completion of the 2019 racing season. The target completion date for the gaming expansion is January 2020 with the hotel and event center to be completed in late 2020.
As it has for two previous Oaklawn projects, HBG Design of Memphis is the architectural firm for this new expansion.
Flintco Construction, with an Arkansas headquarters located in Springdale, is the contractor on the project. The company estimates that as many as 2,300 jobs will be created during the construction phase.
“The Cellas helped found Oaklawn in the early 1900’s,” said Wayne Smith, general manager of Oaklawn. “As they have for more than a century, the family continues to make significant investments in Arkansas. This will be the third major project at Oaklawn since 2008.”
This major expansion represents the second significant announcement at Oaklawn since Louis Cella succeeded his late father, Charles, as president of Oaklawn Jockey Club last December.
In April of this year, Oaklawn announced it will shift its racing season later in the calendar and for the first time will continue racing into May. It’s the biggest change in the traditional Oaklawn racing schedule since World War II.
Expansion Project Fact Sheet
About the project:
- Oaklawn is investing in excess of $100 million to further elevate thoroughbred racing and make Oaklawn and Hot Springs an even stronger regional tourism destination.
- The Oaklawn expansion will be one of the largest hospitality investments in the history of Arkansas.
- This is a private investment. No public dollars are being used.
- The project will focus on five main areas:
- Enhanced racing experience
- 4-star hotel and spa
- Multi-purpose event center
- Expanded gaming area
- Additional on-site parking
- This expansion project has been in the planning stages since 2014.
- This will be Oaklawn’s third major construction project since 2008.
About the hotel/multi-purpose event center:
- The hotel will be 7 stories tall with 200 luxury rooms, including two presidential suites.
- The goal is for the hotel to achieve 4-star status.
- The hotel will offer patrons a unique vantage point in that it will overlook the racetrack on one side with a beautiful view of the lakes and mountains on the other.
- Room rates will be competitive with other properties of this quality.
- The hotel will include:
- outdoor swimming pool
- luxury spa
- fitness center
- restaurant
- multi-purpose event center
- individual meeting rooms
- The 14,000 square-foot multi-purpose event center will accommodate up to 1,500 people for events ranging from concerts, to meetings, to banquets, to weddings.
- Oaklawn is working with the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission to ensure that the multi-purpose event center compliments efforts of the Hot Springs convention center and arena. The partnership will help attract more and larger meetings and conventions to the city.
- The project includes expanded on-site parking to accommodate more vehicles.
- A shuttle service will be available to transport patrons from their vehicles to the facility. Shuttle stops will be strategically located throughout the parking areas.
About the gaming expansion:
- The new expansion will add approximately 28,000 square-feet of gaming space.
- The enhanced gaming experience will allow Oaklawn to provide larger purses to help attract the top thoroughbreds joining a long line of champions such as Smarty Jones, Zenyatta and American Pharoah.
About the construction:
- HBG Design of Memphis is the architectural firm on the project. This will represent the firm’s third expansion design for Oaklawn.
- Flintco Construction, with Arkansas headquarters located in Springdale, is the contractor on the project. Flintco has managed major construction projects all over Arkansas.
- Construction will begin in May, immediately following the completion of the 2019 racing season.
- Target completion dates:
- Gaming expansion – January 2020
- Hotel and multi-purpose event center – Late 2020
About economic impact:
- Oaklawn’s reputation as a year-round tourism destination will be enhanced. Hotel guests will have easy access to Hot Springs National Park, area lakes, hiking and biking trails, museums, amusement parks, and restaurants representing a significant economic impact to the city of Hot Springs and the state of Arkansas.
- Flintco estimates that as many as 2,300 construction jobs will be created during the construction phase.
- Though a specific number is still under consideration, Oaklawn anticipates several hundred additional jobs will be created in expanded areas.
About the Oaklawn principals:
- Louis Cella, president of Oaklawn Jockey Club, succeeded his late father, Charles, in December 2017. The Cella family were among the founding partners in Oaklawn in the early 1900s. Louis is a graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law, past Chairman of the Arkansas Cancer Research Center Foundation, Director of the UAMS Foundation Fund Board and Director of the Myeloma Institute. Louis’ wife, Rochelle Dean, is from England, Arkansas.
- Wayne Smith, general manager of Oaklawn, joined the racetrack in 2016 with extensive experience in working with resort properties around the world for ITT-Sheraton, MGM Grand and Caesar’s Entertainment. He also worked for Empire City Racing and Gaming in New York and Penn Gaming in Illinois.
Ours To Run Outruns Competition in the Happy Ticket Overnight Stakes
Happy Ticket Overnight Stakes
Fair Grounds, 11-18-18, 6 furlongs
Three-Year-Olds and upwards, Fillies and Mares, $50,000
OURS TO RUN
Half Ours–Brown Eyed Baby
Breeder: Clifford Grum
Owner: Colonel Thoroughbreds LLC
Trainer: J. Larry Jones
Jockey: Gabriel Saez
2nd
My Miss Chiff
Into Mischief–Carl’s Frosty Girl
Breeder: Steve E Holliday
Owner: Town and Country Racing, LLC
Trainer: Albert M. Stall, Jr.
Jockey: Mitchell Murrill
3rd
Shakopee Town
Jersey Town–Shakopee
Breeder: Al Ulwelling & Bill Ulwelling
Owner: Al Ulwelling & Bill Ulwelling
Trainer: Gary M. Scherer
Jockey: Colby J. Hernandez
Monte Man Adds Heitai Overnight Stakes Victory to Record
Heitai Overnight Stakes
Fair Grounds, 11-17-18, 6 furlongs
Three-Year-Olds and Upwards, $50,000
MONTE MAN
Custom for Carlos–Sarah’s My Angel
Breeder: Val C. Murrell
Owner: Ivery Sisters Racing
Trainer: Ron Faucheux
Jockey: Gabriel Saez
2nd
Divine Bean
Star Guitar–Good Human Bean
Breeder: Brittlyn, Inc.
Owner: Brittlyn Stable, Inc.
Trainer: Albert M. Stall, Jr.
Jockey: Colby J. Hernandez
3rd
Greeley Went West
El Corredor–So Well Read
Breeder: Tom Curtis & Wayne Simpson
Owner: Phyllis J. Hodges and Randolph Schneider
Trainer: James E. Hodges
Jockey: James Graham
Trainer Brad Cox Gets Win No. 1,000
Brad Cox was pretty anxious to get his 1,000th victory, but the two-time defending leading trainer at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots finally reached that milestone in the fifth race Nov. 18 in New Orleans with Play On.
“It seemed like over the last few weeks, we had a hard time getting there, but it was big to finally get it done,” Cox said. “When you first start, you don’t think it’s ever going to happen. It takes a while to get going. I’m glad it’s behind us. It’s a great achievement. Thanks to the crew, our assistants, foreman, grooms, and exercise riders.
“It’s definitely not a one-man show at all. There are a lot of people who work extremely hard. It’s not just me. It’s a team effort. I’m proud of everyone involved and what they give to the organization. Now we’ll start working on getting to 2,000.”
A native of Louisville, Cox grew up a couple of blocks away from Churchill Downs in Louisville’s South End and began working on the backside for trainers Jimmy Baker and Burt Kessinger before he became an assistant for trainer Dallas Stewart. He went out on his own in 2005 and has enjoyed a banner year in 2018, with six grade 1 victories, including the Longines Kentucky Oaks and Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff with likely champion 3-year-old filly Monomoy Girl. He is the fifth-leading trainer in North America in earnings and is fourth in wins.
While Cox is still overseeing his string of horses at his Churchill home base, his assistant Ricky Giannini saddled Play On to the trainer’s milestone victory.
“It’s always exciting,” Giannini said. “It’s been a steady climb to the top, so hopefully we get a thousand more.”
Owned by Klein Racing, Play On is a full sister to graded stakes winner Will Call. The 2-year-old daughter of Country Day was making her turf debut Sunday in the second start of her career. Country Day is standing in Louisiana at Peach Lane Farms for the 2019 breeding season.
“They don’t look a lot alike, but they both are horses that are obviously very nice,” Cox said. “Will Call broke his maiden earlier, but he was precocious. She showed some ability on the dirt, and we gave her a shot. She ran well that day and showed speed but got a little tired late after that race, so we thought we should target a turf sprint. She has a lot to accomplish, but she has a bright future.”
Johnny Jones, Who Found Success With Thoroughbreds And Quarter Horses, Dies In Texas
John T.L. Jones Jr. (photo courtesy of Jones family)
John T.L. Jones Jr. passed away on Friday, November 16, 2018, surrounded by family at his home in Quanah, Texas.
Born in Quanah on July 7, 1934, the horseman most people knew as Johnny Jones was a prominent member of the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred industries in many capacities, as a trainer, breeder, owner, and the head of Walmac International in Lexington, Ky., from 1976 to 2005, where he oversaw the stallion careers of major sires Nureyev, Alleged, and Miswaki.
When John Gaines dreamed up the concept of the Breeders’ Cup and presented his idea to industry leaders in the early 1980s, he credited Jones as the person who got everybody to work together after they’d hit a standstill. It was especially gratifying to Jones when Cajun Beat, a horse he co-bred with H. Smoot Fahlgren, won the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Jones was also involved with Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Favorite Trick, the 1997 Horse of the Year whose breeding rights had been purchased by Walmac in August of his 2-year-old season.
Jones is the only person to breed a 2000 Guineas winner, King of Kings, co-bred with Ron Con Ltd.; and an All American Futurity winner, Ochoa, Quarter Horse racing’s all-time money leader who also won the Rainbow Derby and All American Derby.
Prominent among the other Thoroughbred horses Jones bred was top sire Unusual Heat. In the Quarter Horse world, he bred or co-bred champions Ochoa, Noconi, and Brenda Beautiful, all of whom he raced in partnership in his name or that of his J Bar 7 Ranch.
Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame member Jones was a founding partner of Four Star Sales and was formerly on the boards of both the Breeders’ Cup and the Keeneland Association. He also served on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
Jones was predeceased by his first wife, Janice, in 2003 and married Brenda Kinsolving in 2007. He is survived by sons John III (Mia), Hutton (Paula), Levi (Paula), and daughter Julie Mogge (Guy); eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; stepchildren Jenna Decker (Jeff), Ashley Crow (Josh), and CJ Kinsolving (Kaitlin), and seven step-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Monday, Nov. 19, from 6-8 p.m. CT at Smith Funeral Home, 210 W Third Street, Quanah, TX 79252, with graveside service at Quanah Cemetery on Tuesday at noon.
CAFÉ DU MONDE SERVES UP A DELICIOUS VICTORY IN THE LOUISIANA LEGACY AT DELTA DOWNS
The $100,000 Louisiana Legacy for 2-year-old Louisiana-breds was won by Café Du Monde at Delta Downs, Saturday, November 17.
The win by Café Du Monde came in his local and stakes debut under jockey Gerard Melancon, who also won the $100,000 Louisiana Jewel on Friday night with Goodprofit. Café Du Monde is owned by Diamond Racing, Inc. and Jay and Joan Janssen and is conditioned by Leo G. Gabriel, Jr.
The trip that Café Du Monde took to victory was an interesting one as Melancon took his mount back early while Musada set the early pace of 23.42 seconds for the opening quarter mile, 48.20 for the half and 1:13.60 for three quarters. While racing up the backstretch the eventual winner found racing room at the rail and rushed up into contention before angling out and running down Musada turning for home. In the stretch, he put away Musada but had to hold off a late charge by Jimi’s a Star, who wound up two lengths behind the winner in second at the finish line while Musada stay for third, another 2-1/2 behind the runner-up.
Café Du Monde covered the one-mile distance of the Legacy in a time of 1:40.95 over a fast track.
The win by Café Du Monde was the second of his three-race career and he earned $60,000 for the effort. He has now won $96,450 during his brief career.
Bred in Louisiana by Natalie Montgomery and Jim Montgomery, Café Du Monde is a 2-year-old dark bay or brown colt by New Year’s Day, out of the Hennessy mare Java Jolt.
Sent to the gate as the heavy favorite at odds of 1-5, Café Du Monde returned $2.60 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.20 to show. Jimi’s a Star was worth $5 to place and $3.60 to show. Musada paid $6.20 to show.
Louisiana Legacy Stakes
Delta Downs, 11-17-18, 1 mile
Two-Year-Old Accredited Louisiana Breds, $100,000
CAFE DU MONDE
New Year’s Day–Java Jolt
Breeder: Natalie Montgomery & Jim Montgomery
Owner: Diamond Racing Inc. & Jay and Joan Janssen
Trainer: Leo G. Gabriel, Jr.
Jockey: Gerard Melancon
2nd
Jimi’s A Star
Star Guitar–Unusual Strike
Breeder: James Boyd
Owner: James Boyd
Trainer: Henry B. Johnson
Jockey: Emmanuel Nieves
3rd
Musada
Golden
Breeder: Cypress Bend Farm
Owner: Cypress Bend Farm
Trainer: Brett A. Brinkman
Jockey: Thomas L. Pompell
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