TOP TRAINER AND JOCKEY COMBINATION WIN THEIR RESPECTIVE DIVISIONS FOR THE 2018 THOROUGHBRED SEASON

 

OPELOUSAS, LA – As it so often is at Evangeline Downs, the main name to know was Karl Broberg. The perennially leading trainer at this racetrack won his eighth training title from 2011-2018 by a wide margin from his competition. His main jockey for much of the summer, Tim Thornton, parlayed that partnership into a second straight riding crown for the season, which concluded on Saturday night.

 

The numbers for Karl Broberg tell the story of a champion trainer. His starters won 59 of 170 starts for a winning percentage of 35%, earning $761,440 in purse money along the way. When you include 49 other top three results for Broberg’s runners, that translates into a 64% in-the-money percentage for the season. Broberg finished 27 victories ahead of Sam Breaux, who was second in the standings with 32 wins. Allen Milligan was third in training victories, finishing just one win out of second with 31 wins.

 

The complete top 10 trainers’ standings were: Broberg (59 wins), Breaux (32), Milligan (31), Scott Gelner (28), Brett Brinkman (27), Brian Huval (25), Sam David, Jr. and Dale White, Sr. (tied at 22), Allen Landry (21) and a three-way tie for 10th between Howard Alonzo, Lee Thomas and Shane Wilson at 18 wins each.

 

Tim Thornton was the jockey used most often by Karl Broberg during the 2018 Thoroughbred season at Evangeline Downs and that pairing helped Thornton, a Louisiana native, claim his second title in a row here with 141 wins from 555 starts for a winning percentage of 25%, with his mounts earning $1,966,892 in purse money. Former Evangeline Downs riding champion Colby Hernandez posted a solid season as well, finishing second in the standings with 122 wins. Diego Saenz, who won the 2017-18 riding title at Delta Downs this winter, finished third with 121 victories.

 

The complete top 10 jockeys’ standings were: Thornton (141 wins), Hernandez (122), Saenz (121), Ashley Broussard and Gerard Melancon (tied at 44), Roberto Morales and Wallynette Rodriguez (tied at 38), Thomas Pompell (32), Steve Bourque (25) and Luis Negron (23).

 

As a contrast to the trainers’ and jockeys’ standings, the owners’ standings produced a new champion for the 2018 season. Texas-based Keene Thoroughbreds, LLC of Danny Keene came to Evangeline Downs with a strong collection of runners for the first time and took the title with 31 victories from 142 starts for a winning percentage of 22%. Keene’s runners earned $314,545 in purse money for the season. End Zone Athletics, Inc. of Karl Broberg and Matt Johanson, who won the owners’ crown in 2017, finished second this year with 28 wins. Red Rose Racing finished third in the standings with 20 victories.

 

The complete top 10 owners’ standings were: Keene Thoroughbreds, LLC (31 wins), End Zone Athletics, Inc. (28), Red Rose Racing (20), Circle H Farms (13), Elite Thoroughbred Racing, LLC and Whispering Oaks Farm, LLC (tied at 12), Wayne T. Davis and Norman Stables, LLC (tied at 11) and a tie for ninth between Brittlyn Stable, Inc. and Earl and Keith Hernandez and John Duvieilh at nine wins each.

 

Evangeline Downs will resume live racing with the start of the 46-day American Quarter Horse season on Wednesday, October 3. The highlight night of the season will be Saturday, December 15 with four major stakes finals taking place that evening. The finals for the $1,000,000 Louisiana Million (RG1), the $275,000 estimated LQHBA Breeders Derby, the $100,000-added Evangeline Downs Futurity and the $50,000-added Evangeline Downs Derby will all be run that evening. Post time for the American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs will be 5:35 pm Central Time.

 

For more information on racing at Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs’ Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

 

 

About Evangeline Downs

Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel is owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation, a leading diversified owner and operator of 22 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.  Boyd Gaming press releases are available at www.prnewswire.com.  Additional news and information can be found at www.boydgaming.com, or www.evangelinedowns.com.

 

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