By David Hooper, CEO, Texas Thoroughbred Association
Photo by Lucy Reyna, Horseback Magazine
AUSTIN, (TRC) – GOVERNOR PERRY APPOINTS HOUSTON CFA TO TRC TO FILL PABLOS’ VACANCY
Governor Rick Perry has appointed John T. Steen III, a Chartered Financial Analyst and director of commercial development for Lone Star NGL LLC, to the Texas Racing Commission to fill the unexpired term of former TRC Chair Rolando Pablos, which runs through 2013.
Steen earned a Bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and two post-graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a past member of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners.
Steen is expected to be introduced at the next TRC meeting on November 15.
17 CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR 3-YEAR TERMS ON TTA BOARD IN 2012 ELECTION
The Texas Thoroughbred Association Board of Directors met via conference call early this morning and accepted the recommendations of the Nominating Committee by confirming 17 candidates to run for 3-year terms on the TTA Board in the 2012 election of directors taking place later this fall.
There are 13 candidates running at large for five statewide seats. With their home city in parentheses, the at-large candidates are: Dr. Shirley Browne (Richmond), Jack Cook (Rockdale), Carl Davis (Lindale), Ed Few (Jasper), Lewis Hall Jr. (Fort Worth), James Hughes (Seguin), Bill Jordan (Weatherford), Mark Martinez (San Antonio), Eddie Milligan (Murchison), Dr. Jacquelyn Rich (Lott), Mike Rose (Dallas), Danny Shifflett (Hempstead) and Jeff Stevens (Richardson).
The at-large incumbents are Few, Jordan, Milligan and Shifflett. In addition, Drs. Browne and Rich, who have been the respective East and Central Region directors in recent years, have chosen to run at large in the upcoming election rather than as incumbents for their Regional seats.
The East and Central Regions will each have two candidates on the respective Regional ballots. The East Region candidates are Brent Savage (Cypress) and Hal Wiggins (Houston). The Central Region candidates are Dr. Tom Castoldi (San Marcos) and Jerry Chapman (Waco).
Ballots will be mailed November 1 to eligible TTA members along with background information on each candidate. Ballots must be received in the TTA office by December 15.
TEXAS-BREDS TAPTAM, TEXAS COUNTRY DOLL 1-2 IN $103,750 OPEN INDIANA STAKES
Trainer Bob Baffert shipped Freedom Star from the West Coast to Hoosier Park for the $103,750 Mari Hulman George Stakes on October 1 and she went postward as the 4-5 choice to win the 1 1/16-mile race, but Freedom Star could do no better than fourth as two Texas-breds ran one-two, both at 11-1 odds.
The consistent veteran mare Taptam, owned in partnership by Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch, added to her record of accomplishments by opening a daylight lead late and winning by 1 ¾ lengths over Jim Warvell’s homebred and trained Texas Country Doll, who finished 2 ½ lengths before Afleeting Lady. Taptam completed the distance in 1:45.60 and paid a generous $24.60 after having turned in a lackluster effort finishing 11th in Ellis Park’s Gardenia Stakes in her most recent outing. Taptam’s career earnings are now $575,338.
The versatile Warvell and his wife Jan, along with daughters Sonna and Toni, comprise the Warvell Family inductees to the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in Fort Worth in 2010. The Warvell Family is commemorated in the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame with the following recognition: “The Warvell Family, based in Weatherford, Texas, has performed in almost every major American city, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Japan, Brazil, England, Singapore, and even Kuwait. Their spectacular acts have been the highlight of PRCA Rodeos, Fairs and Wild West Shows. Jim and Jan Warvell, along with daughters Toni and Sonna, kept audiences thrilled with acts featuring Roman Riding, Trick Riding, Trick Roping, Comedy Routines and Dancing Horses.
“One of the most spectacular acts featured Jan riding a beautiful white horse at liberty without a bridle or saddle. Trained by Jim Warvell, ‘White Feather’ and Jan would jump a white convertible car in the arena in front of a spellbound audience. Today, 2009, finds the Warvells are still active in the horse business. Jim and Jan are owners and trainers of race horses. Toni is active in cutting, training and judging equine events and since the 1992 Euro Disney opening, Sonna has had the starring role as ‘Annie Oakley’ in ‘Le Legende de Buffalo Bill,’ Disney’s largest dinner show located in Paris, France.”
Congratulations Jim and continued success for you and Jan with your race horses and to your daughters in their respective careers in the horse industry.
75th KEENELAND ANNIVERSARY SEASON OPENS WITH 5 GRADE 1s THIS WEEKEND
Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, KY, opens its 75th anniversary season with a spectacular 3-day racing program that includes nine graded stakes, five of which are classified as Grade 1, and they will be contested in spectacular weather as the leaves transition into their beautiful fall colors.
The meet opens on Friday headed by the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1). There are three Grade 1s on Saturday’s card topped by the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile. The $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) tops Sunday’s card.
TVG personalities will provide live coverage of the Keeneland meet. The track’s races are also streamed live on Keeneland’s website. Saturday’s featured stakes will be shown on VERSUS, part of the NBC Sports Group, from 4-5pm CDT.
WASTED TEARS MAKES FINAL CAREER START IN KEENELAND’S FIRST LADY (G1)
Bart Evans’ homebred and trained 6-year-old multiple stakes-winning mare Wasted Tears, three-time winner of Lone Star Park’s Ouija Board Handicap (G3), will make her final career start in one of Keeneland’s three Grade 1 stakes this Saturday when she goes postward against a full field of 11 older fillies and mares in the $350,000 First Lady Stakes at her favorite distance of one mile on turf.
Wasted Tears enters the First Lady with 12 wins in 21 starts, plus two seconds and one third for earnings of $923,963. A First Lady win will make her a millionairess. In addition to her Lone Star Ouija Board wins, Wasted Tears also boasts Grade 2 triumphs in the John C. Mabee at Del Mar and the Jenny Wiley at Keeneland, and a Grade 3 victory in the Honey Fox at Gulfstream Park. Wasted Tears finished fifth in the First Lady last year.
Fast furlongs…The International Simulcast Conference, held in Scottsdale, AZ, this week, placed special emphasis on discussions of improved spacing of major stakes to maximize handle and the positive results realized by several tracks when takeout rates were reduced…The one-time brilliant mare Life at Ten has finally been retired and will be sold in Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale after failing to win this year following her non-performance last November in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic that spawned controversy and investigations that are still not resolved…Equibase’s 9-month summation of industry economic indicators finds purses up 0.6%, wagering down 7.6% and racing days down 5.2% compared with the first three-quarters of 2010…Dallasite Jerry Namy’s Shared Prospect, undefeated in two starts including the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3), gives Texans a rooting interest connection in Keeneland’s $400,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on Saturday…Retama Park has carded several full fields for its 10-race programs this weekend, with 94 horses in the entries on Friday night and 104 on Saturday.
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