TQHA Yearling Sale

New Venue, New Excitement

When was the last time you saw someone wearing a jacket in San Antonio, Texas in July?

For the first time in the fourteen year history of the TQHA Yearling Sale the event was held at the AT&T Center and Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas (with the best air conditioning system around) and the results were met with rave reviews.

When the Texas Racing Commission awarded 2011 race dates it was apparent that if the Sale Futurity was going to be held in conjunction with the yearling sale, both would have to be moved to San Antonio. For the first time in many years, Sam Houston Race Park would host Quarter Horse racing in the spring and not in the summer months and Retama Park would host a Quarter Horse meet for the first time since 2008 and would run starting in July.

TQHA president Melissa Tiner and sale chairman W.B. Jones quickly organized a sale committee with three of the members living close to the San Antonio area. After some preliminary visits, it was decided to move the sale to the AT&T Center and it was a great decision .The building that housed the stalls was well vented with a substantial breeze flowing throughout. The building that housed the sales arena was cold enough to see a jacket here and there, even with the door open for yearlings entering and leaving the facility.

The numbers for the 2011 edition were very solid. 250 Yearlings went through the sale ring and they brought $2,731,300 in total sales for a $10,925 average. 184 horses actually sold for an average of $9,371 which is $2,000 per horse average better than last year's Sale. The 2011 edition saw a 27% jump from the 2010 sale.

It seems that the Texas racing and breeding industries are in the perfect storm as of late. A record drought has forced horsemen to seek hay elsewhere and caused prices to rise, the price of diesel and the fact that racetracks have applied for less and less race dates caused by dwindling attendance and handle means Texas horsemen have the fewest race dates they have seen since the legalization of pari-mutuel racing. AND, the fact that Texas racing has been one of the "have-nots" as far as expanded gaming at racetracks and is surrounded by states that have legalized slots at racetracks. However, you would not know that by the numbers Retama Park is posting this year. Friday evening, Retama hosted the "Summer Showdown" races, four races restricted to accredited Texas-breds and Saturday the $400,000 TQHA Sale Futurity.

When asked to comment on the weekend's handle and attendance numbers, Retama CEO Bryan Brown said simply, "outrageous". Friday and Saturday combined for $367,283 wagered by 9,830 patrons at the track those evenings.

It is a rare occurrence to see racetrack management smiling these days and it was a welcome sight.

The TQHA Sale Futurity and "Summer Showdown" has been a successful weekend every year the past twelve years. Retama Park seems to have been re-energized by this year's Quarter Horse meet. One of the many horsemen in attendance was overheard saying "we ain't dead yet!" And he was correct; the weekend in San Antonio had just proved it.

TQHA Sale yearling Is A Dream Come True

In today's economy, everyone is looking for a safe place to invest or at least a safe place for their hard earned money, even if it does not have a great return. Imagine if your broker told you he could turn a meager $4600 into $178,000?! That he could make you 38 times your investment? You would probably call the guys in the white coats. But that is exactly what TRIPLE VODKA did when he won the RGII $400,000 TQHA Sale Futurity and the $178,000 winner's share for owner Rene Spiller.

The Sale Futurity, contested for the first time ever at Retama Park in Selma, Texas, was filled with talented two year olds that were purchased at the 2010 TQHA Yearling Sale in Katy, Texas. The trials for the futurity ran July 15, with TRIPLE VODKA posting the fastest time. In the final, the TRES SEIS colt did what he has done in all three of his races when he broke alertly and ran a straight line down the track looking more like a seasoned veteran than a two year old. The final time was 17:76, the same time that he posted in the trials.

Photo Credit: Coady Photography 

TRIPLE VODKA, who was bred in Texas by K.A. Norris & Ed Peters and consigned to the sale by agent Granada Farms, is out of the STOLI mare NEWPORT LILY.

Rumor has it that the offers have been numerous for this talented colt and after his big win in the futurity they will probably increase.

Photo Credit: Coady Photography

One of the reasons the Quarter Horse industry is so appealing and special to so many people is the fact that sometimes dreams really do come true. Hard work pays off and you find a horse that has the ability to change your life forever. With his breeding he should have no problem running the longer distances. The sky is the limit for this colt.  Congratulations to owner Renee Apiller, breeder K.A. Norris & Ed Peters, trainer Angel Sanchez and jockey J.R. Ramirez.

Texas Racing

TQHA SALE FUTURITY (RG2)

RETAMA PARK; July 30; 2-yr-olds; 350 yds in: 17.765; Purse $400,000.

1st ~ TRIPLE VODKA ~ ATB ~ '10 Yearling Sale - Sold $4,600.  (Tres Seis--Newport Lily, by Stoli).  Owner--Renee Spiller.  Breeder--K A Norris & Peter Racing.  Trainer--A. Sanchez.  Jockey--J. Ramirez.

2nd ~ HICLASS HEAT ~ ATB ~ '10 Yearling Sale - Sold $7,200.  (Hiclass La Jolla--Class In Excess, by Merganser).  Owner--T.C. Flack.  Breeder--Robert & Karen Nunnally.  Trainer--L. Bard.  Jockey--C. Madeira.

3rd ~ ACORN IN THE GROVE ~ ATB ~ '10 Yearling Sale - Repo $6,500.  Owner/Breeder--James Cordell.  Trainer--J. Kearl.  Jockey--R. Vallejo.

ANCIRA FORD CLASSIC STAKES

RETAMA PARK; July 29; 3-yr-olds & up; 400 yds in: 19.899; Purse $38,250.

1st ~ ACORN ~ ATB, (Oak Tree Special--Trio Gal (TB), by Tasso (TB)).  Owner/Breeder--Rose Mary Chandler.  Trainer--J. Van Bebber.  Jockey--A. Lujan.

Acorn #5

Photo Credit: Coady Photography

2nd ~ CHARAL KID ~ ATB, (Streakin La Jolla--The Special Feature, by Strawfly Special).  Owner/Breeder--Malinche Cattle Co.  Trainer--E. Huitron.  Jockey--S. Carrizales.

3rd ~ DIAMOND FOR JESS ~ ATB, (Feature Mr Jess--First Place Diamond, by First Place Dash).  Owner--Dan Nicks.  Breeder--John V Parma Estate.  Trainer--J. Gerhards.  Jockey--A. Silva.

BARNMASTER SPRINT STAKES

RETAMA PARK; July 29; 3-yr-olds & up; 250 yds in: 13.385; Purse $35,000.

1st ~ A NOBLE JESS ~ ATB, (Jess Elie--Fantastic Janie, by Bar Forth).  Owner--A D Maddox.  Breeder--Mercy & Ray Hinklin.  Trainer--J. Gerhards.  Jockey--A. Silva.

Photo Credit: Coady Photography

2nd ~ GOLLY ZEE ~ ATB, (Gol--Zee Ann, by Zevi (TB)).  Owner--Joe Allen & Dallas Blakley.  Breeder--Dallas Blakley & R P Stuart.  Trainer--J. Kearl.  Jockey--R. Vallejo.

3rd ~ WITHOUT PREJUDICE ~ ATB,  (Corona For Me--Euphoric, by Ronas Ryon).  Owner--Oscar Montemayor.  Breeder--Mike &/or Leslie Turner.  Trainer--E. Huitron.  Jockey--L. Vivanco.

GULF COAST 4 STAR TRAILER 550 STAKES

RETAMA PARK; July 29; 3-yr-olds & up; 550 yds in: 27.408; Purse $34,500.

1st ~ JC MY DIAMOND MAN ~ ATB, (Streakin La Jolla--Chicks A Diamond, by Chicks Beduino).  Owner--Clem Nava III.  Breeder--James H Cordell.  Trainer--J. Pennington.  Jockey--A. Lujan.

Photo Credit: Coady Photography

2nd ~ SHINEYS MAGIC T ~ ATB, (Dreams Work--Oh My Shesa Dream, by Oh Shiney).  Owner--Margaret White.  Breeder--Tony A Lostracco.  Trainer--J. Yoakum.  Jockey--J. Yoakum.

3rd ~ A STREAKIN FOOL ~ ATB, (Streakin Sixes--A Fool For Men, by The Advance Man).  Owner--Javier Coronado.  Breeder--Melissa Fisher.  Trainer--J. Espinosa.  Jockey--C. Vidana.

JONES BLOODSTOCK INSURANCE STARTER STAKES

RETAMA PARK; July 29; 3-yr-olds & up; 350 yds in: 18.039; Purse $16,900.

1st ~ SPEEDIN STREAK ~ ATB, (Streakin Sixes--Cashin Memories, by Dash For Cash).  Owner--Betty & Lynn Bettinger, Sr.  Breeder--Jerry Windham.  Trainer--J. Kearl.  Jockey--D. Alvarez.

Photo Credit: Coady Photography

2nd ~ MANUBILI ~ ATB, (Special Red Warrior--Breakaway Babe, by Runaway Winner).  Owner/Breeder--Kathleen O Matey.  Trainer--J. Kearl.  Jockey--R. Vallejo.

3rd ~ EYESA SPECIAL PEACH ~ ATB, (Special Red Warrior--Count Down Now, by Renown).  Owner--Michael Skrivanek.  Breeder--William V Bay.  Trainer--K. Skrivanek.  Jockey--I. Chapa.

Accredited Texas Bred Finalists

PRINCESS S. DERBY

AJAX DOWNS; July 26; 3-yr-olds; 350 yds in: 18.130; Purse $60,400.

1st ~ KATIES AWARDS, (Winners Award--Katies Sign, by Vital Sign).  Owner--Marie Broadstock.  Breeder--W R Brigden/Jerry Windham.  Trainer--B. Broadstock.  Jockey--J. Daigrepont.