Crawford named racing secretary at Louisiana Downs

Matt Crawford has been named racing secretary for both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meets at Louisiana Downs, the track announced Thursday.

Crawford is the current assistant racing secretary for the Thoroughbred meet at Lone Star Park. He will assume his new position July 18.

Crawford, 65, is a former trainer who began working as a racing official in 2008 at Louisiana Downs. He’s been the racing secretary at Canterbury Park, Delta Downs, Hialeah, Sam Houston, Ruidoso Downs, and Zia Park. He also was the racing secretary for the Quarter Horse meet at Lone Star.

“Matt has a noted tenure in our industry and knows our region very well,” Mitch Dennison, general manager of racing for Louisiana Downs, said in a press release. “We are fully committed to serving our horsemen at the highest level and know that Matt shares that goal. He joins an established racing-office team, well coordinated by Jennifer Sokol. There is no doubt that Matt will be a great fit as he returns to Louisiana Downs.”

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Louisiana Downs is racing through Sept. 27.

Ramstad retires

Crawford’s appointment comes on the heels of the retirement of Russ Ramstad, the interim racing secretary this meet who worked for Louisiana Downs for 44 years. Ramstad was the longtime assistant racing secretary at the track, and also served in the same role at Oaklawn Park.

Ramstad is a native of Seattle, Washington. He went through the Race Track Industry Program at the University of Arizona and while there met Pat Pope, who would become the longtime racing secretary for Louisiana Downs.

“I met Pat Pope in the program,” Ramstad said in a press release. “He graduated and accepted the position of co-assistant racing secretary at Louisiana Downs. In 1979, he hired me as an intern. I worked six days a week and was paid $35!”

Ramstad was honored in a winner’s circle presentation last week at Louisiana Downs. He lives near the track with his wife, Deb.

“I am looking forward to reading books, spending time with Deb and just enjoying life,” Ramstad said.

*** One Fine V ($2.80) won the $305,865 Firecracker Futurity for Quarter Horses on Saturday night at Delta Downs. She was the fastest qualifier for the richest open company stakes of the meet. Delta puts on its richest card of the meet next Saturday night, with the Louisiana Showcase card led by the $744,302 Lee Berwick Futurity.