Louisiana Downs: Runaway Wagon shortens up in Harrah's Dash

Runaway Wagon, a Grade 2-winning Quarter Horse, will make a significant cutback in distance at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, when he runs in the $15,000 Harrah’s Dash. The 250-yard race is one of two stakes on the first card of the track’s meet for Quarter Horses. The 46-date season will run through March 26.

Runaway Wagon has been racing over the classic distance of 440 yards in his most recent starts, among his efforts a two-length romp in the Grade 2 Sam Houston Classic in May. The Harrah’s Dash will be his first start since June, when he was 10th in the Grade 1 Remington Park Invitational Championship. Bobby Martinez trains Runaway Wagon, who will break from post 2.

The other stakes on the opening program is a route by comparison. The $15,000 Marathon will be run over 870 yards. Trippin Vision, who has won his last three starts, will add Lasix as he takes on probable favorite Worlds On High.

Louisiana Downs has budgeted purses at $75,000 a day at this meet, said Trent McIntosh, the track’s director of racing operations. Louisiana Downs will race on a Saturday-through-Tuesday basis, with special Wednesday cards March 19 and March 26.

The stakes schedule is highlighted by the $100,000-added Mardi Gras Futurity on March 15 and the $75,000-added Harrah’s Futurity on March 22.

Belford dies at 90

Billy Nolan Belford, a longtime owner and trainer, died at Mercy Hospital in Hot Springs, Ark., on Tuesday, according to his daughter, Beneda Loy. He was 90.

Belford was a native of Earle, Ark., who began training horses when he was 20, said Loy, the wife of Oaklawn-based trainer Dewaine Loy. He had Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, and his favorite runners included Native Comet, Margalo, and Moonquake.

Belford raced around the country in his younger years and was a regular at Oaklawn for decades, Beneda Loy said. He retired from training about 10 years ago but still participated in racing as an owner and this past season competed at Louisiana Downs.

“He helped so many people, trainers starting out – he’d give unknown jockeys a chance,” Loy said. “He’d do anything for anybody.”

A visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Monday at Hot Springs Funeral Home. Belford is survived by his wife of 44 years, Helen; son, Billy O. Belford; and Loy.