Tony Richey is a busy man these days. So busy, in fact, that he finds himself atop the trainer standings at both Evangeline Downs and, 200 miles to the north, Louisiana Downs.
Through the first five weeks of the Evangeline meeting, Richey has had 13 winners to lead Karl Broberg by a single victory. During opening weekend of this year’s Louisiana Downs meeting, he sent out three winners and also holds a slim one-victory advantage.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The evening updates were getting old.
In recent summers, when jockey Garrett Gomez was somewhere in the Eastern time zone, typically in Kentucky, New Jersey, or New York, he often spoke at night to his wife and children back in California, getting caught up with the developments of their lives.
He was a working father, but an absent father, and it was not satisfying.
“I was missing a lot over the years,” Gomez said last weekend.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Night racing has become a phenomenon at Churchill Downs, where thousands of 20-somethings help ontrack attendance skyrocket when the lights are turned on. Churchill will host three night cards later in the meet (June 17, 24, July 1), but until then, a mini-version of the ultra-hip night themes will be tried out for the next five Fridays.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Cherokee Notion figures to be a solid favorite in a first-level allowance race that will serve as Friday’s feature race at Hastings. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and goes as race 7 on the eight-race card that begins at 7p.m.
British Columbia-breds with two wins are eligible for the first-level conditions, and one of Cherokee Notion’s wins came in the B.C. Cup Stellar’s Jay last year.
AUBURN, Wash. – Chaching Pete and Passion Lives Here, who finished a neck apart when making their season debuts April 30, are scheduled to meet again Friday in the feature race at Emerald Downs. A six-furlong, $12,500 claiming race for older horses who have never won three times, it’s the seventh race on an eight-race program beginning at 6 p.m. Pacific.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The 2-year-old campaign of War Pilot was cut short by necessity last fall.
“He needed time to catch up,” trainer Mike Pender said. “He has had some minor hiccups along the way, but mostly it was to allow his mind to catch up to his frame.”
Six months after winning a maiden race on turf, War Pilot makes his 3-year-old debut in a $52,000 allowance race over six furlongs on turf at Hollywood Park on Friday evening. Pender has noticed mental changes in recent months, including a quick five-furlong workout on turf in 59.80 seconds last Sunday.
Jockey Ramsey Zimmerman was arrested in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday morning and charged with four felonies, including possession and intent to deliver crack cocaine and heroin. Police discovered Zimmerman in an unresponsive state while operating a motor vehicle. Zimmerman, 29, is being held in the Polk County, Iowa, Jail.
According to his agent, Kenny Washburn, Zimmerman was supposed to visit family in Chicago on Sunday and return to work Monday morning.
That Voodoo Youdo should appreciate the shorter distance and easier company when she returns to Northlands Park on Friday.
Trained by Greg Tracy, That Voodoo Youdo finished last after setting a quick pace when she made her seasonal debut in a $35,000 optional claimer over 6 1/2 furlongs at Hastings on April 30. She figures to be a short price in a 3 1/2-furlong, $30,000 claiming race that drew five fillies and mares and goes as the fifth race.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Horsemen and horseplayers who were looking forward to the beginning of turf racing here at Woodbine this weekend will have to wait.
“I have to take the races off the turf,” said director of racing and racing secretary Steve Lym, who had planned to offer a pair of grass races on each of the Saturday and Sunday cards. “The weather just hasn’t been good enough. We’re aiming for Friday, May 20, now. We should hit it.”
