Today is Military Day
Sunday is a chance to salute our Armed Forces in the area. Men and Women members of the Military need to just show a current military ID at the Information Window and they'll receive a free program, and a coupon for a cold beverage and a hot Nathan's Hot Dog.
Monday - Cradle Mugs Giveaway
Buy a program and get not one, but TWO classic Cradle Stakes mugs! While supplies last at the Regular Guy Pub from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m..
Monday - A Celebration of the Horse
Our friends from Old Friends Retirement Program join us on Labor Day Monday. They provide excellent care to famous Equine Athletes in the heart of the Bluegrass region. There will be a Silent Auction to benefit Old Friends during the afternoon with some excellent items to bid on, including, gift certificates, tickets to local events, Equine photography and art including a original painting of the great Zenyatta by artist Ron Lightener.
To compliment "Old Friends," some of our best old friends will be celebrated between races on Labor Day. We will honor the achievements of two local "Iron Horses."
In the paddock we will be having a retirement party for Eagle Time. Owner/trainer Rick Jordon has been with this competitor since he purchased him as a 2-year-old in training. He feels his multiple stakes winning stallion has done enough on the track and it is time to head back to the breeding shed. It is believed he is the only 14-year-old competitor to record a win at this historic track. He will be brought over to the paddock with the field for the 4th race.
Back in 2000 Eagle Time won the Texas Derby in his sixth lifetime start and followed that with a second-place finish in the Reilly Allison Derby at Sunland Park. The following year he won the Memorial Day Handicap at Mountaineer Park and followed that effort with a second-place finish in the Independence Day Handicap there. He was retired to stud for several years and when his book fell off Jordon decided to return him to racing. He has career earnings of over $273,000.
According to his lifetime trainer, "We will retire him at the end of the River Downs meet and put him back out to stud. He makes money for me on and off the track!"
Ron Field's popular Catlaunch will also make an appearance in the paddock on the final day of live racing. He will come over with the field for the 6th race. The massive gelding will be accompanied by his trainer Ivan Vazquez who has been with the 10-year-old since he was a 2-year-old. Under his watchful eye, the Ohio-bred Catlaunch has twice been named Ohio Horse of the Year and he passed the $1 million mark this season and thus far has won four stakes races in 2011. The son of Noble Cat has won stakes races from 6 furlongs to 1 ¼ miles on numerous occasions. His total of 22 stakes victories is a record for an Ohio-bred. He has run and won every year since he was a 2-year-old. Catlaunch currently boasts a record of 88 lifetime starts - 18 wins, 17 seconds and 9 third-place finishes for earnings of $1,013,344. His "catch me if you can" running style and game stretch runs has led fans to dub him "Ohio's Superman."
Trainers Ivan Vazquez and Rick Jordon are to be commended for the wonderful job they have done caring for these courageous Equine Athletes. Catlaunch and Eagle Time - thanks for the thrills, memories and displays of hard fought determination.