MY FAVORITE RP MOMENTS OF THE MEET – TB MEET 2012 PART II

By Chris Kotulak
Communications & Broadcast Associate

  In my last post, I intended to address my favorite racing moments of the 2011 TB season, I didn’t quite get around to that, but I know the time and space I used was well-spent. 

As far as my favorite racing moments of the meet, I have many, but in considering time and space, I really need to pare it down to just a few.

In the horse category, I’d have to say it is a dead-heat between two horses:  Now I Know and Ted’s Folly.

 Hollywood simply could not have scripted anything better than what played out this season for Ted’s Folly; and his connections could not have been any more agreeable throughout all meet long.  Of course, why wouldn’t you be agreeable if you were campaigning a dramatic win machine in the process of earning over $330,000?  This was not the first rodeo for trainer Wilson Brown; he’s prone to having a fast and fast-developing two-year-old in his barn.  Wilson and his wife Brenda were as steady as ever from the first win to the sixth.  And what fun it was to always hear the grateful, excited, squeaky voice of jockey Jose Medina.  He’d begin each post-race winners circle interview by thanking God – and Wilson, and owner Steve Martin.  This seems like a good time to congratulate Luis the groom of Ted’s Folly.  He was helpful to me when we swung by the barn to get some video.  My guess is that he was pretty helpful to Teddy.  Teddy is the logical nickname for Ted’s Folly.  I’ll never forget how during the running of the $315,000 Springboard Mile, with five horses lined up racing past the ¼ pole, and the crowd cheering heartily, along came another horse to join the battle - it was Teddy!  I think I heard it before I realized it.  Come on Teddy, Come on Teddy!  That was the scream that rose above them all and it was the primary cry of owner Steve Martin.  I’d heard it a few times in the stretch run of some of his earlier races this season, but never before at such a high decibel-level.  I’m not sure what was more fun, the race, or post race celebration with Steve, his wife Brooke and their friends?  It seemed like that procession to the winners circle grew with each an every race.  Steve got a bit emotional a few times in the post-race interview.  It’s those moments that make me ever so proud that I do what I do.

I picked against her in her first two starts, although I knew all along what could be; I guess I might simply say, Now I Know.  Shame on me!  Countless times in my early days I saw a Don Von Hemel first-time-starter win with aplomb, Now I Know was yet another.  For some goofy reason, I picked against her in her first race versus winners; but I made such a big deal of her pre-race, you’d have thought she was my top pick.  That’s just me being a genius again. 

By the time she won her third-straight race it was evident that a genuine star was in the making.  The real genius is the simple technique, experience, knowledge and class of trainer Don Von Hemel, coupled with the icy-cool power of Perry L. Compton - the consummate journeyman jockey.  Now I Know, DVH, PLC, and their footmen – and women, have proven be a tremendous force.  Don Von is based in Hot Springs, AR and when he is not at the barn, his shed row is in the very capable hands of his assistant Bridget Lambert and longtime DVH exercise rider Allan “The Shadow” Lawrence.  Now I Know has a nasty reputation of being very temperamental and she has been known to buck-off anyone she damn-well-wants, whenever-the-hell she wants.  Now that’s attitude.  She won all four of her RP starts with embarrassing ease and speedy style.  Her co-owner and co-breeder, Wayne Stockseth and his wife Norma Lee, wanted more from their filly and they got it.  They took the Now I Know Show on the road and she was a tour de force in the half-million dollar Delta Princess.  There, at DeD, horse and jockey went to the front and repelled all challenges to win by four lengths.  Now we all know!  Her next stop will be more stakes races at Oaklawn Park.  One of the good things about a Von Hemel runner is that they tend to return to a track where they had success.  So mark your calendars for the Remington Park Oaks in October 2012.  Patience!

I feel like I need to chuck in my Honorable Mentions for the meet, so here they are, in no specific order…

Best Winners Circle Interview - Runner Up:  Local owner, Big Mike Walker tearing up after his Tourmaline won this year’s RP Oaks.  Hey ya big lug; suck it up – you’re making the guy who’s interviewing you tear up too.

Respect Your Elders:  Scrappy Roo finished off the board in his last two starts at the meet, but the 8-yr-old won his first two and that’s good enough for me.  I better not forget Motion Approved who won this year’s Red Earth Stakes at age ten.  Way to go grandpa!

Best New Face:  In my paddock previews I intentionally try to not mention jockey names; it seems to do more bad than good.  For years, my motto has been to only mention someone’s name in a good light.  Problem is, over the years, sometimes my mentions, or misinterpreted or misconstrued mentions, can come back to bite me.  Bite me!  ;) (winky face)  Anyway, jockey Jose Medina might not be new to you, but he is new to me.  Jose really impressed me.  And he would have impressed me even without Ted’s Folly beneath him.  He seemed fearless without being stupid; and I love his enthusiasm.  I am just kicking myself because Jose has this incredible, thick, wild, bushy hair that he must wrestle-down to keep under his bandana.  Just wait til I do remember to ask him to pull that bandana off.  It’ll be like opening up a can of snakes.  Look out Medusa, Medina might be your match. 

Best Old Face: As I said before, I love seeing and working with many of my old friends.  But I feel so blessed (we all should feel this way) to have Don Von Hemel as part of the picture.  I simply have never met a man in horse racing with any more class.  DVH is my idol.  I could write a book on that topic, but I first need to finish the book I’m writing on JVB. 

Most Favorite Event:  My involvement with the Oklahoma TB Hall Of Fame required a tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes work, but it was all a labor of love.  I haven’t seen John Lively since he rode his last winner at Ak-Sar-Ben.  John is cut from the same cloth as Don Von, so I guess I have two idols.  That night went by way too fast for me.

Favorite Race:  Ted’s Folly’s race gave the Oklahoma Derby a real run-for-the money; let’s call it a dead-heat between the two.  The OK Dby was a very nice field and the finish was one for the ages – kinda like Ted’s Folly’s.  That’s the second dead-heat for Teddy in this blog.

I Finally Got To Meet…  Chris Richard: he trains for some high-profile clients (Maggi Moss and Mattress Mac) and wins races for them.  Chris Hartman: he wins races for anyone.  CR Trout: only wins/trains for himself, but he won at greater than 30%.  I never heard of Francisco Bravo, but I know him now – Viva Chile! 

Most Snake-Bit:  Randy Morse.  Randy’s horse’s always look like a million bucks when they come to the paddock and the man can train winners.  Apparently Lady Luck and Murphy’s Law collided and landed on Randy.  Cheer up and better luck in 2012!

Best On-Air Zinger From Joy Rose:  Occasionally Joy and I have other obligations that prevent us from doing a paddock preview together.  On one such occasion I was tending to a local news woman, a glitzy blonde (not my type) who needed some direction.  I missed the paddock preview without notifying tv control or Joy.  Well, on my way to the paddock, over the speakers, I heard Joy say,  “…Chris Kotulak cant be here right now, he’s chasing after a blonde.”  Good one!  But not true, I was leading her. 

Scariest Moment:  Calling races is like riding a unicycle.  I’ve called nearly 25,000 races, but being a backup announcer aint like being the full-time announcer.  Dale Day went to three Sooner games this year so I stepped into his announcer’s booth each time.  Calling races as a backup (for me) is like skating on thin ice – I just want to quickly get to the other side of the pond.  Dale does a great job and I’m grateful I can fill-in now and then.  I love calling races – but only from my own booth.  Maybe I should have turned on his lava lamp?

Most Surreal Feeling:  On the final week of racing we had a spill on the backstretch that took down three riders.  The track ambulance brought all three riders back at once.  It was a very strange feeling to see all three, blank-faced riders quietly step down from the ambulance.  Cliff Berry wasn’t limping, Shane Laviolette had a slight limp and Benny Landeros need some assistance.  None of them said a word.  It was similar, but not equal to, soldiers returning from battle.  But horse racing can claim lives - and you could just feel how each rider realized they were lucky to have escaped with their own life.

Most Rewarding Feeling – Runner Up:  Following the recognition in the winners circle of Cliff Berry’s 14^th RP Leading Jockey Title, I got to chat with his sweet wife Kim.  As we walked off together, Cliff purposefully informed me that he and his bride (Kim) had been married 28 years.  He said it with happiness and pride.  Now that’s class. 

Most Rewarding Feeling:  Veronica Griggs impressed me as a good horse trainer who had a good meet , but she impressed me as a person way beyond that on closing night.  I’ve stood next to Veronica when her horse is in a race and she can cheer with the best of them when the real running begins.  Well, Veronica was cheering and screaming and whipping while watching her horse fall a neck short of winning.  Veronica was disappointed she lost, but when she realized that it was jockey Stephanie Keever on the horse who beat her, she was all smiles and was first in line to congratulate Stephanie.  It takes a lot to shift moods so quickly like that – or maybe not?  Maybe that kindness comes naturally?   With Veronica, I know it does, and I know she’s not the only one like that.  Ahhhhhhhh, it’s good to be at RP. 

MY FAVORITE RP MOMENTS OF THE MEET – TB MEET 2012

By Chris Kotulak

Communications & Broadcast Associate

What a treat it was for me to surface at Remington Park.  For me, it was the best of many worlds. 

Where do I start?  Being around the horsemen that I cut me teeth with in horse racing was so satisfying.  For the first few weeks, it seemed like every time I turned around, there was somebody else who I hadn’t seen in years.  And the wild thing was, when maybe a week would go by without another re-acquaintance, surprise, along came someone else.  And not only horsemen, I loved catching up with the race fans and owners I’ve known for decades.  So many of them had the same message for me about my involvement with TVG; thank you for that.  No one said life would be fair, but I consider it a blessing from God to land where I did here at Remington Park.  I continue to have a good relationship with TVG and that can only help us at RP.

I’m also blessed to be surrounded by some terrific folks with whom I work.  Aside from my handicapping and nightly, on-camera appearances with Joy Rose, I also do a lot of behind-the-scenes work upstairs in the press box.  My responsibilities allow me to get my fingers into a lot of pots.  I am directly involved with marketing decisions, fan education; broadcast endeavors and was named the chairman of the RP Hall of Fame Committee.  No, I was not named to the RP HOF, I was only named to oversee the significant undertaking of the HOF banquets – both TB and QH. 

Sharon Lair is the Marketing Director at RP and she must feel like she’s running a three-ring circus at times.  I’ve worked around a number of arrogant marketing execs; Sharon is not one of them.  Her marketing department is like a hive of busy bees buzzing about.  Sharon has a special skill of connecting with a variety of employees who have a variety of roles.  Our weekly marketing meetings are enlightening, entertaining and productive.  It’s so rewarding to work at a track that not only has good ideas, but has a budget to implement the good ideas and try new ones.  I like the fun of the Beer Run; the genius of the Calendar Giveaway; the Hat and Halloween Costume Contest too.  Occasionally our Pres & GM, Scott Wells will surface at the marketing meetings to listen and contribute; of course, Scott is apt to surface anywhere on our property.  That man is an intrepid horseman, track manager and lover of the game.  Good for us!

Upstairs, RPTV is a reliable tv crew; Stephen is the longtime director, who is also a comic and sitcom savant.  Scary!  He is dutifully assisted by Shane, who pushes plenty buttons himself – but in a good and silent way.  Monty, Sam and Ryan shoot mounted cameras and you typically see Hal on track level with a camera on his shoulder.  Hal usually has a wireless microphone in his pocket – the one I have been know to leave behind.  There’s also a plumber named Michael who is often either bringing us wicked chicken wings from a food truck called Bo Bo’s; this plumber also occasionally runs camera, or sprints to remedy whatever needs attention.  I’ve enjoyed working with our video editor David.  He’s done some clever stuff on his own and he and I are destined to do some really cool stuff together.

Within earshot of my desk upstairs (for better or worse) are three real gems.  For whatever reason, Dale Day and I hit it off the first afternoon I arrived.  Maybe it is our similar age; maybe it is our Midwest background; maybe it is our similar jobs and work experience; maybe it is our similar humor – maybe it’s because he’s a really good guy?  Dale is incredibly even-keeled; I have yet to see him come un-glued.  I noticed he doesn’t eat the contents of the Tupperware container he brings to work until after the last race; I’m afraid to ask him what time he leaves the press box.  I’d say I work the early shift, he works the late shift – and that seems to work for us both.

Directly behind me is Dana.  She is in charge of much of whatever is designed or printed here at RP.  Racing Publications is her title.  Dana has a wonderful grasp of graphic design and attention to detail.  Blondie, as Dale and I call her (she likes it – I think) also knows horse racing and is a proud TB breeder & owner along with her husband.  Look for her smiling face in the winners circle whenever Kirk Thoroughbreds wins a race.  Completing the press box trifecta is Michelle.  An odd bird this one.  Here’s another slow-burner who really knows racing, and really knows RP racing; but it doesn’t stop there.  Michelle is very tech-savvy and has picked up on what makes for good tv.  This modest maven is largely responsible for the content of what is displayed on the Super Screen.  Michelle has an atrocious diet of pop & donuts, but this sharp cookie (she gobbles them up too) is integral in the look of RP.  I feel like I fit right in with them; it feels like a winning superfecta.

Those, among others, are the fine folks I rub shoulders with on a daily basis...  Randy Hare is priceless in her position at the Racing Information Center.  She’s also a pretty good handicapper – just ask her.  Speaking of good handicappers, Marilyn Toney was our leading handicapper this meet (edging Jerry Shottenkirk by one win – one win Jerry!), but she also has her finger on the pulse of the on-track VIP players.  Marilyn was born for the position she holds here.  I just wish she’d quit smoking.  I wish everyone would quit smoking.  Someone who I only see once a week, but who many (or millions) may interact much more, is Yenni.  Boy, she really trills her Rs’, and drilly, drilly can Tweet!  Senorita de Tweeta (Yenni or Jenny for the unadventurous) is in charge of our rapidly-growing social media exposure.  She, and our latent and growing fan base, is making quite an imprint. 

 

Yikes!  I’ve gone on a bit haven’t I?  Sorry, I’ll stop here for now.  My next post will truly be about those truly lovable horses and horsemen.

http://www.remingtonpark.com

A Big Thank You!!!

Wow!  What a racing season just passed!  Oklahoma horses shocked the world with their successes in important races all around the country. The race for Leading Jockey went right down to the wire with Cliff Berry nosing out his friend and rival Luis Quinonez on the final night of the season.  Two self-made Oklahomans tied in the Leading Owner race and the world's leading trainer, Steve Asmussen, collected another Remington Park Leading Trainer title.  Redeemed, winner of the Oklahoma Derby, followed that win with a victory in the prestigious Discovery Handicap in New York.   But the big stories were the three upset victories which Oklahoma horses pulled off on the national (and international) stage.  First, an Oklahoma owned-bred-and-trained filly named Shotgun Gulch won a Grade 1 race at Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky.  A few weeks later, Oklahoma owned-and-trained Caleb's Posse won the Grade I King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga, beating last year's champion Uncle Mo in the process.  Caleb's Posse had previously won the Clever Trevor Stakes here at Remington Park--an ironic victory since his owner, Don McNeill (with partner Everett Dobson), and trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel also campaigned Clever Trevor himself. 

The high point of the year came next when Caleb's Posse stormed from last place to first in the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs!  Oklahoma horses and horse people--Edmond residents-- front and center on the world stage.  Remington Park trainers won three of the Breeders' Cup races (Steve Asmussen added two more to his growing total).  Then on the final night of the Remington Park season, in the race which is beginning to rival the Oklahoma Derby in its importance, the $300,000 Springboard Mile, a little Oklahoma-bred defied the odds and charged up from last place to defeat 11 of the nation's best two-year-olds and placed himself squarely on the road to the Kentucky Derby.  They call him Ted's Folly but he's anything but a folly.  The ordinary-looking colt has earned about $350,000 for his owners and has now won his last six consecutive races--all at Remington Park.  So in a season with many, many highlights, Ted's Folly will be the unanimous Horse of the Meet and we'll be watching for his upcoming races on the Triple Crown trail this coming spring.

                While the horses won't be racing again until March, the Casino is rocking!  The new Bricktown Brewery adds a whole new dimension to fun dining!  Looking out over the finish line and winners circle of the racetrack and just paces away from 750 slots, it's the best seat in the house!  And what about the serve-yourself beer taps right at the party tables!  It's a great way to sample the hand-crafted beers that've made the BTB so popular.  And the food is fantastic!

                One thing about Remington Park--we keep changing for the better.  I guess that's why the place is full  of Christmas parties right up until Christmas Eve, then we'll be getting ready for the New Year's Eve blast!  Yeah!  'Tis the Season, right?!  Party on! right?!  Party on!

By Scott Wells

President & General Manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.remingtonpark.com/

Meet Roland Hernandez, Our Team Leader Of The Month!!!

Roland Hernanandez was born and raised in Jacksonville, TX, a small East Texas town.

Growing up his interests gravitated toward electronics and enjoyed playing percussion instruments such as Congas and Timbales, in Rock and Texas Country bands.

After graduation in 1988, he moved to Irving, TX to go to college, and majored in electronics/technology. While acquiring his degree he started working at a Chili’s. The more he worked in the Chili's kitchen, the more he found a joy for cooking.

After graduating he opened an electronic repair shop in Tyler, TX. The shop was successful, but as time passed his desire to cook became overwhelming. In 1991, he moved to South Florida with some friends and started working in kitchens again. However, he preferred TX so moved back in 2001 to find a 'cooking' position at “Willow Brook Country Club”, where he met Chef Joseph, the previous Executive Chef at Remington Park.

In 2007 a phone call from Chef Joseph offered Roland a job as the Silk’s Chef at Remington Park. He gladly accepted the position and moved to Oklahoma City. To this day Roland is grateful to Chef Joseph for the move and the opportunity to have become the Executive Chef upon Joseph's acceptance of a very prestigious position in his home state.

 

Per Kent Slabotsky:
Work Ethic - Stamina - Attitude - Reliability

Since the first of October he has averaged 75 hours per week. At one point he worked 30 of 31 days. This doesn't include the time at home receiving and responding to email, texts, phone calls and unexpected hiccups. His demeanor is always upbeat and balanced, all the while carrying, essentially, two separate operations. His direct involvement in transitioning out of Remi's and into BTB has been extensive. His crew was shrunk in June in anticipation of opening BTB in July.

Performance

Oklahoma Derby, Red Earth Day, Breeder's Cup, numerous internal functions, changing from one Prime Vendor (Sysco) to another (Ben E Keith), day-to-day operations, personnel management, not to mention our Catering volume which is more than 30% up from previous years ... this is just to name some of the events and other functions that he is a key player in ... He always understands the mission, sets his priorities, creates his plans, disseminates and oversees the execution of the plans ... all with tons of input but very little in the way of oversight, steering or direct supervision. His commitment to Remington Park and his belief in our goals is exceptional. This past week all the food in Remi's had to be cooked in the Mezzanine kitchen and transported downstairs to Remi's to allow BTB to practice. The usual organization of the Remi's operation was torn asunder and he simply "adapted" to it. Many in his role would have struggled mightily or simply cracked under this load. Not Roland.

One other note: He and his wife have three small children, and the usual spate of illness, issues at school, and just "missing Daddy" come up all the time ... hospital runs, you name it ... he just plows right on through. He was physically too ill to work for about a week of this period, but persevered.

Roland is exceptional and we are lucky to have him as an integral part of the team!

For Employment Opportunities Visit Remington Park Website

Meet Mitchell Holder, Our Team Member Of The Month!!!

Mitchell’s Background:
He graduated from Anadarko in May of 1982. He went to work for the Department of Agriculture in August of 1984. During this time he went to college at the Eastern Oklahoma State College from 1986 – 1988 for computer science which is the profession in which he worked in until RP.

In December 10, 2009 he was hired by Remington Park Security. After a year and a half he was promoted to Lieutenant and supervised on the second shift. During August 2010 moved my family back to Anadarko so his son could graduate from high school there. He missed working at Remington Park so he called Christopher Robinson to find out if he had any openings and he told him to come in right away! He started back in January, 2011.

Hobbies: He likes to travel, go camping and go fishing.

Nomination Statements:
“He always has a smile on his face, he is friendly to everyone.”

“If you have talked to Officer Holder, you have walked away smiling. He is always in a good mood and puts others in a good mood.”


From Ms. Coker:
I would like to add the Mitch is a great guy to work with. He always has a smile when you see him and has nothing but good things to say to people. I have never heard him complain about any job he is asked to do. He is always filled with a happy spirit. Mitch is the kind of guy that would give you his last dollar if you needed it.

From Mr. Robinson:
“He is a larger than life individual who greets everyone with a smile and warm words. I cannot remember a day when he has not done this. He is a credit to the Security Department, and a great ambassador for Remington Park.”

“Keep it going Mitch as your joyful personality rubs off on everyone that comes in contact with you!”

For Employment Opportunities Visit Remington Park Website