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!
By Scott Wells
President & General Manager
No comments:
Post a Comment