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Grants Pass Downs opens to record purses Mail Tribune photos / Jim Craven For the first time since 1998, the Grants Pass Downs races will be simulcast to the state's 16 off-track betting sites. The average thoroughbred purse also increases from an average of $1,900 last season to $2,500 this year and is expected to reach more than $500,000 for the entire year. Optimism is high as the 22-day race season begins today By FRANK SILOW GRANTS PASS - Smiles, smiles and more smiles. The mood at Grants Pass Downs these days is downright giddy. In stark contrast to a somber attitude in recent years, GP Downs opens a 22-day race season today with the excitement of a teenage girl going on her first date. The added number of racing days - the previous two years featured nine-day seasons, down from a high of 23 in 1990 - has brought the return of many horsemen that didn't find it feasible to race here the past couple of years. "It's unbelievable," says Al Westhoff, Josephine County Fair manager who doubles as director of racing for GP Downs. "We have a waiting list for stalls." Westhoff estimates between 400-500 horses will be available for the meet. With 414 stalls at the fairgrounds, some trainers will ship in stock on race day. In addition to the longer season, the purse money has been bumped up significantly and a jockey bonus program for the so-called "fair meets" has been instituted. All this has led to the highest demand for stalls in a number of years and more jockeys available to ride mounts. A larger horse population translates to fuller fields, which is probably the No. 1 consideration for the racing fans. That rings true for today's nine-race card, which has the maximum of eight horses entered in each race. "That's the first time, I think, we ever filled every race on a card in my 14 years here," says Westhoff. Total purse money for the season is expected to reach more than $500,000. The average thoroughbred purse increases from an average of $1,900 last season to $2,500. Every weekend will have one thoroughbred race with a $3,500 purse. The richest event of the meet will be the $10,000 Firecracker Futurity for 2-year-old quarter horses on July 4. "We're pleased as punch," says Westhoff. "The real true horse player is all excited. I really think with those kind of purses, the class of horses will be better. It has to be our biggest money ever." The reason for the increase in purse money is the closure of the state's flagship track, Portland Meadows, in February because of environmental violations. The Oregon Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) funneled purse money targeted for Portland Meadows to GP Downs. For the first time since 1998, the GP Downs races will be simulcast to the state's 16 off-track betting sites. "Everybody is up and seems to be in a brighter mood than I've seen in a number of years," says Steve Barham, executive director for the Oregon Racing Commission. "You have folks that haven't had racing in Oregon since mid-February. Grants Pass is doing a real positive thing for racing in Oregon. This year, Grants Pass is filling a void." As the training area on the back side of GP Downs was busy with activity earlier this week, horsemen exhibited an upbeat attitude. One of those horsemen is Norm Woodward of Central Point. GRANTS PASS DOWNS WHERE: Off Redwood Highway, south of Grants Pass at the Josephine County Fairgrounds. WHEN: The season begins today at 1 p.m., which is also the starting time for all Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day and July 4. The season runs today through July 7, including Fridays at 5 p.m. from June 14 through July 5. ADMISSION: $2, parking free. PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING: Minimum $2 bet on win, place, show quinella, trifecta and daily double. TYPE OF RACING: Thoroughbred, quarterhorse and mixed breed. Woodward, a 65-year-old semi-retired livestock auctioneer, has three thoroughbreds ready to race. His Lucky May Babe set the track record for six furlongs in 1995. "It tickles me to death to be able to race here," says Woodward. "Everybody is happy with more money and race dates." Woodward, who moved to the Rogue Valley from Southern California 50 years ago, has been running horses at GP Downs since 1984. "This year will be good for the general public and good for the economy," says Woodward. "Horse racing brings a lot of money to the area." Jockey Tad Skaggs, a former two-time leading rider at GP Downs, opted to stay in Boise, Idaho, last year because of the scarcity of racing days. He made a few appearances here for the big futurities, but this season he plans to ride the entire meet. "You have to go someplace else to make a living," says Skaggs. "Nine days don't cut it. We all had long faces when racing was up in the air here. "I've always liked Grants Pass," adds Skaggs, "and I've done good here. This is the premier place to run in the summer." Grants Pass native Mark Garrison talked about the positive developments as he shoed one of his horses in the barn area on a weekday morning. "It looks very promising," says Garrison, a former leading GP Downs trainer who in the past was forced to separate from his wife and two young children to race in Southern California when the number of racing days declined. "It's a good feeling we're going to have a good race meet. Now I don't have to leave the area." Veteran trainer John Harris from Ridgefield, Wash., was busy getting his stable of horses organized Wednesday morning after arriving the night before. Despite being tired from the rigors of the trip, Harris was in a good mood. "There's more purse money here than ever before - that's the answer," says Harris, who has been a fixture at GP Downs. "There should be a lot of interesting races with the added money." Southern Oregon Horse Racing Association President Rod Lowe of Rogue River understands the attitude of the horsemen and what it takes for the local track to be successful. "For us to compete and hold horses here, we have to raise our purses,' says Lowe. "At this point we don't have a shortage of jockeys and horses like other places." What GP Downs has is plenty of happy horsemen. Track Tidbits The morning favorite in today's featured $3,500-added Inaugural stakes race for thoroughbreds is Kingsview. The 8-year-old speedster has won five of six this season. L. Capone, the No. 5 horse, was claimed for $4,000 on May 4 at Emerald Downs by owner/trainer Sharon Balcom. L. Capone should get a lot of interest by the betting public because of consistency -finishing in the money in each of his last eight starts. The 51/2 furlong eighth race also has last year's winner, Imus, and Victor Lehman, winner of a $5,000 claimer at Portland Meadows this season. Grants Pass attorney Duane Schultz originated the Bettor's Handicap nine years ago and it has grown into the most lucrative thoroughbred race of the meet. The race will be split into two legs this season for the first time, with an estimated $5,500 purse for each. A distaff race for fillies and mares going 61/2 furlongs takes place June 23. The open invitational runs at the same distance on July 4. A $15,000 jockey bonus program has been instituted. Jockeys eligible are those who ride in four of five of the summer fair meets - Grants Pass, Burns, Union, Prineville and Tillamook. Jockeys will share the money pool according to a performance point system. Grants Pass jockey Myra Truitt returns to race riding for the first time since being sidelined with a neck injury in August. Truitt has been announced on two opening-day mounts - Miss Congeniality in the fourth race and Ticket Man in the sixth. Truitt skipped the last two GP Downs seasons. John McDevitt and Bobby Webb, last year's leading trainer and jockey, respectively, return to defend their titles. Both will be busy today. Webb has a mount in every race, while McDevitt will saddle horses in six of the nine races. Reach reporter Frank Silow at 776-4480, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.