Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
June 25, 2009
www.thistledown.com
Outstandng Buckeye-Bred Tougaloo Dead At Greenfield Farm At Age 26
Tougaloo, Ohio's richest and perhaps most beloved racemare has died. Cynthia Knight, whose late husband Landon bred and raced Tougaloo, confirmed that the daughter of Lot O'Gold was euthanized at Greenfield Farm in Lexington, Ky. on June 9. Tougaloo was 26. She raced from 1986 through 1989 winning 13 of 31 starts (11 victories were in stakes and handicaps) and earned $583,030.
"Tougaloo always looked younger than her age. She never looked old," said Cynthia Knight. "But when I saw her this spring, she had aged a great deal. I knew I'd never see her again. She loved her peppermints, so I fed her some of them, hugged and kissed her and told her how much I loved her."
Tougaloo was named Ohio Horse of the Year in 1989. Three times she won the Rose DeBartolo Memorial, Thistledown's premier race for fillies and mares. She also remains the only filly or mare to win the Best of Ohio Endurance, a 1 1/4-mile race that's been run 22 times. Tougaloo won the 1988 renewal. The other 21 editions have been won by colts or geldings.
Tougaloo drew national attention every time she ran because Landon Knight, continuing the tradition that his grandfather started, donated a portion of her earnings to her namesake Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi.
"Landon named Tougaloo after the college, but only after asking the school's permission," said Cynthia Knight. "He then donated 10 percent of everything she earned to Tougaloo College. He even hosted the school's president at Thistledown for one of Tougaloo's Rose DeBartolo victories."
Tougaloo wasn't as successful a broodmare as she was a racemare. She had nine foals, of which two were winners. She retired from the breeding shed in 2005. Her second foal, Private Stash, was stakes placed with a second in the Vivacious Handicap at River Downs and a third in Beulah Park's Scarlet and Gray Handicap.
"Tougaloo was all business on the racetrack, but was sweet and nice when she was off it," said Cynthia Knight.
Pay The Man Turns Back Pyrite Gem To Win $50,000 Petro Memorial Stakes
Pyrite Stables' Pay The Man, yet to be beaten by a filly or mare in a race at Thistledown, added Saturday's $50,000 J. William Petro Memorial to her remarkable run by outdueling stablemate Pyrite Gem for a 1 1/4 length decision. Ridden by Ricardo Feliciano for his uncle, trainer Miguel (Angel) Feliciano, Pay The Man won over the North Randall oval for the ninth time in 10 races. The only time she has been defeated was when she finished second to Pyrite Personal, her male stablemate,in the 2007 Cleveland Gold Cup.
"She's just the best," said Angel Feliciano. "I didn't tell my riders (Andrew Ramgeet rode Pyrite Gem) how to ride. Both my horses want to go from the gate. You can't take too much of a hold of them."
Pay The Man broke on top in the 1 1/16-mile Petro but was quickly joined on the outside by Pyrite Gem. The two raced as a team until the top of the stretch where Pay The Man edged away. Slides Choice, Ohio's juvenile filly champion last year, was third.
"Ricky and I were talking to each other," said Ramgeet. "When we turned for home, we said, 'Let the better horse win,' and went to riding. She (Pay The Man) is just better."
Ramgeet ought to know. He substituted for Feliciano and rode Pay The Man to victory in last year's Petro Memorial.
Pay The Man, who paid $4 for a $2 win ticket, earned $30,000 for Saturday's effort and has now banked $463,685. She ranks fifth on the all-time earnings list among Ohio fillies and mares. She needs $119,346 to overtake the leader, Tougaloo.
"She has a shot," said Angel Feliciano. "There are still three of four big stakes for her to run in this year."
GOODBYE, DOLLY --- Frank Richuisa, who tended bar at Thistledown for 50 years and had the watering hole near the finish line named in his honor, died recently. He was 85. Richuisa, known as Dolly, was honored in 2004 when Thistledown management named the popular first floor bar at the northeast corner of the grandstand "Dolly's Bar." Bartender Gene Merker, who worked with Richuisa, said he doesn't believe Dolly ever had a drink at his own bar. "He retired in 2003, a year before the bar was named for him," said Merker.
LEADERBOARD --- After 32 days of the 46-day Summit-Thistledown Meeting, Ernesto Oro continues to hold a commanding lead in the jockeys' derby. He has 33 winners to Weldon Cloninger Jr.'s 21. David Cardoso is third with 17 . . . Jamie Ness is the leader in a hotly contested trainers' race. Ness has 15 winners, one more than Jeff Radosevich. Jevon Crumley and Randy Joe Faulkner are next with 12 winners, followed by Rodney Faulkner and Gary King at 10 winners…Three horses --- Andy's Lilly, Flying Peak, and Sailfin -- are the winningest horses with three scores.
FEED BAG --- Thistledown trainers are dominating the action at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa. Thistle leader Jamie Ness is tied for second with Jevon Crumley at nine winners, Gerald Bennett is fifth with eight winners, and Jeff Radosevich is seventh with six winners. Crumley has the hottest hand, his nine winners have come from 26 starters, a success rate of 34.6 percent . . . Friday and Saturday marked the first time this season that Thistledown began a race day with the track being anything but fast. It was listed as sloppy both Friday and Saturday . . . When Red Pepper Martini won Thursday (June 18) in the 12th race, it marked the first career winner for trainer Brian Kucko. Red Pepper Martini won a photo at odds of 6 1/2-1 . . . Winning big at the races doesn't always require a big bankroll. An unidentified bettor hit the Pick 6 at Belmont Park for $969,345 with a $96 ticket. He used two horses in four races, three in one, and one in another . . .River Downs was home to a racing rarity last Thursday (6/18) when Isle Repo, a scheduled starter in the 13th race, was ordered scratched after jockey Azael DeLeon took off. The reason for the scratch - there wasn't a jockey left in the room. "Isle Repo is scratched for lack of a jockey," track announcer Peter Aiello told the public.