Lone Star Park Concludes Its Spring Thoroughbred Meet

Lone Star Park concluded its 67 day Spring Thoroughbred Season on Sunday. The average daily attendance increased 2.5% thanks in part to Stuart and Cecil’s 8-day bachelor party event. Total on-track handle increased 5.1%, however handle on Lone Star Park’s races decreased 12.1%. Management attributes this reduction in handle due to the weather; 27 inches of rain, 527 scratches, "off" tracks and cancelled turf races. It is also rumored that due to the inclement weather throughout the meet, frozen margarita consumption declined by 11.3%.

The riding title went to Ramsey Zimmerman who bested previous champion jockey, Monte Cliff Berry. However, it should be noted that Monte Cliff Berry set a new local record for number of wins (530) as well as rode his 3,000th career winner. And furthermore and more importantly, Monte Cliff Berry should consider going by MC Berry because it has a tough "Don’t mess with me, you scrawny bugboy" sound to it.

The annual Steve Asmussen Training Champion Award, once again, goes to Steve Asmussen.

Detailed information on the 2007 Season Champions are on Lone Star Park’s website. However, I’ll highlight a few of the notable champions and titles:

Gold Coyote wins the Texas Stallion Stakes, Lone Star Park

Horse of the Meeting: Gold Coyote

Champion Texas-bred: Gold Coyote

Champion 2-year-old male: Gold Coyote

Champion Octogenarian: Clarence Scharbauer Jr., owner of Gold Coyote.

Champion Older Male: Bob and John

Champion Older Female: Lady of Venice (FR)

Champion Turf Horse: Lady of Venice (FR)

Champion 13-year-old Not Allowed to Race Because of a Dorky Rule in the Texas Racing Act: Proven Cure

Best Bet of the Meet: Lady of Venice (FR)

Best Doping Violation: Alexandre Vinokourov

Best Fan Giveaway: Folding lawn chairs

Fan Giveaway That Would Have Been More Useful: Umbrellas and rain boots

Champion Mutuel Clerk: Warner

Best Track Companion: Alice

Champion 5-year-old Who Scores Free Ice Cream from John Records: Alice

Champion 5-year-old Who Shares Ice Cream with Her Track Companion: Alice

Beverage of Choice, Fast Track: Frozen Margaritas

Beverage of Choice, Sloppy Track: (tie) Coffee, beer.

Beverage of the Meeting: $1 beer on Dollar Days

Champion Lone Star Park Employee: Post Time Pavilion Manager, John Records. (Note: This is his fourth consecutive title.)

Champion 2-year-old That Lends Hope That There Could Be a Texas Connection to the Kentucky Derby Winner’s Circle Next Year and It’s Okay to Dream: Gold Coyote


2007 Middleground Breeders' Cup, Lone Star Park
"Gold Coyote, just skipping over the slop like it's nothing."