Amarillo, Texas, August 25, 2006 – Excitement and anticipation is building as the American Quarter Horse racing world prepares to converge at the mountain-hemmed track at Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, for the 47th running of the Grade 1 All American Futurity on Monday, September 4.
With a gross purse of $2 million, the All American Futurity is American Quarter Horse racing’s richest race and has hosted some of the sport’s most talented competitors since its first running in 1959. The first race for any breed in the industry to cut a winner’s check for $1 million, the 2006 version promises to be just as celebrated as its predecessors.
This year, 17 qualifying trials began with 162 horses that battled through a rain-soaked day over a sloppy track for a top-ten slot on the Labor Day card. Finalists range from homebreds to pricey sale yearlings, from a one-time winner of just over $4,000 to an earner of more than $400,000, but each qualifier in this year’s line-up has a story.
Visit http://racing.aqha.com/racing/dyn_content.aspx?FQD=http://www.aqha.com/aqharacing.com/events/allamerican/index.html for a profile of each horse and its connections.
2006 Qualifiers:
No Secrets Here
Owner: Vessels Stallion Farm LLC and Benny Rosset, Trainer: Paul Jones
Gun Battle
Owner: Robert and Del Rae Driggers, Trainer: Fred Danley
Mightys First Call
Owner: Richard R. Shearer, Trainer: Blane Wood
Genuine Botticelli
Owner: Bobby D. Cox, Trainer: John Buchanan
Separate Bet
Owner: Jimmy Harrel, Duane Harrel, David Barrett and Joann Adams, Trainer: Jack Brooks
Dont Let Down
Owner: Bobby D. Cox, Trainer: John Buchanan
Remember Me Rose
Owner: Azoom LP, Trainer: Ben Torres
My First Passion
Owner: Jose Cantu, Trainer: Heath Taylor
First Freeze
Owner: Freeze Partners, Trainer: Heath Taylor
Okey Dokey Fantasy
Owner: Ariel Campos, Trainer: John Boegner
Fans who are unable to attend the heart-pounding events this week can catch all of the action on television. A total of 49.7 million households will have the opportunity to watch the All American Futurity live on TVG or Fox Sports Regions. This is the final program on TVG’s Ford Race to the All American.
TVG – Special Event Coverage – September 4, live from 5-6 p.m. CST
Fox – 5-6 p.m. CST, live on Fox NY, Turner South and FSN Prime Ticket
ESPN2’s Wire To Wire will show a delayed taping on September 5
from 3-3:30 p.m. CST
Visit /aqha.com for daily updates throughout the event. Coverage of the race is brought to you by The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal. Read the complete story of the 2006 All American winner in the October issue.