The Mystique of Delta Downs

The Mystique of Delta Downs

By Rob Maxwell
The Carousel
September 13, 2022

Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino and Hotel is an American thoroughbred and quarter horse racetrack in Calcasieu Parish, near Vinton, Louisiana in the southwest portion of the state. The facility is owned by Boyd Gaming.

The track opened in September 1973, under the direction of Lee Berwick. Berwick was primarily looking for a recognized facility to run Quarter Horses, having earlier held races on his farm in St. Joseph, Louisiana. Delta Downs in Vinton would hold both Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred race meetings, some years in a mixed format. In the 1990s, the track was bought by developer Shawn Scott for $10 million. Shortly thereafter, it was sold for over $100 million to Boyd Gaming after a law was passed allowing for slot machines at Delta Downs. After the purchase, Boyd Gaming made over $120 million in capital improvements. The casino, hotel and track were badly damaged by Hurricane Rita in 2005; the casino and hotel were partially opened two months later. The track was closed for about six months after the hurricane. Fueled by revenue from the slots casino, the quality of racing at Delta Downs has improved. The winter Thoroughbred meeting has produced several stakes-quality horses in recent years.

The track is a 6-furlong (1.2 km) oval. There is a 550-yard (0.50 km) Quarter-Horse chute, in addition to a five-furlong (1 km) and 1 1⁄16-mile (1.7 km) Thoroughbred chutes. The track surface is a mixture of sand (from the Sabine River) and clay, with a limestone base. The track has stabling for 1,200 horses. The Delta Downs grounds features horse pastures which are visible from the entrance. Draft and miniature horses and thoroughbreds are on display. The Quarter Horse Red River Rebel, owned by Malcom Chiasson, holds the track record as of 2011; he is also the leading money-winning quarter horse in Louisiana.

The casino has more than 1,600 slot machines; the racino has only slots, due to restrictions in state law. The hotel has 203 rooms, with 36 suites. The track usually holds races from November to mid-July, with the Thoroughbred meet beginning in November and the Quarter Horse meet commencing in April. Delta Downs hosts the Grade III, $750,000 Delta Jackpot Stakes for 2-year-olds. The other major stakes is the Grade III, $500,000 Delta Princess Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Week 3 2022 Results

Week 3 Scores...

Twilight Sparkle 89, Alabama 36

Army 51, Applejack State 7

North Carolina 28, Rarity 17

Pinkie Pie 27, Memphis 14

Temple 28, Fluttershy 14

Central Florida 55, Rainbow Dash 14

The Mystique of Ruidoso Downs

The Mystique of Ruidoso Downs

By Ezra Theobald
The Daily Party
September 6, 2022

Ruidoso Downs is a city in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States, located within the Lincoln National Forest. The population was 3,589 at the 2020 census. It is a suburb of Ruidoso and is a part of the Ruidoso Micropolitan Statistical Area. The Ruidoso Downs Race Track, Billy the Kid Casino and the Hubbard Museum of the American West are located in the city.

On October 9–11, 2009, the twentieth annual Lincoln Cowboy Symposium was held at Ruidoso Downs. The event celebrated the ranching lifestyle, with demonstrations in horsemanship, shooting, roping, cooking, and blacksmithing. Booths offered western-style arts and crafts. Music and poetry were highlights of the festival, which featured performers Leon Rausch, Tommy Allsup and the Texas Playboys; Mel Tillis and the Statesiders; Larry Gatlin; Billy Mata, and Liz Talley. Gospel artists also performed.

Ruidoso Downs Race Track is a horse racing track in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico. The track hosts both thoroughbred and quarter horse racing, notably the All American Futurity, the richest race in quarter horse racing.

The All American Futurity is a race for two-year-old American Quarter Horse racehorses run at Ruidoso Downs Race Track in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico on Labor Day. It is the last leg of the AQHA Triple Crown that has only been won once, by Special Effort in 1981. A 4 million dollar bonus was once offered to the horse that could sweep all three Triple Crown races. It started in 1959, with a purse of $129,686.85. It has always billed itself as the richest race in American Quarter Horse racing, In 1978 the purse was over a million dollars and in 1982, the winner's portion of the purse totaled over a million dollars for the first time.

The track record was set at this race in 2006, when No Secrets Here finished in a time of 20.886 seconds for 440 yards, for a speed of 43.091 miles/hr. That remains the world speed record for racehorses. Refrigerator holds the record for 400 yards with a time of 19.39 seconds in 1990.

Week 2 2022 Results

Week 2 Scores...

Twilight Sparkle 129, Florida State 38
North Dakota 42, Rarity 28
Houston 35, Applejack State 34
Fluttershy 38, South Dakota State 28
Pinkie Pie 42. Fresno State 28
Rainbow Dash 31, South Florida 19

The Mystique of Oaklawn Park

The Mystique of Oaklawn Park

By Leo Spezza
The Daily Twilight
August 30, 2022

Oaklawn Park is an American thoroughbred racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is the home to The Racing Festival of the South. In 2009, the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 thoroughbred racetracks in North America. Of the top ten, Oaklawn was ranked #9.

Oaklawn Park officially opened on February 24, 1905. More than 3,000 people attended as a holiday had been declared in Hot Springs. During these early years the track only ran six races a day, similar to British cards. Political problems in the state forced the closure of Oaklawn in 1907. During this time of closure, the track was sold to Louis Cella as the original business partners had both died. The track reopened in 1916 under the auspices of Business Men's League of Hot Springs.

In 1918, Louis Cella died and the ownership of the track was transferred to his brother, Charles. Following this transfer the track was open and closed periodically because of vagaries in the state's political climate.

In the 1929 Arkansas legislative session, a bill to allow horse racing and parimutuel betting tied in the state House of Representatives. The only Republican member of the state House at the time, Osro Cobb of Montgomery County, had been out of the chamber when his name was called. Therefore, upon his return Cobb cast the tie-breaking vote to allow racing and betting at the track.

In the 1930s, the track and "Spa" combined attracted many horse racing fans. In 1935, Oaklawn increased purses to become competitive with the best tracks across the country. The first Arkansas Derby was run in 1936 for a purse of $5,000. By this time the track ran a thirty-day race meeting. On October 29, 1940, Charles G. Cella died and the presidency of Oaklawn transferred to his son, John G. Cella (1909-1968). In 1941, purses again hit a record for the largest purses in Oaklawn history. By 1943, the Arkansas Derby had a purse of $10,000. Unlike most American tracks Oaklawn stayed open in 1944, but World War II caught up with Oaklawn Park, and the track was closed in 1945. Following the defeat of Japan a 30-day late autumn and winter season was held at Oaklawn. After the end of the war the track hit unprecedented levels of prosperity. This financed a major clubhouse renovation and a resurfacing of the track. Throughout the 1950s the track continued to climb in handle, attendance and purses. In 1961, the track extended the season to 43 days. In 1962 the track had such a good year that it reached the five spot on the most profitable and successful tracks in North America.

By 1965, the Arkansas Derby was a $50,000 stakes and one that could attract top Kentucky Derby prospects. J. Sweeney Grant led Oaklawn as the manager throughout this period,. He continued to expand and enhance racing at Oaklawn Park. In 1968, Charles J. Cella, the current President of Oaklawn Park, succeeded his father into that position following John G. Cella's unexpected death.

In 1971, J. Sweeney Grant, under whom Oaklawn had enjoyed 16 years of remarkable growth, died. W. T. Bishop replaced him and the track continued to thrive. The Arkansas Derby became a $100,000 stakes in 1972 and the following the year the Fantasy Stakes, a prep race to the Kentucky Oaks, was first run. The Racing Festival of the South was created in 1974. The festival is a week with one stakes race everyday leading up to the Arkansas Derby.

In 1975 a major renovation was completed which included a five-level, glass-enclosed addition to the north end of the grandstand, near the top of the stretch. The addition included a general admission area, an extra 400 box seats and 2,500 reserved seats, a kitchen, a dining room and a private club.

In 1983, the all time record handle was established. The track reached a goal of averaging $3 million in wagering every day. For the 56-day season, the handle amounted to $168,740,923, for an average of $3,013,230 a day. The attendance for the season was 1,303,223, representing an average of 23,272. The same year the purse for the Arkansas Derby was increased to $250,000. In 1984, the purse was again lifted to $500,000.

By 1985, three decades of prosperity began to reverse. Betting declined 8.1% and attendance 3.7% as compared to 1984. Increased competition from neighboring states, a lack of Sunday racing and a lack of dates are blamed for this decline. The same year the grandstand is enlarged for the fourth time in ten years.

By 1990, the track was forced to race on Sundays. The intense competition from OTB's and racetracks in Louisiana were causes of the further decline. The track begins to recover due to the Sunday racing and more renovation at the track. In the past fifteen years Oaklawn Park has continued to do well in Arkansas although the track faces competition from casinos in neighboring states and wintertime racing in Louisiana, Florida, California, Kentucky and New York.

The track consists of a one mile dirt oval. There is no turf course at Oaklawn Park. The track buildings have undergone many renovations and are considered to be very nice. The track also has stabling for a large number of horses in state-of-the-art barns. In 2008, Oaklawn began undergoing a new $3 million addition, that includes new casino-style slot machines, poker tables, and an all new Instant Racing complex that has been popular since its inception in 2003. The addition will become the largest gaming facility in the state of Arkansas.

Twilight Sparkle run riot past Oklahoma, 105-34

Twilight Sparkle run riot past Oklahoma, 105-34

By Leo Spezza
The Daily Twilight
August 27, 2022

M.A. Larson's Twilight Sparkle Unicorns hounded the Oklahoma Sooners, 105-24, at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Stillwater, Okla. Freshman quarterback Geoff Gibbs, in his debut for the Unicorns, passed for 577 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 288 yards and four more scores. Halfback Jay Lawrence, another freshman, ran for 208 yards and two more majors.

Wide receiver Eric Anderson caught 11 passes for 107 yards and a score, wideout Chaz Phillips caught eight passes for 82 yards and three touchdowns, wideout Rhett Lake caught eight passes for 136 yards and a touchdown and wideout Eric Anderson caught 11 passes for 107 yards and a score. Wide receiver Justin Wilcox led the team in pancakes with 23 while wide receiver Travis Farris had 13 and Anderson added 12.

Senior middle linebacker Tyrone Arnold led the Unicorns in tackling with 15 tackles and an interception. Right outside linebacker Joseph Brown, Twilie's defensive captain, had 10 tackles while cornerback Quentin Tyree, a freshman from Randallstown, Md., had eight tackles and two interceptions.

Twilight Sparkle improve to 1-0 and continue their long road trip next week against Florida State.

Twilight Sparkle picked to finish first in 2022 PonyCon

Twilight Sparkle picked to finish first in 2022 PonyCon

By Wendy Marvell
The Ponyville Express
July 1, 2022

At the annual Pony Conference Football Media Day at the Tara Strong Convocation Center on the campus of Twilight Sparkle University in Ponyville, Calif., the Twilight Sparkle Unicorns, under head coach M.A. Larson, were picked to finish first in the PonyCon, winning all the first place votes in the combined Coaches and Media Poll. The Rainbows of Rainbow Dash were picked to finish second, Applejack State's Appleknockers were picked to finish third, the Rarity Royals were picked to finish fourth, the Fluttershy Spirit were picked to finish fifth and the Pinkie Pie Major Trouble held up the rear, as with last year.

"We have a very young team coming up this season," Coach Larson said at Football Media Day over cups of Apple Acres cider, cupcakes and muffins. "We don't know how good this team's going to be but it should still be able to hold up against its own. There's a lot of strong senior leadership on this team, and we also have some returning talent that want to take advantage of the opportunities given to them. Everyone is ready for another solid year."

1. Twilight Sparkle 180
2. Rainbow Dash 150
3. Applejack State 120
4. Rarity 90
5. Fluttershy 60
6. Pinkie Pie 30

Twilight Sparkle Unicorns
8/27 at #1 Oklahoma
9/3 at #7 Florida State
9/10 at #5 Alabama
9/17 at #2 Notre Dame
9/24 at #8 TCU
10/1 at #13 Air Force
10/8 at #4 Ohio State
11/5 at Fluttershy
11/12 vs. Pinkie Pie
11/19 at Rainbow Dash
11/26 at Applejack State
12/3 vs. Rarity

Rainbow Dash Rainbows
9/3 vs. South Florida
9/10 at Central Florida
9/17 vs. Connecticut
9/24 vs. #13 Air Force
10/8 vs. Western Michigan
10/22 at Pinkie Pie
10/29 at Fluttershy
11/5 vs. Georgia Southern
11/12 vs. Bucknell
11/19 vs. #3 Twilight Sparkle
11/26 vs. Rarirty
12/3 at Applejack State

Applejack State Appleknockers
9/3 vs. Houston
9/10 at Army
9/17 at Tulsa
9/24 vs. Central Florida
10/8 vs. Memphis
10/22 at Flutershy
10/29 at Pinkie Pie
11/5 vs. Wofford
11/12 vs. South Dakota
11/19 vs. Rarity
11/26 vs. #3 Twilight Sparkle
12/3 vs. Rainbow Dash

Rarity Royals
9/2 vs. North Dakota
9/10 vs. North Carolina
9/17 vs. Eastern Michigan
9/24 vs. Brigham Young
10/15 at Boise State
10/22 vs. North Dakota State
10/29 vs. The Citadel
11/5 vs. Pinkie Pie
11/12 vs. Fluttershy
11/19 at Applejack State
11/26 at Rainbow Dash
12/3 at #3 Twilight Sparkle

Fluttershy Spirit
9/3 vs. South Dakota State
9/10 vs. Temple
9/17 at Northwestern
9/24 at Marshall
10/1 vs. SMU
10/22 vs. Applejack State
10/29 vs. Rainbow Dash
11/5 vs. #3 Twilight Sparkle
11/12 at Rarity
11/19 vs. Illinois State
11/26 vs. VMI
12/3 at Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie Major Trouble
9/3 at #22 Fresno State
9/10 vs. Memphis
9/24 at Ohio
10/1 at San Diego State
10/8 at Hawai'i
10/22 vs. Rainbow Dash
10/29 vs. Applejack State
11/5 at Rarity
11/12 at #3 Twilight Sparkle
11/19 vs. UC Davis
11/26 vs. Maine
12/3 vs. Fluttershy

Coaching changes on the way in PonyCon

Coaching changes on the way in PonyCon

By Wendy Marvell
The Ponyville Express
January 14, 2022

There are a number of coaching changes that will take place in the Pony Conference heading into the 2022 college football season. Momo Kawashima is returning to Twilight Sparkle University for a second stint after replacing Gary Andersen, who was named the head coach at LSU. Kawashima was fired from her head coaching position at San Diego State after, alledgedly, "throwing the entire team into the crapper and flushing their dreams of victory away," according to the school's athletic director.

Meanwhile, the Unicorns will also have a new offensive coordinator. Scottie Montgomery is taking over for John Shoop, who will be taking over the reins at Nebraska. Montgomery was previously the head coach at Houston. "I am ready to let loose at Twilight Sparkle because this is a great sports town full of wonderful ponies and bronies," Coach Montgomery said. "Let's get it on!"

At Pinkie Pie, offensive coordinator @TrojanMan was fired and was replaced by Tom Herman. Extreme player discontent and lazyness on the part of Coach Man was sufficient grounds for the move, as well as another losing season. Coach Man is now the offensive coordinator at San Diego State. Coach Herman was previously the head coach at Texas Tech.

Finally, while offensive coordinator Tom Barnes was retained for another few years at the Rarity College of the Arts, defensive coordinator Jake Porter was given the old heave ho. Coach Porter is now the defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech. Taking over as the Royals' defensive coordinator is Terry Beverly, whose contract at Minnesota was not renewed.