“GATES OPEN!” The field breaks away from the starting gate in the Kerry Danyluk
Memorial on July 4, 2014. Photo by Coady Photography.
2015 Arapahoe Park Live Racing Calendar
May 22, 2015 – August 16, 2015 | 39 Racing Days | First Race at 1 p.m.
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays
Holiday Racing on Memorial Day and Fourth of July
Thursday Racing on June 25 and July 30
2015 Arapahoe Park
Preview and Information Guide
Compiled by Jonathan Horowitz, Announcer and Director of Media Relations
@jjhorowitz | (949) 246-7075 | [email protected]
Arapahoe Park & Mile High Racing General Information
ADDRESS: 26000 East Quincy Avenue, Aurora, CO 80016
PHONE: (303) 690-2400
WEBSITE: www.mihiracing.com
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/ArapahoeRacing
TWITTER: @jjhorowitz
2015 Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, and Arabian Live Racing Season
May 22, 2015 – August 16, 2015 | 39 Racing Days | First Race at 1 p.m.
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays
Holiday Racing on Memorial Day and Fourth of July
Thursday Racing on June 25 and July 30
Racetrack Configuration:
One-Mile Circumference, Sandy Loam Composition, Homestretch of 1,029 Feet
Admission
General Admission – $3 | Clubhouse Table (seats 4) – $15 with food service, $10 without food service
17 and under – Free | Seniors 55+ – $1 | Active duty military with valid military ID – Free | Parking – Free
Richest Stakes Races
THOROUGHBREDS:
Arapahoe Park Classic, August 16, 1 1/8 Miles, 3yo & Up, $100,000
Gold Rush Futurity, August 16, 6 Furlongs, 2yo, $100,000
QUARTER HORSES:
Mile High Futurity, August 16, 400 Yards, 2yo, $160,000 (est.)
Mile High Derby, August 15, 400 Yards, 3yo, $100,000 (est.)
ARABIANS:
COBRA Distaff Sponsored by Soaring Eagle Ranch, August 15, 1 1/8 Miles, 3yo & Up, F&M, $25,000
COBRA Classic Sponsored by Crow Valley Ranch, August 16, 1 1/4 Miles, 3yo & Up, $25,000
Racing Officials
Bruce Seymore – Executive Director
Bill Powers – Plant Manager and Director of Racing
William Byers – Track Superintendent
Jonathan Horowitz – Announcer and Director of Media Relations
Kathy Keeley – Director of Mutuels
Jordan Matthews – Community Relations and Event Coordinator
Nonnie Pedraza Saul – Assistant to the Executive Director
Gil Romero – Assistant Racing Secretary
Mark Flanders, Coady Photography – Track Photographer
Arapahoe Park 2015 Preview
Gates Open for 2015 Arapahoe Park Season “Where Horses Come First”
By Jonathan Horowitz, Announcer and Director of Media Relations
Twitter @jjhorowitz | (949) 246-7075 | [email protected]
Horse racing in Colorado is in the midst of a renaissance. With Colorado’s live horse racing season in
2015 scheduled to begin on May 22, Arapahoe Park is launching the theme of “Where Horses Come
First” to reflect the growth of the Aurora, Colorado track. There will be more coverage of
Arapahoe Park’s races, improvements to the fan experience at the track, innovative programs to promote
the welfare of horses, and richer races than ever before.
Arapahoe Park will host 39 days of live Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, and Arabian racing on Fridays,
Saturdays, and Sundays through August 16. There will also be racing on Memorial Day, May 25, and
Thursdays, June 25 and July 30. Post time for the first race each day will be at 1 p.m. No racing will
take place from May 29 to May 31 to accommodate the Rocky Mountain Air Show at the
Aurora Reservoir.
In 2015, Arapahoe will broadcast a new weekly feature television show about the behind-the-scenes of
horse racing and a replay show on the Denver-based network Altitude Sports & Entertainment. Hosted
by announcer Jonathan Horowitz, “Gates Open at Arapahoe Park” will air on Thursdays during the
season at 6:30 p.m. starting May 21 and rebroadcast on Fridays at 10 a.m. The feature show will focus
on stories and profiles of horses and horsemen. The replay show, “Today at Arapahoe Park,” will air at
10 p.m. after each day’s races and rebroadcast the following morning at 10 a.m.
The track has created The 9th Furlong cabana area that can accommodate 200 people adjacent to the
finish line. There will also be a tiki bar at track level as part of new ways for spectators to watch the
races. Groups can request tours of the stable area and announcer’s booth as part of the track’s effort to
present the behind-the-scenes of horse racing.
“Our new TV shows and areas at the racetrack will be dynamic ways to follow the horse races,” said
Arapahoe Park General Manager Bruce Seymore. “We’re excited about the buzz heading into the
season at Arapahoe Park.”
With the goal of fostering the welfare of its equine athletes, Arapahoe Park has partnered with
organizations that find new homes for retired racehorses. Arapahoe Park sponsored the
Colorado’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred contest presented by Retired Racehorse Project in March that
showcased the new careers of former racehorses as show and sport horses. During the season,
Arapahoe Park will facilitate CANTER Colorado’s work coordinating with trainers whose horses are
reaching the end of racing and transitioning into new careers. The track will donate $10,000 to
CANTER Colorado in support of their beneficial work.
Arapahoe Park will pioneer a new program in 2015 that ties purses to field sizes. The track will also
bring back the Race-Day Medication-Free Incentive program it created in 2014 that rewards trainers
who win at Arapahoe Park with a horse void of any race-day medication
Arapahoe Park will feature two $100,000 Thoroughbred races—the Arapahoe Park Classic and the
Gold Rush Futurity—on the same day for the first time in the racetrack’s history as part of a stakes
schedule comprised of 38 races worth a total of $1,655,000. The highlights of the Quarter Horse stakes
schedule will be the $160,000 Mile High Futurity and the $100,000 Mile High Derby. Arabians will
compete in four graded stakes races during the 39-day season.
“Bigger field sizes and richer races bring out the best that horse racing has to offer,” Seymore said. “We
also want to reward the horsemen that help take horse racing to new heights.”
Closing day, Sunday, August 16, will be the richest day of horse racing in the history of Colorado with
the $100,000 Arapahoe Park Classic for Thoroughbreds aged 3-years-old and up at 1 1/8 miles, the
$100,000 Gold Rush Futurity for 2-year-old Thoroughbreds at 6 furlongs, the $160,000 Mile High
Futurity for 2-year-old Quarter Horses at 400 yards, and the $25,000 Grade 3 COBRA Classic
Sponsored by Crow Valley Ranch for Arabians aged 3-years-old and up at 1 1/4 miles.
Arapahoe Park to Feature “Gates Open at Arapahoe Park” and “Today at Arapahoe Park”
Television Shows on Altitude Sports & Entertainment During 2015 Season
“Gates Open at Arapahoe Park”
Feature Show
Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. with replay Fridays, 10 a.m. during season
“Today at Arapahoe Park”
Replay Show
Fridays, 10 p.m. with replay Saturdays, 10 a.m. during season
Saturdays, 10 p.m. with replay Sundays, 10 a.m. during season
Sundays, 10 p.m. with replay Mondays, 10 a.m. during season
Altitude Sports & Entertainment
Seen in more than 3.1 million homes in a 10 state territory, Altitude is the television home of the
Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Mammoth, Colorado Rapids, Colorado Eagles,
Denver Outlaws, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, University
of Denver sports (soccer,
SCHEDULE “B”
volleyball, gymnastics and lacrosse,)as well as other local and regional sports, entertainment and public
service programming. A full list of Altitude programming and other information can be found at
www.altitude.tv.
Introducing Arapahoe Park’s new cabana area….
The 9th Furlong
Located adjacent to the finish line, The 9th Furlong cabana can accommodate 200 people for an
all-inclusive horse racing experience to watch the horses up close or on big-screen televisions, wager
with a private teller, and enjoy food and beverage. There will also be a tiki bar at track level as part of
new ways for spectators to watch the races. Groups can request tours of the stable area and
announcer’s booth as part of the track’s effort to present the behind-the-scenes of horse racing.
2015 Arapahoe Park Stakes Schedule | 38 Stakes Races | $1,655,000 in Total Purses
Date
May 23
May 24
May 24
May 25
June 6
June 6
June 7
June 7
June 13
June 14
June 14
June 21
June 21
June 27
June 28
July 4
July 5
July 5
July 11
July 11
July 12
July 12
July 12
July 18
July 25
July 26
July 26
July 26
Aug. 1
Aug. 1
Aug. 9
Aug. 15
Aug. 15
Aug. 15
Aug. 16
Aug. 16
Aug. 16
Aug. 16
Day
Saturday
Sunday
Sunday
Monday
Saturday
Saturday
Sunday
Sunday
Saturday
Sunday
Sunday
Sunday
Sunday
Saturday
Sunday
Saturday
Sunday
Sunday
Saturday
Saturday
Sunday
Sunday
Sunday
Saturday
Saturday
Sunday
Sunday
Sunday
Saturday
Saturday
Sunday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Sunday
Sunday
Sunday
Sunday
Breed
TB
TB
QH
TB
QH
QH
QH
QH
TB
TB
AR
AR
QH
TB
TB
QH
TB
QH
QH
TB
QH
TB
TB
QH
TB
TB
TB
QH
TB
TB
QH
QH
TB
AR
TB
TB
QH
AR
Race
Inaugural Stakes
Arapahoe Park Sprint
Dash for Speed Bonus Challenge
Ingrid Knotts Stakes
Lucille Rowe Derby (Trials May 22)
Adequan Arapahoe Derby Challenge (Trials May 22)
Cherry Creek Futurity (Trials May 22)
Dolls Prodigy Stakes
Aspen Stakes
Molly Brown Stakes
COBRA Distaff Sprint (G3)
COBRA Sprint (G3)
Pen Pal Stakes
CTBA Derby
Front Range Stakes
Merial Arapahoe Distaff Challenge (Trials June 19)
George Wafer Memorial
Izyk 870 Stakes
Rocky Mountain Derby (Trials June 25)
CTBA Lassie (Trials June 27)
Rocky Mountain Futurity (Trials June 25)
Colorado Derby
CTBA Futurity (Trials June 27)
American Flyer Bonus Challenge
CTBA Breeders Oaks
Columbine Stakes
Mount Elbert Stakes
Leo Beau Dash Stakes
Silver Cup Futurity Colts and Geldings Division
Silver Cup Futurity Filly Division
RMQHA Championship Bonus Challenge
Mile High Derby (Trials July 30)
Spicy Stakes
COBRA Distaff Sponsored by Soaring Eagle (G3)
Arapahoe Park Classic
Gold Rush Futurity
Mile High Futurity (Trials July 30)
COBRA Classic Sponsored by Crow Valley (G3)
Purse
$40,000
$40,000
$20,000
$40,000
$55,000
$30,000
$75,000
$12,500
$40,000
$40,000
$20,000
$20,000
$12,500
$40,000
$40,000
$20,000
$40,000
$12,500
$55,000
$40,000
$90,000
$40,000
$40,000
$20,000
$40,000
$40,000
$40,000
$12,500
$35,000
$35,000
$20,000
$100,000
$40,000
$25,000
$100,000
$100,000
$160,000
$25,000
Condition
3YO
3&up
3&up
F&M 3&up (CO)
3YO (CO)
3YO
2YO (CO)
3&up (CO)
3&up (CO)
F&M 3&up
F&M 3&up
3&up
3&up
3YO (CO)
3&up
F&M 3&up
F 3YO
3&up
3YO
F 2YO (CO)
2YO
3YO
2 YO (CO)
3&up
F 3YO (CO)
F&M 3&up
3&up (CO)
3&up
C&G 2YO (CO)
F 2YO (CO)
3&up
3YO
F&M 3&up (CO)
F&M 3&up
3&up
2YO
2YO
3&up
Distance
6 Furlongs
6 Furlongs
330 Yards
6 Furlongs
350 Yards
400 Yards
330 Yards
350 Yards
6 Furlongs
6 Furlongs
6 Furlongs
6 Furlongs
350 Yards
1 1/16 Miles
7 Furlongs
400 Yards
7 Furlongs
870 Yards
350 Yards
6 Furlongs
350 Yards
1 1/16 Miles
6 Furlongs
350 Yards
1 Mile, 70 Yds
1 1/16 Miles
1 1/16 Miles
870 Yards
5 1/2 Furlongs
5 1/2 Furlongs
400 Yards
400 Yards
1 1/16 Miles
1 1/8 Miles
1 1/8 miles
6 Furlongs
400 Yards
1 1/4 Miles
2015 Arapahoe Park Events
May 22, 2015
Live horse racing returns to Colorado on Arapahoe Park’s opening day
May 25, 2015
Memorial Day holiday racing
June 12, 2015
“Mommy Meet Up” for moms and their children
June 21, 2015
Celebrate Father’s Day at Arapahoe Park
June 26, 2015
“Mommy Meet Up” for moms and their children
July 4, 2015
Independence Day holiday racing
July 5, 2015
“Horse Sense/Cents with Announcer Jonathan Horowitz” about behind-the-scenes of horse racing
July 10, 2015
“Mommy Meet Up” for moms and their children
July 24, 2015
“Mommy Meet Up” for moms and their children
July 26, 2015
“Horse Sense/Cents with Announcer Jonathan Horowitz” about behind-the-scenes of horse racing
August 7, 2015
“Mommy Meet Up” for moms and their children
August 8, 2015
“Family Day”
August 14–16, 2015
Closing weekend of the 2015 live horse racing season featuring Arapahoe Park’s richest stakes races
Events subject to change. Visit www.mihiracing.com for up-to-date information.
2014 Arapahoe Park Highlights
Arapahoe Park Launches Race-Day Medication-Free
Incentive Program | June 27, 2014
Arapahoe Park created the Race-Day Medication-Free
Incentive program—the first of its kind in the country—that
rewards horsemen who do not administer race-day medication
to their horses. Trainers who win a race with a horse void of
any race-day medication will receive a $1,000 bonus per
victory to be paid from a special fund created by Arapahoe
Park. Three different horses won a total of four races,
including two victories by Sudies Storm (pictured), in the
program’s first year after it launched on June 27, 2014. A total
of 21 horses participated.
Get Happy Mister Caps Unbeaten 2014 at Arapahoe Park in
$100K Arapahoe Park Classic | August 16, 2014
Get Happy Mister cemented his legacy as the best horse ever bred in
Colorado with a 2 3/4-length victory against a talented group of shippers in the
$100,000 Arapahoe Park Classic on August 16, 2014. He completed an
undefeated 2014 season at Arapahoe Park with five victories, four of them in
stakes and ranging in distances from 5 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. The
4-year-old bay gelding owned by Annette Bishop (pictured with her horse
after the race), trained by Kenneth “Butch” Gleason, and ridden by
Mike Ziegler has never lost in nine races at the Aurora, Colorado track.
Two Stakes Victories in Two Days for Ms Dixie | August 16 and 17, 2014
Ms Dixie accomplished something that no horse ever has at Arapahoe Park by winning two stakes races
in two days at the Aurora, Colorado track. On August 16, 2014, she cruised to a 10-length victory in the
COBRA Distaff Sponsored by Soaring Eagle Ranch, and on August 17, 2014, she won the COBRA
Classic Sponsored by Crow Valley Ranch by a hard-fought half-length. The two-time Darley Award
champion Arabian mare ridden by Kelsi Purcell and owned by the Quarter Moon Ranch of Lori Long
and her husband trainer Scott Powell logged a total of 2 3/8 miles in the two victories.
Left: Ms Dixie wins
COBRA Distaff Sponsored by
Soaring Eagle Ranch on
August 16, 2014.
Right: Ms Dixie guts out
COBRA Classic Sponsored by
Crow Valley Ranch on
August 17, 2014
American Announcer in England | August 24, 2014
Jonathan Horowitz (pictured), the announcer at Arapahoe Park, traveled to
England to commentate at Windsor Racecourse outside London on August 24,
2014. Horowitz joined Gary Capewell to call the Sultanate of Oman Arabian
Raceday. Horowitz, who has announced at Arapahoe Park since 2011, first called
in England at the 2001 Glorious Goodwood Festival when he was 16.
Arapahoe Park Partners with Global Arabian Racing
Festival | May 25, July 5, August 8, 2014
On the same day that Arapahoe Park marked 30 years to the
day that it opened on May 25, 1984, the racetrack hosted its
first race as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al
Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival. The
Wathba Stud Farm Cup, which is one of the series in the racing
festival, takes place in nine countries around the
world. Arapahoe Park hosted three races in the series on
May 25, July 5, and August 8, 2014.
Arapahoe Arabians Honored at Darley Awards | April 4, 2014
The road to the Darley Awards goes through
Arapahoe Park. The Arabian Racing Cup
recognized the breed’s top racehorses in the
United States from 2013 in a Hollywood-style
ceremony on April 4, 2014, at the Dolby
Theatre in Hollywood, California—also the
site of the Academy Awards. Every 2013
Arabian stakes winner at Arapahoe Park
captured the Darley Award in his or her
respective division. So Big Is Better was
named Horse of the Year and top older
horse. Ms Dixie won top older mare
honors. Mahra T earned the Darley for top
4-year-old filly. Scott Powell (pictured), the
leading Arabian trainer at Arapahoe Park in
2013, won the trainer of the year title. Mark Powell, Scott’s brother and the owner of So Big Is Better,
was owner of the year.
Arapahoe Quarter Horse Wins National Finals |
October 18, 2014
Representing Arapahoe Park and Colorado, Stoli Angel
took the $100,000 Grade 1 Merial Distaff Challenge at
the Bank of America Challenge Championships held at
Prairie Meadows in Iowa on October 18, 2014. She
qualified for the race held on Quarter Horse racing’s
championship evening in the Arapahoe Park regional
on July 5, 2014 with Bonifacio Perez aboard for
leading Arapahoe Park Quarter Horse trainer
John Hammes (pictured).
Arapahoe Park Unites with Other Racetracks on Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund Day
Across America | July 26, 2014
Arapahoe Park joined other leading racetracks around the country in raising awareness and money on
Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund Day Across America on Saturday, July 26, 2014. For a minimum
$5 donation that went to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, Arapahoe Park gave away a group
photo of the jockeys at the Aurora, Colorado racetrack that the jockeys signed in an autograph
session. In addition to the “real” races, jockeys also took part in inflatable horse and bouncy ball races.
Some of Arapahoe Park’s horsemen and racing officials also joined announcer Jonathan Horowitz for a
Wagering Do’s & Donut’s presentation about the behind-the-scenes of horse racing. Arapahoe Park
raised a total of $2,693.95 for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
Photos by Coady Photography. Clockwise from top left:
- breaking away from the gate in the inflatable horse race won by Jaciel Soto in the pink cap
- jockeys Ramiro Garcia, Juan Pulido, Kelsi Purcell, and Jaciel Soto in the bouncy ball race
- Kelsi Purcell had more bounce than her fellow jockeys in winning the bouncy ball race
- jockeys Mike Ziegler and Jeramie Fennell sign autographs
2014 Arapahoe Park Leaders
Thoroughbreds
Leading Jockey: Travis Wales, 41 wins
Leading Trainer: Kenneth “Butch” Gleason, 21 wins
Leading Owner: Donna Eaton, 15 wins, second Arapahoe Park owner title in a row
Quarter Horses
Leading Jockey: Ramiro Garcia, 14 wins
Leading Trainer: John Hammes, 18 wins, second Arapahoe Park trainer title in a row
Leading Owner: Seven-way tie, 3 wins (Thomas Bradbury and John Hammes, Jaime Gomez,
Margo Schares, Rusty Allred, Manuel Orozco, Pedro and Lilia Andazola,
Larry and Michelle Rice)
Arabians
Leading Jockey: Travis Wales, 7 wins
Leading Trainer: Scott Powell, 6 wins, second Arapahoe Park trainer title in a row
Elizabeth Brand, 6 wins
Leading Owner: Quarter Moon Ranch (Scott Powell and Lori Long), 5 wins, second Arapahoe Park
owner title in a row
Ms Dixie and jockey Kelsi Purcell celebrate victory in the COBRA Distaff
Sponsored by Soaring Eagle Ranch on August 16, 2014, representing leading
Arapahoe Park Arabian trainer Scott Powell and leading Arapahoe Park Arabian
owner Quarter Moon Ranch of Powell and wife Lori Long.
Arapahoe Park Track Records (Entering 2015)
Distance
4 Furlongs
4 1/2 Furlongs
5 Furlongs
5 1/2 Furlongs
6 Furlongs
6 1/2 Furlongs
7 Furlongs
1 Mile
1 1/16 Miles
1 1/8 Miles
1 1/4 Miles
1 1/2 Miles
1 3/4 Miles
2 Miles
Thoroughbreds
Horse
Age Weight
Et Tu Brutus
3
120
V G’s Catch
2
116
Nycity
2
118
Ultimate Question
3
120
No It Ain’t
3
120
Pray for Booger
3
116
Daring Pegasus
5
118
Honor Bright
5
116
Run At Night
4
116
Maysville Slew
6
124
Builder's Boy
6
119
Calgary Classic
6
122
Hold the Advantage
6
124
Little Reeves
6
116
Time
44.60
50.40
56.00
1:01.74
1:08.19
1:18.60
1:21.00
1:35.20
1:42.20
1:49.00
2:05.40
2:33.20
3:00.71
3:28.40
Date
July 26, 2004
June 23, 2002
July 13, 2002
August 12, 2011
August 12, 2011
August 25, 1995
July 4, 2003
August 7, 1993
August 14, 2004
September 1, 2002
June 26, 1992
July 24, 1993
August 21, 2011
August 27, 1994
Distance
300 Yards
330 Yards
350 Yards
400 Yards
440 Yards
550 Yards
870 Yards
1000 Yards
Quarter Horses
Horse
Age Weight
Flew Bye a Winner
2
120
Ivory Riches
2
124
Perrys Queen Bug
6
124
Kuhl Wave
3
124
Auditions Legacy
4
122
Classic Cleat
4
122
Izyk
6
121
Izyk
6
121
Time
15.650
15.922
17.045
19.149
21.440
26.552
44.095
51.624
Date
August 31, 1996
May 30, 2011
June 21, 2009
July 6, 2013
August 4, 1995
September 4, 2004
August 4, 2007
July 4, 2007
Distance
5 Furlongs
6 Furlongs
7 Furlongs
1 Mile
1 Mile 70 Yards
1 1/16 Miles
1 1/8 Miles
1 1/4 Miles
1 1/2 Miles
2 Miles
Arabians
Horse
Age Weight
Zachzell
6
122
Mahra T
4
117
Se Rebel Cause
6
115
S W Zell
7
124
Bez Ace
4
117
Tm Fred Texas
4
126
Djet Set De Falgas
8
124
Line Dancer
5
124
Mountain Majesty
6
120
Se Rojo Rapido
5
117
Time
1:05.60
1:16.92
1:32.00
1:48.20
1:48.60
1:52.97
2:00.56
2:17.20
2:47.40
4:09.00
Date
June 24, 2000
June 13, 2013
June 22, 2002
July 21, 2007
August 9, 1992
August 6, 2011
August 9, 2009
August 18, 2001
August 25, 2001
August 29, 1999
Arapahoe Park and Mile High Racing History
Mile High Racing and Entertainment, headquartered in Aurora, Colorado, is the parent company of
Arapahoe Park, Colorado’s only horse racing track. Arapahoe Park hosted its first season of live horse
racing in 1984. After a hiatus following the first season, Arapahoe Park has featured a summer racing
season every year since 1992. Mile High Racing also operates all off-track betting facilities in
Colorado.
Havana Park – Aurora
Post Time – Colorado Springs
The Celtic Tavern & Delaney’s Cigar Bar & Lounge – Denver
Softball Country – Denver
Sundance – Fort Collins
Whiskey River – Garden City
The 8 Track – Grand Junction
Big D’s at Whiskey River – Greeley
So Co Gaming & Event Center – Pueblo
Red & Jerry’s – Sheridan
Mile High Racing and Entertainment’s services include bringing the best in world-class horse racing to
guests in Colorado and all over the nation. Through simulcast television at the Mile High properties
customers are able to watch and wager on races from racetracks across the United States. Each facility
is fully equipped with mutuel windows, self-service touch kiosks, restaurants, and concession stands.
Facilities are available for corporate, sporting, and private events through affordable group packages for
private and tour-operated groups.
Arapahoe Park has been an innovative leader in horse racing. In 2014, the racetrack introduced the
Race-Day Medication-Free Incentive program—the first of its kind in the country—that rewards trainers
who win at Arapahoe Park with a horse void of any race-day medication with a $1,000 bonus per
victory. In 2015, with the goal of featuring full-field races, Arapahoe Park is pioneering a new
program that offers a bonus for races drawing large field sizes and a penalty for races with small fields.
Arapahoe Park will reach a wider audience in 2015 with the creation of the “Gates Open at Arapahoe
Park” magazine television show and the “Today at Arapahoe Park” replay television show broadcast
during the season on Altitude Sports & Entertainment. The quality of horses and races in Colorado
continues to grow. The 2015 season includes a revamped stakes schedule that for the first time will
feature two $100,000 Thoroughbred stakes races on the same day—the Arapahoe Park Classic and Gold
Rush Futurity on August 16—as well as two Quarter Horse stakes with estimated six-figure purses and
four graded Arabian stakes.
Get Happy Mister had the best season in the history of Arapahoe Park in 2014.
The 4-year-old owned by Annette Bishop, trained by Butch Gleason, and ridden by
Mike Ziegler won all five of his starts at the Aurora, Colorado track. The victories
ranged in distances from 5 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. Four were in stakes races—
the Aspen, the Front Range, the Mount Elbert, and the Arapahoe Park Classic.
“COLORADIO CAN REJOICE IN ITS HOMETOWN HERO!” Owner Annette Bishop, jockey Mike Ziegler, and trainer
Kenneth “Butch” Gleason confer in the paddock (left) before their Colorado-bred star Get Happy Mister puts an
exclamation point on an unbeaten season at Arapahoe Park in the $100,000 Arapahoe Park Classic on August 16, 2014.
Photos by Wendy Hickey and Coady Photography.
!