TRAINER EDDIE WILLIS WINS HIS 11TH TRAINING TITLE AT REMINGTON PARK, BREAKING TIE WITH RODNEY REED FOR MOST ALL TIME
OKLAHOMA CITY – June 5, 2020 – When Eddie Willis won his 10th training title at Remington Park in 2019, it tied him with trainer Rodney Reed for most all-time at this Oklahoma City track.
That tie has been broken. Willis won an unprecedented 11th training title at Remington Park during the 2020 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season that just concluded. The leading trainer award is named after Jack Brooks, an eight-time winner of the prestigious All American Futurity and Hall of Fame horsemen.
Willis knew when he was a little boy that something like this was what he wanted to do all his life.
“I can’t remember a time when I was a kid that there wasn’t a horse around,” said Willis. “When I was 16, I dropped out of school in Caney, Okla. I still have the farm in Caney, but I live in Ada now.”
He said his dad trained a few horses and that it has been in his blood.
“Well, it is nice winning titles,” he said. “You love to win races. But you get in it to make a living and make money. That will happen when you do things right. My horses have won more than $1 million at Remington Park several times.”
Willis had starters 236 times and won with 37 of them, ran second 52 times, and third 30 more. He had a 16% percent winning rate and his horses ran first, second or third 50% of the time, earning $1,131,137 on the track. He finished $300,000 more than runner-up Monty Arrossa.
“That happens when you work really hard, have great hands and an older son that works for me,” Willis said. “When you have that kind of foundation, you’re supposed to win races. And we do work hard. I don’t have as many hands as a lot of barns that split their grooms among the horses. They all work with every horse in my barn. Every hand. When you have too many working for you, it’s not as good, I believe.”
Willis’ first training title at Remington Park came in 2004. From 2010-2014, he had a five-year string of titles here. On the lesser side, he had a drought from 2015-2018 here.
Winning titles or not, his success remains as constant as the northern star at Remington.
“Never wanted to win all the races, just my share,” said Willis. “If you start 200 horses, you ought to win with 35 or 40 of them. We won 53 one year (2011) at Remington Park; won six stakes races in a row once (2003) with (jockey) Larry Payne.”
Payne had his rivalry with G.R. Carter throughout his career, but Willis never got caught up in any rivalry with another top trainer.
“I never mind getting outrun by someone who works hard,” he said.
As for the future, he doesn’t really think about the long range.
“I’ve already sent 20 head to Ruidoso,” he said. “I’m almost 63 years old now. Been doing this since 1979, but I can do a lot of things. I shoe horses. I can work with equipment. But this (racing) is a passion.”
Passion at Willis’ level leads to trophies, plaques and Halls of Fame. He has all of that, as he was inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park in 2018.
••••••
Tracked by more than 164,000 fans on Facebook and more than 10,500 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $243 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, Remington Park is in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District.
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CATHEY ACCEPTS DIRECTOR OF RACING HELM AT REMINGTON PARK
OKLAHOMA CITY – When 2023 racing begins at Remington Park, it will start with new guidance in the racing department. Kelly Cathey has accepted the director of racing position and will oversee the operation for all breeds competing at the Oklahoma City facility.
The American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season will begin March 9. The 2023 Thoroughbred Season will get underway in late August.
Cathey brings more than 30 years of experience in horse racing to Remington Park. He first worked with horses in the late 1980s as a teenager, assisting his father who was a trainer. He has also served as a groom, pony person, assistant trainer, valet and assistant starter.
Cathey moved into track management in 1998 at Retama Park in Selma, Texas. He has also worked for Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas; Sam Houston Race Park in Houston and Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla. He has held nearly every position associated with racing, pari-mutuel wagering and simulcast operations throughout his career.
Since 2013 Cathey has worked for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission as a state steward (2013-2015), advancing to the role of executive director of the commission in 2015. He will leave that post to become the director of racing at Remington Park.
“Remington Park and Global Gaming are excited to have Kelly Cathey join our racing team,” said Matt Vance, executive vice president of racing operations at Remington Park. “Kelly has a resume reflective of more than 30 years in the sport, working as a racing executive and regulator. His extensive experience with both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses and their respective organizations throughout the region makes him uniquely qualified to lead our racing department at Remington Park.”
Horsemen will bring horses onto the grounds at Remington Park beginning Feb. 6 with the initial morning of training set for Tuesday, Feb. 7. The first night of the spring season falls on Thursday, March 9 and the 50-date schedule continues through Saturday, June 3. ... ’Expand’See Less
It continues to be the goal of Remington Park and OQHRA to provide a race meeting of the highest quality and integrity. As a condition of entry, no horse will be allowed to enter a race at Remington Park unless results of a negative hair test have been provided to Remington Park prior to entry. All pre-entry hair testing will be facilitated by OQHRA. Pre-entry hair tests will be good for 90 days beginning the day after the sample is collected. All tests will expire after 90 days and horses must re-test to remain eligible, regardless of if the horse started in a race within those 90 days. In no event will a horse be eligible to enter a race unless a current negative hair test is on file at Remington Park in accordance with the conditions set forth in the condition book. The Remington Park Racing Office nor OQHRA staff receive the results of hair testing. All test results submitted to Remington Park management will remain confidential. Any horse receiving a positive hair test will be unable to enter until a negative test is obtained, there is no penalty to the trainer.
To better serve horsemen, OQHRA will be setting up offsite testing days at Retama Park, Lone Star Park and Blue Ribbon Downs. The OQHRA testing crew will be available at each location one day, allowing horsemen the opportunity to get horses tested closer to where they are stabled/training. Horses needing to be tested in other states do have the opportunity to have an offsite test done by a state veterinarian working under the auspices of a State Regulatory Agency.
𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 – 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟱𝘁𝗵 Appointments should be made by 2/2/23 by calling (405) 881-5120. Cost of test - $275. These tests will expire on Sunday, May 7, 2023. T̲a̲t̲t̲o̲o̲e̲r̲ w̲i̲l̲l̲ b̲e̲ o̲n̲ s̲i̲t̲e̲ a̲s̲ w̲e̲l̲l̲,̲ a̲p̲p̲o̲i̲n̲t̲m̲e̲n̲t̲s̲ c̲a̲n̲ b̲e̲ m̲a̲d̲e̲ b̲y̲ c̲a̲l̲l̲i̲n̲g̲ h̲a̲i̲r̲ t̲e̲s̲t̲i̲n̲g̲ l̲i̲n̲e̲.̲
𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 – 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟰𝘁𝗵 Please call ASAP to sign up for this date/location must have a minimum of 40 horses scheduled. (405) 881-5120. Cost of test - $275. These tests will expire on May 26, 2023 T̲a̲t̲t̲o̲o̲e̲r̲ w̲i̲l̲l̲ b̲e̲ o̲n̲ s̲i̲t̲e̲ a̲s̲ w̲e̲l̲l̲,̲ a̲p̲p̲o̲i̲n̲t̲m̲e̲n̲t̲s̲ c̲a̲n̲ b̲e̲ m̲a̲d̲e̲ b̲y̲ c̲a̲l̲l̲i̲n̲g̲ h̲a̲i̲r̲ t̲e̲s̲t̲i̲n̲g̲ l̲i̲n̲e̲.̲
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗯𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀 – 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟯𝗿𝗱 Appointments should be made by 3/1/2023 by calling (405) 881-5120. Cost of test - $225. These tests will expire June 2, 2023
𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 – 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆. Onsite testing during February will be conducted 9:00 – noon, Monday through Friday beginning Wednesday, February 8th. There will be no Hair Testing on Tuesday, February 14th or Friday, February 24th. Tests done in February will expire before the end of the meet. Please review the schedule and test/safe dates posted on OQHRA.com and plan accordingly. Onsite test cost $225.
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒕𝒆𝒙𝒕/𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒕 (405) 881-5120. Full schedule and details can be found at www.oqhra.com
TRAINER EDDIE WILLIS WINS HIS 11TH TRAINING TITLE AT REMINGTON PARK, BREAKING TIE WITH RODNEY REED FOR MOST ALL TIME
OKLAHOMA CITY – June 5, 2020 – When Eddie Willis won his 10th training title at Remington Park in 2019, it tied him with trainer Rodney Reed for most all-time at this Oklahoma City track.
That tie has been broken. Willis won an unprecedented 11th training title at Remington Park during the 2020 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season that just concluded. The leading trainer award is named after Jack Brooks, an eight-time winner of the prestigious All American Futurity and Hall of Fame horsemen.
Willis knew when he was a little boy that something like this was what he wanted to do all his life.
He said his dad trained a few horses and that it has been in his blood.
Willis had starters 236 times and won with 37 of them, ran second 52 times, and third 30 more. He had a 16% percent winning rate and his horses ran first, second or third 50% of the time, earning $1,131,137 on the track. He finished $300,000 more than runner-up Monty Arrossa.
Willis’ first training title at Remington Park came in 2004. From 2010-2014, he had a five-year string of titles here. On the lesser side, he had a drought from 2015-2018 here.
Winning titles or not, his success remains as constant as the northern star at Remington.
Payne had his rivalry with G.R. Carter throughout his career, but Willis never got caught up in any rivalry with another top trainer.
As for the future, he doesn’t really think about the long range.
Passion at Willis’ level leads to trophies, plaques and Halls of Fame. He has all of that, as he was inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park in 2018.
••••••
Tracked by more than 164,000 fans on Facebook and more than 10,500 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $243 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, Remington Park is in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District.
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CATHEY ACCEPTS DIRECTOR OF RACING HELM AT REMINGTON PARK
OKLAHOMA CITY – When 2023 racing begins at Remington Park, it will start with new guidance in the racing department. Kelly Cathey has accepted the director of racing position and will oversee the operation for all breeds competing at the Oklahoma City facility.
The American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season will begin March 9. The 2023 Thoroughbred Season will get underway in late August.
Cathey brings more than 30 years of experience in horse racing to Remington Park. He first worked with horses in the late 1980s as a teenager, assisting his father who was a trainer. He has also served as a groom, pony person, assistant trainer, valet and assistant starter.
Cathey moved into track management in 1998 at Retama Park in Selma, Texas. He has also worked for Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas; Sam Houston Race Park in Houston and Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla. He has held nearly every position associated with racing, pari-mutuel wagering and simulcast operations throughout his career.
Since 2013 Cathey has worked for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission as a state steward (2013-2015), advancing to the role of executive director of the commission in 2015. He will leave that post to become the director of racing at Remington Park.
“Remington Park and Global Gaming are excited to have Kelly Cathey join our racing team,” said Matt Vance, executive vice president of racing operations at Remington Park. “Kelly has a resume reflective of more than 30 years in the sport, working as a racing executive and regulator. His extensive experience with both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses and their respective organizations throughout the region makes him uniquely qualified to lead our racing department at Remington Park.”
Horsemen will bring horses onto the grounds at Remington Park beginning Feb. 6 with the initial morning of training set for Tuesday, Feb. 7. The first night of the spring season falls on Thursday, March 9 and the 50-date schedule continues through Saturday, June 3. ... ’Expand’See Less
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Welcome!
Good luck and welcome!
R̳e̳m̳i̳n̳g̳t̳o̳n̳ P̳a̳r̳k̳ H̳a̳i̳r̳ T̳e̳s̳t̳i̳n̳g̳ I̳n̳f̳o̳r̳m̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳
It continues to be the goal of Remington Park and OQHRA to provide a race meeting of the highest quality and integrity. As a condition of entry, no horse will be allowed to enter a race at Remington Park unless results of a negative hair test have been provided to Remington Park prior to entry. All pre-entry hair testing will be facilitated by OQHRA. Pre-entry hair tests will be good for 90 days beginning the day after the sample is collected. All tests will expire after 90 days and horses must re-test to remain eligible, regardless of if the horse started in a race within those 90 days. In no event will a horse be eligible to enter a race unless a current negative hair test is on file at Remington Park in accordance with the conditions set forth in the condition book. The Remington Park Racing Office nor OQHRA staff receive the results of hair testing. All test results submitted to Remington Park management will remain confidential. Any horse receiving a positive hair test will be unable to enter until a negative test is obtained, there is no penalty to the trainer.
To better serve horsemen, OQHRA will be setting up offsite testing days at Retama Park, Lone Star Park and Blue Ribbon Downs. The OQHRA testing crew will be available at each location one day, allowing horsemen the opportunity to get horses tested closer to where they are stabled/training. Horses needing to be tested in other states do have the opportunity to have an offsite test done by a state veterinarian working under the auspices of a State Regulatory Agency.
𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 – 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟱𝘁𝗵
Appointments should be made by 2/2/23 by calling (405) 881-5120. Cost of test - $275. These tests will expire on Sunday, May 7, 2023. T̲a̲t̲t̲o̲o̲e̲r̲ w̲i̲l̲l̲ b̲e̲ o̲n̲ s̲i̲t̲e̲ a̲s̲ w̲e̲l̲l̲,̲ a̲p̲p̲o̲i̲n̲t̲m̲e̲n̲t̲s̲ c̲a̲n̲ b̲e̲ m̲a̲d̲e̲ b̲y̲ c̲a̲l̲l̲i̲n̲g̲ h̲a̲i̲r̲ t̲e̲s̲t̲i̲n̲g̲ l̲i̲n̲e̲.̲
𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 – 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟰𝘁𝗵
Please call ASAP to sign up for this date/location must have a minimum of 40 horses scheduled. (405) 881-5120. Cost of test - $275. These tests will expire on May 26, 2023
T̲a̲t̲t̲o̲o̲e̲r̲ w̲i̲l̲l̲ b̲e̲ o̲n̲ s̲i̲t̲e̲ a̲s̲ w̲e̲l̲l̲,̲ a̲p̲p̲o̲i̲n̲t̲m̲e̲n̲t̲s̲ c̲a̲n̲ b̲e̲ m̲a̲d̲e̲ b̲y̲ c̲a̲l̲l̲i̲n̲g̲ h̲a̲i̲r̲ t̲e̲s̲t̲i̲n̲g̲ l̲i̲n̲e̲.̲
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗯𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀 – 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟯𝗿𝗱
Appointments should be made by 3/1/2023 by calling (405) 881-5120. Cost of test - $225. These tests will expire June 2, 2023
𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 – 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆.
Onsite testing during February will be conducted 9:00 – noon, Monday through Friday beginning Wednesday, February 8th. There will be no Hair Testing on Tuesday, February 14th or Friday, February 24th. Tests done in February will expire before the end of the meet. Please review the schedule and test/safe dates posted on OQHRA.com and plan accordingly. Onsite test cost $225.
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒕𝒆𝒙𝒕/𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒕 (405) 881-5120. Full schedule and details can be found at www.oqhra.com
*𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒, 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘) 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑖𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑒𝑑, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛. ... ’Expand’See Less
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