WIRE TAP UPSETS STABLEMATE LIVEWIRES TURNPIKE, ENDING HIS STREAK IN MISTER LEWIE MEMORIAL STAKES FOR PAINTS, APPS
by Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 11, 2025 – It was a big night for jockey Francisco Calderon as he won the Grade 1, $21,450 Mister Lewie Memorial Stakes aboard Wire Tap and also qualifying the fastest horse in the Heritage Place Derby trials with House of Lords.
Calderon’s win in the Mister Lewie Memorial ended the winning streak of Livewires Turnpike, who was going for his third victory in a row in this stakes race. Wire Tap shares a barn with Livewires Turnpike under the tutelage of trainer Matt Whitekiller. The end of that streak continued the streak of Calderon, who had ridden Livewires Turnpike the last two years in this race. On Saturday night, Cody Smith rode the 2-1 co-favorite for Whitekiller, and Calderon was on the eventual winner. Consequently, Calderon’s streak stands at three consecutive visits to the winner’s circle in this race.
The Mister Lewie Memorial Stakes is named in honor of the late, great Lewis Wartchow, who was the King of the Paints, winning more all-time races for this breed for years and years before passing away in 2003, shortly after his 65th birthday. He held the Remington Park record for stakes wins in the Quarter Horse and Mixed-breed seasons with 34.
On Saturday night, it seemed apropos that Whitekiller won the race as he was a Wartchow protégé in his early years. Wire Tap broke on top from the gate and led the field of nine Paints and Appaloosas the entire distance of 400 yards. Wire Tap gave his stablemate, Livewires Turnpike, his first loss, racing this distance. Prior to Saturday night, Livewires Turnpike was five-for-five at 400 yards and 8-of-12 racing at Remington Park. It was the second time in his past three races in which they have faced each other that Wire Tap has crossed the finish line ahead of Livewires Turnpike.
Wire Tap a 4-year-old Paint, a son of the breed’s most prominent sire, CRM Livewire, out of the Second Painted Sign (QH) mare Lindys Sign (QH), won the Mister Lewie at 6-1 odds and paid $14.60 to win, $5.60 to place, $4 to show. He won $10,800 in the race for owners Dan and Kaye Jones of Kemp, Texas. Wire Tap’s record stands at 20 starts, six wins, five seconds and one third for a bankroll of $81,495. He was bred by his owners.
Wire Tap beat co-favorite R Cowgirl (2-1) to the wire R Cowgirl was another half-length ahead of third-place runner Nota Pocahontas (9-2). The rest of the order of finish was Over the Shock (9-1) fourth, Storms Livewire (10-1) fifth, Queen for Cash (12-1) sixth, Livewires Turnpike (2-1) seventh, Chief Iron Eagle (21-1) eighth, and Js Ima Fancy Chicken (49-1) ninth.
••••
Remington Park has provided more than $377 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, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 American Quarter Horse Season, features the $1,161,000 Heritage Place Futurity on May 31, the final night of this meet. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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Fair Meadows Overnight Wednesday, July 16: bit.ly/FMT-071625 *(𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝟷 & 𝟸 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙷𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜)* Post time 6:00PM ... ’Expand’See Less
The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission has discontinued processing award deductions for the transfer of ownership on OK Bred registered horses. You will need to submit your Transfer of Ownership application, W-9 (these are required annually), with a check, money order, or completed credit card authorization form, as well as a copy of the horse’s breed registration certificate, to update our records and have the award released.
You have one year from the date of the race to collect your award.
You can send your documents or any questions to the OKB Registry Department at OKBRED@OHRC.OK.GOV. ... ’Expand’See Less
In partnership with the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA), all Oklahoma racetracks—Remington Park, Fair Meadows at Tulsa, and Will Rogers Downs—have announced expanded hair testing measures for the 2026 Quarter Horse, Paint, and Appaloosa race meets. While pre-entry hair testing has been a condition of entry since 2018, the updated policy builds on that foundation by introducing new layers of accountability and a unified approach across all tracks.
“We are expanding our integrity efforts and working to hold everyone accountable for the horses in their care,” said Krissy Bamberg, Executive Director of OQHRA. “This is a collective effort among all Oklahoma tracks to protect the integrity of the sport and the welfare of the horse.”
The 2026 updates include a new provision that will exclude any trainer from participating at Oklahoma tracks for the remainder of a meet if three or more horses in their care test positive through official pre-entry hair tests for any prohibited substance. In addition, any owner with three or more positive tests during the meet will also be deemed ineligible to participate for the remainder of that meet.
Another upgrade to the policy is the expansion of unofficial testing. This informational hair-testing option will be available beginning with the fall yearling sales. These test kits can be requested through OQHRA. The hair samples can be collected by the owner or trainer and submitted to the lab for testing; results of these unofficial tests will not be considered official for entry purposes, but they will allow owners or trainers who have acquired horses from other barns to voluntarily test them in advance of entry to ensure they are clear of prohibited substances. It offers peace of mind, particularly before making financial commitments such as nomination fees, training investments, or early race preparations. It is important to note that many Sale Companies offer hair testing as a buyer protection within 24 hours of the sale; buyers are encouraged to contact the sales companies about the options available.
“Integrity is the backbone of everything we do,” said Matt Vance, Executive Vice President at Remington Park. “These policies help preserve the integrity of the sport by holding those who choose not to play by the rules accountable. We are proud to work with other Oklahoma tracks and OQHRA to lead the way in promoting fair competition in Quarter Horse racing.”
The core hair testing requirement remains in place: every Quarter Horse, Paint, or Appaloosa must submit to a one-time, pre-entry hair test before starting at any Oklahoma track. Official test results are sent directly to the racetrack, and positive results will lead to exclusion for the duration of that meet. These exclusions are track-specific only and do not constitute regulatory suspensions; participants remain eligible at other tracks unless a separate jurisdiction elects to take action. All horses with official positive tests will be listed publicly at www.OQHRA.com, and test results may be shared with other jurisdictions upon request.
To make the process easier for horsemen, farm visits for hair testing will be available in January and early February for Oklahoma-based trainers with 40 or more horses.
All details of the 2026 hair testing policy, including the unofficial testing option, are available at www.OQHRA.com or by calling (405) 881-5120. ... ’Expand’See Less
Won't matter Justin is so far ahead of the tracks, everyone knows you can't win a big race without the JRJ.
Thank you,
However we have got to get the results back presale from these yearlings sales at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino select sale and the New Mexico bred.
The Texas Quarter Horse sale needs it as well.
Oklahoma QHRA should at least mandate that the horse that are breeders and fitters are marketing for it be tested pre sale date with the horse .
Think of how Heritage Place would not want any part of a horse owner wanting his money back on a horse he bought from similar to large sale horse provider like the Flag Ranches size.
He would have to choose to do the right thing and force the return of the large ranch for illegal substances.
If we could get one sale barn to step up and require this
, we would owe it to them to get the others to follow suit to with the presale testing.
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WIRE TAP UPSETS STABLEMATE LIVEWIRES TURNPIKE, ENDING HIS STREAK IN MISTER LEWIE MEMORIAL STAKES FOR PAINTS, APPS
by Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 11, 2025 – It was a big night for jockey Francisco Calderon as he won the Grade 1, $21,450 Mister Lewie Memorial Stakes aboard Wire Tap and also qualifying the fastest horse in the Heritage Place Derby trials with House of Lords.
Calderon’s win in the Mister Lewie Memorial ended the winning streak of Livewires Turnpike, who was going for his third victory in a row in this stakes race. Wire Tap shares a barn with Livewires Turnpike under the tutelage of trainer Matt Whitekiller. The end of that streak continued the streak of Calderon, who had ridden Livewires Turnpike the last two years in this race. On Saturday night, Cody Smith rode the 2-1 co-favorite for Whitekiller, and Calderon was on the eventual winner. Consequently, Calderon’s streak stands at three consecutive visits to the winner’s circle in this race.
The Mister Lewie Memorial Stakes is named in honor of the late, great Lewis Wartchow, who was the King of the Paints, winning more all-time races for this breed for years and years before passing away in 2003, shortly after his 65th birthday. He held the Remington Park record for stakes wins in the Quarter Horse and Mixed-breed seasons with 34.
On Saturday night, it seemed apropos that Whitekiller won the race as he was a Wartchow protégé in his early years. Wire Tap broke on top from the gate and led the field of nine Paints and Appaloosas the entire distance of 400 yards. Wire Tap gave his stablemate, Livewires Turnpike, his first loss, racing this distance. Prior to Saturday night, Livewires Turnpike was five-for-five at 400 yards and 8-of-12 racing at Remington Park. It was the second time in his past three races in which they have faced each other that Wire Tap has crossed the finish line ahead of Livewires Turnpike.
Wire Tap a 4-year-old Paint, a son of the breed’s most prominent sire, CRM Livewire, out of the Second Painted Sign (QH) mare Lindys Sign (QH), won the Mister Lewie at 6-1 odds and paid $14.60 to win, $5.60 to place, $4 to show. He won $10,800 in the race for owners Dan and Kaye Jones of Kemp, Texas. Wire Tap’s record stands at 20 starts, six wins, five seconds and one third for a bankroll of $81,495. He was bred by his owners.
Wire Tap beat co-favorite R Cowgirl (2-1) to the wire R Cowgirl was another half-length ahead of third-place runner Nota Pocahontas (9-2). The rest of the order of finish was Over the Shock (9-1) fourth, Storms Livewire (10-1) fifth, Queen for Cash (12-1) sixth, Livewires Turnpike (2-1) seventh, Chief Iron Eagle (21-1) eighth, and Js Ima Fancy Chicken (49-1) ninth.
••••
Remington Park has provided more than $377 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, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 American Quarter Horse Season, features the $1,161,000 Heritage Place Futurity on May 31, the final night of this meet. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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Wednesday, July 16: bit.ly/FMT-071625
*(𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝟷 & 𝟸 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙷𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜)*
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14 hours ago
Comment on Facebook
The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission has discontinued processing award deductions for the transfer of ownership on OK Bred registered horses. You will need to submit your Transfer of Ownership application, W-9 (these are required annually), with a check, money order, or completed credit card authorization form, as well as a copy of the horse’s breed registration certificate, to update our records and have the award released.
You have one year from the date of the race to collect your award.
You can send your documents or any questions to the OKB Registry Department at OKBRED@OHRC.OK.GOV. ... ’Expand’See Less
20 hours ago
Comment on Facebook
𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐢𝐫-𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲
In partnership with the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA), all Oklahoma racetracks—Remington Park, Fair Meadows at Tulsa, and Will Rogers Downs—have announced expanded hair testing measures for the 2026 Quarter Horse, Paint, and Appaloosa race meets. While pre-entry hair testing has been a condition of entry since 2018, the updated policy builds on that foundation by introducing new layers of accountability and a unified approach across all tracks.
“We are expanding our integrity efforts and working to hold everyone accountable for the horses in their care,” said Krissy Bamberg, Executive Director of OQHRA. “This is a collective effort among all Oklahoma tracks to protect the integrity of the sport and the welfare of the horse.”
The 2026 updates include a new provision that will exclude any trainer from participating at Oklahoma tracks for the remainder of a meet if three or more horses in their care test positive through official pre-entry hair tests for any prohibited substance. In addition, any owner with three or more positive tests during the meet will also be deemed ineligible to participate for the remainder of that meet.
Another upgrade to the policy is the expansion of unofficial testing. This informational hair-testing option will be available beginning with the fall yearling sales. These test kits can be requested through OQHRA. The hair samples can be collected by the owner or trainer and submitted to the lab for testing; results of these unofficial tests will not be considered official for entry purposes, but they will allow owners or trainers who have acquired horses from other barns to voluntarily test them in advance of entry to ensure they are clear of prohibited substances. It offers peace of mind, particularly before making financial commitments such as nomination fees, training investments, or early race preparations. It is important to note that many Sale Companies offer hair testing as a buyer protection within 24 hours of the sale; buyers are encouraged to contact the sales companies about the options available.
“Integrity is the backbone of everything we do,” said Matt Vance, Executive Vice President at Remington Park. “These policies help preserve the integrity of the sport by holding those who choose not to play by the rules accountable. We are proud to work with other Oklahoma tracks and OQHRA to lead the way in promoting fair competition in Quarter Horse racing.”
The core hair testing requirement remains in place: every Quarter Horse, Paint, or Appaloosa must submit to a one-time, pre-entry hair test before starting at any Oklahoma track. Official test results are sent directly to the racetrack, and positive results will lead to exclusion for the duration of that meet. These exclusions are track-specific only and do not constitute regulatory suspensions; participants remain eligible at other tracks unless a separate jurisdiction elects to take action. All horses with official positive tests will be listed publicly at www.OQHRA.com, and test results may be shared with other jurisdictions upon request.
To make the process easier for horsemen, farm visits for hair testing will be available in January and early February for Oklahoma-based trainers with 40 or more horses.
All details of the 2026 hair testing policy, including the unofficial testing option, are available at www.OQHRA.com or by calling (405) 881-5120. ... ’Expand’See Less
2 days ago
Comment on Facebook
Won't matter Justin is so far ahead of the tracks, everyone knows you can't win a big race without the JRJ.
Thank you, However we have got to get the results back presale from these yearlings sales at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino select sale and the New Mexico bred. The Texas Quarter Horse sale needs it as well. Oklahoma QHRA should at least mandate that the horse that are breeders and fitters are marketing for it be tested pre sale date with the horse . Think of how Heritage Place would not want any part of a horse owner wanting his money back on a horse he bought from similar to large sale horse provider like the Flag Ranches size. He would have to choose to do the right thing and force the return of the large ranch for illegal substances. If we could get one sale barn to step up and require this , we would owe it to them to get the others to follow suit to with the presale testing.
Who get the samples from the horses and when
How actual fuck did we ever get to this point?
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