American Paint Horse Association adds $2000 to debut of Paint Horse stakes races in Michigan

FORT WORTH-The American Paint Horse Association will add $2,000 to the Michigan Paint Horse Futurity and Derby this summer at Mount Pleasant Meadows, with the debut of Paint Horse stakes races in the Wolverine State. The track, located in central Michigan's Isabella County, will be the venue for the state's historic all-Paint racing events that will include trial races and two finals.

The Paint Horse racing begins July 14, when trials are scheduled for the Michigan Paint Horse Futurity. The finals for the futurity will be held July 29 and will feature $10,000 in added money, including $1,000 added from APHA.

The excitement continues July 28, when trials get under way for the Michigan Paint Horse Derby. The derby finals are set for August 5 and feature $5,000 added, including $1,000 from APHA.

"We're hoping that people will take note of the added money and participate," said Craig Close, who serves on the board of directors for Mount Pleasant Meadows. "We're excited about the interest that we've seen from Paint Horse owners, and we're hoping we can get a nice program put together further down the road."

Close said track officials realize it will take some time to develop Paint racing at Mount Pleasant and elsewhere in the state, because it is new to Michigan.

"We're just hoping to grow it," he said.

As far as how much growth in Paint racing could be accommodated, Close said, "The sky's the limit. We'd like to see these races continue and the Paint population increase."

The prospect of that happening was made possible with the passage of state legislation last summer allowing Paint racing in Michigan. Following the bill's passage, State of Michigan Racing Commissioner Annette Bacola approved an order on August 9, that amended the Mixed Race Meeting License at Mount Pleasant Meadows. Prior to the amendment, only Quarter Horses, Arabians, Appaloosas and Thoroughbreds had been allowed to race at the track.

In addition to the futurity and derby, Mount Pleasant will host mixed-breed racing this year. Racing dates at the track run from May 5 through October 7. The Michigan Racing Commissioner has also approved mixed-breed racing at another track, Great Lakes Downs in Muskegon, although no dates have been set.

"With much of the horse racing in Michigan in a holding pattern, it is exciting to see a new breed on the scene and an expansion of the industry within the state," said Bacola. Her office is the official state agency that serves the $1.2 billion horse racing industry in Michigan.

Lex Smurthwaite, APHA racing director, has been impressed with the interest shown by racing officials in the state.

"In Michigan, we were fortunate to work with a lot of dedicated people to help make Paint racing a reality," Smurthwaite said. "We're hopeful that the added money at this year's futurity and derby at Mount Pleasant, attracts a lot of competitors. We expect to see Paint racing grow in the state."

Smurthwaite said he also anticipates similar growth in Paint racing throughout the nation.

A total of 16 states featured Paint racing in 2000, compared to 12 states the previous two years. Paint Horses are now running in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.