SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Oct. 4, 2019) – The Hoosier Park Classic, the oldest Indiana state bred stakes in the history of pari-mutuel racing, was billed to be a superb contest and it did not disappoint. In a field where earnings were in excess of $2.2 million, less than five lengths separated the entire field of 10 at the wire. The top three were determined in a photo with race favorite Beach Treat getting the edge to win his third straight race at Indiana Grand.
Stinkin Rich, Indiana’s all-time richest Quarter Horse and two-time defending champ, was the first horse to emerge as the leader from the center of the pack for Shanley Jackson. It didn’t take long for him to have company on the front end as Beach Bum Eddie and L.D. Martinez moved up to challenge on the inside and Beach Treat with Oscar Macias kept close on the outside. As the final strides of the 400-yard dash approached, Stinkin Rich was holding on gamely but in the final step, it was Beach Treat for the win by a head. Stinkin Rich was less than a head for second over Beach Bum Eddie.
“I get the credit, but the credit really goes to my barn help,” said Trainer Ron Brown. “You are only as good as your help, and that is true in any business. In fact, sometimes when I’m there, I only get in the way.”
Beach Treat earned his eighth career win and his fifth of 2019 with the win in the $83,300 Hoosier Park Classic. The sorrel four-year-old son of Escondido Beach now has in excess of $170,000 for Brown, who also owns him.
“He’s such an easy horse to keep,” said Brown. He stays happy all the time. He stays here full time and I have a round pen outside my barn full of sand. He loves to go out in the pen and roll. That keeps him happy.”
Macias has ridden Beach Treat to all five of his wins this year. Macias is currently ranked in the top 10 this year in the Quarter Horse jockey standings.
“I didn’t tell Oscar a thing,” added Brown regarding strategy for the race. “He gallops him every day and it’s a big plus to have the jockey work for you every day. There are a lot of pluses for this horse.”
The fifth of six all-Quarter Horse racing nights Saturday, Oct. 5 will include the special contest, Quarter Four, sponsored by the Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana (QHRAI). Each time one of the top four Quarter Horse jockeys wins a race on the program a name will be drawn for a $20 race wager. Currently, the top four Quarter Horse jockeys this season are Berkley Packer, L.D. Martinez, Jose Beltran and Juan Galvan. Martha Claussen, nationally known Quarter Horse racing analyst, will also provide a full tip sheet for the program as well as handicapping segments for select races during the night. The all-Quarter Horse racing program gets underway at 6:15 p.m. EST.
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