Sandy Ridge At Red Mile Finishes Successful Second Year, 85 Percent Increase In Horses Entered

Sandy Ridge's 2024 Champion jockey Bryan Candanosa hoists his Hammer Designs' championship jockey belt in the air!

© Mallory Robbins

LEXINGTON, KY–APRIL 2, 2024–Record-setting fans and races highlighted the 2nd annual Sandy Ridge At Red Mile, building strong momentum for the return of quarter horse racing to Kentucky.

"We couldn't be more thrilled with the quality of racing and overwhelmingly positive feedback we received over two weeks of races," said Larry Lucas, Chairman of Revolutionary Racing Kentucky, which organized the event. "There is genuine excitement across the country about quarter horse racing coming back to the Commonwealth and we are proud to be the ones bringing it back."

Nearly $1.2M in total purses was paid over six race days. Like last year, the champion horse owner, trainer and jockey each received championship wrestling-style belts as a trophy, made by Kentucky's own Hammer Designs. This year's belts went to jockey Bryan Candanosa, trainer Samuel Valdivia and owner Jason Chinn, of Kentucky.

This year also marked the first time purses were increased for select races, thanks to funds form the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, which encourages breeding of quarter horses in Kentucky.

This year's races, sanctioned by the American Quarter Horse Association, saw several records set, including:

> An 85% increase in horses entered (318 last year
   vs. 587 this year)
> A 72% increase in horses started (193 vs. 332)
> A 31% increase in races each day (5 vs. 7)

In addition, a record 822 outlets around the world showed the races.

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Revolutionary Racing Kentucky owns Sandy's Racing & Gaming, a gaming facility now open in Ashland, adjacent to what will be the only quarter horse racetrack in Kentucky. Mount Sterling-based Walker Construction is now developing plans with Revolutionary Racing on the removal of nearly 500,000 cubic yards of dirt, to clear enough land to allow for an initial phase of track construction. They are also working with track surface expert Mick Peterson, who runs the University of Kentucky's Racetrack Safety Program. Construction is set to begin this summer, with races expected to happen in 2025.