TRAINER BOYD CASTER THE FIRST TO ARRIVE WITH HORSES FOR REMINGTON PARK THOROUGHBRED SEASON

The Remington Park stable area is now open as horsemen have begun the process of shipping their athletes in for the 2021 Thoroughbred Season. Trainer Boyd Caster was the first to arrive and has already stabled 30 horses in Barn A-3.

Caster arrived at 8:48am Sunday as the stable area opened a day early to assist those trying to escape some flooding issues around Oklahoma, brought on by heavy thunderstorms on Saturday.

A resident of Jones, Okla. and a mainstay for decades at Remington Park, Caster was grateful for the opportunity to bring his horses in early. They were stabled at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla. when the storms hit Saturday, causing flooding.

“It rained so hard that you could have floated a canoe through my barn. The water was up well above (our horses’) ankles,” Caster noted. “We are very happy that Remington Park, and Matt Vance (vice-president of racing operations), allowed us to come in early to get out of that situation.”

The first horse off the trailer was IRA Champ, a 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelding by Backstabber from the King Of Scat mare Lady Cambridge. IRA Champ is a full-brother to Quality Rocket who won the Red Earth Stakes (turf) last September at Remington Park. Caster believes IRA Champ has potential and hopes he can attain success like his brother.

“He’s fast and quick on his feet,” Caster said. “He’s a different make than ‘Rocket,’ more of a powerful, stout build with a lot of muscle.”

Caster hopes to debut IRA Champ early in the upcoming season, most likely in an Oklahoma-bred maiden event. The stakes winning Quality Rocket was also among the Caster arrivals Sunday as he continues racing as a 7-year-old.

Caster saddled 11 winners during the 2020 season at Remington Park, with eight more finishing second and 18 others running third. His starters finished in the money (top three) in 35.6% of their races.

The main track at Remington Park will open Tuesday morning for training.

The Thoroughbred Season is set to begin on Friday, Aug. 20.

Tracked by more than 167,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $266 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 features live and simulcast horse racing, and the casino is always open. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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