TRAINER TAMMY JOHNSON CONTINUES SIX-YEAR STREAK OF FIRST TO ARRIVE AT REMINGTON PARK
The 2022 Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season begins March 3. Trainer Tammy Johnson, as always, is ready to race. She was the first to arrive with horses into the stable area this morning after the gates opened for this upcoming meet.
It marked the sixth consecutive year she had been virtually sleeping at the Remington Park stable gate like a teenager camped out awaiting a new Marvel movie.
Johnson entered the stable area at 12:12 a.m., literally minutes after the gate swung wide.
“I was actually here sooner than that, waiting,” Johnson said. “It takes me and my husband six hours to get here from our home in Gatesville, Texas. We’re fixing to leave home again and bring 12 more to Remington Park today. Should be there by about 6 p.m.”
She brought 12 athletes with her from her farm and got them settled in barn C-6 after she entered just past midnight. Barn C-6 is her regular barn at Remington Park. She has been assigned stalls for 32 horses.
Johnson has been first into Remington Park with horses every year since her streak began in 2017. The first horses are allowed to step on the racing surface tomorrow morning, Tuesday, Feb. 1.
Among Johnson’s horses this meet will be Viva Le Don. He had a banner season at Remington Park in 2021, winning the $38,000 Distance Challenge on April 25 here at 870 yards, with jockey Josh Romero up. Viva Le Don is now a 6-year-old gelding owned by Rockin J Running Horses of Gatesville. Rockin J Running Horses also owns his half-sister Viva Le Zoom, who will be in Johnson’s barn. That 3-year-old filly is out of the same dam (mother), Viva Arriba. Viva Le Zoom won a futurity trial at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., on Sept. 12, 2021 and then ran second in the $60,000 Juvenile Challenge at WRD at 350 yards.
Viva Le Don has won 11-of-32 starts lifetime for $497,886 in lifetime earnings.
“Viva Le Don was Champion Older Gelding in Texas (winning races around the hook),” Johnson said. “Don had the lead in Albuquerque over Wascallywittlewabbit (AQHA Champion Distance horse) but finished third.”
Once underway, the 2022 Remington Park Quarter Horse Season will continue for 50 dates through May 28.
Tracked by more than 167,000 fans on Facebook and 10,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $285 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 begins the 2022 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa racing season on March 3. Simulcast horse racing featured daily, the casino is always open! Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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