Cristole wins the Life Member Cup Paint Stakes
FORTFORT WORTH, TEXAS—Paint Horse Cristole won the Life Member Cup Paint Stakes at
Millarville Racetrack in Millarville, Alberta, Canada, on July 1. The gelding
won the 350-yard race that offered $6,527.
Cristole, a 4-year-old tobiano gelding, bested the field of four other Paint
Horses to finish by a nose, posting a time of 18.27 seconds. Sired by Texas Hero
and out of Miss Murray, the gelding earned $3,459 for his efforts, to increase
his lifetime earnings to $19,572. The gelding is owned by Alex Kirkpatrick of
Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada, was trained by Curtis Ermineskin and ridden by Tim
Moccasin.
Finishing the race in second place was the 4-year-old Solid Paint-Bred gelding
Pemberton. The gelding, owned by Shae Burlock of Donalda, Alberta, Canada,
covered the track in 18.28 seconds. Pemberton, sired by Real Easy Cash and out
of Miss Super Dee, earned $1,697 for career earnings of $29,118. The gelding was
trained by Les Webb and was ridden by Dwight Lewis.
Mr Heatmiser rounded out the top three with a time of 18.47 seconds. The
4-year-old tobiano gelding, owned by Bob McCutcheon of Lethbridge, Alberta,
Canada, was sired by Judys Lineage and is out of Shenanigan Girl AQHA, the
gelding earned $783 for lifetime earnings of $6,893. Mr Heatmiser was trained by
William Brigden and was ridden by Teagan Oulton.
Other Paint Horses completing the field, along with times, include The Ladys A
Hero (18.50); and Royal Woman (18.60).
More about Paint Horse racing
Horse racing has long been one of America’s favorite spectator sports. With the
recent growth of the Paint Horse breed, it’s no wonder that Paints have become
one of the hottest tickets in the horse racing industry.
Since 1966, when APHA officially recognized the sport, Paint racing has made
major strides forward. In that inaugural year, 17 starters ran for $1,290 in
just two states—Texas and Oklahoma. In 2008, more than 570 starters competed in
more than 660 APHA-recognized races for record purses totaling more than $5
million.
A total of 17 states now feature Paint racing, including Arizona, California,
Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Paint
Horses also race in Canada.
"Paint Racing continues to be an opportunity for breeders, owners and trainers
to take a serious look at," said APHA Executive Director Lex Smurthwaite. "The
amount of purse money available and the average earning per Paint starter is
creating new interest in the Paint racing industry."
For more information on Paint Horse racing, contact APHA’s racing department at
(817) 222-6444, email racing@apha.com, or
visit paintracing.com.