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Summer 2006 Race Schedule for Idaho Gem and Idaho Star
Special event for UI alumni, prospective students, Idahoans and fans of Idaho Gem, more ...
Idaho Gem has or is expected to race at the following California fairs.
Idaho Star has taken a more circuitous path around the racing circuit. The youngest of the three University of Idaho mule clones has not matured as quickly as Idaho Gem in his racing savvy. He raced at three events, and will probably race again before season’s end.
Race dates reflect either the specific date when he is entered in a known race or the general racing dates for the fair.
June 3, Winnemucca, NV
In Winnemucca’s Humboldt Futurity for 3-year-old mules, Idaho Gem took third and Idaho Star finished seventh after veering right and following the outside rail.
Idaho Gem won his 350-yard qualifying race at 32.82 mph (21.817 seconds).
Idaho Star, Gem’s younger brother, also won his qualifying race at XXXXX
June 21, Stockton, CA
Idaho Gem turned in his best performance of the year so far at the San Joaquin Fair in Stockton June 21. His winning time of 20.72 seconds over the 350-yard course there is the best of the season for 3-year olds.
Idaho Star lost his rider after he was kicked by the pony in the post parade and was scratched.
July 5, Pleasanton, CA
Idaho Gem Trainer Ruby Thomas said his post position at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton and a mistake leaving the gate hurt his time and resulted in a fourth place finish July 5. The media turnout was the largest in recent memory for racing at the fair, and Bay Area reporters noted Idaho Gem still gained fans despite his loss.
In an early race at Pleasanton, Idaho Star finished fourth. After that race, Albuquerque, N.M. businessman Roger Downey, who is leasing and training Idaho Star, decided to give him some rest and recuperation before he returns to racing later in the season.
July 20 (Thursday), Vallejo, CA
Solano County Fair
Idaho Gem led first race of the day July 20 at the Solano County Fair at Vallejo but was caught at the wire to collect a second-place finish. Idaho Gem's time of 21.094 seconds over the 350-yard course was 17-thousandths slower than the winning time of 21.077 by Out of My League. It was a third of a second slower than Idaho Gem's winning time of 20.724 seconds at Stockton June 21.
"He ran a great race," said Post Falls businessman Don Jacklin, who is leasing Idaho Gem from the university for the racing season.
July 26 (Wednesday), Santa Rosa, CA
Sonoma County Fair Idaho
Gem will race in the inaugural Sonoma County Trailblazers Futurity at the Sonoma County Fair July 26. Post time for the day’s first race is 12:45 p.m. The Futurity is the day’s second race and post time is expected to be 1:15 p.m. The Sonoma County Fairgrounds racing facility is a beautiful venue and features a new turf track and nine-hole golf course in the infield.
A free reception for UI alumni, prospective students, Idahoans and fans of Idaho Gem is planned at 3 p.m. at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds Office Directors’ Courtyard at 3 p.m. following the race.
The scientists of Project Idaho, UI’s Dr. Gordon Woods and Dr. Dirk Vanderwall and Utah State University’s Dr. Ken White, will be there. So will businessmen Don Jacklin of Post Falls, Project Idaho’s main sponsor who is leasing Idaho Gem, and Roger Downey of Corrales, N.M., who is leasing Idaho Star, will also be present.
August 10-20, Ferndale, CA
Humboldt County Fair
(dark Aug. 15)
September 8 – 25, Pomona
Los Angeles County Fair
(dark Sept. 12 and Sept. 19)
October 4-15, Fresno, CA
The Big Fresno Fair
(dark Oct. 10)
http://www.fresnofair.com/
The mule racing season ends in October at the Big Fresno Fair.
Links to recent coverage of Idaho Gem:
San Francisco Chronicle, July 8, 2006
http://sfgate.com
KGO-TV ABC San Francisco Channel 7
http://abclocal.go.com
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