THORNTON, BROBERG AND END ZONE ATHLETICS EARN LEADING HORSEMEN TITLES AT DELTA DOWNS DURING 2019-20 SEASON

By Don Stevens —-

FAMILIAR FACES DOMINATE STANDINGS THROUGHOUT 84-DAY STAND

VINTON, LA. – The 2019-20 Thoroughbred season at Delta Downs wrapped up on Saturday with familiar names topping the standings. Tim Thornton won his second straight leading rider title while Karl Broberg notched his ninth consecutive crown in the training ranks. Broberg and Matt Johansen’s End Zone Athletics, Inc. earned their fifth straight leading owner title and their eighth in the last nine years.

Thornton’s season included 110 wins and $2,287,415 in mount earnings after riding 142 winners and setting a single season record with $2,894,080 in earnings last year.

Thornton, a husband and father of three, won two stakes races during the meet. On December 28 he rode Bending Saint to victory in the $70,000 B Connected and on January 11 he booted home Flat Lucky in the $65,000 Sam’s Town.

Following Thornton in the jockey standings were C. J. McMahon (75 wins), Paulina Ramirez (54), Diego Saenz (52), Joel Dominguez (51), Gerard Melancon (49), Jose Guerrero (42), Devin Magnon (31), Thomas Pompell (28), and Kevin Smith (26).

Broberg continued his dominance at Delta Downs in 2019-20 by sending out 95 winners and totaling $1,826,580 in earnings. The accomplishment capped off a season that saw him win his ninth straight training title at the Vinton, Louisiana racetrack. During the Delta Downs season Broberg also capped off another calendar year (2019) of leading the nation in wins by a trainer with a personal record of 548 trips to the winner’s circle. It was the sixth straight time he has accomplished that feat.

Rounding out the top 10 trainers for the Delta Downs meeting were Robertino Diodoro (41), Beverly Burress (29), Isai V. Gonzalez (26), Lee M. Thomas (23), Joel Berndt (21), Eduardo Ramirez (20), Allen Landry (19), Sam Breaux (16), and Scott Gelner (16).

End Zone Athletics, Inc. saw 46 of their runners win and earn a total of $868,765. Rounding out the top 10 owners for the season were Empire Racing Stables LLC (Jason D. Bullard) (24), Adriel Gonzalez (14), Brittlyn Stable Inc. (Evelyn Benoit) (12), Dale White, Sr. (11), Red Rose Racing (Jimmy Johnson) (11), Patti Turner (11), Elite Thoroughbred Racing, LLC (Michele Rodriguez) (10), Danny R. Caldwell (9), Allied Racing Stables, LLC (Chester Thomas) (8).

Delta Downs now looks forward to its upcoming American Quarter Horse season which gets underway on April 17 and runs through July 4. The 46-day meeting will feature live racing each Wednesday through Saturday night after opening weekend. Post times on Wednesday and Thursday nights will be at 5:15 pm CST. The first race on Fridays and Saturdays will be at 6:15 pm.

For more information about the Delta Downs go to the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also follow the track on Facebook and Twitter.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.