BOOK SIGNING AT SANDY DOWNS HONORS THE GREAT EARL SANDE

Family Fun and Giveaways Headline Friday and Saturday Action

 

Following a holiday break, racing returns to Sandy Downs this Friday and Saturday with post time at 6 p.m. (MDT) Another weekend of festivities and giveaways are on tap including a book signing by writer Richard Maturi of his novel about legendary jockey and former American Falls resident Earl Sande.

The first 100 fans paying admission will get a Free Bet on both days.  There will be live music each day and a remote from KUPI 99 on Saturday.  Indian Relay Races, face painting, fun bounce and a country barbecue are a part of the family style events.  Friday’s feature race is the IdaBet Maiden Challenge Trials.

Author Richard J. Maturi will be signing copies of his popular book, Triple Crown Winner: The Earl Sande Saga on Friday and Saturday.  Maturi is on a nationwide tour as interest has grown about Sande, a racing legend and one of only ten jockeys to win the Triple Crown.   Sande lived in American Falls, Idaho and is a member of the National Racing Hall of Fame as a jockey and trainer.

He began his equine career as a bronco buster turned quarter horse jockey before mastering thoroughbreds.  He tied a record with 6 wins in one day at Havre de Grace Racetrack (MD) in 1926.  (Havre de Grace is also the name of the leading candidate for this year’s Horse of the Year).  In 1923, he won an amazing 39 stakes races including 10 aboard Horse of the Year Zev.  Among his victories were the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and a match race against England’s top horse, Epson Derby winner Papyrus.

The pinnacle of his riding career came in 1930 when he guided Gallant Fox to the Triple Crown.  He retired from riding in 1932 after winning five Belmont Stakes as well as the Met Mile, Jockey Gold Cup and Santa Anita Derby on great horses like Sir Barton and Mad Hatter. By 1938 he led the nation in earnings as a trainer. In 1955, he was elected to the Hall of Fame. Sande died in 1968 at the age of 70.

Richard J. Maturi from Cheyenne, WY has written 21 books and more than 1300 articles published in regional and national publications on a broad spectrum of topics from cinema to finance to sports.  His current project is to develop the Earl Sande story into a motion picture.