If you happened to be at Yellowstone Downs, you may have seen some big doings on a small circuit.

Utah Pistol, ridden by Jess Chance, won for 70-year-old Donna Looman.  Looman, a cancer survivor, could be heard and seen all the way to the winner’s circle. She took down a $9,943 payday for the victory in the Yellowstone Quarter Horse Futurity.

Jeff Jones, a 48-year-old rider, took down a three bagger to take the title. Last August, Jones broke his right arm needing 12 screws to mend it. He is a single father of two great racing fans; Tristan is 8 and Dalton is 7-years-old. They love to see dad roll into the winner’s circle. Nothing makes a dad prouder than to win in front of his boys.

Attendance for the eight day meet was 3,933 and the handle totaled a whopping $78,515. These are not the numbers that you will see at the Spa. They may not even make it to any fair circuit in the nation. But, at Yellowstone Downs, this was racing.

It is at the small circuits that you will find the real fans. The ones who bring in their few runners to compete for small purses, and hope for a winner’s circle visit. So, make it part of your racetrack bucket list to see racing on the small scale. It will do your heart good. See the players and watch the people. I guarantee you won’t find many media folks, but you will see racing. That, you can bet on….