Crooked River Roundup

The Oregon Racing Commission approved 18 fairs-circuit dates at four tracks for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses in 2026 during its Thursday meeting. The Eastern Oregon Livestock Show meet in Union traditionally kicks off the state's summer fairs circuit. It will race June 12-14 in '26. Grants Pass Downs, in the southern tier of the state, will race June 20, 21, 27, 28 and July 3-5. Crooked River Roundup in Prineville, which races at night, will race July 15-18. Tillamook County Fair in coastal Tillamook will race Aug. 5-8. In 2025,...

Jockey Eduardo Gutierrez-Sosa, who rode primarily on the mixed-meet circuit in the Pacific Northwest, was killed in the first race of the season at the Crooked River Roundup July 14 when his Quarter Horse mount hit the inner rail and catapulted Gutierrez-Sosa headfirst into the infield, possibly after first hitting the rail. The Central Oregonian news outlet reported that the fairgrounds grandstand was packed with enthusiastic fans cheering on the return of racing, which had been cancelled last year because of the pandemic. Most were at first unaware that a...