Jockeys prep their horses to race at Grants Pass Downs.

The final few days of the summer meet at Grants Pass Downs will be capped off Tuesday by the annual Firecracker Futurity quarter horse race.

The eight-day meet starts its wrap-up with a full card of racing Saturday and Sunday, then ends with a bang on Tuesday thanks to a $63,000 total purse for the Firecracker Futurity.

Racing begins each day at 1 p.m.

Jockey Guillermo Suarez guided Five Bar Supreme to the fastest finish among the 350-yard trials races, crossing the finish line in 17.61 seconds to edge No Sedona, which was runner-up in the fourth race but third overall among Futurity qualifiers with a time of 17.88 seconds.

Da Bros Cartel, which was ridden by Jacob Enriquez, won the third race in 17.82 seconds and enjoyed the second-best showing among the 2-year-old trials horses.

The top 10 finishers in the trials qualified for Tuesday’s marquee race, which will be the eighth of nine races planned for the season finale.

On Sunday, the AQHA Adequan Derby Challenge carries a $52,547 purse for the 400-yard quarter horse race and will highlight that day’s action as the seventh race.

The Ashland 4th of July Run is set to begin at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday morning, with the event allowing for a 10-kilometer race and a 2-mile run/walk option.

At 47 years, the race has been around as long as the Pear Blossom Run in Medford and the Pioneer Run in Phoenix. They and the Ashland race all began in 1977.

All ages are welcome, with the start/finish line near the Ashland Library, 410 Siskiyou Boulevard, on the corner of 3rd Street and Gresham Street.

Last chance registration for adults continues up to race day at a cost of $35.Pre-Covid there were between 550-650 runners participating, with the vast majority hailing from the Rogue Valley. The Ashland 4th of July Run has long been staffed by students with the Phoenix and Ashland high school cross-country teams and serves as a fundraiser for those programs.

Noble Boutin was last year’s overall winner in 35 minutes, 28 seconds, and Marci Klimek was the women’s winner in 35:56.

To sign up, go to runsignup.com/Race/OR/Ashland/

2023Annual4thofJulyRun

Registration is available for the 48th Big Al’s Tournament, which brings tennis players of all competitive levels together at Hunter Park in Ashland.

Singles and doubles events are available, with registration fees ranging from $50-82.

The tournament is a UTR level based co-ed tournament allowing entrants of all ages and levels to play. All draws are either compass or round robin brackets, giving every player three matches guaranteed for each singles and doubles event.

There is a player dinner and exhibition on Thursday, with matches beginning Friday and running through Sunday’s championships.

For more info, contact Ronda Spencer 541-517-9764 or rondaspencer221@gmail.com.