Thanks to all the members of Oklahoma Appaloosa Racing for their hospitality at this week’s meeting, stallion service auction and auction of other fund-raising items. In the case of this photo, OAR Vice President John Diediker is beckoning bids for a cake decorated with an Appaloosa. Turns out, the winning bid was offered by our own Darrell Bilke, ApHC judge and Pinto Association exec, who stopped by for a visit and became a soft target for the fund-raising auction.
Talk among OAR members has turned to the 2010 foal crop and, of course, horses already in training for racing season. The ApHC Executive Race Committee meets on Saturday morning prior to the final session of the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale in OKC.
I’ve been attending the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale in Oklahoma City this week to catch up with some of the folks involved in Appaloosa racing and to attend a couple of their meetings. Something like 1100 horses were consigned to the three-day sale that featured top racing bloodlines (mostly Quarter Horse) used in sprint races. It’s been fun to run into quite a few folks I already knew, but also interesting to meet some of the “other” people involved in the business.
Saturday morning we’ll get to be on hand for the announcement of year-end champions in Appaloosa and Paint racing. The names of those horses and people can also be found in the racing section of appaloosa.com.
The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) is pleased to announce the 2009 inductees of the Racing Hall of Fame: Noted breeder and owner Victoria Ennis of Kingston, Okla. and the 1977 mare Viking Song.
See the News Spots section of the appaloosa.com Web site for the complete news release.
Year-end results for Appaloosa racing are now posted on the appaloosa.com Web site. Click on the “racing” button on the left side menu of the home page and then “Race Leaders.” Or, hey, I guess you can paste in this link: http://www.appaloosa.com/race/race-leaders.htm.
Congratulations to all the breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys and, of course, the horses.
From Blue Ribbon Downs
It is with deep admiration I write this press release. The breeder and owner of the winner was Victoria Ennis who was a champion of Appaloosa Racing in Oklahoma. She passed away earlier this year and she is truly missed in Oklahoma Racing.
Willies Chick, a gray filly by I Love Willie and out of the mare Lavish Moon was the winner of the 42nd running of the Cricket Bars Futurity G1 at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. She was bred and owned by V. Victoria Ennis and Ronnie Joe Ennis. The Oklahoma Bred filly was trained by Kevin Willis and ridden by Matt Casebolt. They ran the 400 yards in 20.28 on an off track.
Bonnie Cusimano
Marketing Manager
Blue Ribbon Downs
Sallisaw, OK
Sad news this week of the death of Victoria Ennis, matriarch of Texoma Appaloosas in Kingston, Oklahoma. Most of us knew Victoria as an Appaloosa breeder and racing industry promoter. Her horses, which she obviously loved dearly, were versatile enough to win halter championships, performance classes and stakes races. Of course, we loved her for the steadfast support she gave to the Appaloosa Horse Club. Victoria will be greatly missed, but long remembered in ApHC circles.
Visitation is Thursday August 6, 11:00 am at Watts Funeral Home in Kingston. The funeral service is Friday August 7th at 10:00 am at St. Williams Catholic Church. The wattsfuneralhome.com site has all the pertinent information.
A full break-down of the money to be paid out this spring can be found on the appaloosa.com site by clicking on the show, trail or racing buttons. The estimated total payout for 2008 activities is $46,500.
Total payout is divided into 20 divisions:
19 zones for regional show competitors in those zones; payout in each of the 19 zones will be for the year end high-point horses competing in open classes at any ApHC-approved regional club shows within that that zone. Horse must earn at least one point in a halter class and one point in a performance class.
20th division is split between ApHC Racing and Distance programs; 50% will go to the Race program — awarded to the year-end high-earning starter. 50% will go to the Distance program split between: Year-end high mileage endurance horse and Year-end high mileage competitive trail horse.
If there are no qualifying horses in a particular division, that money will be equally divided among all other divisions with qualifying horses and paid out in the same calendar year.
See the pdf document for complete details about qualifications, tie-breakers, etc.
Equestrian News Release
CLAREMORE, Okla.—Appaloosa, Mr Coupe de Ville, took the blue ribbon in a 300-yard maiden claiming race at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., Mar. 22. The maiden claiming race offered a purse of $6,000.
Mr Coupe de Ville, a 3-year-old Appaloosa gelding, drew off under Tony Bennett and crossed the finish line in 16.145 seconds. The Oklahoma-bred Appaloosa won $3,528, bringing his lifetime earnings to $6,690. Mr Coupe de Ville is by Dispensing Speed (ApHC), and out of Kacies Secret Pie (AQHA), by Raise a Secret. Mr Coupe de Ville is owned and was bred by John Diediker of Parsons, Kan., and is trained by Angie Jones.
Equestrian News Release
CLAREMORE, Okla.—Appaloosa mare, Treats On Me, sped past her colorful competition to claim first place in the 350-yard allowance race at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., Mar. 23. The allowance race offered a purse of $9,000.
Treats On Me, a 3-year-old Appaloosa mare, ran across the finish line and into the winner’s circle in 18.190 seconds. The Utah-bred Appaloosa drew off under Tony Bennett to win $5,220, bringing her lifetime earnings to $10,240. Treats On Me is by Phoebes Cartel (AQHA), and out of Feleshas Treat (APHC), by Cash Treat (AQHA).Treats On Me is proudly owned by Bob G. Shannon of Fort Gibson, Okla., was bred by Kevin Hullinger and is trained by Frank Cooper.
At least 44 horses were killed this past weekend in a barn fire that struck the stables of Eddie Willis, a racehorse trainer and ApHC member in Caney, Oklahoma. Of four horses that initially survived the fire, two have already been put down due to complications. One two-year-old that did survive is Downtown Bull, owned by Victoria Ennis. However, Victoria lost a promising two-year-old stallion, Bold Lover (photo), who was entered in this year’s Graham Futurity. See Victoria’s note about Bold Lover below.
Katie and Steve Neal, also Appaloosa race breeders, have reportedly lost a horse in the fire. We’re waiting for word on a horse owned by John Diediker which was in training at the facility.The cause of the fire was not immediately known, though faulty wiring or an unattended space heater are being suspected.
The Appaloosa Horse Club family expresses our deep sorrow and sympathy to all who lost horses in this tragic fire. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
In memory of “Bold Lover”
Bold Lover, aka “Wilbur,” our two-year-old in his second month of race training died in a fire at the Willis racing facility the night of January 19. He and 43 other horses perished in the blaze which burned too fast and furiously to save them.
“Wilbur” was a beautiful stallion by I Love Willie and out of Supreme Champion producer Zevi Puddin. Just beginning his career, he was paid up in the Graham Futurity and the Strike It Rich Stallion Futurity to be run later this year. His full brother “Ibelieveicanfly” was the Supreme Champion two-year-old in 2004. As a yearling, Wilbur did get to show at the 07 World, placing in the top ten for Hunter in Hand Yearling Stallions with handler Dawna Harwell.
We had many hopes for him as a successful race horse, a top hunter/jumper, then breeding stallion. But it just wasn’t meant to be.
Saint Francis of Assisi is the Patron Saint of the animals. We are praying to him asking that he keep Wilbur and all the other horses lost in the fire securely with him in horse heaven.
The votes are in for 2007 Appaloosa Horse Club Racing Champions. The link below will take you to the results. Winners will also be announced at the Heritage Place Sale this Thursday night by Executive Race Committee Chairman John Haid. Also, a word of thanks to Victoria Ennis for taking care of exhibit booth duties at the sale. http://www.appaloosa.com/race/racing-champions.htm
This past weekend was big for Appaloosas as we were the underdogs in the Talimena Handicap Stakes December 1st. The favored Paint horse, Bust N Moves, came in 3rd to Jess Streaking , the winner with a speed index of 100. In second place was Moon Bully with a speed index of 99. Other Appaloosas in the race were Texas Royal Snow who came in 4th and Headlight Scooter who came in 6th with 10 in the field. The total purse was $27,575. In addition to winning, Jess Streaking broke the track record which had been held since 1989 by Mr. Poverty. She covered the 350 yards in 17.604.
AND, on November 30th Appaloosas finished an 870 yard allowance race in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd! Current standings are on the website.
We’re pretty sure it’s time to catch up on some news from the Appaloosa racing world. There are some impressive horses running this year and here are results from July races.
Strike It Rich Futurity
A Day Before, a two-year-old dark bay appaloosa gelding made his way to the winners circle at the Strike It Rich Futurity July 7th. The 350-yard race, at Fair Meadows race track in Tulsa, Oklahoma, provided a total purse of $30,000.
A Day Before, sired by Dispensing Speed and out of It’s Cash’s Perks, completed the race in 18.197 seconds. The gelding is owned and trained by James Limbaugh and ridden by Adam Wade Roughley. Winning by ¼ lengths A Day Before earned $9,000, making his life time earnings $14,208.
Finishing Second and taking home $6,000 was Love Um N Leave Um, a two-year-old gelding owned and bred by V. Victoria Ennis. Love Um N Leave Um is sired by I Love Willie and out of Lavish Moon. The horse is trained by Eddie Willis and ridden by Larry Payne.
Zevis Dash owned and trained by Raymond Venn and bred by Nicholas Schramm came in third with Jay James aboard taking home $3,600. Zevis Dash is sired by Zevis Scooter Bug and out of Missy Mit Dash.
Horses completing the field included R Girl Gone, Beer Bait and Ammo, Mr Coupe De Ville, Call Me Speedy, Eyes Easy, Perky Patrick and Moonin Mamy.
Spots N Dots Stakes
A hot and humid Friday the 13th in Tulsa, Oklahoma turned out to be not so unlucky after all for Im A Marble To who won the Spots N Dots Stakes at Fair Meadows Track. With a distance of 870 yards and a total purse of $27,500 Im A Marble To completed the race in 46.34 seconds, winning by one length and earning $16,320.
The 9-year-old, dark bay gelding, owned by G&G Partnership/Geier and trained by 74-year-old Hubert Blankenship, proved that superstitions do not apply to him by bringing his lifetime earnings to $160,702.
Im A Marble To is sired by My Designated Driver (AQHA) and out of All The Marbles, was bred by Jeff Rutland of Kanas and ridden by Adam Wade Roughley.
Finishing Second was Boy of Summer, a 6-yesr-old Paint gelding, earning $5,440. The horse is trained by Tim Weeder and ridden by Paul Nieto.
Zevis Kidd owned and bred by Nicholas Schramm and trained by Raymond Venn came in third with Jay James aboard taking home $2,992. Zevis Kidd is sired by Zevis Scooter Bug and out of Missy Mit Dash.
Horses completing the field included Suzys Hero (APHA), Lone Star Rising, DD Marble, Roman Guard (APHA), Special Judy (APHA), Earth Wind and Fire (APHA) and Braggin Rights.
CMB A Legacy wins the Colors of Houston Paint and Appaloosa Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park July 21, 2007. With a distance of 400 yards on a fast dirt track and a total purse of $10,500, CMB A Legacy completed the race in 20.45 seconds earning $6,300.
The 3-year-old, sorrel gelding, owned by CMB Don Keys Racing Stable in Idaho Falls, Idaho and trained by Judd Kearl and ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo broke well and defeated Treasured Form the even money favorite.
Finishing Second was Treasured Form, a 7-year-old Paint gelding, earning $2,100. The horse is trained by Frank Mendez and owned by Francisco Acuna ridden by Russel Hadley.
Dominated Attitude a 3 year-old Paint colt owned by Merle Rutherford and trained by James Lackey came in third with Jose Alvarez aboard taking home $1,155.
Horses completing the field included Stillaintscared (APHA), Grand Point (APHA) and Big Bad Mama (APHA).
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