Page 65 - January 2017

2016 A YeAr In revIew
June 23
Janet VanBebber began her new role as the American Quarter Horse Association Chief Racing Officer. Among her many duties, VanBebber
is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the racing department, the AQHA Racing Challenge, and related programs,
as well as helping develop and implement programs to promote the advancement of Quarter Horse racing around the world. Among many accomplishments, VanBebber had a successful trainer career. In 2011,
she became the first female trainer to win over 1,000 races, and she is the leading female trainer by money earned. She was awarded the AQHA Mildred N. Vessels Special Achievement Award in 2002 and has served on the Texas Quarter Horse Association and Texas HBPA boards of directors.
June 26
July 12
Three new members were elected to serve on the AQHA Racing Council: director at large Duayne Didericksen; director at large John Hammes; and the new position of racetrack management representative Melodie Knuchell. Each will serve a three-year term ending in 2019. They joined AQHA Executive Committee Member Butch Wise, Chairman Kelvin Childers, and members Micah McKinney, AQHA Past President Walter Fletcher, John Andreini, Bob Gaston, and AQHA Past President Johnny Trotter.
Albuquerque Downs opened its 60-day Thoroughbred
and Quarter Horse meet with the first night racing in
New Mexico in decades. Changes to the facility included
a completely renovated open-air grandstand, upgraded restrooms and food and beverage stands, a Turf Club with full bar, and a Jockey Club with a full bar and upscale menu. The paddock area on the north end features a patio area with tables and a viewing area, and the infield tote board has an easy-to-read LED lighting adjoined by a 48-foot Jumbotron.
July 3
All American Futurity winning jockey Clifton Tom De Tiege passed away at
the age of 75. De Tiege was a trainer
and jockey, competing across the United States. Known as the “Rajun Cajun”, De Tiege won the 1962 All American Futurity aboard J. B. Ferguson’s colt Hustling Man.
July
July 9
The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) made several charitable donations at the close of the 2016 Quarter Horse season at Delta Downs. Thanks to the support of sponsors Delta Equine Center, Grant Farms LLC, Heza Fast Dash, Jumonville Farms, and StallioneSearch LLC, $5,000 was donated to the Special Olympics Louisiana (SOLA). In addition, two $1,000 college scholarship drawings were awarded to Louisiana high school graduates planning to attend a higher education institution in the 2016 calendar year. The LQHBA scholarship program has designated over $430,000 for this purpose.
July 9
The 46-day Quarter Horse meet at Delta Downs ended with David Alvarez, Kenneth Roberts Sr., and Juan A. Carrillo winning titles. David Alvarez, 37, who rode the winners of 50 races with purse earnings of $908,233, has now won jockey titles at all four Louisiana tracks. Kenneth Roberts, Sr. had 40 winners from 214 starters, making this his seventh training title at Delta Downs since 2011. Michael Taylor led all trainers by purse earnings of $1,007,723. Training his own stock, Juan A. Carrillo earned the title of leading owner with eight winners from 17 starters.
June 25
Team USA won the third annual World
Jockey Challenge at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. 39 jockeys competed in their regularly scheduled races with hopes of bringing in accumulative points for their home countries. Countries represented in 2016 included Brazil, Panama, Cuba, Peru, Mexico, Italy, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and the United States. Mexico had the biggest representation with 17 riders, while team USA was represented by 10 jockeys. The outcome was based on finishes during the night; first place received 10 points, second place was awarded 5 points, and third place received 3 points.
July 1
James “Bo” Radell White, 53, passed away. White was a successful rodeo star in high school and went on to become a jockey, riding 765 winners with more than $3.1 million
in earnings including multiple stakes winners.
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