Page 69 - January 2017

2016 A YeAr In revIew
November 25
Quarter Horse owner
Rod MacPherson passed away at the age of 87. MacPherson campaigned horses for over 40 years and was on the PCQHRA Board of Directors since 2001, serving as chief financial officer. He was perhaps most known for owning 3-time Champion Separatist, sire of World Champion DM Shicago and multiple Champion Moonist. MacPherson also owned 3-time Champion Sign Of Lanty, one of the top 870-yard Quarter Horses of all time.
December 6
The American Association of Equine Practitioners
(AAEP) presented Glen Blodgett DVM with
the 2016 Distinguished Life Member Award in
Orlando, Florida. Considered an authority in
equine reproduction, Blodgett took the 6666
Ranch to the forefront of the equine breeding
industry by implementing advanced reproductive
techniques with enviable results. Blodgett has had
a direct role in advancing the welfare of the American Quarter Horse as immediate past-president and longtime director of the AQHA. He serves on the board of trustees of the American Horse Council.
December 6
The Racing Officials Accreditation Program’s (ROAP) Conference on Officiating Horse
Racing attracted over 75 participants, including stewards, racing officials, regulators, and industry professionals. Areas of discussion included the use of safety stewards, the necessity of uniform rules
for uniform regulation, race conditions, financial responsibility rules governing participants, chaplains counseling licensees, abuse of riding crop, drug rule violations, and repeat rule offenders.
December 18
Los Alamitos ended its 151-day 2015- 2016 meet with an increase in handle. AQHA’s all-time leading owner and breeder Ed Allred was the meets leading Quarter Horse owner; Paul Jones was the leading Quarter Horse trainer for the 18th time in 19 years; and Cesar De Alba was the leading Quarter Horse rider for the first time at the track.
Evangeline Downs ended its 46-night Quarter Horse meet and declared their meet leaders: Ricardo Saul Castillo’s Triple C Racing Stables LLC was the leading owner by wins and Tate Farms was the meet’s leading owner by earnings; Orlando Orozco led all trainers by wins and Lanny Keith was the leading trainer by earnings; and David Alvarez was the leading jockey by races won and John Hamilton was the leading jockey by earnings.
December 17
December
November 30
Marvin Barnes, who will be inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2017, passed away at the age of 95. Barnes owned Hall of Fame Horses FL Lady Bug and Lady Bug’s Moon, was the breeder/ owner of Champion Mr Master Bug; the owner of Champion Top Ladybug; and the breeder of Champion Top Bug. Marvin
and his wife Lela owned Lady Bug Stallion Station in Madill, Oklahoma, and bred Quarter Horses for over 50 years that earned more than $4.7 million.
December 11
Princess Abigail Kawananakoa, 90, received a diploma for her honorary doctorate from Colorado State University during a presentation at Los Alamitos Racecourse. Kawananakoa earned the honorary degree for her longtime support of global equine health and for her leadership in preserving Hawaiian culture.
December 8
Mile High Racing & Entertainment, the owner/operator
of Arapahoe Park, announced that the Colorado Racing Commission approved activity allowing the company to offer fantasy sports contests in nine Colorado locations. Las Vegas based USFantasy Sports will provide the content that includes professional football, basketball, hockey, baseball and other daily fantasy sports (DFS). The platform combines elements of the traditional regulated pari-mutuel systems with DFS contests, in which contestants can enter contests for athletes to Win, Place or Show.
November 30
The Jockeys’ Guild announced that
27 members have
been elected to the organization’s Senate, including six new members: Jose L. Ortiz, Joe Rocco, Jr., William Antongeorgi III, Eddie Garcia, Esgar Ramirez, and Ricky Ramirez.
December 19
Long-time Quarter
Horse trainer Denny
Ekins, 70, announced
his retirement from
training at the end of
2016. The California-
based horseman has trained the likes of World Champion Cold Cash 123 and Champions Ocean Runaway, Tolltac, Flying Fig, and Sterling Sport.
SPEEDHORSE, January 2017 67