Page 178 - June 2022

NEWS BRIEFS
Helen Kleberg Groves Passes Away
Longtime horsewomen Helen Kleberg Groves, 94, passed away on May 6. Helen, the only child of Robert Justus Kleberg Jr. and Helen Campbell Kleberg, was raised on the King Ranch. She graduated from Foxcroft School
and attended Vassar College. Her passions in- cluded ranching, horses, and family. She was a skilled rider and competed across the country, winning many championship awards, and she was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1998. ‘Helenita’ oversaw King Ranch’s Buck and Doe Run Valley Farms in Pennsylvania; owned Silverbrook Farms in Virginia and Silverbrook Ranches in Texas; led King Ranch’s Assault into the winners’ circle after his 1946 Triple Crown victory; was devoted philanthropist; served as President of the Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation until 2020; served on many boards of educational institutions as well as the Na- tional Sporting Library and Museum; and was a Director of King Ranch from 1956-1988. Helen is survived by six children, numerous grand- children, and many other family members and countless friends.
Jim Nebeker Passes Away
Longtime Utah horseman James ‘Jim’ Dale Nebeker, 81, passed away following a long battle with cancer on April 20. Born in 1940, Jim married Loya Jeanne Lemon in 1962 in Roos- evelt, Utah. He owned and operated JN Truck- ing since 1987 and continued to be active there until his illness. Jim enjoyed horse racing, rodeo, farming, and hunting. He was ranked a leader by wins in 2020 and 2021, with earnings of over $960,000. Perhaps his best horse was Jess Ought To Flash, who won the Grade 2 Zia Derby for him, and No Hesitation, winner of the Utah Bred Futurity. After his passing, his 2-year-old filly All Tyme High won the Hadley-Giles Fu- turity and his 3-year-old filly Tynacious won the Nevada Racing Circuit Non-Winners of Two at Weber Downs on April 30. He is survived by his wife Loya, three children, nine grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, as well as many other family members and friends.
Les Horner Passes Away
Oklahoma horseman and businessman Les Horner, 83, passed away on April 30. Born in 1938, Les married his childhood sweetheart
in 1956 and together he and Leah raised two children. As a teenager, Les played steel guitar in the Sooner Swing Band before becoming an entrepreneur. He opened Food City Red Bud, developed Horner Foods, built six Price Mart stores and nine Horner Apple Markets. He served on the Board of Associated Wholesale Grocers Kansas City, Century National Bank, Oklahoma Baptist University, and Gatesway Advisore Board. He was a Deacon at South-
ern Hills Baptist Church. Horner, who was known for his generosity and integrity, retired in 1999 and sold his six Price Mart stores to Reasors and his nine Horner Apple Markets to Homeland. Les was the breeder of 110 AQHA foals, 86 starters and the earners of over $850,000, including five stakes winners. Perhaps the top horse he bred was 13-time winner Tinys Rose Bud ($238,430), and he
purchased her dam Running Rose in 1977. Runnin Rose offspring have produced Cham- pion Tinys First Effort, and Grade 1 winners Strawflyin Buds and Terrific Energy. Horner was also a partner in leading sires Desirio, Dean Miracle and La Jollaroid. Horner is survived by his wife Leah, two children, six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and many other family members and friends.
Shedrow sidekick
1 year old Jack Russell named Ransom is a sidekick to all the foals at La Feliz Montaña Ranch in Hondo, New Mexico. He is pictured here with a filly by La Feliz Montaña’s Suspicious Interest (first crop) out of Panther Not A Kitty, owned by La Feliz.
SPEEDHORSE PHOTO ARCHIVE ANSWER
The photo on page 174 shows Johns Party Girl (Mr Eye Opener-Miss Strega Smash, Easily Smashed) winning a handicap race over a sloppy track at Blue Ribbons Downs in 2001. Foaled in 1998, Johns Party Girl was bred by John W. Campbell, who also raced the mare. She began her career on the track as a two year old, winning six races finishing second in the Black Gold Futurity Championship-RG3 that first year. She raced until she was five years of age and during that time, she made an impressive 33 starts with 12 victories. Her only recorded stakes win was in the 2003 Fair Meadows Belles Stakes. She was also third in the 2002
Big Splash Stakes. Johns Party Girl was no stranger to stakes events and was a finalist in eight, including the OHA Derby-RG3, and the Black Gold 300, 330 & 350 Futurities, all Grade 3. All told, she earned $70,169 in those four years.
After her career on the track, she was purchased by Teresa and Virgil Weisinger and moved to the brood- mare band. Johns Party Girl was sold again in 2014 to Efrain Mendez, who is her current owner. During
her broodmare career thus far, she has produced eight winners/ROM from 11 starters, including two stakes winners and two stakes placers. Her first stakes winner is her top earner Em High Country, who earned $264,844 winning the 2021 TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity-RG3 and was also a runner up in the 2021 Reming- ton Park Oklahoma Bred Futurity-RG1 and FL Lady Bug Stakes-RG3. Her second stakes winner is Saratoga Return ($123,620), who won the 2018 FL Lady Bug Stakes Division 2. Saratoga Return also placed in six stakes events, including the Selma Stakes and Miss Ellen Stakes. Her stakes placed runners are 2008 Fair Meadows Juvenile Stakes third place finisher Granite Party Time and 2022 Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Futurity-RG1 third place finisher Eye On The Card.
176 SPEEDHORSE June 2022