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NEWS BRIEFS
$3,500. “We are excited this son of leading sire Apollitical Jess has come to Texas, for the coming breeding season,” Jorge Haddad said.
Sam Thompson Stallion Service Auction
The inaugural Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation Online Stallion Service Auction, which currently has over 65 stallion breedings, is set to begin Nov. 1 and run through January 8, 2024 at 6pm PST. Proceeds from the auction will go towards the Sam Thompson Memorial Scholarship fund for students
with connections to horse racing. In the last seven years, the foundation has raised over $625,000 for 168 scholarships to those in
our community that are continuing their education. At the upcoming Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale on Jan. 18-19, the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation will also have their annual live auction that will go toward the scholarship fund. Stallion owners can still donate breedings to the auction by contacting the Sam Houston Foundation stallion service committee at: thestfoundationorg@gmail.com. Those interested in bidding on the auction
can visit: https://airauctioneer.com/the-sam- thompson-memorial-foundations-2024-online- stallion-service-auction.
Sandy’s Racing & Gaming Ribbon Cutting
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear joined local elected officials and community leaders for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony
on Oct. 26 at Sandy’s Racing & Gaming in Ashland, Kentucky. The event was held at the Camp Landing Entertainment District in Ashland, and Beshear led dignitaries through Sandy’s Racing & Gaming where he placed a wager at the BetMGM Sportsbook.
Exercise Rider Luevano Dies at Los Alamitos Alfredo Luevano, 53, died Oct. 20 during
a training incident at Los Alamitos Race
Course as he was exercising a two-year-old filly on the backstretch. He was on the ground when assistance arrived and there were no eyewitness accounts with any details on the incident. Luevano was rushed to Long Beach Memorial, where he was pronounced dead. Fly From The Fire (Fly Thru The Fire-Burnin Bye, Separatist) was not injured and ran off. She previously made five starts this year for trainer Mike Casselman and was entered
in the seventh race but was scratched as a precaution. “On behalf of the Los Alamitos Race Course family, we express our deepest condolences to Mr. Luevano’s family members and friends,” said Los Alamitos Race Course spokesperson Orlando Gutierrez. Born
in Luis Moya in Zacatecas, Mexico, Mr. Luevano made 33 starts during his riding career and was an exercise rider licensed by the California Horse Racing Board earlier
this year. Luevano is survived by his wife Marisela Martinez, their five children, six grandchildren and his father Augustine.
Julien “Rod” Stevens Jr. Passes Away
Julien “Rod” Raye Stevens, Jr. passed away on Oct.10. Born in 1938, Julien developed deep roots in his community. He graduated from Leesville High School in 1956 and attended Northwestern State University.
He was employed as a construction worker and was an entrepreneur - owning heavy machinery, owning a timber operation, operating a flight and charter service, and many other businesses. Julien was a member of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association for many years. He was the breeder/owner of Diamonds Achievement, winner of the 2009 Grade 3 Flashy Hemp Stakes. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marilyn, several brothers and sisters, two sons six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many other friends and family members.
Trainer Luis Delgado Passes Away
Trainer Luis Delgado, 74, passed away on Oct. 5 in San Antonio, Texas. Born in 1948, Delgado trained the earners of more than $529,000, including Ebrima (Captain Courage- MCM Dont Look Back, First To Shine) a 4-time winner who earned $144,125 in her career including a second place finish in the $435,680 TQHA Sale Futurity-RG2.
Champion Trainer Bruce Bell Passes Away
Linda Earley, Speedhorse
Longtime Quarter Horse trainer Bruce B. Bell, 77, passed away on Oct.
21. Bell was the trainer of 285 winners and
the earners of nearly $4 million dollars. He was the trainer of 1992 Champion Two Year Old & Champion Two- Year-Old Filly Deceptively,
who won
the Rainbow Derby-G1, Rainbow Futurity-G1
and Kansas Futurity-G1. He was also the trainer of 1992 Champion Three-Year Old Gelidng Femmes Frolic, winner of the All American Derby-G1, World’s Championship Classic-G1, All American Gold Cup-G1, Bayou City Handicap and Manor Downs Handicap 2nd Division. Both horses were bred and owned by Roger Knight Jr. He is survived by four children, five grandchildren, numerous family members and many friends.
Chilitos
Chilitos SI 103 (Apollitical Jess-Mary Me Anna, Game Patriot) will stand the 2024 season
at Dunn Ranch in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. The 2017 stallion won the Dash For Cash
Futurity-G2 and was second in the Texas Classic Futurity-G1 and Southwest Juvenile Invitational Championship-G2. His first sale crop this year saw 30 of 39 yearlings sell for gross receipts of $551,200. Chilitos, whose first foals will race in 2024, is out of a stakes placed half-sister to 2-Time Champion Kiss My Hocks ($1,199,385). “We’re really excited to have a son of Apollitical Jess on our stallion roster,” said Dunn Ranch owner Matt Dunn. “Chilitos pedigree is second to none and with the great response to his yearlings at the summer sales he should have a great first year in 2024.”
208 SPEEDHORSE November 2023