Page 147 - Speedhorse, February 2019

After retiring as a jockey, Burgess worked as a steward at many tracks in Texas, Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico and Haileah Park in Florida. He is currently a steward at Lone
Star Park in Grand Prairie. He serves as one
of two stewards from the Southwest Region who collaborates with ROAP on suggested improvements of racing regulations nationally.
Rick Chayer • Sperry, OK
Rick Chayer was born November 21, 1959, to Don and Wilma (Chestnut) Chayer. Rick’s family was extensively involved in the horse industry. While in high school, he worked
for Denny Hassett Quarter Horses. After he graduated from high school, he went to work for Mark Chestnut. Rick considers Mark one of his mentors. It was while working for Chestnut, Rick learned to rope.
Chayer worked for an elite list of world- renowned equine operations such as Carol Rose Ranch, Wayne Jordan Quarter Horses, 7S Stuart Ranch, Lazy E Ranch and Arena and Eddie Crow. While working at the Lazy E Ranchand Arena, he met a lady that would change his
life, Dolly Jensen. Rick and Dolly started their partnership training horses in 1990. In 1993, they moved to Sperry, Oklahoma, where they had the opportunity to rent a big indoor arena and barn that sat on 160 acres north of Tulsa.
It was on December 11, 1993, that the couple married, beginning another partnership. In 2004, Rick and Dolly were able to purchase the ranch and now call it home.
They have been fortunate to raise, train or show numerous AQHA World Champions and All American Quarter Horse Congress Champions, along with champions in amateur and youth. They have all trained Palomino Horse Breeders of America World Champions and Golden Horses. Rick Chayer has earned a total of 5384 lifetime points.
Rick and Dolly have focused their program on performance horse sale preparation for Pitzer Ranch Sales and Hershberger Performance Horse Sale annually.
Rick has served a volunteer with the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association as well as the American Quarter Horse Association. Rick served as an AQHA National Director
in 2001, OQHA President in 2003, and was elevated to an AQHA Director At Large in 2017. He served on several AQHA Standing Committees and he is an AQHA Professional Horseman. Rick has earned the following judges cards, AQHA Specialized Event Roping, National Reined Cow Horse Association, AQHA Specialized Event Working Cow Horse, AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse, and AQHA Specialized Event Ranch Riding.
Rodney Reed • Wapanuka, OK
Rodney Reed was born on March 28, 1956, in Durant, Oklahoma to J. W. Reed and Alma Wanet (Hurt) Reed. He grew up in Wapanucka, Oklahoma, and graduated from high school there in 1974. Rodney married Sheila Dunn on November 18, 1977, in Milburn,
Rodney began training horses at the age of 19. Reed saddled 1,420 winners, 18 Grade 1 winners with earnings in excess of $16.1 million. His major stakes wins included the Rainbow Futurity and Kansas Futurity at Ruidoso Downs; Heritage Place Futurity 3 times, Remington Park Futurity twice, Blue Ribbon Futurity and Derby, an amazing six times each, and the Speedhorse Futurity four times.
Among the stakes winners he saddled were the likes of Alamitos Dasher, Bugged Thoughts, Chicks Call Me, Clicken On, De Passem Okey, Endaleabull, Fast Del Rey, Fast First Prize, Feature Mr Jess, First Down Kelly, Heza Fast Dash, Phoebe’s Otoole, Rakin In The Cash, and Spit Like Jagger, to name only a few. Started by Reed, the great Refrigerator won his first race at Ross Meadows in Ada, Oklahoma.
According to the American Quarter Horse Association, Reed won 1,764 races in his career with total earnings of more than $17.8 million. Rodney won 10 Remington Park training titles between 1990 and 2003, with an amazing nine titles in a row between 1995 and 2003. He won over 40 races in four of those years, with
his top mark of 47 wins taking place in 2001,
a Remington Park record at the time. Reed was inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park in 2010.
Rodney’s biggest race, was the one for his life. Rodney became ill and was diagnosed with cancer. Rodney’s wife Shelia, a major part of their winning horse operation, was now taking over his care and medical appointments. Rodney passed away April 23, 2018.
Dwight Van Dorn • Woodward, OK
Dwight Van Dorn was born Woodward, Oklahoma, in July 10, 1934 to Beulah (Parsons) and John Van Dorn of Harper County, Oklahoma. On June 6, 1953, Dwight Van Dorn married Kaye F. Pappe in Woodward. In 1956, they started the Top Hat Drive-In with Kaye’s father, Charles Pappe, which later became the Sonic Drive-In.
Dwight and his wife Kaye began Quarter Horse business in 1967 with the purchase of a cutting horse, Ron Bar Bailey. They bought a forty-eight acre “farm” in Edmond in 1969 and named it Van Valley Farms.
The Van Dorns acquired the future
AQHA World Champion 1966 stallion. Baca’s Hard Luck. They raised and showed AQHA Champions Lil Peppy Mist and Miss Joe Glow and AQHA Superior Halter Horses Anita Dawn Tay and Mandan Feather.
Dwight and Kaye’s children, Mark, Martin, and Keri, all worked and showed horses for Van Valley Farms as well as being active in the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Youth Association.
Dwight was an Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association Board member, officer and became
the 1982 President. He was an American Quarter Horse Association National Director. Dwight was one the OQHA members that were instrumental in moving the American Junior Quarter Horse World Championship Horse Show to Tulsa, OK. Kaye helped to organize hospitality for the AQHA World Quarter Horse Championship Horse Show in Oklahoma City OK and was the director in charge for 3 years. Dwight and Kaye were very involved for several years with the Oklahoma Junior Quarter
Easy Date
Rodney Reed
Dwight Van Dorn
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