Page 163 - March 2016

PAinT neWS BRiefS
Bringing you the latest news relating to Paint running horses
Courtesy of APHA and MyFlashyRide.com
Texas Paint Racing Update
On February 25, APHA received an email from the Texas Racing Commission that the Legislative Budget Board has authorized the commission to expend its Rider 7 appropria- tions. The Texas Racing Commission is now fully funded until August 31, 2017.
The state’s first Paint stakes race of 2016 will be the Colors of Houston Paint Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds and the Colors of Texas Maturity for 3-year-olds and up. Both races take place April 16 at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas. The Colors of Texas Paint Maturity is a $15,000 added, Grade II stakes race over 250 yards; the G2 Colors of Houston Paint Juvenile Stakes also features $15,000 added and takes place over 300 yards. Nominations for both races close March 31, and entries close April 9.
Check out the full calendar of Paint racing at apha.com/racing.
Barrel Bash
The Paint Barrel Racing Incentive Program year-end awards will be presented March 26
in Fairfield, Texas. The event featured an all- breed invitational barrel race and special PBRIP sidepot—you won’t want to miss it. To learn more, contact Jason Smith at 918-232-2856.
Schedule posted for 2016 AjPHA Youth World Championship Show
Start dreaming big and making plans
to attend the 2016 AjPHA Youth World Championship Show, which takes place June 27–July 9 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The premier event for Paint Horses and Youth age 18 and under takes place in conjunction with the National Championship Appaloosa Show, as well.
For Youth with speedy Paint Horses, the reasons to attend the Youth World Show are plentiful. They include:
• More than $165,000 in scholarships. Every
APHA world championship class features
big scholarship payouts to top-placing exhibitors, plus a randomly selected exhibitor, in addition to tons of world championship prizes up for grabs. That means it truly PAYS to ride a Paint.
• Barrel racing bonus. A $1,000 Paint Barrel Racing Incentive Program sidepot pays to the fastest Paints in the Hopes & Dreams Barrel Racing Sweepstakes.
The 2016 Youth World Show schedule
is available online at apha.com/ywcs/schedule. Entries, stall reservations and RV reservations are due May 16 for the best rates—the Youth World Show premium book and forms will be available online in mid-March. For more information, contact the APHA Performance Department at (817) 222-8455.
Tattooer Mike Cusimano dies
Longtime employee of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission, Mike Cusimano died January 13 in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. He was 66 years old.
The racehorse identifier and equine tattooer worked for APHA, the American Quarter Horse Association, the Appaloosa Horse Club and the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau at Blue Ribbon Downs and Will Rogers Downs. Over the course of his career, Mike tattooed more than 50,000 horses that ran both in Oklahoma and around the country.
APHA honored with Texas Historical Marker
On February 16, the American Paint Horse Association unveiled and dedicated an official Texas Historical Marker at Chili’s Grill & Bar in Gainesville, Texas. The marker honors the site of APHA’s founding meeting, which took place on February 16, 1962, at the Curtwood Motel. Rebecca Tyler met with a group of North Texas and Oklahoma horsemen and formally organized the American Paint Stock Horse Association; now known as APHA
and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, the organization is the world’s second-largest equine breed association.
Recognized with official Texas historical marker #17745, APHA’s sign was installed on the Chilis’ property, which sits on the original site of the Curtwood Motel coffee shop where the like-minded horsemen worked to legitimize the American Paint Horse as a breed with defining standards.
In 1965, APSHA merged with the American Paint Quarter Horse Association and became simply the American Paint Horse Association. With a new name, the organization moved to Fort Worth, where it now has more than 50,000 members and has registered more than 1 million horses.
Founding members and their descendants,
as well as APHA past presidents, former executive directors, the Cooke County Historical Society, members of the American Paint Horse
Foundation and other guests were present for
the unveiling and dedication. Pictured above
(left to right) is APHA Executive Director Billy Smith, former Executive Secretary Ed Roberts, first full-time Executive Secretary Sam Ed Spence, founding member Junior Robertson, breeder Floyd Moore and APHA President Ron Shelly.
APHA member and Creative Director Art Vasquez his Paint gelding, Top Deck Champagne Jr, unveiled the marker to the delight of the assembled guests.
Cooke County Historical Society member Ron Melugin described the detailed and lengthy process required to apply for and receive an official Texas Historic Marker. Michael Weeks, Chilis’ Grill and Bar Area Director accepted the marker, installed at the front of the restaurant, on behalf of Chilis’ and parent corporation Brinker International.
APHA Founder Rebecca Tyler Lockhart did not live to see the installation of the marker; the Paint Horse world said goodbye to this legendary horsewoman May 31, 2015. Rebecca’s legacy lives on in the barns of Paint Horse enthusiasts everywhere, stamped indelibly on their hearts through the shared love of stock horses that stand out from the crowd with the perfect amount of chrome and celebrated forever in an official Texas Historic Marker.
For more fast news about flashy speed-bred Paints, check out MyFlashyRide. com/news.
Contact APHA
For Paint racing-related
questions, contact:
Karen Utecht • APHA Director of Racing racing@apha.com • 817-222-6444 apha.com/racing
SPEEDHORSE, March 2016 161
news briefs