Page 203 - August 2022

2021 RUIDOSO DOWNS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
Story and photos by Susan Bachelor
The banquet hall of the Alto Lakes Golf
and Country Club was the new venue for the Ruidoso Downs Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on July 8. Five industry leaders and one Champion racehorse were recognized for their contributions to the history of Quarter Horse racing. Approximately 300 people wit- nessed Tom Dawson’s video presentation of the accomplishments of the six inductees.
First to the stage to receive the award were Pierre and Leslie Amestoy and Blanca Villegas Varela on behalf of their Champion First Moonflash, who was bred by Dosi and Norma Alvarez. First Moonflash ran a spectacular racing career that produced four New World Records and five New Track Records to crown a record of 10 graded stakes victories and nearly $1 million in earnings. He retired from racing to stand at W.L. Mooring’s Double LL Farms in Bosque, New Mexico and sired the runners of $23.5 million.
Outstanding achievements of breeder/owner Gwendolyn Eaves played across the screen as her family watched from their banquet table. Her daughter Sandra Geisleman and granddaugh- ter Meredith Copeland accepted the crystal trophy honoring Mrs. Eaves posthumously for breeding and/or racing such Champions as Tres Seis, A Delightful Dasher, Special Phoebe, and Inseparable. The stakes winning Quarter Horses bred by Mrs. Eaves and her family partnership earned over $7.7 million dollars.
For 61 years trainer Fred Danley has
been active on the New Mexico horse rac-
ing circuit collecting trophies and purses of
over $20,000,000 in both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse winners’ circles. At the age of 20, the horse he trained won the Kansas Futurity (now Ruidoso Futurity). The next year he prepped Merry Go, the fastest qualifier to the 1964 All American Futurity. His most recent
All American win was in 2019 when the May family’s horse Rustys Miracle gave her trainer his first All American Derby victory.
The 1976 All American Futurity winning jockey Gary Sumpter came forward to receive his Hall of Fame trophy from G.R. Carter and Jana Trotter. Gary was recognized throughout the Southwest as a leading jockey during his career, when his mounts won over $11,380,000. He was the leading rider of the meet at Ruidoso Downs in 1979 and was Sunland Park’s leading rider four times.
The late Walt Wiggins, Sr. was an integral part of Ruidoso Downs from 1959 to 1969. Walt covered the first All American Futurity
in 1959 for Sports Illustrated, and later joined track owner Gene Hensley to establish and grow the All American Triple Crown races and the All American Yearling Sale. In 1969 Walt left Ruidoso Downs to begin his own news publica- tion, Quarter Racing World, which later became Speedhorse Magazine. His son Walt Wiggins, Jr. continued in his father’s Quarter Horse racing footsteps and accepted the award that com- memorated Walt Sr.’s many contributions to the early success of Ruidoso Downs.
Steve Asmussen is the all-time leading trainer of Thoroughbreds, with winnings
over $375,000,000. He has been honored in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and has trained three different Horse of the Year Award recipients. Steve grew up on the backside of racetracks, including Ruidoso Downs, alongside his parents, Keith and Marilyn Asmussen. Ruidoso Downs is proud of Steve’s achievements and is pleased that he started his career path locally. Steve was joined by his wife Julie and family at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, where he accepted his award with sincere gratitude.
Fred Danley
Gary Sumpter
Steve Asmussen
Jana Trotter, Blanca Villegas Varela, Pierre & Leslie Amestoy
Jordan, Walt Jr., Kim Wiggins and Tom Dawson
Tom Dawson presents award to Meredith Copeland & Sandra Geiselman in honor of Gwendolyn Eaves
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