Page 33 - LQHBA 2018 Membership Directory

Soileau bred Shaken Thru Zoom, a Shazoom mare who produced 2014 LQHBA Breeders Futurity winner, Jls Dashn And Zoomn. Darrel Soileau recalls the naysayers doubting the mare’s ability to produce a champion.
“Daddy never let talk like that bother him,” said Darrel. “He researched mares, sometimes going back three generations. He always believed in crosses, but more importantly, in himself.”
Darrel remembered arguing with his father when he purchased a club footed mare for $7,500.
“I could not believe that he wanted me to train that mare,” recalled Darrel. “She never won a race, but as a broodmare produced a nice foal that won over $200,000.”
Soileau received numerous awards from both the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and LQHBA.
He passed away on December 9, 2017, at the age of 81, at his home in Opelousas, Louisiana, but will be well-represented at this year’s Hall of Fame Ceremony. John’s wife, Bernadine, sons Darrel, Glen and Johnny and daughter Stephanie and their children will be in attendance for the family patriarch’s induction into the LQHBA Hall of Fame.
“We are all so proud of daddy,” stated Darrel. “Louisiana racing and breeding meant so much to him. He grew up in hard times and was a Cajun with strong opinions. But he was kind to everyone and bred some really special champions.”
HeMp MeyerS
Last year, William Albert Darling was inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame. “W.A.” was honored for his legacy as a Louisiana Quarter Horse breeder and owner. An active LQHBA board member, Darling served as president in 1984 and 1990.
This year, one of Darling’s superior horses, Hemp Meyers, will join John Soileau in the LQHBA Hall of Fame. The son of Hempen out of the Mr Meyers mare Miss Fancy Meyers, was foaled on February 1, 1978. He made his racing debut in 1980 at Delta Downs and won four of his 13 starts. Stakes-placed in the Old South Futurity and Firecracker Derby, wrapping up his racing career on October 11, 1981 with earnings of $58,889.
“Some horses just seem to steal your heart and my dad really loved his mare, Miss Fancy Meyers,” said Karen Darling Falgoust. “Hemp Meyers was her first foal and dad adored him. He spent a lot of time with him and they had a very special relationship.”
Hemp Meyers made a successful transition to the breeding shed, siring 273 performing foals that earned $2,949,349. His most successful sons included Horseplayers Hemp, with a 105 speed
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