Page 61 - January 2018

1974 race meet at Delta Downs in Louisiana was a success. The first Medication Committee meeting of the NASRC was held. The New
York Racing Association and The Jockey Club pledged $150,000 to the blood-testing research program at Cornell University Veterinary College. President Ford signed into law a major pension reform bill, including provisions which made it easier and more beneficial for self- employed persons such as trainers and jockeys
to participate in pension plans. In Memoriam: Robert J. Kleberg, patriarch of the family that owns King Ranch and breeder/owner of 1946 Triple Crown winner Assault, died at 78; FL Lady Bug, dam of Champion Top Ladybug, died; Moon Deck, the sire of World Champion Jet Deck, died at 24.
1975
Tiny’s Gay was named 1974 World Champion. The University of Arizona’s new racetrack management program received $5,000 from the Horsemen’s Benevolent Protective Association. The U.S. Department of Agriculture licensed the first three-component vaccine to protect horses from eastern equine encephalomyelitis, western equine encephalomyelitis, and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis. The first Annual Indiana Quarter Horse Racing Association
was held. Rulon Goodman purchased Rillito
Race Track. The PCQHRA Racing Committee announced that the Horseman’s Quarter Horse Racing Association agreed that Cal Bred Awards, that total around $40,000 annually, will be
paid from the track’s commission and not from purses. In Memoriam: Garrettsmisspawhuska, dam of World Champion Vandy’s Flash and Champions Vanetta Dee and Vannevar, died; Champion sire/ broodmare sire Three Chicks died; Champion/ multiple Champion sire Tonto Bars Gill died at 26.
1976
Easy Date was named 1975 World Champion. In January, Quarter Racing World, which started in 1969, renamed its montly publication “The Speedhorse.” Tumbleweed Race Track in Kennewick, Washington, became Sun Downs after the facility was purchased by Sun Downs Ltd. 1969 World Champion Easy Jet sold for
a record $3.5 million to Harriett C. Peckham, Grant Brumlow and Dr. Leonard P. Blach’s Buena Suerte Ranch, Inc. Robert Kieckhefer was elected president of the AQHA. The AQHA approved a rule change, giving official recognition to the distances of 550, 660, 770 and 870 yards. Fort Erie in Ontario, Canada, which has held Thoroughbred racing since 1897, hosted its first Quarter Horse meet. The city of Amarillo presented 10 acres of land to
the AQHA for the future site of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. In Memoriam: Jay Chambers, the owner of World Champion Jet Deck, passed away; 2-Time World Champion Kaweah Bar died; Multiple Champion sire Three Oh’s died.
1977
Dash For Cash received his first World Championship title as the 1976 World Champion, Champion 3 Year Old & Champion 3-Year-Old Colt. Champion Rocket Wrangler, the sire of Dash For Cash, sold for $1.5 million to Brown Badgett and would stand at Buena Suerte Ranch. Los Alamitos announced plans to run the first Dash For Cash Futurity in 1979. Dash For Cash was syndicated for $2.5 million to 40 shareholders. Ivan Ashment’s Town Policy, who would be named Champion 2 Year Old
& Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding of 1977, was stolen from his stall at Blane Schvaneveldt Racing Stables and was believed to have been taken to Mexico. In Memoriam: Chet Robertson, who with his brother Dale, began the famous Haymaker Sales Company in 1964 and which later became Heritage Place, passed away; Carl Mercer, owner of 1960 World Champion Vandy’s Flash and the former president of the PCQHRA credited with promoting the first All American Futurity and All American Sale, passed away.
The first All American Derby ran in 1974 and was won by Pass Over. The 2-time Champions’ connections include owners Mr. and Mrs. Jack Delmar and trainer C.W. “Bubba” Cascio, shown with AQHA Executive Secretary Don Jones.
SPEEDHORSE, January 2018 59