Page 222 - Speedhorse, December 2018

Jockey Cesar DeAlba Retires
Cesar DeAlba, who was the 2016 lead-
ing jockey at Los Alamitos and the 2017 Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award winner, ended his riding career after piloting Dexxter
in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity-G1 on Dec. 16. DeAlba will start a new career as a trainer. “I’ve always said that when I retired from riding that I wanted to train,” said DeAlba in a Los Alamitos press release. “I’m ready for a new challenge.” DeAlba won 1,030 Quarter Horse races from 6,114 mounts, who have earned $15.8 million, including horses such as Moonist, BH Lisas Boy, Jess My Kiss and many others.
World Champion Heza Dasha Fire Retires
S-Quarter K LLC has decided to retire 2015 World Champion Heza Dasha Fire after his 7th-place finish in the Dec. 15 Champion of Champions. Only one of three Quarter Horses to have earned over $2.2 million on the track, the 6-year-old gelding retires with a record of 16 wins from 25 starts and earnings of $2,240,112. “We have to do what’s right for the horse. He’s given us his all for five years,” said S-Quarter K’s Don Meneely of Heza Dasha Fire, who has been dealing with issues related to Leptospirosis. “It’s the end of an era,” said Kathy Meneely. “He’s the best we’ll ever have.” The gelding will be at Los Alamitos for a few weeks and then be turned out at a ranch in California until he can be moved home with the Meneelys.
LQHBA Scholarship Fund Recipients
A total of $15,000 was presented to the
six recipients of the LQHBA Scholarship
Fund at Evangeline Downs on Dec. 15. With Senators Gerald Long and Neil Riser and other prominent legislators, the students will be able to further their education in 2019 with the scholarships courtesy of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association, which acknowl- edged the support of Hart Farms, Robicheaux Ranch and Knorpp Bloodstock Insurance Agency. A $5,000 scholarship went to Gena Daigle, and $2,000 scholarships went to Kaelyn Moore, Jace Gilbert, Jaxon Dugas and Sage Bischoff. In addition, Lauren Thomas received the $2,000 Paul Ryder Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of one of the founding members of the LQHBA who passed away this year at the age of 85. Over $570,000 has been earmarked for the program since its inception in 2001.
LQHBA Fall Mixed Sale Results
The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Fall Mixed Sale was held Nov. 17
in Opelousas, Louisiana. Total receipts were $492,100 for 133 horses sold, down 18% from 2017 when 128 horses brought $600,350. The average price was down 21% to $3,700 and the median of $2,900 was down 17% compared
to last year. The $16,500 high seller was Hip #11, Alikats Black Chic (Jet Black Patriot-
Stoli Alikat, Stoli), a 2017 filly consigned by Robicheaux Ranch Inc. and purchased by Denis Winn. The leading consignor was Tate Farms, Agent with 25 head selling for $63,350; the lead- ing buyer was Ebelyn Rojas purchasing 2 horses for a total of $26,500; and Jet Black Patriot led all sale sires of yearlings by average with two or more sold with four horses averaging $10,125.
Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale Dates
The 2019 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale, which will feature 749 head catalogued, will be conducted over two days – beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 18 and Saturday, Jan. 19 - rather than three. In cooperation with the AQHA, the 2018 Racing World Champion and Champions will be announced on Thursday evening, Jan. 17 following the pre-sale party. Visit www.heritage- place.com for more information.
Emergency Funds Needed to Help Equine Victims of California Fires
Many organizations need funding to help horses effected by the devastating fires in California. Among those groups is Brooke USA, which has started a California Equine Emergency Fund to assist equine in the months to come as they are reunited with owners and relocated to new homes. Feed, medical supplies and veterinary care are necessary to help manage this critical situation. To learn more, visit BrookeUSA.org or call 859-296-0037. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has also created an Emergency Disaster Relief Fund, with 100% of donations going to the North Valley Animal Disaster Group, U.C. Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team and the Humane Society of Ventura County. For more information, visit USEF.org.
Racing Commissioner Kenneth Romero, Rep. Mike Huval, D.A. Earl Taylor, LQHBA President Ryan Robicheaux, Sen. Neil Riser, Kurt Ryder, Kent Ryder, Sen. Gerald Long and the scholarship winners.
220 SPEEDHORSE, December 2018
Track Renovation Underway at Indiana Grand
At the conclusion of the 2018 meet on Nov. 7, track maintenance crew began renovation on the one-mile dirt racetrack at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. The $700,000 project is expected to be completed in March 2019
when the barn opens for training. In addition to the track renovation, the existing exterior stair wells on the grandstand will be replaced. The renovation was identified as a priority by Caesars Entertainment, which assumed owner- ship of the facility in July 2018.
NEWS BRIEFS
Coady Photography