Page 117 - 12 April 2013

In Memoriam by Gloria Dow
Eastex (Texas Dancer TB-Tall Cot- ton, Easy Jet) was euthanized March 25 due to complications of old age. The 32-year-old gelding held the distinction of being the all-time leading money earning 2 year old for 27 years, only to be overtaken by Stolis Winner in 2008.
Eastex earned $1,573,622 as a 2 year old. He raced until 5 years of age and retired with $1,869,406 from a race record of 31-13(4)-4(1)-5(3).
The story of Eastex is a long one. He was bred by Dr. and Mrs. H. D. Hall of Ada, Oklahoma. Dr. Hall was convinced there was a “magic” cross, and he began searching for it. He found Thoroughbred stallion Texas Dancer, and crossed him on the Easy Jet mare Tall Cotton. The result was Eastex. The result was magic.
Eastex won his first start by a length in a 250-yard maiden race at Manor Downs on March 3, 1984, and that was the beginning of one of the most stellar seasons of any two-year-old Quarter Horse history. He won the All Ameri- can Futurity-G1, Dash For Cash Futu- rity-G1 and Bay Meadows Futurity-G1, as well as 10 other races, and finished third in the Grade 1 Kindergarten and Golden State Futurities. He set a New Track Record in the Bay Meadows Futurity trials as he covered 350-yards in :17.590 for a career-high 106 speed index. He was the AQHA High-Money Earning Horse, earned AQHA Supreme Race Horse Honors, and was named Champion 2 Year Old and Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding.
At 3 in 1985, Eastex began the year in style as he won the Golden State Derby-G1 and finished second in the
El Primero Del Ano Derby-G1. He was in transit from California to Ruidoso Downs in June of 1985 for the trials to the Ruidoso Derby when he suffered an injury to a hind leg during a layover in Arizona, when his leg became trapped between stall slats. He lay quietly while power saws released him. The damage was thought to be minor and he contin- ued on to New Mexico. Eastex did not run in the Ruidoso Derby trials, but he did finish third in the trials to the All American Derby. He qualified and ran sixth in the finals. He ended the year winning a total of 3 races and finished
his sophomore season with a seventh in the Champion of Champions-G1. He banked another $268,558.
Eastex was never able to return to his former brilliance following the stall incident, unfortunately, and he never made it to the winner’s circle again after the accident. He made 8 starts at 4, fin- ishing third in the Vessels Maturity-G1. He was also a finalist in the Los Alami- tos Invitational Championship-G1, World’s Championship Classic-G1, All American Gold Cup-G1, Horsemen’s QHRA Championship-G1, ending the year with another $27,226.
Eastex came back as a 5-year-old for one final race, in which he finished 7th in the Grade 1 Peninsula Champion- ship. His racing career was over, but he returned to the track in 1990 to lead the post parade for the race named in his honor at Remington Park.
At the age of 11 in 1993, Eastex was sold by his breeder/owner H. D. Hall to interests in Mexico. Later that year, Eastex was spotted by horseman Kenneth Winters at a barn near El Paso, Texas. And he was wearing racing plates. Winters contacted Andy Golden of Speedhorse, who negotiated his purchase for $10,000, and Eastex was returned to Oklahoma.
Eastex was rescued by a group of dedicated and honorable horsemen, who came forward to help pay for him. They remained honorary Eastex own- ers, and included Gail Butler, Andy and Jean Chavers, Sandy and Bob Erwin, Richard Fell DVM, Kenneth Freund, Robert Gentry, Jim and Mari- lyn Helzer, Jeff Holmes, Roger Knight Esq., Alfred Marez, Linda and Jerry Minter, Bruce and Rexanne Pilkenton, Joe and Joyce Platt, Paula Platt, Dee and Betty Raper (Belle Mere Farms), Joella Rogers, Ernie Rowe, Ron and Melany Shalz, the John Shaw family, Gerald Vetter, Jerry Windham, Butch Wise and Lazy E Ranch, Robert and Cynthia Zoch, Blue Ribbon Downs, Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Asso- ciation, and his Speedhorse family.
Eastex continued to make “celeb- rity” appearances across the country, attending special events and track openings, as well as leading the post
Jockey Bruce Pilkenton after winning the All American Futurity aboard Eastex
parade for the Eastex Handicap at Remington Park.
He spent the first 13 years of his retirement years at Andy Golden’s Nor- man, Oklahoma ranch until the prop- erty was sold. Speedhorse continued to provide for his room and board when Eastex moved across the street to Belle Mere Farm, where he was looked after by Dee and Betty Raper.
Eastex remained alert and in good health for many years. He developed cataracts in one eye and injured it in 2002, never again to regain his sight in that eye. He was always high-spirited. He had a “Type A” personality and was a little hard to handle, but he had a sweet- ness about him that he demonstrated to Andy Golden and to those who cared for him. And in spite of his old age, he loved to run and buck at dinnertime.
Eastex enjoyed many, many retire- ment years grazing on green pasture.
At the ripe old age of 32, however, the hard decision was made. Eastex was buried near one of his old pasture mates at Dee and Betty Raper’s farm south of Norman, Oklahoma.
Always known as the “Champion,” Eastex was noble and proud, and will be missed by many.
Like us on Facebook, or visit our web- site at www.speedhorse.com for an in-depth historical video on Eastex, including inter- views with trainer James McArthur, jockey Bruce Pilkenton and Dee Raper.
SPEEDHORSE, April 12, 2013 115
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