Page 66 - January 6 2012

Ruidoso Hall Of Fame
The 2012 inductees into the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame include jockey Kip Didericksen and racehorse DM Shicago, joining owner/breeder Four Sixes Ranch
and trainer Heath Taylor, whose inductions were announced last month. Among others, Didericksen campaigned two-time World
AQHA Racing Committee since 1992, and is dedicated to promoting Quarter Horse racing
in Louisiana. Dawn and Rhonda Rae List have operated Double Bar S Ranch in Moreno Valley, California, since 1996, an operation that has bred the earners of over $6.65 million. The List’s annually support several charitable industry organizations. They are very active through-
out the industry, are lifetime members of the AQHA, PCQHRA and OQHRA, and Rhonda serves on the AQHA Racing Committee and is a board member of the PCQHRA. Veterinar- ian and 6666 Ranch horse manager since 1982, Dr. Glenn Blodgett has represented Texas as
an AQHA Director since 1991, and is the 2011 Director-at-Large. He served as chairman of the AQHA Stud Book and Registration Committee, and on the AQHA Hall of Fame Selection Com- mittee from 1995-2009. Under his leadership, 6666 Ranch has become an all-time leading breeder of race and performance horses.
W. A. Darling Dies
Longtime Louisiana horseman W. A. Dar- ling, 90, passed away Dec. 17. Darling served during World War II and the Korean War.
He ran several successful businesses until he retired in the 1980s. He was then able to devote himself fully to raising, racing and breed-
ing horses. Darling served as president of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association in 1984 and 1990, and was a board member
for many years. He received both the 20-year and 30-year Cumulative Breeder awards from the AQHA, breeding 322 foals, 91 winners, 21 stakes winners, and earners of $5,157,597.
AAEP Examines Owner-Trainer-Vet Relationship
During the University of Arizona Sympo- sium on Racing & Gaming in Tucson on Dec. 7, the American Association of Equine Practi- tioners (AAEP) discussed developing protocol
to improve horse welfare, reduce the cost of veterinary care, and better the business of horse racing by focusing on communication between the owner, trainer and veterinarian. Recent AAEP focus groups have identified concerns over owner/trainer/veterinary relationships. Findings are that owners believe veterinary costs are high and communication poor, trainers worry that owners will move their horses if they don’t use medication to be competitive, and vet- erinarians are frustrated that trainers don’t want them to communicate with owners and that their relationship will be terminated if they don’t provide requested treatment. The AAEP plan is to develop a “contract” similar to those used in other business relationships.
AHC Opposes Proposed Child Labor Rules Change
The American Horse Council (AHC) opposes the Department of Labor’s proposed child labor regulation change, which would place limita- tions on the ability of workers under 16 to work
in agriculture around livestock such as horses, especially on farms and ranches not solely owned by their parents. According to the AHC, the proposed rules are so broad they would keep most young people from working on horse farms at
all. The rules would prohibit workers under 16 from herding livestock on horseback or on foot in confined spaces and engaging in common animal husbandry practices. According to the AHC, most young people don’t work on farms for a paycheck, but because of a desire to do something they love and to gain experience for later careers in the agri- culture industry. The complete AHC comments can be found at www.horsecouncil.org.
More Horse Books To Kentucky Schools
The Kentucky Horse Park has expanded
its Kentucky Horse Park Literacy Program (KHPLP), which distributes horse-themed books to schoolchildren. The program, which has already distributed over 15,000 books to more than 10,000 first- and fourth-graders in its first two years, is expanding to other grades in order to broaden literacy and the love of horses to more children. This year, the program introduced “War Horse” by Michael Morpurgo prior to the opening of the film based on the book. The program will also include Meghan McCarthy’s “Seabiscuit, the Wonder Horse.”
Portland Meadows Approved For Summer Racing
The Oregon Racing Commission approved Portland Meadows’ application to switch to summer racing, with live racing in 2012 begin- ning July 15 and running through Dec. 8. The new license will also include weekend and night racing. The purpose of the change is to conduct live racing when the weather is at its best. The summer meet will run from July through Sep- tember, and the fall meet will run from October through December. Portland Meadows has typically run from October through March.
Evangeline Downs Names Meet Leaders
Evangeline Downs named their 2011 meet leaders, with Rapid Transit (Dashin Bye-WW Shuboom Shuboom, Osceola Warrior) tak-
ing Horse of the Meet honors after winning
the track’s richest race, the $517,844 LQHBA Breeders’ Futurity-RG1. The gelding is owned by Pablo Gonzalez, trained by Miguel Rodriguez, and was ridden by Raul Ramirez, Jr. Kenny
Kip Didericksen
DM Shicago
Champion Refrig- erator and World Champion Dash For Speed en route to earning Champion Jockey titles in 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992. Fredda Draper and Don Moler’s DM Shicago won the 2004 All American Futurity-G1, as
well as the Grade 1 Ruidoso, Rainbow & All American derbies to earn 2005 World Champion title, retir- ing with earnings of $1,873,730.
AQHA Special Achievement Awards
The recipients of the 2011 AQHA special achievement awards include: Leverne Perry, Gordon Crone Special Achievement Award; Dawn and Rhonda List, Millie Vessels Special Achievement Award; and Dr. Glenn Blodgett, AQHA Racing Council Lifetime Achievement Award.
Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders’ Associa- tion Executive Director since 1987, Leverne Perry is a leader in the racing community and in the state government. He has served on the
Dr. Glenn Blodgett
64 SPEEDHORSE, January 6, 2012
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