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investigation and a disciplinary hearing.” Smith could not comment on the matter. All of his entries were listed as being scratched by the stewards. The all-time leading Quarter Horse trainer in Indiana history in wins and purse earnings, Smith shattered his own record for wins and money won in 2022, winning 76 races and more than $2.3 million. In 2022, he ranked fifth nationally in American Quarter Horse Association standings for money won and was fourth by wins.
RTCA 2023 White Horse Awards
The Race Track Chaplaincy of America Inc. (RTCA) is currently seeking nominations for their 21st annual 2023 White Horse Award. The award is given to individuals who have done something heroic on behalf of human or horse in the past 12 months and recognizes the unsung heroes of horse racing for their acts of selflessness and bravery. The award winner will be honored on Oct. 31 at Santa Anita prior to the beginning of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. To submit a nomination, visit www.rtcanational.org/events for a list of rules and nomination forms, or call RTCA at (859) 410- 7822. The deadline is Aug. 25. Established in 2003, the 2022 White Horse Award went to Nery Delcid who prevented a maliciously set fire from spreading at Churchill Downs.
Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals at Los Alamitos
The 26th running of the 2023 Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals were held July 15 at Los Alamitos Race Course. Two- year-old Beenie Vonweenie, owned by Nicolee Leonard, led from start to finish en- route to winning the title of Fastest Wiener in the West in front of a crowd of around 7,000. Coming out of the 2-post, Beenie Vonweenie had big lead early on, drifted outside to bump Cannonball Charlie and Rowdy, then barked at Penny G before winning the event by a long ear and tail, covering the 50-yards in 6.80 seconds. Beenie Vonweenie looked
to win the 2022 title before he stopped
cold right before the finish line, turned sideways and once again bumped with both Cannonball Charlie and Rowdy, with Paisley winning the race last year. Beenie Vonweenie earned $1,000 for the win, a trophy, a gold blanket, and a yellow and red doghouse in the shape of a Wienerschnitzel restaurant. A total of 104 dachshunds raced in this year’s Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals, which is a fundraising event for the Seal Beach Animal Care Center (SBACC), a non-kill shelter in Orange County. The Wiener Nationals and SBACC have raised around $300,000 over the years.
LQHBA To Award Scholarships
The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) awarded four $2,000 scholarships to further the education of
Louisiana students on July 15 at Delta Downs, in which eight stakes races were held including the $624,792 Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1, $144,635 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby-RG3 and
the inaugural $145,062 Louisiana Bred Oaks.
The scholarship drawings were awarded as part
of the evening saluting accredited Louisiana-
bred racehorses. The winners were Ateya Griffin, Jackson St. Romain, Samuel Jackson and Makala Tagalog. The scholarship winners were Louisiana High School graduates or Louisiana High School students graduating in 2023 or 2024 and planning to attend a higher education institution. While
the primary goal of the LQHBA is breeding and
NEWS BRIEFS
Delta Downs 2023 Meet Leaders
Delta Downs concluded its 2023 American Quarter Horse season on July 15 with a program tabbed as Louisiana Showcase Night. The 46-day season, which began April 28, ended with the declaration of the top horsemen standings. Running away with his third leading owner title was Rogelio Marquez Jr., who notched his fourth win in the Lee Berwick Futurity with One Sweet Sugar. Marquez won 11 races overall and his horses earned $781,675. Marquez’s first title at Delta Downs came in 2017 when Dashnunder Afullmoon took the Lee Berwick. Guillermo Martinez won his first leading trainer title at Delta Downs, saddling 27 winners. His barn earned a total of $512,233, which
ranked second behind Jesus Marquez whose runners amassed $803,355, much of which was earned by One Sweet Sugar in the Lee Berwick Futurity. The leading jockey this year was won for the first time by Guadalupe Lucio Jr., who tallied 38 wins. He ranked second in earnings for the meet with a total of $715,849, and the leading jockey in mount earnings was jockey Ubaldo Luna with $752,527. Delta Downs will conduct 15 additional days of American Quarter Horse racing in 2023 from July 27 through Sept. 2, excluding Aug. 3-5 due to the Louisiana Quarter Horse Association Yearling Sale. The extra dates were trans- ferred from Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.
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