Page 80 - January 2021

The bond between friends cannot be broken by chance; no interval of time or space can destroy it.
LARRY PETERSON
Longtime horseman Larry “Ace” Peterson, 87, passed away surrounded by family on March 30. Peterson had a passion for Quarter Horse racing that began with Town Policy Handicap winner BCR A Blurr For Sure. Larry also competed in tie-down roping, steer wrestling & team roping. His nephew Billy Peterson won the 1995 All American Futurity riding World Champion Winalota Cash.
BILL POWERS
Longtime Arapahoe Park racing director Bill Powers, 65, passed away on Jan. 4. Powers started as a jockey agent and worked at a training stable before becoming Arapahoe Park’s racing secretary in 1992. “Everything he did was for the racetrack and the horsemen,” said Arapahoe executive director and general manager Bruce Seymore.
DEE RAPER
Thomas Dearmond ‘Dee’ Raper passed away at the age of 83 on Aug. 31. Born, raised and a lifelong resident of Oklahoma, Dee began work as a parts man at a Chevrolet dealership. He became an exercise rider while working for Marvin Barnes, then moved into horse transportation. He and wife Betty moved their Yukon farm to Lexington near a lake in the area named Belle Mere, which became
the name of their new ranch. In 1992, they moved their operation to its present location in Norman. The Rapers have bred thousands of mares over the years at Belle Mere Farm, and have stood, bred, foaled and been the home to countless industry greats, including World Champion Easy Jet, Champion Bully Bullion, and Mr Eye Opener. Currently, Belle Mere Farm is the home of stallions Capo De Capi, BV Travelin Soldier, and Prized Wagon. For nearly five decades, Dee and Betty promoted Quarter Horse racing, working to pass pari-mutuel racing and to
DEE RAPER
expand gaming in Oklahoma. Dee was an AQHA director and served as president
of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association. He received the Gordon Crone Special Achievement Award in 2007 and was inducted into the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2010 and into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2012. Belle Mere Farm was inducted into the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2019.
FRED SCANE
Fred Scane passed away on Feb. 25 at the age of 82. Scane was a Quarter Horse breeder, owner and stallion manager for over 40 years. His success in the horse racing industry included owning Merridoc, who won eight out of his 14 starts before going on to a successful career at stud to sire 7 Champions, including 3 bred by Scane in Apprehend, Griswold and Solvency. As a stallion manager, Fred managed stallions such as Walk Thru Fire, Separatist, TR Dasher, Snowbound, Stel Corona and Kiddy Up at Ed Allred’s Rolling A Ranch. Scane was a member of the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Board of Directors.
STAN SIGMAN
Stan Sigman passed away Dec. 21 at his home in Hondo, Texas. In 2017, Sigman became one of three members of the partnership that purchased Ruidoso Downs Racetrack, Billy the Kid Casino, and the Ruidoso Horse Sale Company. In 2007, Sigman retired as CEO of AT&T Mobility and in 2010 was inducted into the Wireless History Foundation Hall
of Fame. As a child, Sigman attended the
races at Ruidoso Downs with his parents and eventually bought a home in the area. Sigman operated five ranches in Texas, running Black Angus and Santa Gertrudis cattle. He founded Namgis Quarter Horses, a division of his Santa Cruz Ranch and a state-of-the-art breeding
and training facility. He co-owned 2-time Champion Kiss My Hocks and barrel sire Bucks Hancock Dude. Stan Sigman is survived by wife Gerry Lynn; son, Spicer; daughters Lourdes Fuentes and Jodi Adams; grandchildren Spicer Gripp II, Piper, Issac, Caleb, Stephan and Rilynn, as well as many other family members and friends.
VAL VAIL
Val R. Vail passed away on April 19 at the age of 74. Val was instrumental in the construction of Sun Downs Racetrack and was a founding member of the Northern Quarter Horse Racing Association. He also served as an AQHA Director for Washington State. In the 70’s,
Val and his father established VA Ranch in Kennewick, Washington, where stallions such
as Juno Dat Cash and Old Tom Cat stood.
In the 80’s, Val was president and co-owner
of Northwest Triple Crown Yearling Sale Co., which conducted the Northwest Triple Crown/ McFadden Ranch Yearling Sale in Hagerman, Idaho, as the largest Quarter Horse Yearling Sale in the Northwest at that time.
JIM WALKER
Jim Walker, breeder/owner of 2016 Champion Zoomin For Spuds, passed away on Jan. 21 at the age of 87. Walker also bred and raced Zoomin For Spuds full sister, multiple stakes winner Bux For Cocktail. Jim served in the U.S. Army and then studied business at Sacramento State University, eventually starting the now multi-million dollar company Walker Sand and Gravel.
He and his wife JoAn moved to Bellevue, Idaho, establishing their breeding operation
in Walker Farms. As he participated in
racing, Walker formed a partnership with
the Arrossas: Monty Arrossa trained Zoomin For Spuds, while Monty’s father, Pete, drove chariot horses for him. “He’s the most positive person I know,” said Monty Arrossa.
78 SPEEDHORSE January 2021
FRED SCANE STAN SIGMAN
JIM WALKER