Page 143 - February 2021

“We recently lost three great men,
who contributed so much and had such a passion for the Quarter Horse industry. They will be missed.” – John Hammes
with good breeding programs that bring you nice horses,” John says. “I’ve had amazing clients, and most of them have turned into good friends.”
Among those friends is fellow-trainer Eddie Willis, who has known John for about 20 years but has only within the past five or six become good friends with him. “He’s the same every day,” Eddie says. “There’s no phoniness in him. I like people that way. That’s the way I am and that’s what I like about him.
“He’s a really good horseman and an honest businessman,” Eddie adds. “And honesty, to me, goes a long way. He has passion for the race-
horse business, and he does it because he loves to do it.” Indeed, John lives by the old adage that if you do something you love, you won’t have to work a day in your life.
Client Lisa Beauprez adds, “I love how the whole family treats the horses as if they were their own. John was one of my dad’s best friends and then through the years we’ve become good friends as well. He’s become a huge support system to me since the passing of my dad. We just look at them all as family.
“He has also had great success and done good things in Oklahoma. He’s been a good trainer and has done it the right way;
there’s never been any suspicion about him, and we’re always confident that he’s not abusing or asking too much of the horses just to try to get a win.”
John credits his success on the racetrack to having had an abundance of those clients that send him nice horses. “I haven’t had any great horses, but I’ve had a lot of nice horses,” he says.
In addition to visiting with good friends and having success on the track, he and Cathy enjoy seeing their kids and grandkids during their annual circuit as well. Good friends, good horses and good family. What better way of life could a man ask for?
Vaughn Cook, John Hammes, Thomas Bradbury and Marvin Willhite.
“I love how the whole family treats the horses as if they were their own – Lisa Beauprez
.”
Cathy and John Hammes at the 2021 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale.
“I just had a wonderful life doing this and I’m pretty content and proud of the kids and my wife.”
John with his grandson Braxton
John’s children Nick, Kalyn, Chelsey and Kylee.
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