Page 43 - January 2016 Speedhorse

2015 A YeAr In revIew
July 11
Joseph “Joe” Neff, 58, passed away. Born in Fairfax, Oklahoma, and
a resident of Sallisaw, Neff loved horses and trained Quarter Horses for most of his life.
July 11
Delta Downs ended their 46-day race meet and announced their 2015 meet leaders: Joan Rood was named Leading Owner; Michael Taylor captured the Leading Trainer title; and John Hamilton won his 4th consecutive Leading Rider title.
August 2
Trainer Jerry “Trainwreck” Lazenby, 64, passed away in Denison, Texas. Lazenby worked for
the MKT Railroad until 1980, where he earned his nickname. Saddling his first official starter
in 1981, Lazenby conditioned more than $2.4 million in earners over three decades of training, including MD Hammertime, Dashers Moon Bar and Corona Ease, among others.
August 7
August 14
Joe B. Allen, 78, passed away in Colleyville, Texas. Allen received his BS degree in Engineering from Arkansas State University, managed several businesses after college, and then spent 30-years with Texas Refinery Corp. Allen bred or owned in partnership the earners of over $3.8 million, including 1998 Heritage Place Futurity-G1 winner and multiple-stakes sire Gol, and he was a shareholder in leading sire Mr Jess Perry.
Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission (OHRC) Executive Director Constantin “Tino” Rieger (left) submitted his resignation. Rieger has held
the position since 2005. His resignation became effective Sept. 2.
July August
July 24
The Hon. James R. “Jim”
Mitchell, 69, passed away
suddenly in Louisiana. A
Vietnam Veteran in the U.S.
Army, Mitchell became a
successful private attorney and
was elected District Judge for
the Thirtieth Judicial District
Court in Vernon Parish
Louisiana in 2008 and again in 2014. He served in many leadership roles in the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) and on the national board of directors for the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). He was an AQHA lifetime member, breeding American Quarter Horses for over 30 years.
August 28
Horseman and jockey Jimmy Hunt,
54, passed away following a traumatic brain injury sustained from a training accident in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Hunt began racing at county fairs at the age of eight on a white Shetland pony named Ol’ Smokey. He rode and won his first race at the age of 16 at Parr Meadows in New York atop Mary’s Lady Bug. Hunt officially rode the earners of more than $3.4 million, including Grade 1 winner Junos Request.
August 29
July 22
New Mexico Racing Commission announced the ban of Clenbuterol in Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds at all New Mexico tracks. Although the ban was immediate, the full affect took place Aug. 19 as all parties were advised not To use the medication leading up to and after that date.
Two-time World Champion SLM Big Daddy (Daddy Hold On-Winds Of Victory, The Bulldogger) was laid to rest in Early, Texas, at the age of 23 after a 3-day illness. The gelding, who was bred and raced by Lindsey Pruitt and her late husband Steve Mitchell, earned $1,013,550 winning 24 of his 49 starts from 1994 through 1999. SLM Big Daddy won 14 stakes, including the 1997 & 1998 Champion of Champions-G1,
the 1997 AQHA Challenge Championship-G1, the 1997 Remington Park Invitational Championship-G1, and the 1998 Remington Park Gold Cup-G1.
SPEEDHORSE, January 2016 41