Page 183 - March_2023

$1.9 Million in QH Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis
Over $1.9 million will be offered for 23 Quarter Horse stakes races in the 2023 racing season
at Horseshoe Indianapolis, and that figure is expected to be over $2 million with the addition of nominations fees. The richest stakes should be the Miss Roxie Little Futurity and the Gordon Mobley Futurity. The 123-day meet runs from April 18 through Nov. 17, with six all Quarter Horse race days on June 3, July 1, July 22, Aug. 12, Sept.
2 and Oct. 7. “Our Quarter Horse program continues to grow each year, and we are excited
to keep that trend going in 2023,” said Director
of Racing Chris Polzin. “We have 10 stakes that will be run for six figures, and the nominations and participation in our stakes continues to grow annually. It’s very encouraging to see the amount of interest in our Quarter Horse program from across the nation, and we look forward to hosting some big days to showcase our Indiana Quarter Horse program.” For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/ horseshoe-indianapolis.
Remaining Semen on Special Effort & Streakin Six Purchased
Dr. Rick Beck and Dan Darling have purchased the remaining frozen semen on two Hall of Fame Sires – Special Effort and Streakin Six – from the 6666 Ranch. Both stallions are available ICSI only for the 2023 breeding season for a fee of $1,500 and are available at In Foal Inc. in Millsap, Texas, by calling Dr. Beck at (951) 929-4533. World Champion Special Effort earned $1,219,929 with 13 wins from 14 starts and is the only AQHA Triple Crown winner. He is the sire of over $18.9 million with seven Champions, including World Champion Special Leader, and he is also the broodmare sire of eight Champions. Streakin Six is a 10-time winner with 2 stakes victories and $473,934 in earnings. He is the sire of over $17.2 million with five Champions and an AQHA Broodmare of the Year, and he is the broodmare sire of four Champions.
James Francis Kelly Passes Away
Longtime Arizona horseman James Francis Kelly, 52, passed
away Jan. 26. James graduated from St. Charles High School where he played baseball and was a member of the FFA. He moved to
Tucson, Arizona where he attended the Racetrack Industry Program at the University of Arizona. He married Patricia Baca-Jelks and they had three daughters Melissa, Elena and Geneva. Then later married Staci Honnas-White and had
a son Cayden. James had a successful career in the Quarter Horse racing industry over several decades. He was elected to the Arizona Quarter Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2011. Among his top horses are multiple Graded stakes winner Cool Papa Bell ($133,005) and multiple stakes winner Lawyersgunsandmoney ($134,476). Perhaps his most successful runner was 1995 Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding Mars Blackman ($382,531), who he co-owned with Charles Grannon. Kelly is survived by three daughters, one son, two sisters, and many other family members and friends. A celebration of life was held for Jim at Rillito Racetrack on Feb. 17.
W.C. “Dub” Seely Passes Away
W.C. “Dub” Seely passed away on Feb.
12 at the age of 90 in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Dub was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He worked as a horseshoer and was the trainer of the earners of over $600,000,
including Quarter Horses Dylans Dandy, winner of the Black Gold Futurity Championship-G3; and Feature Macy, winner of the Blue Ribbon Futurity-G2. He was also the trainer of the Appaloosa horses Moon Bully, winner of
the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Stakes-G1; and R Ms Kitty, winner
of the Americana Appaloosa Stakes-G1. Dub is survived by his wife Judy Ann, twin daughters, three additional daughters, a son, and numerous
grandchildren and many other family members.
Norm Picov Passes Away
Ajax Downs owner, horsemen and philanthropist Norm Picov, 86, passed away on Feb. 18. Norm followed in his father Alex’s footsteps to become one of
the largest landowners and developers in the Quarter Horse industry. Alex Picov immigrated from Ukraine in 1931 and is considered by many to be the father of Quarter Horse racing in Ontario. One of the biggest races at the family-owned Ajax Downs, which opened
in 1969 as Picov Downs, is the Alex Picov Futurity run in October. Norm was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2016 for his contributions to racing. He was a large contributor to the community: donating $100,000 to the Ajax-Pickering Hospital, $250,000 to the Baycrest Health Sciences, and to many other organizations. His wife Lynda passed away in 2020. He is survived by two sons, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and many other family members and friends.
SPEEDHORSE
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NEWS BRIEFS
SPEEDHORSE PHOTO ARCHIVES
Can you identify the horse in this photo? He was the first winner of the Los Alamitos Winter Championship-G1. The answer is on page 182.
Los Alamitos
Speedhorse Archives Dustin Orona Photography
Clive Cohen, New Image Media