Page 25 - March_2023

Tell me something good!
A while back I enjoyed listening to a motivational coach whose signature line was, “Tell me something GOOD!” He spoke about how our habits not only define our outlook at a given moment, but also our complete existence. If we proactively choose to focus on the good, then our lives will indeed become better. Well, I am going to take a page from his playbook and focus this article on the industry’s good news!
We have just completed the American Quarter Horse Annual Convention, and lots of good news about our industry was shared while there. Reports about the meetings will come in a future submission, after the Executive Committee has a chance to weigh in on the topics.
Probably this biggest single piece of good news is the state of the market. At AQHA, we want to see people incentivized to breed and raise American Quarter Horses. What better incentive is there
to breed racehorses than a strong market? When compared to 2014 numbers, the sales results for 2022 nearly doubled in all categories! The total for horses sold at all North American public auctions of racing Quarter Horses went from $53,532,100 in 2014 to $99,874,100 in 2022. The average went from $13,730 to $25,322, and the median went from $8,500 to $17,000, all over the same time period. If you want to talk about something good, let’s brag on the horse market, shall we?
There is other good news in Quarter Horse racing to share as well. The number of Quarter Horse races increased in 2022 to 6,626 over 6,167 the previous year. The number of Quarter Horse starters rose from 11,444 to 11,826. Total purses for our breed grew from $125,940,355 in 2021 to $143,678,679. And AQHA’s flagship program for racing, the Bank of America Racing Challenge, enjoyed growth, too. Total enrollments in 2022 were 2717, marking a 20% increase over 2021’s total of 2,266.
I am proud of our industry for the strength
it is reflecting. We at AQHA appreciate each of you for the role you have in contributing to these numbers. I believe there are a lot of contributing factors that help us in obtaining such growth. First, strong horsemen’s representation and positive legislation is key in growing purse revenue. Thank the leadership in your state for the work they do! Secondly, integrity initiatives. More and more states are increasing their out of competition testing, implementing condition of entry requirements, and taking further measures to safeguard the sport. Is it an ongoing effort? Of course! But I applaud the regulatory bodies and the horsemen’s representatives who are proactive in such endeavors.
Other good news: I see a lot of promising young people engaged in the industry. Nothing excited me more this past year that to have 15 high school and college students attend our AQHA Racing Conference held in advance of the Challenge Championships at Horseshoe Indianapolis. One young lady who attended, Hailey Shiffer, is currently serving as the Assistant General Manager during the current meet at Rillito Park in Tucson, Arizona. Hailey graduated from the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry
Program in December, and received the program’s Distinguished Student Award. Atta girl! There are other examples as well, such as Zack Stinebaugh. After graduating from Texas A&M in 2021, he joined his dad’s stable as assistant trainer, then went to Louisiana and won his first stakes race as trainer. His twin brother Wyatt is also involved, having served as a racing official during several meets at Ruidoso Downs. Another young person that I’m happy to include in this group is owners Bill and Christine Robbins’ daughter, Mallory. She has developed her own passion for Quarter Horse racing, so much so that she had her own racehorse competing in 2022. Additionally, she spent her recent summers taking photos for Track Magazine at Ruidoso Downs. Although she’s left for college, I bet we will still see her frequenting the races in 2023 - she truly loves our sport. I really enjoy seeing examples such as these, ensuring that there is indeed a next generation that are committed to the sport like we are. This is very good news, right?
As I bring this article to a close, I wonder, what good news comes to mind with you think of Quarter Horse racing? I hope when I next see you, you’re inclined to ‘Tell me something good!’
If we proactively choose to focus on the good, then our lives will indeed become better.
AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ANNUAL CONVENTION
March 2023
by Janet VanBebber, AQHA Chief Racing Officer
AQHA RACING UPDATE
SPEEDHORSE
March 2023 23
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse