Page 26 - August 2021

AQHA RACING UPDATE
“Based on the enthusiasm at the sale, it was evident that it is a good time to breed and raise our equine athletes!”
As your horse’s official breed registry, it is very important to us to make sure you, our members, want to breed, raise, and race the American Quarter Horse. As I sit at my computer to write this article,
I have just returned from the Texas Quarter Horse Association’s Yearling Sale. Based on the enthusiasm at the sale, it was evident that it is a good time to breed and raise our equine athletes! The TQHA’s two-day sale boasted an average sales price of $23,766, a 38% increase over last year’s average of $17,229. The median price for this year was $18,500. If you don’t think positive legislation makes a dif- ference, take note of the fact that in 2013 the median price at this sale was merely $5,500! More about that below.
I personally have a long history with this sale. From its inception in 1997, until my retirement from training in 2012, every year there were horses in my stable that came from the TQHA offering. VanBebber Racing won the first installment of the TQHA Sale Futurity in 1998 with War Colors and would continue to have numerous qualifiers for
the stakes race over the ensuing years, win- ning it again in 2006 with Snowy Alibi. In my final year of training, I saddled a nice horse named Snowy Vengeance in the final. Given my historical involvement, it brings me great pleasure to see the sale do so well, and to see the Futurity grow to a graded (restricted) event.
I mentioned in last month’s submission that such success is not happenstance. It is the cumulative result of the hard work of
a lot of people. Over the years, I watched TQHA Board Members such as David Brown and W.B. Jones devote a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to make the endeavor succeed. This year, I noticed Dr. Tommy Hays and his fiancée Megan Wenzel work hard to inspect
the consignments, Megan even taking an aggressive kick in the process. But there is also staff: Val Clark and Rob Werstler, and the team that reports to them. Countless (and possibly thankless) hours are contrib- uted to make the sale prosper, and everyone with a hand in it should be applauded. I was there to support their efforts, and we also offered AQHA On-Site Services. In doing so, we signed up an abundance of new members, and many existing members came to have their paperwork processed and left with their work completed. It was a good collaborative effort from all involved.
Let’s circle back to Val Clark, who has been the Executive Director of TQHA for many years. Disclaimer: this God-loving woman is a friend of mine, so anything I say here is indeed biased – as it should be. My first memory of working with Val was at least 15 years ago when Dr. Robert Lewis asked me to travel from Louisiana Downs to Austin to appear at the Capital and support racing legislation. Val was there, diligently work- ing behind the scenes to rally the troops in our effort to pass legislation that supported Texas horse racing. Fast forward to 2019,
and it was still Val, quietly working behind the scenes in the successful effort to pass a new legislative effort that would enhance funding for Texas’ horse industry. Val’s final day at TQHA was upon the completion of this year’s sale. I am so glad that her hopes and dreams for our industry were realized when she witnessed this year’s strong market for the yearlings and the excitement over
the purses for which those horses would compete. As mentioned in the opening paragraph, the passing of legislation that increased purses in our industry is the reason for the significant upswing in the value of the yearlings. Val, know we appreciate your
efforts, and wish you the best as you pursue your next endeavor. Rob Werstler, I’m wish- ing you well as you take the reins.
There are lots of people like Val who have devoted their lives to the betterment of racing. I was one of them as a horseman, and now enjoy the opportunity to do so in my current capac- ity. I mentioned it last month, but it’s always worth repeating: I am here to support the goals of the AQHA affiliates to improve Quarter Horse racing. Let me know how I can help you.
My next stop will be in Kinder, Louisiana, to attend the LQHBA Yearling Sale. I appreci- ate the invite from Executive Director Bruce Salard to attend their event and look forward to being there. Bruce is another one with whom I collaborate frequently to better our sport.
He is a new member of the AQHA Racing Committee and has proven to be an asset to the industry. Keep up the good work, Bruce!
The rest of the summer will be non-
stop. We have an AQHA Racing Council meeting at Ruidoso Downs in August that
is scheduled to coordinate with the All American trials, a Challenge Task Force meeting the same weekend, then AQHA Day at the Races at Ruidoso Downs on August 28, during which I will again organize an event featuring the versatility of the breed. As we usher in the month of September, I will attend the All American Select Sale, followed by the All American Futurity itself and the other key stakes races featured
over Labor Day weekend. AQHA On Site Services will again be on hand during the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, so bring your paperwork and come see us!
In closing, I want to say that it is an extreme pleasure to see each of you while I am at your local events. Please don’t hesitate to say “Hello” and introduce yourself if you see me. I am here to serve you, the AQHA membership.
BUSINESS IS GOOD
August 2021
by Janet VanBebber, AQHA Chief Racing Officer
24 SPEEDHORSE August 2021