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active and in touch with the people who control things and who are also working to improve racing. He doesn’t mind speaking his piece even when he’s not on the popular side, and when he explains his logic, you can see why he thinks the way he thinks.”
“He’s done a great job of leading the industry in Texas and that plus his veterinary skills are enviable,” adds AQHA Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Windham of College Station, Texas. “He’s in the middle of the action over in the Austin area where all the politics, legislative sessions and commissions are and as a result, over the years, we’ve leaned on him to do
things because he was close by. He responded and has done a great job of staying on top of things and keeping members informed. Plus, he’s friendly, just basically a good guy, and the go-to guy for about every kind of veterinary work that needs to be done.”
“He’s worked tirelessly to try to improve Texas racing,” Bob continues. “He’s worked with the racing commission and has advised them on different diseases and on medications. I know he’s really busy with his practice,
but he takes a lot of time for those outside interests. He’s been quite active in AQHA and in Texas Quarter Horse Association as well.”
Perhaps his most successful horse was 12-time stakes winner Open Me A Corona, shown winning the 2015 Vals Fortune Stakes at Delta Downs.
HIS RACING ENDEAVOR
Along with his fiancée, Megan Wenzel, Dr. Hays breeds and buys a few horses for
the track. He also believes in supporting his stallion by buying youngsters that clients have bred from his stallion.
“That’s kind of my main focus right now,” he says, “but I also go to the sales and may buy one if I see a special individual I’m interested in.”
He has also formed several racing partnerships. “I think it spreads out your chances and it’s just as much fun to me,” he says. “The money aspect isn’t that big; I just like to find a good horse, race them and hope
Tommy still has two of his top runners turned out in his pasture:
Big Dashing Perry, a Grade 2 winner who also had
the fastest qualifying time in the trials to the 2014 All Sure Shot B, two-time stakes winner including the Texas American Derby and went on to finish fourth in the
Classic Futurity-G1 . Grade 1 final.
40 SPEEDHORSE August 2021