The Journal’s Richard Chamberlain recounts memorable moments in Quarter Horse racing from 1946-2011.
Starting at Bay Meadows in his first career race, on June 11, 1968, Kaweah Bar breaks his maiden by 3 1/2 lengths. (Photo courtesy of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame)
By Richard Chamberlain for Q-Racing
1946
June 15 – Woven Web, the 3-year-old King Ranch Thoroughbred known as “Miss Princess” on the Quarter tracks, wins her first race, at Fort Duncan racetrack in Eagle Pass, Texas.
1947
June 27 – New Mexico’s Hollywood Park, which in a few years would change its name to Ruidoso Downs, conducts its first pari-mutuel race for Quarter Horses. The race, a claiming event for 3-year-olds and up going 220 yards for a price of $1,000, is won by Chew, a gelding by My Texas Dandy.
1948
June 20 –Jesse Owens is defeated by Wonder in a 100-yard match race between baseball games at the ballpark in Oakland, California. Owens is the human sprinter who humbled the Nazis while starring in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Wonder is a 9-year-old American Quarter Horse by Yankeedoodlebyclove out of a Harmon Baker mare. Owned by Neal Townsend of Daniville, California, Wonder is ridden by Ralph Banks.
1951
June 29 – Gold Bar, the first stakes winner by Three Bars (TB), scores in the Central Bar & Grill Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. Parker’s Trouble finishes second, with Miss Bars third and Black Easter Bunny fourth. A homebred filly racing for Three Bars’ owner Sid Vail, Gold Bar is trained by LaVar Larson.
1953
June 16 & 20 – Miss Meyers wins back-to-back starts at Bay Meadows, defeating Question’s Gold, Bardella, Robin Reed, Joak and others in the first, and Gold Bar, Barbara L, Rukin String, Black Easter Bunny and others in the second. Miss Meyers is a homebred Leo filly racing for O.C. “Blondy” Meyers of Konawa, Oklahoma.
June 29 – Quarter Horse racing’s first triple dead heat occurs at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, California, when Rusty Jiggs, Jody Question and K Hornet hit the wire simultaneously at the end of 350 yards.
1955
June 11 – Winning his fifth consecutive race, Go Man Go takes his trial to the Ruidoso Futurity. Trained by Eldridge Strauss and ridden by Strauss’ brother Robert, the Top Deck (TB) colt races for his breeder, J.B. Ferguson of Wharton, Texas.
Read about the lives of Beduino, Dash For Cash, Easy Jet, First Down Dash, Go Man Go, Jet Deck and Peter McCue in Quarter Paths.
1958
June 29 – In their second match-up, Mr Bar None defeats Go Man Go by half of a length in a Ruidoso allowance. The first time the two star horses met, in the May 3 Los Alamitos Invitational Championship, Go Man Go finished second to Vanetta Dee while Mr Bar None ran fifth. Owned by June and Zelma Jeffers and trained by Oscar Jeffers, Mr Bar None is a 3-year-old colt by Three Bars.
1959
June 6 & 13 – Missle Bar scores back-to-back stakes wins, defeating Eagle Flight in the California Horse Racing Association Derby and Pap in the Bay Meadows Championship. Bred by K.M. Chafin of Prescott, Arizona, Missle Bar is a sophomore colt by Three Bars.
1960
June 24 – Dynago Miss wins on first asking, defeating a field of maidens at Ruidoso Downs. The Go Man Go filly is bred by E.L. Gosselin of Edmond, Oklahoma.
1961
June 17 & 24 – She Kitty wins her first two career races, a maiden event and an allowance at La Mesa Park in Raton, New Mexico. The homebred Robin Reed filly races for Jack Casement of Sterling, Colorado.
June 25 – Antler’s Trade triumphs over a tough field in a Ruidoso handicap, with Easter Rose second and top-weighted Tonto Bars Hank third, followed by Table Tennis, Aunt Judy, First Call and Rebel Cause. Antler’s Trade is a 5-year-old Top Deck mare owned by Ray and J.R. Cates of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
1962
June 16 – In her first off-the-board finish in what will be her world championship season, No Butt runs sixth – behind champions Caprideck and Arizonan – in a Ruidoso handicap. The race was won by Canales Black, who was coming off a win over All American Futurity winner Pokey Bar in the June 3 Peter McCue Stakes at the same track. No Butt is a 7-year-old Joe Less mare racing for her Guy Purinton of Hollister, California.
June 22 – In the trials to the Kansas Futurity at Ruidoso Downs, Jet Deck finishes second and Hustling Man fifth to Miss Pay Bracket, both failing to qualify. Bred by J.B. Alford of Rockdale, Texas, the filly by Top Bracket advances to the July 1 final won by Mr Juniper Bar.
1963
June 2 & 16 – Coming off her May 8 maiden win at Los Alamitos, Goetta wins consecutive allowance races at Ruidoso Downs. Bred by E.L. Gosselin, the Go Man Go filly is owned by Hugh Huntley, trained by Newt Keck and ridden by American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame jockey “Choo Choo Charley” Smith.
1964
June 6 & 13 – Decketta wins her trial and the final of the Midway Downs Futurity at Stroud, Oklahoma. Bred, owned and trained by W.W. Wilson of Blanchard, Oklahoma, the Top Deck filly is ridden by Boyd Morris.
June 14 – All American Futurity winner Goetta defeats Tidy’s Pleasure by a nose in a Ruidoso allowance.
1965
June 11 – Savannah Jr finishes second to Baby Gain in the trials to the Kansas Futurity at Ruidoso Downs and fails to qualify, while Baby Gain advances to the final. Owned by J.R. and Ray Cates, Savannah Jr is a colt by Everett Jr.(TB). Bred and owned by N W Gates Ranch at Duncan, Oklahoma, Baby Gain is a Top Gain filly.
June 20 – Ruby Charge wins the Kansas Futurity by a neck over Suleo’s Charge. Included in the field are Fantacia, Four Forty Queen, Kid Meyers, Suki Tadre and Go Rebel Go, each of whom will write their own place in Quarter Horse history. Baby Gain finishes eighth. By Chudej’s Black Gold, Ruby Charge is owned by Hugh Huntley, trained by Newt Keck and ridden by Jimmy Dreyer.
1966
June 3 – Three Oh’s is foaled. Bred by Henry Hurd of Shawnee, Oklahoma, the colt by Three Chicks will win the 1968 All American Futurity at 28 months of age, the youngest ever to score in the Labor Day classic.
June 10 & 19 — Go Dick Go wins his Kansas Futurity trial over a sloppy track at Ruidoso Downs. In the final, the colt by Little Dick Priest finishes second to Roma Charge, with Top Ladybug third. Trained by Clarence Jay, Go Dick Go is bred and owned by Raymon Tucker of Bunnell, Florida, in partnership with Joe Leitner.
1967
June 9 & 25 – Laico Bird finishes second to Idle Digger in the trials to the Kansas Futurity and second to Gemini Rocket in the Kansas Futurity Consolation. Bred by B.R. Campbell of Frederick, Oklahoma, the Good Bird (TB) filly is owned by Floyd H. Jones Jr., trained by Jimmy Jones and ridden by Bobby Harmon.
1968
June 12 – Eleven winners score on a nine-race card at Bay Meadows, California’s first Quarter Horse meet at night. Back-to-back dead heats occurred when Bruci Doozie and Jetfare hit the wire at exactly the same instant in the third race, while Winsome Chic and Itty Gritty dead heated for the show money. In the fourth race, Scottish Diamond and April Rocket matched strides for the win.
June 9 – Coming off a fourth behind Miss Sports Bar, Go Flight and Quincy Rocket in the April 7 Texas Futurity at La Bahia Downs in Goliad, Three Oh’s wins a 330-yard allowance race at La Mesa Park.
June 11 – Starting at Bay Meadows in his first career race, Kaweah Bar breaks his maiden by 3 1/2 lengths. Bred by Charles Woodson’s Hadan Livestock Co. at Lockeford, California, the palomino colt by Alamitos Bar is owned by George Chittick of Long Beach. Kaweah Bar is trained by C.R. Knight and is ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Robert “The Master” Adair.
Whether you are a long-time American Quarter Horse Racing enthusiast, or are just beginning to get involved in this multi-million dollar sport, Quarter Paths is the perfect addition to your library.
1969
June 6, 15 & 27 – Already the winner of seven of eight career races, Easy Jet wins his trial to the Kansas Futurity by 2 1/4 lengths, scores by 1 1/2 lengths over Miss Three Wars in the final at Ruidoso, and then goes to La Mesa Park at Raton to win his trial to the Oklahoma Futurity by 1 1/2 lengths. The Jet Deck colt is bred, owned and trained by Walter Merrick of Sayre, Oklahoma, and is ridden by Elbert Minchey.
1970
June 27 – Starting his first race since winning the November 30 Sunland Fall Futurity, taking home the world championship and standing his first season at stud, Easy Jet finishes third by a nose to Royal Doulton and Velox Bar in the trials to the Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs.
1971
June 4 – Mr Kid Charge finishes third to Yankee Raffles and Savannah’s Gold in the trials to the Kansas Futurity at Ruidoso. Bred by A.B. Green of Purcell, Oklahoma, the colt by AQHA Supreme Champion Kid Meyers is owned by Will Whitehead of San Angelo, Texas. Johnny Cox rides Mr Kid Charge for trainer James Chapman.
June 13 – Mr Jet Moore defeats Alamitos Angel by two lengths in the Kansas Futurity. Among the also-rans are Some Kinda Man and Savannah Jet.
June 5, 18 & 26 – Charger Bar wins in allowance company at Bay Meadows, and then goes south to win her trial and the final of the Los Alamitos Derby. Among the horses she defeats in the Derby are Vanaqua, Band Of Angels and Plunder Bay. Trained by her breeder, Wayne Charlton, the Tiny Charger filly races for Dr. Kenneth Wright and is ridden by Jimmy Dreyer.
1972
June 11 & 24 – Racing at Ruidoso Downs, Mr Jet Moore wins a 350-yard allowance by a half length over All American Futurity winner Mr Kid Charge and then wins his trial to the Rainbow Derby by 3 1/4 lengths. Bred and owned by Bob Moore of Oklahoma City, the Jet Deck colt is trained by Newt Keck and ridden by Keith Asmussen, whose son Cash will become a champion jockey in France and son Steve will be a top Thoroughbred trainer in the States.
June 23 – Racing at La Mesa Park in Raton, New Mexico, Possumjet wins her trial to the Oklahoma Futurity by 1 3/4 lengths, to qualify for the consolation. Bred, owned and trained by Jack Byers of Blanchard, Oklahoma, the Jet Deck filly is ridden by Pete Herrera.
1973
June 6 & 23 – Timeto Thinkrich wins in allowance company at Los Alamitos. A homebred racing for Vessels Stallion Farm of California, the freshman colt by Aforethought (TB) then finishes seventh in another allowance, but is advanced to sixth upon the disqualification by second-place finisher Chargin Chick, who is moved to eighth and last for interference.
June 15, 23 & 30 – Truckle Feature wins his trial to the Los Alamitos Derby but in the final finishes third to Al Due and Lady Winsmore, with Don Guerro fourth. The sophomore colt by Truly Truckle (TB) then goes to Ruidoso Downs, where he wins his trial to the Rainbow Derby by 2 lengths over Callmemyoh and Fly Laico Bird. Racing for Gordon Howell of El Paso, Texas, Truckle Feature is trained by Perry Walker and ridden by Willy Lovell.
June 20 – Jack Robinson, one of the best-known riders on the California fair circuit, dies after a fall in a race at the Solano County Fair in Vallejo. The 46-year-old jockey leaves wife Betty, a son and five daughters.
1974
June 1 – Easy Date breaks her maiden on first asking at Los Alamitos. Bred and owned by Walter Merrick, the Easy Jet filly is trained by James McArthur and ridden by Donny Knight.
June 8 & 23 – Making his seventh and eighth starts, the undefeated Tiny’s Gay wins his trial and the final of the Kansas Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. The Tiny Watch colt is bred by Paul Travis of Norman, Oklahoma, and races for John Colville of Paramount, California. Tiny’s Gay is trained by Larry Sharp and ridden by John Ward.
June 28 – Easy Date wins her trial to the Oklahoma Futurity at La Mesa Park.
1975
June 7 & 27 – Maskeo Lad wins the Los Alamitos Derby. All American Futurity winner Easy Date finishes fifth, a length off the pace, but then scores by a length in her trial to the Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs. Racing for Billy Underwood of Dallas, the sophomore colt by Three Oh’s is trained by D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by Jerry Nicodemus.
1976
June 5 & 25 – Dash For Cash wins the Los Alamitos Derby by a half length over Charter Party, and then wins his trial to the Rainbow Derby by 4 lengths. Bred and owned by B.F. Phillips Jr. of Frisco, Texas, the Rocket Wrangler colt is trained by D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by Jerry Nicodemus.
June 12 & 21 – After finishing fifth and sixth in his last two races, two-time world champion Kaweah Bar retires. In a career that began with back-to-back victories at Bay Meadows in June 1968, the 10-year-old gelding by Alamitos Bar won 38 of 114 races, finished second in 18 and third in 16, for earnings of $386,516. In stakes, Kaweah Bar scored 21 victories and was second and third seven times apiece. Kaweah Bar was world champion in 1968 and 1970, garnered 10 other divisional championships and would be inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1998.
June 17 – Real Wind wins a Ruidoso allowance by 2 lengths. The filly by Go With The Wind is bred by A.D. Stowe and J.D. Kitchens, and is owned by Kitchens and his wife, Elsie, who live in Portales, New Mexico.
1977
June 5 – Racing at Ruidoso Downs, Hot Idea breaks her maiden in her first start. Bred by E.L. Baker Jr. of Fort Worth, the filly by Aforethought (TB) is owned by Ted Bruce and Floyd Jackson of Childress, Texas. Terry Lipham rides Hot Idea for Gene Tefertiller.
June 7 & 17 – Racing at Los Alamitos, Town Policy breaks his maiden on first asking, and then returns to defeat eventual quarter-million earner Easy Della Jet in the Bardella Handicap. Ivan Ashment’s homebred Reb’s Policy (TB) gelding is trained by Blane Schvaneveldt and is ridden by Kenny Hart.
June 24 – Starting his first race since setting the :21.17 quarter-mile track record in the December 19 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos, being named world champion and standing a season at stud, Dash For Cash wins his trial to the Vessels Maturity by a length over A Zure Request.
1978
June 3 – Making one of the most famous comebacks in racing lore, champion Town Policy wins the Los Alamitos Derby by a length over Rambling Sallye, with Band Of Azure third. Trained by Blane Schvaneveldt and ridden by Kenny Hart, Ivan Ashment’s homebred Reb’s Policy (TB) gelding was recovered 12 weeks ago in a cornfield in Mexico after being stolen a week after winning the Fresno Futurity. Earlier on the same evening, Los Alamitos recorded the fourth triple dead heat in track history when Ed Orino, Tru Cupid and Leespo score together in a 550-yard allowance.
June 3 – After scoring a 1 1/2-length win in his trial to the Kansas Futurity, Moon Lark is scratched from the final of Oh Shiney’s Kansas Futurity Consolation. Trained by Jack Brooks and ridden by Jacky Martin, the Top Moon colt is owned by Paul, James and Sam Howard of Ada, Oklahoma.
June 11 & 23 – In her first two races since finishing seventh to Medley Glass in a December 4 trial to Rambling Sallye’s Old South Futurity at Delta Downs in Louisiana, Miss Thermolark finishes second to Medley Glass in a Ruidoso allowance and then second to Seco Mia in her trial to the Rainbow Derby. The Thermos (TB) filly races for her breeder, Ronny Schliep of Oklahoma, and is trained by Leo Craighead.
1979
June 2 & 22 – Moon Lark defeats Kiptys Charger by a neck and Lady Juno and Black Sable by a length in the Los Alamitos Derby, with Some Romance, Classic Canyon, Easy Treasure and Wranglers Ridge among the also-rans. Owned by a syndicate, the sophomore colt by Top Moon then wins his trial to the Rainbow Derby by 1 1/4 lengths.
June 4, 21 & 30 – Starting his first race since breaking his maiden on February 18 at Manor Downs in Texas, Pie In The Sky finishes third to Struck Gold and Fishers Favorite in a Los Alamitos allowance. Bred by Joe McDermott III of Houston and owned by Dan and Jolene Urschel of Canadian, Texas, the freshman colt by Easy Jet then wins his trial to the Kindergarten Futurity but finishes third to Easy Angel and Red Measles in the final, in which Casady Casanova is fourth. Danny Cardoza rides Pie In The Sky for Charles “Bubba” Cascio.
1980
June 14 & 26 — Super Sound Charge wins the Chicado V Handicap and then his trial to the Vessels Maturity. The 4-year-old stallion by Roma Charge is owned by Floyd Terrell’s Terrell Quarter Horses Inc. of Plano, Texas. Blane Schvaneveldt trains Super Sound Charge, who is ridden by Kenny Hart.
June 27 – Making his first start at Ruidoso Downs, Higheasterjet is the first horse across the line in his placing trial to the Rainbow Futurity, but is disqualified for interference to fourth. Owned by G.D. Highsmith, a plumber in La Grange, Texas, the Pine’s Easter Jet gelding is trained by Johnie Goodman and ridden by Billy Hunt.
1981
June 13 – Sgt Pepper Feature defeats Shawnee Hoo by a length in the Laddie Handicap at Los Alamitos. A homebred Truckle Feature gelding racing for Tom Neff of Andrews, Texas, Sgt Pepper Feature is trained by Mike Robbins and ridden by Danny Cardoza.
June 14 & 28 – The first triple dead heat at Pocatello Downs occurs when Valley Missle, Easy Rosita and Little Jet Three hit the wire simultaneously in the trials for the Spring Fever Derby. Little Jet Three runs second to Lemhis Rockett in the final, while Easy Rosita is sixth and Valley Missle is scratched.
1982
June 5 & 25 – Sgt Pepper Feature finishes second to Denim N Diamonds in the Go Man Go Handicap and second to Six Te in a Los Alamitos allowance. Bred by Raquel Malick of Madera, Californiak, Denim N Diamonds is a 5-year-old Timeto Thinkrich mare who is owned by R.D. Hubbard and trained by Don Farris. A 6-year-old Azure Te (TB) gelding, Six Te races for Anne and B.F. Phillips Jr. of Frisco, Texas.
June 18 – Dan and Jolene Urschel’s Special Effort, undefeated in his career, wins his 12th consecutive race, a trial to the Rainbow Derby (G1) that qualifies the Raise Your Glass (TB) colt to the Rainbow Derby Consolation. Bred by Allen Moehrig of Seguin, Texas, Special Effort is trained by Johnie Goodman and ridden by Billy Hunt.
June 25 – Coming off a win in the May 29 Kansas Futurity Consolation, Mr Master Bug wins his placing trial to the Rainbow Futurity (G1). Bred by and racing for Marvin Barnes of Ada, Oklahoma, the Master Hand (TB) colt is trained by Jack Brooks and ridden by Jacky Martin.
1983
June 4, 15 & 25 – Returning to action for the first time since her loss to Down South Jukin in the January 18 Las Damas Handicap (G2), Dashingly defeats The Plan by a neck in the Go Man Go Handicap (G1), with reigning world champion Sgt Pepper Feature finishing sixth. Owned by Ginger Hyland’s White Oaks Ranch at Lake Hughes, California, the 4-year-old mare by Dash For Cash then beats Scott Lewis by a nose in their trial for the Vessels Maturity (G1) and triumphs by 1 1/4 lengths over War Star Wrangler in the Vessels final. Jerry Nicodemus rides Dashingly for Charles “Bubba” Cascio.
June 18 – Tolltac wins the Kindergarten Futurity (G1) by a head over Dashs Dream. With John Ward in the irons for Denny Ekins, the Beduino (TB) colt is owned by David and Elodie Payne’s Tic Tac Farms at Salt Lake City.
June 24 –On A High wins his placing trial to the Rainbow Futurity (G1). A full brother to champion Yankee Win, Jerry Rheudasil’s homebred Dash For Cash colt is trained by Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath and ridden by Steve Harris.
1984
June 6 & 16 – Starting his first race at Los Alamitos, Bay Meadows Futurity (G1) winner Eastex wins his trial to the Kindergarten Futurity (G1). The colt by Texas Dancer (TB) then finishes third to Real Easy Chick and Miss Eye Opener in the final. A homebred Texas Dancer (TB) gelding racing for Dr. and Mrs. H.D. Hall of Ada, Oklahoma, Eastex is trained by James McArthur and ridden by Bruce Pilkenton.
June 11 – Racing at Los Alamitos, Dashs Dream scores in the Lassie Handicap (G2) by three parts of a side over Buffys Girl. Bred and owned by Joe Kirk Fulton of Lubbock, Texas, the Dash For Cash filly is trained by Mike Robbins and ridden by Danny Cardoza.
1985
June 1, 21 & 29 – Cash Rate runs second to Dashs Dream in the Go Man Go Handicap (G1) and second to Lord Lark in the Clabbertown G ‘Cap (G3). Owned by B.F. Phillips Jr. and Minnie Rhea Wood of Frisco, Texas, the 5-year-old gelding by Dash For Cash then scores by 1 1/4 lengths in the Double Bid Handicap (G3). Cash Rate is trained by Blane Schvaneveldt and ridden by James Lackey.
June 2 & 28 – Mr Trucka Jet finishes second in a Delta Downs allowance, and then wins his trial to the Firecracker Futurity (G1). Bred by Wade Navarre of Lafayette, Louisiana, the Easy Jet colt is owned by Wade in partnership with Robert Rasor’s Miami Cattle Co. at Miami, Oklahoma.
1986
June 1 & 18 – Ronas Ryon beats Marthas Six Moons by a head in the Kansas Futurity, the first Grade 1 stakes over the new twin racetrack at Ruidoso Downs. Racing in the mud, Ben Benham and James Plummer’s colt by Windy Ryon then wins his placing trial to the Rainbow Futurity (G1). Jerry Nicodemus rides Ronas Ryon for Arnold Simmons.
June 7 – First Down Dash holds off the closing charge of favorite Will Be Easy to win the Kindergarten Futurity (G1) by a nose. Will Be Easy is disqualified to ninth for interfering with Love In The Fastlane. Bred by A.F. “Fred” Stanley and B.F. Phillips Jr., the Vessels Stallion Farm colt by Dash For Cash is trained by Mike Robbins and ridden by Danny Cardoza.
June 12 & 27 – Gold Coast Express finishes second to Just Six in his trial to the Rainbow Derby (G1), then returns to California to beat Cash Rate’s full brother Countin The Cash by a neck in the Clabbertown G Handicap (G3). Bred and owned by Bill and Louella Mitchell of Murrieta, California, the palomino gelding by Moon Lark is trained by Lee Gladd and ridden by Danny Cardoza.
Take a walk with The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal’s Richard Chamberlain as he profiles some of the fastest horses in history in AQHA’s Quarter Paths report.
1987
June 11 & 28 – Florentine wins her trial and the final of the Rainbow Derby (G1). Bred and owned by Ginger Hyland’s White Oaks Ranch, the Dash For Cash filly is trained by Russell Harris and ridden by Kenny Hart.
June 19 — Coming off an eighth-place finish in Shoot Yeah’s Kansas Futurity (G1) on May 31, Elans Special wins her placing trial to the Rainbow Futurity (G1) by 2 3/4 lengths. A homebred racing for Dr. Lindsey Burbank of Florida, the Special Effort filly is trained by John Buchanan and ridden by Alex Baldillez.
1988
June 5 – Okeydokey Baby wins the Kansas Futurity (G1). Sustaining his first loss in six races, Merganser finishes ninth, two places behind Easy Lady Oak, who will produce 2003 world champion Oak Tree Special. With James Lackey in the irons for Paul Hobbs, the Zevi (TB) filly races for Jeff Hooper of Fort Worth, Texas.
June 15 & 25 – Florentine wins her trial and the final of the Vessels Maturity (G1).
June 16 & 30 – Merganser wins his placing and time trials to the Rainbow Futurity (G1). Owned by Jerry Wells and Ron Shalz of Oklahoma, the Duck Dance (TB) colt is trained by Jack Brooks and ridden by Jacky Martin.
1989
June 2 & 11 – Dash For Speed wins her trial and the final of the Rainbow Silver Cup (G1). The 4-year-old Dash For Cash mare is owned by Bob Blakeman and Tom Bradbury. Dash For Speed is trained by Larry Keiter and ridden by Steve Fuller.
June 4, 15 & 30 – Strawberry Silk finishes a neck behind Power Train in the Kansas Futurity (G1), but then wins her placing and time trials to the Rainbow Futurity (G1). Taken to the track by the power duo of trainer Jack Brooks and rider Jacky Martin, the Beduino (TB) filly is owned by Jackie Spencer of Alto, New Mexico.
June 22 – Wicked Wind defeats reigning world champion Merganser in their trial to the Rainbow Derby (G1). Wicked Wind qualifies to the final, while Merganser goes to the consolation. Two races later, See Me Do It starts her first race since finishing second by a nose to Merganser in the All American Futurity (G1) and defeats Floyd De Great by a half length in their trial, with Power Effort and Lil Bit Rusty finishing third and fourth by daylight.
1990
June 6, 16 & 26 — Refrigerator wins his trial to the Remington Park Futurity (G1) but is scratched from Six Gun Sage’s final. With Kip Didericksen up for Neill Garcia, Jim and Marilyn Helzer’s gelding by Rare Jet then wins his trial to the Heritage Place Futurity (RG1).
June 17 – Reckless Dash wins the Remington Park Derby (G2), defeating his stablemate Special Leader and Hometown Brand, who dead heat for second. By Dash For Cash and Special Effort, respectively, Reckless Dash and Special Leader both are homebreds racing for Joe Kirk Fulton and trained by Mike Robbins.
1991
June 1 – In Texas, Trinity Meadows’ first Saturday of pari-mutuel racing outdraws Belmont Park and is second only to Hollywood Park in attendance. In Florida, Pompano Park concludes its final Quarter Horse season.
June 1 & 30 – Special Leader wins a Ruidoso allowance, but then finishes second in the Jet Deck Handicap (G3), a nose behind Reckless Dash.
June 2 & 20 – Refrigerator beats champion See Me Gone in the Kansas Derby (G1) and then wins his trial to the Rainbow Derby (G1). The Rare Jet gelding is trained by Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath and ridden by Kip Didericksen.
June 14 & 27 – Royal Quick Dash runs third in his placing and time trials to the Rainbow Futurity (G1), qualifying to the consolation. Owned by David Morales, the colt by freshman sire First Down Dash is trained by Ben Torres and ridden by Jerry Rodriguez.
1992
June 13 & 27 – With Kip Didericksen in the irons for Blane Schvaneveldt, Refrigerator wins his trial and the final of the Vessels Maturity (G1).
June 25 – Coming off a fourth to Deceptively, Loose Lips and Mr Eye Opener in the May 24 Kansas Futurity (G1), Dash Thru Traffic wins his trial for the Rainbow Futurity (G1) by 2 lengths. Darrell Blevins rides the First Down Dash colt for Jack Brooks, who is training for Charlie and Deborah Therwhanger’s TNT Racing at Lubbock, Texas.
1993
June 24 – In his first start outside California, A Classic Dash wins his trial to the Heritage Place Futurity (G1) by 1 3/4 lengths. Failing to qualify to the final, however, Abigail Kawananakoa’s First Down Dash colt returns to Los Alamitos.
1994
June 10 & 24 – Cool Papa Bell wins his trial and the final of the Kindergarten Futurity (G2). Trained by Bret Layne and ridden by Joe Badilla Jr., the Dashing Val gelding is owned by Jim Kelly and Charles Grannon of Sonoita, Arizona.
June 11 & 23 – Noblesse Six remains a maiden after his fourth and fifth starts.
June 11 & 25 – Ah Sigh wins her trial and the final of the Miss Kindergarten Futurity (G2). Frank Nakamura’s homebred First Down Dash filly is trained by Charlie Bloomquist and ridden by John Creager.
1995
June 17 – Bratnella, Drifted Snow and RF High On Pride record the first triple dead heat at Wyoming Downs.
June 29 – Coming off a neck loss to Real Six Time in the May 28 Ruidoso Futurity (G1), Winalota Cash defeats Blazen Bryan in their Heritage Place Futurity (G1) trial. Bred by O.S. Carlton III and owned by Andra Meridyth of Odessa, Texas, the Light On Cash gelding is trained by Gregg Sanders and ridden by Billy Peterson.
June 30 – Los Alamitos handles a record $2,127,758.
1996
June 2, 15 & 29 – World champion Winalota Cash finishes second to Elegant Dasher in their trial to the Remington Park Derby (G1), but returns to win the final by a neck over Blazen Bryan, with Elegant Dasher third and Fearless Freda fourth. With Billy Peterson in the irons for Gregg Sanders, Andra Meridyth’s Light On Cash gelding then wins his trial to the Heritage Place Derby (G1) by two lengths.
June 16 – SLM Big Daddy scores his first stakes win, taking the Remington & Russell Handicap (R) at Trinity Meadows in Weatherford, Texas. Bred and owned by Steve and Lindsey Mitchell of Athens, Texas, the 4-year-old Daddy Hold On gelding is trained by Don Mourning and ridden by Danny Lavergne.
June 22 – Winning her fourth consecutive race to remain undefeated for the season, Dashing Folly scores by 2 lengths in the Florentine Stakes at Los Alamitos. A sophomore filly by First Down Dash, Dashing Folly races for Oscar McArthur’s Jaramar Ltd. and is trained by McArthur’s sister-in-law Donna. Tami Purcell rides Dashing Folly.
June 28 – Streakin Flyer wins his trial to the Heritage Place Futurity (G1). Trained by Donny Strickland and ridden by Tommy Byrd, the Strawfly Special gelding is owned by Mike and Janelle Green’s Southern Rose Ranch at Pelzer, South Carolina.
1997
June 1 & 28 – SLM Big Daddy defeats former world champion Winalota Cash by three parts of a side in the Remington Park Championship (G1), with Elegant Dasher third and Heza Ramblin Man fourth. The 5-year-old gelding by Daddy Hold On then defeats champion Kool Kue Baby in the MBNA America Mexico Challenge Championship (G3) at Retama Park. Jacky Martin was in the irons for Don Mourning in both races.
June 14 & 28 – Racing at Los Alamitos, Corona Cash wins her trial to the Governor’s Cup Futurity (RG1), and then returns to score by half of a length over Willie Wanta Dash in the final. The First Down Dash filly races for Oscar McArthur’s Jaramar Ltd. Tami Purcell rides for Donna McArthur.
1998
June 13 & 27 – Old Habits wins his trial and the final of the Governor’s Cup Futurity (RG1). Owned by a partnership including Vessels Stallion Farm, Walt Knorpp and others, the Apollo (TB) gelding is trained by Danny Cardoza and ridden by Dusty Stimpson.
June 14 – First Down Bounce defeats Okey Dokey Dale in the Ruidoso Horse Sale Futurity (G1), and Hes My Dasher wins the consolation. Racing for R.D. Hubbard and Johnny T.L. Jones, the First Down Dash colt First Down Bounce is trained by Dwayne “Sleep” Gilbreath and ridden by Jacky Martin. By sophomore sire Dash Thru Traffic, Hes My Dasher is a homebred racing for Mrs. Gwendolyn Eaves of Midland, Texas. John Bassett trains Hes My Dasher, who is ridden by Jerry Yoakum.
June 20 – Deposit Cash and Tonto Thibodeaux come from behind to defeat world champion SLM Big Daddy in the MBNA America Mexico Challenge Championship (G3) at Retama Park. Deposit Cash is a homebred Victory Dash gelding racing for Buddy and Patty Newsome of Dade City, Florida, while Tonto Thibodeaux is a homebred Takin On The Cash gelding owned by Deborah Orlop Williams of Mineral Wells, Texas.
1999
June 6 – In his first start, A Delightful Dasher breaks his maiden at Ruidoso Downs. A homebred racing for Mrs. Gwendolyn Eaves, the Takin On The Cash gelding is trained by John Bassett and ridden by Dennis Means. A half brother to Hes My Dasher, A Delightful Dasher is out of the Six Fortunes mare Fortune Of Delight.
June 12 & 26 – Coming off a fifth-place finish to Natovas Princess in the May 21 Kindergarten Futurity (G1), Separatist wins his trial and the final of the Governor’s Cup Futurity (RG1). Bred by Ed Allred and owned by Rod and Jackie MacPherson Jr. of La Junta, Colorado, the Chicks Beduino gelding is trained by John Cooper and ridden by Eddie Garcia.
June 20 – Tailor Fit defeats Kool Kue Baby, SLM Big Daddy and Deposit Cash in the Remington Park Championship (G1). Owned by Betty Jane Burlin of Navasota, Texas, the 4-year-old Strawfly Special gelding is trained by Steve VanBebber and ridden by Gilbert Ortiz.
2000
June 9 – Separatist runs fourth in his trial but wins the final of the Governor’s Cup Derby (RG1).
June 10 & 24 – World champion Tailor Fit wins the Remington Park Championship (G1). Betty Jane Burlin’s 5-year-old gelding by Strawfly Special then is beaten a nose by Express King in the Spencer Childers California Breeders’ Championship (RG2), with Bono Jazz third.
June 24 – Starting his first race since finishing eighth to champion Old Habits in the November 13 Los Alamitos Derby (G1), A Ransom defeats Drop Your Sox and Militante by a length in the 350-yard California Breeders Sprint Stakes (R). Owned by John and Kathie Bobenrieth of Costa Mesa, California, the 4-year-old gelding by First Down Dash is trained by Connie Hall and ridden by Carlos Bautista.
2001
June 8 – Making his first career start at Ruidoso, Ausual Suspect finishes second by a length to Almost Flyin. Owned by Charlie and Deborah Therwhanger’s TNT Racing at Lubbock, Texas, the Strawfly Special colt is trained by John Bassett and ridden by Chris Zamora.
June 9 – Former world champion Tailor Fit wins the Remington Park Championship (G1) by a head over Gone Kool Man.
2002
June 1 & 29 – Oak Tree Special loses the Heritage Place Futurity (G1) by a nose to Fast First Prize at Remington Park, but then wins his trial to the Texas QHA Sale Futurity (RG1) at Sam Houston Race Park. Owned by Raul Rubalcava of Wylie, Texas, the Special Task colt is trained by Bobby Martinez and ridden by J.R. Ramirez.
June 22 — Starting his first race since running second to Marmet in the November 10 Los Alamitos Derby (G1), Whosleavingwho is defeated half of a length by former world champion A Ransom in the Spencer Childers California Breeders’ Championship (RG1). With G.R. Carter Jr. up for Paul Jones, the 4-year-old Chicks Beduino gelding is owned by Jim Geiler and Kim Kessinger, who ranch in New Mexico and Colorado.
June 27 – Starting his first race since finishing second to A Ransom in the December 29 Championship at Sunland Park (G1), Streakin Sin Tacha finishes third behind Dashing Obsession and Hez Not Too Shabby in the Vinton Stakes (R) at Delta Downs. Ridden by Alvin “Bubba” Brossette, the 4-year-old Streakin La Jolla gelding is owned and trained by Janet VanBebber of Ledbetter, Texas.
Quarter Paths is entertaining and full of trivia from the lives of famous racehorses.
2003
June 7 & 21 – Raul Rubalcava’s Oak Tree Special wins his trial to the Retama Park Derby (G1) by a nose, but takes the final by half of a length. Trained by Bobby Martinez, Oak Tree Special is ridden by J.R. Ramirez.
June 26 – By By JJ wins his trial to the Zia Futurity (RG2) by daylight at Ruidoso Downs. Trained by Juan Gonzalez for breeder Rosella Anrin Prieto of El Paso, Texas, the JJ Shot Glass gelding is ridden by James J. “JJ” Gonzales.
2004
June 4 & 19 – Ocean Runaway runs second in his trial but scores in the final of the Governor’s Cup Futurity (RG1) at Los Alamitos. With Alex Bautista up for Denny Ekins, the First Down Dash colt races for Gary Muller’s Muller Racing LLC of Kansas City.
June 19 – Starting his first race since winning the Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G1), Be A Bono scores by a neck over Dealadash in the Spencer Childers California Breeders’ Championship (RG1). Trained by Dan Francisco and ridden by G.R. Carter Jr. the Bono Jazz gelding races for his breeder, American Quarter Horse Hall of Famer Spencer Childers of Fresno, California, for whom the race is named.
2005
June 3 & 24 – Starting his first race since finishing second by a nose to Cash For Kas in the December 11 Champion of Champions (G1), world champion Be A Bono runs fourth in his trial but wins the final of the Vessels Maturity (G1).
June 4 – Teller Cartel finishes second to Fishers Tale but is disqualified to third for interference in a trial to the Ed Burke Memorial Futurity (G1). A Fishers Dash gelding owned by Ron Shalz and Jim Glover of Colby, Kansas, Fishers Tale is trained by Mike Joiner and ridden by G.R. Carter Jr.
June 12 – All American Futurity (G1) winner DM Shicago wins the Ruidoso Derby (G1) by a neck over Look Forward, with Mighty Invictus third. Ridden by Juan Vazquez, the gelding by freshman sire Separatist is bred by Don Moler of Cheyenne, Oklahoma; races for Moler and Fredda Draper; and is trained by Fredda’s husband, Carl,
June 25 – Higher Fire defeats Fishers Tale in Ed Burke Memorial Futurity (G1), the first leg of the Los Alamitos Bonanza. With J.R. Ramirez riding for Jaimie Gomez, the homebred Walk Thru Fire filly races for Denny Boer and Jim Streelman’s Dutch Masters III of Anaheim, California.
2006
June 6 – A barn fire at JEH Stallion Station-New Mexico kills the Quarter Horse stallions Fredricksburg, The Down Side and Southern Cartel, and the Thoroughbred stallions Favorite Trick, Gone Hollywood and Saratoga Six.
June 10 & 24 – Blues Girl Too defeats No Secrets Here by three-quarters of a length in their trial to the Ed Burke Memorial Futurity (G1). However, the Corona Cartel filly then loses the final by the same margin to FDD Dynasty, with No Secrets Here third. Racing for Russell and Jacqueline Stooks’ Lucky Seven Ranch at Prescott, Arizona, Blues Girl Too is trained by Joe Bassett and ridden by Saul Ramirez. FDD Dynasty, a colt by First Down Dash, is trained by Mike Joiner and ridden by G.R. Carter Jr. FDD Dynasty is owned by the Bonsall, California-based partnership Smith/Guthrie/Vessels SF LLC, which includes Frank “Scoop” Vessels III and Billy G. Smith.
June 11 – Saint Shackleton and Okey Dokey Fantasy dead heat for the win in the Ruidoso Futurity (G1). A homebred Check Him Out colt owned by Spencer Peterson of Morgan, Utah, Saint Shackleton is trained by Todd Fincher and ridden by Bonifacio Perez. Trained by John Boegner and ridden by Juan Vazquez, Okey Dokey Fantasy is an Okey Dokey Dale colt owned by Ariel Campos of Mesquite, Texas.
June 13 – Dashs Dream is euthanized due to complications from colic and congestive heart failure. Bred and owned by Joe Kirk Fulton of Texas, the 25-year-old world champion daughter of Dash For Cash won 19 of 24 career races, for earnings of $1,119,610, and produced graded stakes winner Effortless Dream, a $175,263 earner by Special Effort.
June 17 – John Hammes saddles his 1,000th Quarter Horse winner. For that matter, the Holly, Colorado-based trainer also saddled his 999th and 1,001-1,003rd winners, all of these in the trials for the July 1 Cherry Creek Futurity (RG3) and Lucille Rowe Derby (RG3) at Arapahoe Park.
2007
June 10 – With Oscar Hernandez in the irons for Carl Draper, Heartswideopen scores by a length in the Ruidoso Futurity (G1). The filly by Feature Mr Jess is owned by Javier, Manuel and Hermelinda Rodriguez’s La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC of North Las Vegas, Nevada.
2008
June 1 – Becoming the first American Quarter Horse trainer to sweep the top three places in a seven-figure race, Heath Taylor sends out Stolis Winner, Jess Zoomin and Miss Sin Tacha to run 1-2-3 in the $1,106,320 Heritage Place Futurity (G1). Ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo, Stolis Winner is a homebred Stoli gelding racing for AQHA Past President Jerry Windham, who also bred and is a part-owner of Jess Zoomin, a Shazoom colt owned by Jess Zoomin Partners. Miss Sin Tacha is owned by Bob and Jerry Gaston.
2009
June 7 – Denis and Julie Schoenhofer’s First Klas Fred wins the Ruidoso Futurity (G1). With Esgar Ramirez up for Mike Joiner, the Fredricksburg gelding outruns a field including Runnning Brook Gal, who hops at the start and finishes sixth.
June 11 – Streakin La Jolla dies at age 26 of heart-related problems due to old age. The son of Streakin Six has sired champions Mr Jess Perry and Streakin Sin Tacha, 75 other stakes winners and the earners of more than $22.5 million.
June 16 – All American Futurity (G1) winner Ausual Suspect dies at age 10 from an aneurysm.
June 19 – Freaky sets a :19.156 track record while winning the 400-yard Vessels Maturity (G1) by 1 1/2 lengths. Armando Aguirre’s 4-year-old TR Dasher gelding is trained by Adan Farias and ridden by Rubio Francisco.
2010
June 19 – After a four-year absence, Jacky Martin returns to riding. The 55-year-old jockey, who has won a record seven runnings of the All American Futurity (G1), finishes a late-closing second aboard 14-1 longshot Jess Say Win in the second race at Ruidoso Downs. With more than $41.4 million in mount earnings, Martin is the second all-time leading rider in the sport.
June 20 – Finishing second aboard New Mexico Streaker in the $254,408 Mountain Top Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs, G.R. Carter Jr. becomes the first Quarter Horse jockey to top $50 million in earnings. Carter’s mount earned the $40,705 second-place check, and by the end of the weekend Carter’s career earnings reached $50,017,598.
June 21 – Preston Carter Jr. dies at his home in Weatherford, Texas. A member of the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame, the 65-year-old horseman was in the partnership that raced 1983 All American Futurity (G1) winner On A High; rode cutting horses; was a top polo player on the team that won the 1985 U.S. Open Polo Championship; worked to get pari-mutuel wagering legalized in Texas and formed the Lone Star Jockey Club group that built Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie.
2011
June 12 – After breaking his maiden in his first career start in the May 27 trials to the Ruidoso Futurity (G1), Ochoa finishes third in the final behind Silver For Me and Back In The Pack.
If you witnessed or know of an historic event whose anniversary is next month, please contact the Journal’s Richard Chamberlain at richc@aqha.org.
