Danjer was the 2020 champion aged horse and champion aged gelding, and only improved as a 5-year-old in 2021. He made seven starts, with five wins and two seconds, earning $651,113. His year was highlighted by victories in the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Championship (G1), Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1), Refrigerator Invitational Championship (G1), All American Gold Cup (G1), and Bank of America Canterbury Championship Challenge (G3). The gelding by FDD Dynasty and out of the Take Off Jess mare Shez Jess Toxic raced at five different racetracks in four states during his world champion year. He was trained by Dean Frey and ridden in all his starts by Cody Smith.

Eagles Fly Higher repeats as the champion aged stallion after winning two of nine starts and earning $107,902. The 5-year-old stallion by One Famous Eagle and out of the First Down Dash mare Lone Bet was bred by V.H. Harman Jr. and Robert Moudy III, and he is owned by Darling Farms and Valeriano Racing Stables LLC. He won the Eastex Stakes (G2) and Mr Jet Moore Stakes (G2). He was trained by Roberto G. Madrigal, Jaime Gomez and Casey Black, and ridden by James A. Flores, Jose Nicasio, Oscar Peinado and Mario Delgado.

The daughter of champion Fredaville, Kiss Thru Fire herself became a champion for owner and breeder Gentry Farms as the champion aged mare. At age 4, the Walk Thru Fire mare raced eight times, winning four races to earn $132,147. She was trained by Juan G. Aleman and Trey Wood and ridden by Raul A. Valenzuela. Her stakes wins include the Charger Bar Handicap (G1), Denim N Diamonds Handicap (G3), California Breeders Matron Stakes (RG3) and Sound Dash Handicap.

Multiple Grade 1 winner Jess Savin Candy was named the champion 2-year-old and champion 2-year-old gelding. Bred by Jim and Donna O'Neal and raced by Dutch Masters III, the son of Jess Good Candy out of the Pappasito mare Savin Grace won four of six starts and earned $1,046,200. Trained by John Stinebaugh and ridden by Francisco Calderon, his year was highlighted by victories in the Grade 1 Ruidoso and Rainbow futurities.

The champion 2-year-old colt is Golden Boi, a son of Favorite Cartel out of Logans Dash by Toast To Dash. He was bred and raced by M and G Farms Inc., trained by Valentin A. Zamudio and ridden by Ruben Lozano. Golden Boi won four of six starts and earned $488,791, including a victory in the Ed Burke Million Futurity (G1).

Revenant Moon is the champion 2-year-old filly after a season that included three wins in five starts and earnings of $224,418. Bred by Dosi and Norma Alvarez, Revenant Moon is by A Revenant and out of the FDD Dynasty mare Sochi Moon. She was raced by Trey Odom, Scott Bryant and Norman W. Allen, and trainer Trey Wood and jockey Jose Alvarez guided the filly to a year that included winning the Oklahoma Futurity (G2).

Empressum was impressive with nine wins from 10 starts and earnings of $969,755, and is honored as the champion 3-year-old and champion 3-year-old gelding. He was bred and is owned by Jeff D. Jones and Steve A. Holt, and is by Apollitical Jess and out of the First Down Dash mare Crazy Down Corona. He was trained by M. Heath Taylor and ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo, and won the Texas Classic Derby (G1), Ruidoso Derby (G1), Rainbow Derby (G1) and Remington Park Oklahoma-bred Derby (RG2).

Last year's world champion Whistle Stop Cafe was honored again this year as the champion 3-year-old filly for owner Whitmire Ranch after a season that saw her win three races, including the Rainbow Oaks, and earn $247,854. She was trained by Trey Wood and ridden by Tanner Thedford. Whistle Stop Cafe was bred by American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame member Bobby D. Cox and is by Freighttrain B and out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Sinuous.

Another repeat champion is 3-year-old colt Dulce Sin Tacha, who won three of five starts, with two seconds, and earned $175,286. Bred by owners Bob and Jerry Gaston, he is by Jess Good Candy and out of the Tempting Dash mare Prissy Sin Tacha. Trained by M. Heath Taylor, he was ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo and James Flores.

The distance champion is Rogers Farms' Wascallywittlewabbit, a 6-year-old gelding by Heza Motor Scooter and out of the Rabbits Rainbow mare Rabbits N Diamonds. He was bred by Mike Weatherly, trained by Michael W. Joiner and ridden by Benito Jude Baca. He won five of seven starts and earned $184,013, including the Cox Ranch Distance Challenge Championship (G1), Zia 870 Championship, Remington Park Distance Championship (G1) and Pauls Valley Stakes (G2).

Alberta-bred Destello De Luna is the Canadian champion for owners Jane Leech and Haley Moreno. Bred by Ken McFarlane, the gelding is by Lethal N First and out of the Toast To Dash mare A Mere Toast. Trained by William Leech and ridden by Ricardo Moreno, Destello De Luna won or placed in all six of his starts. He won two races, including the Alberta-bred Futurity (RG3), and earned $37,479.

The Danny Cartel filly Texana Cartel is the Mexican champion for breeder and owner Cuadra La Presita. The freshman filly is out of the Oak Tree Special mare La Texana Tree, and won three of five starts, with two seconds. She earned $218,905 under the guidance of trainer Ismael Ayala and riders Paul Osvaldo Rodriguez, L. Vidana and Jose Angel Ambriosio. Her stakes wins include the Subasta Selecta Futurity (RG2) and Garanones Futurity (RG2).

Repeating as the South American champion is Fantastic Fly Apollo, a 2017 colt racing for breeder Ademir Jose Rorato. The horse won both of two starts and earned $20,844. His wins include the GP Pres. Do Jockey Club De Sorocaba and GP Pres. Da ABQM – II Derby. He is by Fantastic Corona Jr and out of the Eyesa Special mare Flyapolloeyesa BR. He was trained by Rivail Rosa and ridden by B. Guimaraes.

American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame horseman Bobby D. Cox earns his fourth champion breeder title, again leading the industry by both money earned and races won, with his standouts including champion Whistle Stop Cafe. The champion owners, Dutch Masters III, this year saw their horses win at a 34 percent clip, led by champion Jess Savin Candy. Oklahoma-based trainer Jason Olmstead saddled the earners of more than $1.9 million and was honored as the Blane Schvaneveldt Champion Trainer for the first time. Also earning his first nod as champion jockey was Francisco Calderon, whose mounts earned more than $3.3 million.

For more information on AQHA racing, visit www.aqha.com/racing.

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The track's nine-race opening-night program consists of nine races, six for Quarter Horses and three for Thoroughbreds. Saturday's feature race, the first running of the 440-yard, $75,000 Bank of America Albuquerque Championship Challenge, has drawn a field of nine aged Quarter Horses, headed by Stinebaugh Racing Enterprises' Perrys Double Down and Christina D. Robinson's CERs Final Try.

A 4-year-old Mr Jess Perry gelding trained by John Stinebaugh, Perrys Double Down is coming off of a one-length victory in the 400-yard, $40,000 Mr Jet Moore Stakes (G2) at Ruidoso Downs on July 25. Perrys Double Down has earned $281,840 from 14 races, and he ended his 3-year-old season with a half-length victory in the 440-yard, $393,000 Texas Classic Derby (G1) at Lone Star Park near Dallas.

CERs Final Try will be stretching out in distance off of his half-length win in the 350-yard, $25,000 John Andreini Memorial Stakes at Ruidoso Downs on May 31. Tony Sedillo trains the homebred 4-year-old son of One Dashing Eagle.

Saturday's card at Albuquerque Downs includes the 1-mile, $20,000 Downs at Albuquerque Marathon Claiming Stakes for $6,250 claimers, the first leg of the track's three-race Marathon Series for Thoroughbreds, and an 870-yard, $42,400 open-condition allowance race which drew reigning AQHA distance champion Madewell and will serve as a prep for the September 18, $60,000-estimated AQHA Albuquerque Distance Challenge (G3).

According to Don Cook, Downs' president of racing, average daily purses at the track are expected to average a track-record $300,000 per day. Business has been brisk at the track's casino since it reopened earlier this year after being closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“We've also noticed a big increase in our simulcast handle,” Cook said. “When the COVID lockdowns first started, horse racing was the only sport that was still going on; horse racing was receiving a lot of television coverage and appears to have generated some new fans.

“It will be interesting to see if that translates into increased attendance for our live meet,” he added. “We're encouraged by the early returns.”

If opening weekend entries are any indication, Cook has good reason to be encouraged. Saturday's opening-day program drew 95 entries, or an average of 10.6 horses per race. Sunday's nine race card, which is headed by two Thoroughbred stakes, attracted 97 starters, or an average of 10.8 horses per race.

The main portion of Albuquerque Downs' 2021 season runs through Sunday, Sept. 19. The track's stakes schedule features 23 races, 13 for Thoroughbreds and 10 for Quarter Horses. The Thoroughbred stakes schedule is topped by the 1 1/8-mile, $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap on Sept. 18. Last year's winner, Restrainedvengence, has earned $142,960 from nine starts in California this season, and he won the June 20 American Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.

Albuquerque Downs' Quarter Horse stakes schedule is headed by the 440-yard, $300,000 Albuquerque Fall Championship (G1), presented by South Point Hotel and Casino, on closing day. Danjer, the winner of last year's Fall Championship, went on to earn AQHA champion aged horse honors.

Albuquerque Downs will also host the AQHA's Bank of America Challenge Championships on Saturday, Oct. 23, making the track the first in the 28-year history of the program to host the event three consecutive seasons. Next year's Challenge Championships will be held at Indiana Grand Casino and Racecourse near Indianapolis.

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These include:

Ovarian tumors – The most common ovarian tumors are granulosa cell tumors. About 40 to 50 percent of granulosa tumors contain theca cells, which produce large amounts of testosterone and can cause a mare to act like a stallion. Testosterone levels will remain high until the mare has the tumor surgically removed.

Pregnancy – Pregnant mares have elevated testosterone levels while their fetus produces gonads; the testosterone crosses the placenta into the mare's bloodstream and can affect her behavior. Mares begin to have increased testosterone levels around their fourth month of gestation and these levels peak around month seven. By the last trimester of pregnancy, as testosterone levels decrease, mares tend to become less aggressive.

Mares that aren't pregnant can experience testosterone fluctuations during their estrous cycles.
Steroids – Anabolic steroids can suppress estrus and increase stallion-like behavior, including aggression. These behaviors resolve once steroid use is terminated.

Pseudohermaphrodism – Though rare, pseudohermaphrodism in horses occurs when a horse looks like a mare, but has the genetic makeup of a male horse. These horses have testes instead of ovaries; they are cryptorchids that don't produce spermatozoa, but the testes produce enough testosterone to affect the horse. Horses that are pseudohermaphrodites may have female genitalia. Removing the testes will eliminate stallion-like behavior.

Read more here.

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Dr. Brian Nielsen has conducted multiple studies funded by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Foundation regarding bone mass and his findings have been consistent – and surprising. Though horses kept in stalls may be muscularly strong, their bones may be weak. Bone mass and strength can begin dissipating in as little as two weeks.

Though living outside 24/7 isn't a necessity to healthy bones, the ability to sprint is. A study of Nielsen's out of Michigan State University involved long yearlings kept on pasture that had normal bone growth. Half the horses were  put in stalls and walked on a walker for an hour every day. The other half remained living outside.

The researchers monitored the horses' bone mass and discovered that horses living in the pastures continued to increase cannon bone mass, but the stalled horses had an immediate drop in bone mass which persisted for the next three months.

The horses then began under-saddle training as 2-year-olds. During their two months of walking, trotting and cantering under saddle, their cannon bones were monitored. The exercise was not enough to cause an increase in stalled horses' bone mass. Bone mass in the stalled horses decreased to the point where it was less than when the study began.

More studies found that sprinting – short, intense running sessions – was key to healthy bone that increased in mass. Horses must have the ability to sprint on their own or while in training, or they will lose bone mass.

Sprinting exerts force on the bone and causes it to bend, encouraging the body to lay down more bone and make the bones stronger. If horses are not allowed to sprint and their bones are prevented from bending, the body will actually take up minerals, believing the bones are strong enough for the work being asked of them.

For horses that are engaged in high-impact activities like racing and jumping, keeping horses in stalls may contribute to injuries as the horses lose bone mass. Additional research shows that adult horses who are stalled also experience bone loss.

Read more at AQHA.

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Dr. Ben Espy says most mares can begin working again six to eight weeks after a complication-free foaling. However, some mares may experience pregnancy-related circulatory side effects, like edema in the legs and belly. This generally resolves in a few weeks after the foal is born. The ability for a mare to move around after foaling is often helpful in alleviating excess fluid.

Even after a normal birth, most mares have some minor vaginal tears, bruising, and abrasions. These issues normally heal within a week and don't hinder a mare's return to work. More serious complications like a breech birth or intense bleeding will require longer recovery time.

Any pre-foaling issues should be reassessed before the mare is asked to go back into work, including prior lameness issues. Asking a veterinarian to evaluate the mare's physical condition and soundness before going back to work is prudent.

When bringing a mare back into work, it's imperative that the owner or rider pay attention to her hydration. A lactating mare can drink as much as 10 more gallons of water per day than other horses. If the temperatures in which she is asked to work are hot and humid as well, she could require as many as 20 to 30 gallons of water per day to stay hydrated.

Read more at AQHA.

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Skip Seeley, Global Gaming Solutions CEO, said Vance's thorough knowledge of the horse industry and his passion for working collaboratively with horsemen, jockeys, racing fans and employees played an instrumental role in this decision.

“For several years, Matt has overseen racing operations at Remington Park and over the past couple years he has served in an advisory role at Lone Star Park. His leadership and commitment to horse racing helped us navigate a very trying time during the pandemic at both tracks. He led the 2020 Quarter Horse Season through uncharted territory that enabled racing to continue throughout the pandemic. He then used that experience to guide health and safety protocols and operations in Grand Prairie when its season opened.”

Seeley noted that Vance also received the 2020 Gordon Crone Special Achievement Award from the American Quarter Horse Association for his work during the pandemic.

As executive vice president for both tracks, he will oversee all mutuels/simulcasting, operations, track maintenance and racing operations.

“It is an honor to be able to live my passion for horse racing every day and to do that alongside some of the best horsemen, jockeys and fans in the sport,” said Vance. “As we build on our current successes, which include purse increases at both tracks, I look forward to working with our committed employees in both states to enhance our horsemen and patron experience.”

Vance has served as vice president of racing operations at Remington Park since 2015. He has worked in the racing industry for over 35 years, starting with Louisiana Downs in 1986 then to Remington Park from 1988-1997. He moved to other tracks for six years and eventually returned to Remington Park in 2003 for the construction of the casino, and the transition to new ownership in Global Gaming Solutions in 2010. During his tenure, Vance has played a key role on the leadership team that has helped the track soar in quality and popularity in recent years.

For more information about Remington Park, visit https://www.remingtonpark.com/. To learn more about Lone Star Park, go to https://www.lonestarpark.com/.

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“We are thrilled to partner with Indiana Grand to host this championship event,” said AQHA Chief Racing Officer Janet VanBebber. “This racetrack and its leadership have welcomed horsemen and promoted American Quarter Horse racing, and we look forward to the opportunity to host the 2022 Bank of America Challenge Championships at a new and growing venue.”

Indiana Grand will become one of only 10 racetracks in history to host the Bank of America Challenge Championships. The program, operated by the American Quarter Horse Association, provides greater opportunity to all racing American Quarter Horses. It offers stakes races held in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil, and the horses that qualify through these races are invited to the season-ending Challenge Championships. There are races offered for older horses, fillies and mares, derby and futurity horses, as well as distance specialists. The program pours almost $3 million in purses into the industry every year.

In the past two years, five of the AQHA racing champions earned their championship titles with significant help from the horses' efforts in the Challenge program, with these collective horses earning more than 20 percent of their career earnings from Challenge races.

Indiana Grand has seen its product grow year-over-year, with a 5.3 percent increase in purses and a 35 percent jump in handle in the past five years. The track had the fifth-highest average handle per race for all Quarter Horse tracks in the country at $110,819.

In 2021, the racetrack will add two regional Bank of America Challenge stakes races to its program, including the $30,000-added John Deere Indiana Juvenile Challenge and the $20,000-added Merial Indiana Distaff Challenge.

“Being able to expand our American Quarter Horse program to include the Bank of America Challenge elevates our entire racing operations in Indiana,” said Eric Halstrom, Indiana Grand vice president and general manager of racing. “This challenge will shine a spotlight on our ever-growing American Quarter Horse industry and grant many of our local horsemen the opportunity to participate on a national level. We are excited to partner with AQHA on this endeavor and look forward to welcoming new American Quarter Horse participants and fans into Indiana for the first time in the history of the Challenge.”

To learn more about the Bank of America Racing Challenge, visit www.aqha.com/bank-of-america-racing-challenge.

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While there are over 10,000 owners of more than 30,000 Quarter Horses confirmed across all 120 counties, and while Quarter Horses have long been a wholly legal pari-mutuel racing breed in the Commonwealth, no licensed track offers so-called “sprint racing.” As a result, no portion of earnings from HHR terminals is of benefit to Kentucky owners and breeders of Quarter Horses.

The KyQHA is the official state affiliate of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), the world's largest equine registry, while the KyQHRA is designated by statute as the horsemen's organization for Quarter Horse racing. Yet, in spite of the enormous popularity of
Quarter Horse racing at two Kentucky racetracks in the 1980s, there have been no Quarter Horse racing opportunities of consequence in over 30 years – when a political battle over the right to simulcast (BOPTROT) enabled other breeds to crowd out sprint racing. Given that the Legislature granted Quarter Horses legal status as a racing breed similar to others, this history of a lack of access to racing days for three decades suggests discrimination.

“The Quarter Horse industry has not been afforded an opportunity to review proposed legislation relating to future changes in law pertaining to the legality of HHR terminals,” said Keith Kleine, KyQHA president. “Until such time as the proposed legislation is seen by our industry, and it includes some kind of stake and engagement in the process for our breeders and owners, the KyQHA will not be taking a formal position on HHR.”

Richard Connelley, DMD, the Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association president, commented: “At such time as details of the proposed legislation are known by KyQHRA and KyQHA, the determination of our industry to support it will likely be based upon whether the legislation contains any features or language that indicate some clear path to the long-overdue restoration of pari-mutuel Quarter Horse racing to Kentucky.”

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Laico Bird earned her title in 1967. This past year, Whistle Stop Cafe was undefeated in six starts, earning $1,974,986. She was also the champion 2-year-old and champion 2-year-old filly.

Owners Whitmire Ranch of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, bought her for a mere $42,000 as a yearling, and trainer Blane Wood and jockey Ricky Ramirez guided the filly to win her Heritage Place Futurity (G1) trial and the Heritage Place Juvenile. She then travelled to Ruidoso, where she won her trial and the final of the $1 million Rainbow Futurity (G1), and went on to win her trial and the final of the $3 million All American Futurity (G1).

Whistle Stop Cafe was bred by Bobby D. Cox and is by Freighttrain B and out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Sinuous.

The champion 2-year-old colt is Dulce Sin Tacha, who won five of six starts and earned $518,403 for breeders and owners Bob and Jerry Gaston. Dulce Sin Tacha is by Jess Good Candy and out of the Tempting Dash mare Prissy Sin Tacha. Trained by Heath Taylor and ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo, his year was led by a victory in the $1,031,211 Texas Classic Futurity (G1).

Apollitical Gold took his run everywhere he went to earn his champion 2-year-old gelding title. Racing for breeder Grant R. Cox Revocable Trust, the son of Apollitical Jess out of SRC Gold by PYC Paint Your Wagon won four of nine starts, with two seconds and three thirds. He earned $972,659. His key efforts included a victory in the Golden State Million Futurity (G1) and third-place finishes in the All American Futurity (G1) and Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity (G1). He was trained by Eddie Willis and was ridden by Justine Klaiber, Jimmy Brooks and Cody Smith.

Supreme Race Horse Danjer was named the champion aged horse and champion aged gelding after a year that saw him win four of six starts and earn $326,061. The 4-year-old gelding, by FDD Dynasty and out of the Take Off Jess mare Shez Jess Toxic, was bred by Dean Frey and is owned by Frey, Downtime Enterprises LLC and Billy Smith. Danjer's Grade 1 wins include The Downs at Albuquerque Championship and the Bank of America Challenge Championship. He was trained by Dean Frey and ridden by Cody Smith.

The champion aged stallion is Eagles Fly Higher, a 4-year-old stallion by One Famous Eagle and out of the First Down Dash mare Lone Bet. Bred by V.H. Harman Jr. and Robert Moudy III, he is owned by Darling Farms, and won three of eight starts, with three additional placings and earnings of $209,973. He won the Sooner State Stakes (RG1), Eastex Stakes (G2) and Bank of America Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge (G2), in addition to two additional Grade 1 placings. He was trained by Casey Black and Jaime Gomez, and was ridden by Mario Delgado, Cristian Esqueda, Agustin Silva and Jesus Ayala.

Michael Pohl and Martin Stacy's homebred Curls Happy Wagon is the champion aged mare. She won half of her six starts during the year, earning $145,822, and won the Mildred N. Vessels Memorial Handicap (G1), Las Damas Handicap (G2) and Decketta Stakes (G2). The 5-year-old mare is by PYC Paint Your Wagon and out of the Spit Curl Jess mare Eye A Spit Curl Girl. She was trained by Stacy Charette-Hill and Juan Aleman and ridden by Armando Cervantes and Jorge Torres.

Tell Cartel made the most starts of any champion during the year, winning half of his 10 starts, with three additional placings, and earning $717,751 while earning the titles of champion 3-year-old and champion 3-year-old colt. Racing for breeder and owner Martha Wells, the Favorite Cartel colt out of the Chicks Beduino mare Chicks Tell won the Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G1), Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1) and El Primero Del Ano Derby (G3), and he was second in the Champion of Champions (G1). He was trained by Matt Fales, and ridden by Ruben Lozano, Eduardo Nicasio and Jesus Ayala.

CERs Final Try honors the memory of his late breeder, Charles E. Robinson, as he is named the champion 3-year-old gelding. Racing for Christina Robinson, CERs Final Try won four of seven starts and earned three additional placings, earning $581,182. His achievements include a victory in the Rainbow Derby (G1) and placings in the Ruidoso Derby (G1) and All American Derby (G1). He is by One Dashing Eagle and out of the Corona Cartel mare BP Shes All Corona. He was trained by Tony Sedillo and ridden by Alfredo Sigala and Manuel Gutierrez.

The daughter of Apollitical Jess out of the First Down Dash mare Shesa First Ratify, Ratification is the champion 3-year-old filly. She races for her breeder Bobby D. Cox and won five of seven starts with one second-place finish and earned $327,308. She won the $315,739 Rainbow Oaks and $421,326 All American Oaks. She was trained by John Buchanan and Juan Vazquez, and was ridden by Francisco Calderon, Esgar Ramirez and Agustin Silva.

The 2014 gelding Madewell is honored as the 2020 champion distance horse. He is a homebred for Ray L. and Davy Madewell, and won four of seven starts, with two additional placings, and earnings of $102,618. He is sired by Jess Jones and out of the A Streak Of Cash mare Streakin Peacock. His wins include the Cox Ranch Distance Challenge Championship (G1) and the AQHA Downs at Albuquerque Distance Challenge (G2). He was trained by Bernard Baca, and ridden by Benito Baca, Jorge Bourdieu and Stormy Smith.

Freshman Eyesa Timber is the Canadian champion. Bred and raced by Wesley T. Oulton, the Alberta-bred gelding is by First Timber and out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Eyesa Perry. He began his year racing in the United States before returning home, where at Century Mile he won the Alberta-bred Futurity and Canada Cup Futurity (G3). He won four of seven starts, with two second-place finishes, and earned $56,491. The horse was trained by Wesley Oulton and Durk Peery, and ridden by J. Botello, Jose Rocha and Jose Vega.

Cuadra La Presita saw its homebred Juanito Y Danny win three of four starts, earning $152,310, to be named the Mexican champion. The 2018 gelding by Danny Cartel is out of the Ought To Be First mare Toles. He won the Subasta Selecta Futurity (RG3) and was third in the Garanones Futurity (RG3). The horse was trained by Ismael Ayala and ridden by Yair Daniel Baez, L. Vidana and Jose Angel Ambrosio.

The South American champion is Fantastic Fly Apollo, a 2017 colt racing for breeder Ademir Jose Rorato. The horse won six of eight starts, with two seconds, and earned $66,861. His wins include the Campeao Dos Campeoes, Brasil II Triplice Coroa and Sorocaba Futurity. He is by Fantastic Corona Jr and out of the Eyesa Special mare Flyapolloeyesa BR. He was trained by Rivail Rosa and ridden by B. Guimaraes and J. Santana.

American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame horseman Bobby D. Cox earns his third champion breeder title, as his horses earned more than $2.4 million more than any other breeder. Included among them are world champion Whistle Stop Cafe and champion Ratification. California horsewoman Martha Wells saw her horses, which include champion Tell Cartel, win at a 14% clip, and she is named the champion owner. Trainer Eddie Willis earned his first nod as the Blane Schvaneveldt champion trainer, with earnings of more than $2.7 million in the year, including champion Apollitical Gold. James A. Flores is the champion jockey for the second consecutive year, with earnings of more than $3.5 million.

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A warhorse, in racing parlance, is a horse who has made more than 50 career starts. By its very definition, a warhorse has to be not only talented, but also sound and gritty enough to withstand the rigors of an extended campaign.

This Is Debt, a 2005 sorrel gelding, is a warhorse –and is now a first-race speed event horse.

Bred in Ontario by Brian Farrell, he was campaigned by the Farrell family–owned by Bill, trained by Laurie–exclusively at Ajax Downs in a career that spanned from 2007 to 2011. He won or placed in 15 of his 52 starts, earning $57,698, including appearances in the 2008 Maple Leaf and Ontario Bred and Foaled derbies.

Sired by Royal Evening Snow, he is out of the Pacific Bailey mare Pipe Dream Bailey.

Brandi Lloyd is a lifetime horsewoman and is friends with the Farrell family. She served as a groom for This Is Debt during his racing career and loved his Pacific Bailey bloodlines. She asked the family if she might be able to get him when his racing career was over and train him for speed events like barrel racing and pole bending.

“They called and said he's ready to come and get,” Brandi says. “I picked him up and we gave him about a year off, and then I started him back. He's been super easy. He's light, runs to the snaffle, took to the barrels really easily. He's excelled in pole bending. He keeps getting better and better.”

The horse the family calls “Pretty Boy Roy” or “Roy” has adapted well to his new life. Brandi trained him on the barrel pattern by riding exhibition runs at events while her two sons were running their ponies. She says that Laurie Faurell's horsemanship and early training of Roy made the horse's transition from racing to arena competition especially easy.

When her son, Ty, was old enough, Roy was given to him for a Christmas present. They have been competing together for about four years.

“Roy and Ty just click,” the proud mom says. “They make a great team. I trained the horse, but he runs harder for Ty. Ty motivates differently than I do, too, and kinda hangs it out there, and Roy really tries for him.”

Roy has earned 6.5 points in limited AQHA competition, as well as several Top 10 finishes in barrels and pole bending at the prestigious All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio.

The family goes to events together, mainly competing at National Barrel Horse Association and Ontario Barrel Horse Association competitions, with Brandi and Ty riding, and her dad and younger son sitting together in the stands, providing priceless Statler-and-Waldorf-type commentary on their videos.

“He's pretty great,” Brandi says of Roy. “He has an attitude some times, but as far as working with him, he has a great work ethic, he's happy to do his work and do his job.”

While Roy is the family's first second-career racehorse, he's probably not going to be their last. In addition to having a great horse, they've also gotten checks from the Ontario Quarter Horse Racing Industry Development Program, which promotes the careers of Ontario-bred racehorses even after they leave the racetrack.

“Honestly, I'd do it again in a heartbeat,” Brandi says. “I'd encourage anyone interested to look at one for sure.”

This story, which is part of the Second Career Stars series, originally appeared on the American Quarter Horse News website and is republished here with permission. Second Career Stars is an ongoing series on retired racing American Quarter Horses in new careers. If you know of a horse that should be featured, write to acaudill@aqha.org. AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHARacing on Twitter, “like” Q-Racing on Facebook, and visit www.aqha.com/racing.

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