LQHBA Announces 2016 Champions, Winners to be Honored April 8 at Evangeline Downs

ALEXANDRIA, LA�FEBRUARY 28, 2017�The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) is pleased to announce the 2016 association�s annual Champions.

Each of the recipients will be honored at the annual LQHBA Membership Meeting & Awards Banquet, Saturday, April 8 at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, Louisiana.

The 2016 Louisiana Quarter Horse champions are:

• Champion 2-Year-Old Filly (Co-Champions)
  JESS A LITTLE STAR
  Owner: Juan J. Bazaldua
  Breeder: J & B Rental Inc.

  WATERGIRL B
  Owner: Vanessa Bartoo
  Breeder: Edward Taylor

• Champion 2-Year-Old Colt (Co-Champions)
  GAMEY TEE COS
  Owner: Arturo & Isidro Reyes
  Breeder: Richard Ortego

  SWINGINSTAR
  Owner: Narciso Flores
  Breeder: Narciso Flores

• Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding
  TF RACEE RUNAWAY
  Owner: Tate Farms
  Breeder: Tate Farms

• Champion 3-Year-Old Filly (Co-Champions)
  JET BLACK ROGUE
  Owner: Michael D. Taylor
  Breeder: Triple M Farms LLC

  JETZ A STREAKIN
  Owner: Martin Trejo Jr.
  Breeder: Janelle L. Simon

• Champion 3-Year-Old Colt (Co-Champions)
  IM ALL OUT
  Owner: Talmadge Green
  Breeder: Gerald D. Libersat

  MY FAVORITE BLUE
  Owner: Tres Ricardos Ranch
  Breeder: Jumonville Farms

• Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding (Co-Champions)
  FIRST PRIZE DENIM
  Owner: Double H Racing Investments LLC
  Breeder: Weetona Stanley

  ZOOMINFORGRADY
  Owner: Triple C Racing Stables LLC
  Breeder: Dudley Chewning

• Champion Aged Mare
  OAK HILL STREAK
  Owner: Vanessa Bartoo
  Breeder: Arnold J. Trahan<>
• Champion Aged Stallion
  OPEN ME A CORONA
  Owner: Dr. Tommy Hays & Charles Forbes, Jr.
  Breeder: Dr. Natalie Montgomery

• Champion Aged Gelding
  HEZA LOUISIANA DASH
  Owner: TM Ranch
  Breeder: Jumonville Farms & Burnett Ranch

• Champion Distance Horse (Co-Champions)
  B AND G FAST DASH
  Owner: Oscar Rohne
  Breeder: B & G Group Investments Inc.

  GAME OWN
  Owner: Yaima Grillo
  Breeder: Kenneth R. Fletcher

• Top Money Earner
  TF RACEE RUNAWAY
  Owner: Tate Farms
  Breeder: Tate Farms

• Champion Stallion
  HEZA FAST DASH
  Owner: Heza Fast Dash Syndicate

• Champion Broodmare
  EYEJESSLOVELOUISIANA
  Owner: Jumonville Farms & Burnett Ranch

• Champion Trainer
  KENNETH ROBERTS, Sr. - 75 Wins in Louisiana

• Champion Jockey
  DAVID ALVAREZ - 116 Wins in Louisiana

• Champion Breeder
  TATE FARMS

• Champion Owner
  TATE FARMS

Tony Patterson, LQHBA executive director, confirmed that a new selection format was approved in 2015 by the LQHBA Board of Directors to determine the association�s annual Champions. This format, followed again in 2016, is as follows:

• Take the AQHA Points of the highest money earner by category
• Add 10 points for winning a stake race
• Add 5 points for finishing 2nd in a stakes race
• Add 3 points for finishing 3rd in a stake race
• Add 1 point for qualifying to a Futurity or Derby Final
• If the highest money earner�s (by category) new point total is the highest for that category, then that horse is a LQHBA Champion
• If the highest money earner�s new point total is not the highest (by category), co-champions for that category (the highest money earner and the highest AQHA point total) will be awarded.

"Champions awards are extremely important to the men and women who breed, own and race Quarter Horses in Louisiana," said Patterson. "Last year, our board worked diligently to revise our selection format and point system. We congratulate each of the 2016 champions and look forward to honoring them at our LQHBA Membership Meeting & Awards Banquet on April 8."

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LQHBA is the state racing affiliate of the American Quarter Horse Association.� It is also the official registry for accredited Louisiana-bred racing Quarter Horses and is recognized by the Louisiana Legislature and the Louisiana State Racing Commission. �Since its inception in 1966, the association has developed a number of programs to further breeding and racing in Louisiana. Last year, purses in Louisiana totaled approximately $21 million, and breeders' incentives for mares and stallions exceeded $4.9 million. �LQHBA oversees the annual LQHBA Yearling Sale and Fall Mixed Sale, and has raised and donated over $441,000 to support its Louisiana youth scholarship program.�