Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala

WHAT: The Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame will once again honor those that have enriched the tradition of horse racing in Texas at the 11th annual Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala on Saturday, October 10, 2009.

The gala and induction of Hall of Fame honorees will be held before and during the races on that Saturday, beginning at 4 p.m. The gala includes valet parking, cocktails, a gourmet buffet dinner, wine tasting, induction of the honorees, silent auction, and races, of course.

All proceeds from the gala will benefit the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The 2009 inductees include racing legends Harold Goodman and Jeff Carr (both now deceased) and horses Got Koko, Top Deck and Pass Over. The Joann Weber Distinguished Service Award will be presented to former Texas Senator O.H. “Ike” Harris (R-Dallas).

Harold Goodman was a prominent owner and breeder in Texas. He was the 1994 Texas Breeder of the Year and owner/breeder of Texas’ former all-time leading female money earner, Two Altazano (winner of the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks, Grade II Monmouth Oaks, Grade II Fantasy, Grade III Fair Grounds Oaks, Marie P. DeBartolo Memorial Oaks and Sam Houston Oaks in 1994). Goodman, born in Beaumont and lifelong resident of Houston, founded the Goodman Manufacturing Company in 1977. In 1992 Goodman purchased one-eighth of A.P. Indy, the 1992 Breeders’ Cup Classic champ and Horse of the Year. Goodman also owned the Brazos T Ranch (complete with a training center) near Brookshire where he stood premier Texas stallion Manzotti. Michael Stidham, one of Lone Star Park’s top trainers, was Goodman’s private trainer. Goodman succumbed to cancer on Jan. 13, 1995, one day before he was to accept the award as Texas’ top breeder of 1994 and the award for Two Altazano as 1994 Champion Texas-bred 3-Year-old Filly.

Before his death, Jeff Carr was still active in the practice of law (particularly with regard to oil and gas exploration), farming, ranching and the horse business. He was instrumental in the formation of Retama Partners, Ltd.—who constructed the first class horse race track in San Antonio—where he served on the board as President. Carr was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association for 30 years, and was a member of the Texas Thoroughbred Breeders Association for 16 years.

Got Koko is a retired Thoroughbred filly who is one of only three horses bred in the state of Texas to ever win a Grade 1 stakes. Got Koko scored her biggest win in the 2002 La Brea Stakes (gr. I). In 2003, Got Koko became just the third-ever winner of the La Cañada Series for fillies at Santa Anita Park since its inception in 1975. In addition, she won the 2003 Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup Handicap, by defeating American Horse of the Year, Azeri, who came into the race having won 11 straight races. She placed in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) and the Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (gr. II). In her last start, she finished third in the 2004 Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I). Trained by Bruce Headley, Got Koko won or placed in a dozen of 15 races and earned $960,946. Bred in Texas by Eileen H. Hartis, she earned three Texas championships, including 2003 Horse of the Year.

Unraced as a thoroughbred, the stallion Top Deck, bred by King Ranch, went on to become a famous sire of quarter horses. He was injured as a young foal, preventing a racing career. Top Deck died in 1965 in Purcell, Oklahoma and was the sire of Go Man Go, Rebel Cause, Top Ladybug, Mighty Deck, Decketta, War Machine and Moon Deck. Two of his sons were inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame – Go Man Go and Moon Deck. He sired 440 quarter horse foals, with four AQHA Champions, 219 Race Registers of Merit, 12 Performance Registers of Merit and 21 Superior Race Horse awards. Two of his offspring earned the AQHA Supreme Champion award – Astro Deck and War Machine. He was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1990.

Pass Over, a 1971 sorrel quarter horse mare, was a world champion two-year-old filly and world champion three-year-old filly. At one point in her racing career she was the world’s leading money winning quarter horse female. She was called “The Cinderella of the Quarter Horse World” and labeled by Clark Nealon of the Houston Post as being even bigger among quarter horses than Secretariat was among Thoroughbreds.

The Joann Weber Distinguished Service Award goes to former Texas Senator O.H. “Ike” Harris. Former member of Texas Sunset Advisory Commission (that identifies and eliminates waste, duplication, and inefficiency in government agencies); Harris had a 40-year political career in the House and Senate. He was successful in passing pari-mutuel wagering as the sponsor of the bill in 1987. Senator Harris chaired the Interim Committee on Horse Racing and Pari-mutuel Betting in 1971 that laid out the reasons why Texas should have pari-mutuel horse racing.

WHEN: Saturday, October 10, 2009, 4 – 9 p.m.

WHERE: Retama Park Race Track, 1 Retama Pkwy, Selma, TX (outskirts of San Antonio)

TICKETS: $125 per person

Generous sponsorship packages are available. For more information and biographies and/or photos on the inductees, please contact Sharolyn Grammer at (210) 651-7000, http://us.f396.mail.yahoo.com/ym/[email protected] [email protected].

MORE: The Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame—a 501(c)(3) charitable organization—was formed as an educational institution that promotes the character and integrity of the horse racing industry and highlights the enjoyment the sport provides.

Each year, since its inaugural event in 1999, the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala has recognized the accomplishments of Texas racing legends (individuals and horses) by inducting them into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame. The event is also designed to promote the rich history of the horse racing industry; recognize and honor Texas racing legends; and educate the public on the sport of racing.

The Hall of Fame honors the horses, jockeys, trainers and breeders who have significantly influenced and contributed to the history of horse racing in Texas and is temporarily housed on the Clubhouse level at Retama Park Race Track. Visitors have an opportunity to learn about these historical figures through biographies, view awards from their achievements, see stunning trophies and beautiful silks.