GOT COUNTRY GRIP NAMED WORLD CHAMPION FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, PF CHIEF RUNNIN BEAR NAMED WORLD CHAMPION FOR FIRST TIME

PF Chief Runnin Bear and Paint racing sensation Got Country Grip were named the American Paint Horse Association’s Running World Champions for 2009. The Regular Registry and Solid Paint-Bred world champions, respectively, and 16 other Running Champions were announced January 16 at the Heritage Place sale in Oklahoma City.

Running Champion awards, presented annually, are given to Paint Horses that demonstrate outstanding athleticism on the racetrack. Selection is based on their level of competition, location, races won and earnings for the year. These awards are given in three age categories in both the Regular Registry and Solid Paint-Bred Registry with winners selected by APHA’s racing committee.

During the same time, APHA names the year’s Honor Roll Champions. These standings are based on points accumulated by speed index for the current racing year.

2009 World Champions

Coming off a successful 2-year-old season in which he won the final futurity of the year, the Lone Star Park Paint and Appaloosa Futurity, PF Chief Runnin Bear set the tone for 2009. The 2006 brown tobiano gelding had an outstanding 3-year-old season racing against tough company. He won three of his six starts to earn $59,916 on the track during 2009, including wins in the Graham Paint and Appaloosa Derby, RG1 Speedhorse Paint and Appaloosa Derby as well as a close second in the RG1 PSBA Derby. The gelding is sired by Grand Point and out of SC Running Cloud AQHA. PF Chief Running Bear, owned by the partnership of Sharon Koltiska, Lynn and Betty Bettinger of Austin, Texas, earned 86 points throughout the year earning him the #1 Racing Honor Roll Gelding and had a speed index of 98. Currently his lifetime earnings stand at $90,299.

Got Country Grip, a racehorse known for setting record after record in Paint racing, set another new record in 2009 as he earned his fifth consecutive world champion title. The 2003 bay Solid Paint-Bred gelding garnered world-wide media attention in early 2008 when he tied the North American consecutive win record for all breeds with his 16th lifetime win. Got Country Grip, owned by Jimmy Maddux of Weatherford, Texas, went on to complete the 2009 racing season with 61 points and a speed index of 101. The world champion gelding still holds his position as Paint racing’s highest money-earner of all time with $344,992 in lifetime earnings.

He continued to dominate the top stake races for older horses including wins in the Mr Lewie Memorial Handicap, Cowboy Hall of Fame Handicap and G1 Lewis Wartchow Memorial, winning each for the second time.

The champions who make champions

Along with recognizing the top runners, APHA also honors the individuals who contribute greatly to the success of the running champions. Each year the association names the leading racing breeder, owner, trainer and jockey.

Henry and Linda Bowlan of Tecumseh, Okla., were named the 2009 Leading Breeders for the second year in a row. Several of the top runners this year came out of the Bowlan’s program, with total earnings of $260,649. A couple of their top runners include I Kick and Awesome Fling.

The Bowlan’s have been a part of the Paint racing industry for 30-plus years, owning and standing the top sire in APHA, Judys Lineage, who sired many of the horses seen throughout the list of champions past and present.

A long-time racehorse partnership, Charles Trochta and Sammy Hester of Tulsa, Okla., were honored with the 2009 Leading Owner title. Trochta and Hester own the 2009 Champion 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly, Make No Shadows, and the 2009 Champion Aged Solid Paint-Bred Mare, Chicks Lacerta. This successful partnership has owned many champions and won many races.

The 2009 Leading Trainer title is a first for Matt Whitekiller of Sallisaw, Okla. Whitekiller’s horses earned $271,074 and included top runners I Kick and Awesome Fling. Whitekiller began training Paint racehorses while he was an assistant years ago to the legendary lifetime leading Paint trainer Lewis Wartchow.

APHA’s Leading Jockey for 2009 is Cody Smith of Sallisaw, Okla. Smith took horses to winnings of $365,411. He rode I Kick to victory in the G1 Graham Futurity, Awesome Fling to victory in the RG1 PSBA Derby and The Flashy Jewel to victory in the G3 Lorelei Derby this year. He is the son of former top Paint jockey Rodger Smith, who is now his agent.

“At the conclusion of every year it seems we look back and are overwhelmed with the success and new records set in the Paint racing industry,” said APHA Director of Racing Karen Utecht. “2009 was no different. Our runners continued to break new records and set new standards in the industry. We thank all of our owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys for their continued dedication and support of Paint racing and wish everyone good luck in 2010.”

APHA would like to congratulate all of its 2009 champions.

Regular Registry Running Champions:

2-Year-Old Colt-SM Country Bandit

(Country Quick Dash x Ms Painted Eyeopener)

Owner: Rafter SM Ranch of Wagoner, Okla.

Breeder: Linda Fox of Maud, Okla.

2009 earnings: $47,129

2-Year-Old Filly

2-Year-Old Champion-Onlytreasureofmine

(Judys Lineage x Treasured Mayor)

Owner: Scott Mills of Ada, Okla.

Breeder: Scott Mills of Ada, Okla.

2009 earnings: $57,515

2-Year-Old Gelding-I Do One Two Three

(Judys Lineage x Hot Cash 123)

Owner: T Bill Stables, Inc., of Clare, Mich.

Breeder: T Bill Stables, Inc., of Clare, Mich.

2009 earnings: $41,748

3-Year-Old Colt-Mean Ole Man

(First Wrangler AQHA x Magic Misty Morning)

Owner: John Gee and/or Del Craig of Shawnee, Okla.

Breeder: John and Lois Gee of Shawnee, Okla.

2009 earnings: $21,419

Lifetime earnings: $58,401

3-Year-Old Filly-Corys Doll

(Judys Lineage x Barnes Treasure)

Owner: Marvin Barnes and Cory Whittle of Aubrey, Texas

Breeder: Marvin Barnes of Ada, Okla.

2009 earnings: $23,590

Lifetime earnings: $31,376

3-Year-Old Gelding

3-Year-Old Champion

World Champion -PF Chief Runnin Bear

(Grand Point x SC Running Cloud AQHA)

Owner: Koltiska and Bettinger of Austin, Texas

Breeder: Randy Davis of Vinita, Okla.

2009 earnings: $59,916

Lifetime earnings: $90,299

Aged Stallion-SM Country Snowman

(Country Quick Dash x Western Lineage)

Owner: Rafter SM Ranch of Wagoner, Okla.

Breeder: Ronald Yates and James Skimbo of Wilburton, Okla.

2009 earnings: $9,886

Lifetime earnings: $269,747

Aged Mare-Mini Melt

(First To Flash AQHA x Melt Away AQHA)

Owner: Buddy Albin of Denton, Texas

Breeder: Connie Nobles and J. E. Helzer of Pilot Point, Texas

2009 earnings: $16,672

Lifetime earnings: $22,336

Aged Gelding

Aged Champion -Cristole

(Texas Hero x Miss Murray)

Owner: Alex Kirkpatrick of Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada

Breeder: John T.L. Jones, Jr. Interests, LTD of Lexington, Ky.

2009 earnings: $21,734

Lifetime earnings: $35,556

Regular Registry Honor Roll

No. 1 Stallion: SM Country Bandit, owner: Rafter SM Ranch

No. 1 Mare: TBS Layla, owner: Tim and Beth Sutton

No. 1 Gelding: PF Chief Runnin Bear, owner: S. Koltiska and L. and B. Bettinger

Solid Paint-Bred Running Champions:

2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt-Allysa

(Real Easy Okey AQHA x Bat Them Eyes)

Owner: Javier Lujan of Pharr, Texas

Breeder: Javier Lujan of Pharr, Texas

2009 earnings: $27,687

2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly-I Kick

(Judys Lineage x Bugs Prospect)

Owner: Danny Caldwell of Poteau, Okla.

Breeder: Henry and Linda Bowlan of Tecumseh, Okla.

2009 earnings: $142,145

2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding

2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Champion-Cutrock

(Judys Lineage x Teresas Partner AQHA)

Owner: Jose Luis Granados of Amarillo, Texas

Breeder: Clinton Gibbs of Amarillo, Texas

2009 earnings: $71,231

3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt—Oak Tree Special Jr
(Oak Tree Special AQHA x Cha Cha Chickie)
Owner: Mitch and Toby Palmer of Billings, Mont.
Breeder:  Maloney, Moraga and Hall of Cypress, Calif.
2009 earnings: $7,631
Lifetime earnings: $9,881

3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly-Make No Shadows

(Oak Tree Special AQHA x Treasured Chick)

Owner: Charles Trochta and Sammy Hester of Tulsa, Okla.

Breeder: Sammy and Nadine Hester of Tulsa, Okla.

2009 earnings: $23,197

Lifetime earnings: $81,295

3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding

3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Champion -Awesome Fling

(Awesome Chrome x Last Fling)

Owner: Michelle Caldwell of Poteau, Okla.

Breeder: Henry and Linda Bowlan of Tecumseh, Okla.

2009 earnings: $35,767

Lifetime earnings: $75,102

Aged Solid Paint-Bred Stallion-Heza Royal Sin

(Royal Quick Flash x High Society Sin AQHA)

Owner: Rex and Sharon Brooks of Sallisaw, Okla.

Breeder: Rex and Sharon Brooks of Sallisaw, Okla.

2009 earnings: $17,046

Lifetime earnings: $47,142

Aged Solid Paint-Bred Mare-Chicks Lacerta

(First Smart Money AQHA x Treasured Chick)

Owner: Charles Trochta and Sammy Hester of Tulsa, Okla.

Breeder: Sammy and Nadine Hester of Tulsa, Okla.

2009 earnings: $47,216

Lifetime earnings: $108,760

Aged Solid Paint-Bred Gelding

Aged Solid Paint-Bred Champion

Solid Paint-Bred World Champion-Got Country Grip

(Country Quick Dash x Got A Grip)

Owner: Jimmy Maddux of Weatherford, Texas

Breeder: Linda Fox of Maud, Okla.

2009 earnings: $57,964

Lifetime earnings: $344,992

Solid Paint-Bred Honor Roll

No.1 Stallion: Allysa, owner: Javier Lujan

No.1 Mare: I Kick, owner: Danny Caldwell

No.1 Gelding: San Mateo Chick, owner Charles Trochta and Sammy Hester

2009 Leading Breeder-Henry and Linda Bowlan of Tecumseh, Okla.

(Earnings: $260,649)

2009 Leading Owner-Charles Trochta and Sammy Hester of Tulsa, Okla.

(Earnings: $242,918)

2009 Leading Trainer-Matt Whitekiller of Sallisaw, Okla.

(Earnings: $271,074)

2009 Leading Jockey-Cody Smith of Sallisaw, Okla.

(Earnings: $365,411)

More about Paint Horse racing

Horse racing has long been one of America’s favorite spectator sports. With the recent growth of the Paint Horse breed, it’s no wonder that Paints have become one of the hottest tickets in the horse racing industry.

Since 1966, when APHA officially recognized the sport, Paint racing has made major strides forward. In that inaugural year, 17 starters ran for $1,290 in just two states-Texas and Oklahoma. In 2008, more than 570 starters competed in more than 660 APHA-recognized races for record purses totaling more than $5 million.

A total of 17 states now feature Paint racing, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Paint Horses also race in Canada.

“With a wealth of top performing Paint racehorses, dedicated owners and talented trainers and jockeys, Paint Racing continues to remain a strong program in the horse industry,” said APHA Executive Director Lex Smurthwaite. “Paint Racing enthusiasts recognized the amount of purse money available and have jumped in to take advantage of the lucrative payouts.”

For more information on Paint Horse racing, contact APHA’s racing department at (817) 222-6444, email [email protected], or visit www.paintracing.com.