APHA Names 2008 Running Champions
Got Country Grip named World Champion fourth consecutive year,
SM Country Snowman second consecutive year
FORT WORTH, TEXAS—SM Country Snowman and Paint racing sensation Got Country Grip were
named the American Paint Horse Association’s Running World Champions for 2008.
The Regular Registry and Solid Paint-Bred World Champions, respectively, and 17
other Running Champions were announced January 17 at the Heritage Place sale in
Oklahoma City.
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SM Country Snowman finished the
2008 racing year as the highest money-earning 3-year-old
Paint Horse in history on his way to capturing his
second straight Regular Registry World Championship title.
Photo Courtesy Remington Park
 Hirez JPEG (1.2 mb) |
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Got Country Grip, Paint racing's leading
money-earner, ran his way to his fourth consecutive
Solid Paint-Bred World Championship in 2008. Photo Courtesy
Lone Star Park
Hirez JPEG (2.10 mb) |
Running Champion awards, presented annually, are given to Paint Horses that
demonstrate outstanding athleticism on the racetrack. Selection is based on
level of competition, location, races won and earnings for the year. These
awards are given in three age categories in both Regular Registry and Solid
Paint-Bred Registry divisions. APHA’s racing committee selects the winners by
written ballot.
During the same time, APHA names the year’s Honor Roll Champions. These
standings are based on points accumulated by speed index for the racing year.
2008 World Champions
Coming off a successful 2-year-old season and being named the 2007 Regular
Registry World Running Champion, SM Country Snowman brought the same
determination to the track in 2008. The 2005 red roan overo stallion had another
stellar season, winning 8 of his 11 starts to earn $100,478 on the track last
year.
Earning his second consecutive World Champion title in 2008, the stallion sired
by Country Quick Dash and out of Western Lineage reached another major milestone
during the past year, becoming the first 3-year-old Paint racehorse to surpass
$250,000 in earnings. SM Country Snowman, owned by Rafter SM Ranch in Wagoner,
Okla., earned 159 points throughout the year with a speed index of 103.
Currently his lifetime earnings stand at an impressive $259,861.
Got Country Grip, a racehorse known for setting record after record in Paint
racing, set another new record in 2008 as he earned his fourth 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 2008 racing season with 71
points and a speed index of 96. The World Champion gelding holds his position as
Paint racing’s highest money earner of all time with $287,028 in lifetime
earnings.
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 breeder, owner, trainer and jockey.
Henry and Linda Bowlan of Tecumseh, Okla., were named the 2008 Leading Breeders.
Several of the top runners this year came out of the Bowlan’s program, with
total earnings of $150,081. A couple of their top runners include Awesome Rip
and Awesome Fling.
Desiree Buck of Ringling, Okla., was honored with the 2008 Leading Owner title.
Buck owns the 2008 Leading Money-Earner Flash N B Gone, who earned $121,773 this
past year.
The 2008 Leading Trainer is Dee Keener of Inola, Okla. Keener’s horses earned
$149,875 this past year and included top runners Bust N Moves, Biker Chick and
Speed Bandit.
APHA’s Leading Jockey for 2008 is Kenny Muntz of Argyle, Iowa. The
Iowa rider took horses to winnings of $229,371. Muntz rode both
2008 World Champions—SM Country Snowman and Got Country Grip—to
victories throughout the year.
"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. "This year, 2008, was no different. Our runners
continued to break new records and set new standards in the industry. Good luck
to all in 2009."
APHA would like to congratulate all of its 2008 champions.
Regular Registry Running Champions:
2-Year-Old Colt
2-Year-Old Champion—Mean Ole Man
(First Wrangler AQHA x Magic Misty Morning)
Owner: John Gee and Del Craig of Shawnee, Oklahoma
Breeder: John and Lois Gee of Shawnee, Oklahoma
2008 Earnings: $36,982
2-Year-Old Filly—Flash Em Betty
(Royal Quick Flash x Betty Bullion)
Owner: Wade Leggett of Muskogee, Oklahoma
Breeder: Steele Farms, Inc., of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
2008 Earnings: $33,406
2-Year-Old Gelding—Awesome Judy
(Awesome Chrome x Dial Judy)
Owner: Sandra Tatom of Groesbeck, Texas
Breeder: Sandra Tatom of Groesbeck, Texas
2008 Earnings: $33,772
3-Year-Old Colt
3-Year-Old Champion
World Champion—SM Country Snowman
(Country Quick Dash x Western Lineage)
Owner: Rafter SM Ranch of Wagoner, Oklahoma
Breeder: Ronald Yates and James Skimbo of Fort Smith, Arkansas
2008 Earnings: $100,478
Lifetime earnings: $259,861
3-Year-Old Filly—Knee High Country
(Country Quick Dash x Velveteena AQHA)
Owner: Suzie Marrs of Ada, Oklahoma
Breeder: Suzie Marrs of Ada, Oklahoma
2008 Earnings: $26,469
Lifetime earnings: $65,325
3-Year-Old Gelding—Cristole
(Texas Hero x Miss Murray)
Owner: Darcy Allen of Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada
Breeder: John TL Jones, JR Interests, Inc., of Lexington, Kentucky
2008 Earnings: $13,104
Lifetime earnings: $13,822
Aged Stallion—FF Easy Doz It
(Judys Lineage x Treasure Winner)
Owner: Dr. Guylaine Paquin of Baltimore, Ontario, Canada
Breeder: Darren Jones of Cache, Oklahoma
2008 Earnings: $13,989
Lifetime earnings: $30,947
Aged Mare
Aged Champion—Taken All The Cool
(On A High AQHA x Breakin My Heart)
Owner: Judy Misch of Yucaipa, California
Breeder: Judy Misch of Yucaipa, California
2008 Earnings: $15,605
Lifetime earnings: $30,198
Aged Gelding—Kickin Texas
(Texas Hero x Kickin Chicken)
Owner: Peter or Craig Spada of Ridgeway, Ontario, Canada
Breeder: Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Oklahoma
2008 Earnings: $11,182
Lifetime earnings: $31,161
Regular Registry Honor Roll—
No. 1 Stallion: SM Country Snowman
No. 1 Mare: Flash Em Betty
No. 1 Gelding: Awesome Judy
Solid Paint-Bred Running Champions:
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt—None Eligible
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly—Make No Shadows
(Oak Tree Special AQHA x Treasured Chick)
Owner: Sammy Hester of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Charles Trochta of
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Breeder: Sammy and Nadine Hester of Tulsa, Oklahoma
2008 Earnings: $58,098
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Champion—Flash N B Gone
(Royal Quick Flash x All I Can Bee)
Owner: Desiree Buck of Ringling, Oklahoma
Breeder: Kay Churchwell of Okmulgee, Oklahoma
2008 Earnings: $121,773
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt—Mr Wrigley
(Country Quick Dash x Walters Lightning)
Owner: Chris Fowler of Bixby, Oklahoma
Breeder: Chris Fowler of Bixby, Oklahoma
2008 Earnings: $12,155
Lifetime earnings: $12,155
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Champion—Royal Quick Treasure
(Royal Quick Flash x Countin Treasures)
Owner: Glenda Parum of Springer, Oklahoma
Breeder: Glenda Parum of Springer, Oklahoma
2008 Earnings: $37,179
Lifetime earnings: $115,049
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding—Solid Cowboy
(Royal Quick Flash x Runaway Rosie)
Owner: Marion Hoskin of Ada, Oklahoma
Breeder: Marion Hoskin of Ada, Oklahoma
2008 Earnings: $31,218
Lifetime earnings: $72,594
Aged Solid Paint-Bred Stallion—Bucks Quick Luck
(Royal Quick Flash x Buckeys Jewel AQHA)
Owner: Marti Rodriguez of Jones, Oklahoma
Breeder: Kent Blair of Coweta, Oklahoma
2008 Earnings: $10,651
Lifetime earnings: $15,498
Aged Solid Paint-Bred Mare—Heros Strawbaby
(Texas Hero x Elegant Strawbaby)
Owner: Julie Haywood and Joni Willis of Sallisaw, Oklahoma
Breeder: Herbert Graham of Gardendale, Texas
2008 Earnings: $23,958
Lifetime earnings: $91,935
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, Oklahoma
2008 Earnings: $39,528
Lifetime earnings: $287,028
Solid Paint-Bred Honor Roll—
No.1 Stallion: Mr Wrigley
No.1 Mare: Royal Quick Treasure
No.1 Gelding: Flash N B Gone
2008 Leading Breeder—Henry and Linda Bowlan of Tecumseh, Oklahoma
(Earnings: $150,081)
2008 Leading Owner—Desiree Buck of Ringling, Oklahoma
(Earnings: $121,773)
2008 Leading Trainer—Dee Keener of Inola, Oklahoma
(Earnings: $149,875)
2008 Leading Jockey—Kenny Muntz of Sallisaw, Oklahoma
(Earnings: $229,371)
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.
"Paint Racing continues to be an opportunity for breeders, owners and trainers
to take a serious look at," said APHA Executive Director Lex Smurthwaite. "The
amount of purse money available and the average earning per Paint starter is
creating new interest in the Paint racing industry."
For more information on Paint Horse racing, contact APHA’s racing department at
(817) 222-6444, email racing@apha.com, or
visit paintracing.com.