Inaugural Paul Harber Memorial Handicap was race of Champions
The first running of the Paul Harber Memorial Handicap for Paints and Appaloosas
was the type of race usually seen at the end of a season between the top runners
of the year. Featuring a purse of $27,500, an incredible line-up was named for
this race, with six named Champions in the nine-horse field, including five-time
world champion Got Country Grip. But, it was the half-sisters who finished on
top in this race. Chicks Lacerta (2009 Champion Aged Mare) and Make No Shadows
(2008-2009 Champion 2-Year-Old and 3-Year-Old Filly) ran across the wire one and
two with Got Country Grip close behind. Chicks Lacerta crossed the line with a
time of 17.40 for the 350-yard race, earning $16,200 for the win.
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Chicks Lacerta. Photo by Dustin Orona Photography.
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Chicks Lacerta battled for the win alongside Make No Shadows and Texas Royal
Snow for most of the race. But, when Texas Royal Snow tired and Got Country Grip
got his rhythm the places changed with "Grip" coming after the girls. But,
Chicks Lacerta and Make No Shadows managed to keep the lead, finishing one-two
respectively. The two mares are out of the same stakes-placed Paint mare
Treasured Chick. Chicks Lacerta, a five-year-old Solid Paint-bred mare, is
co-owned by Sammy Hester and Charles Trochta of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Hester and his
wife Nadine bred the mare, who is by First Smart Money AQHA and out of Treasured
Chick. Sammy Hester also trains the mare. Jockey Larry Payne rode her to victory
and said this about the win, "She has always been real competitive. It didn’t
surprise me that she won this race." Chicks Lacerta’s lifetime earnings are now
$136,798.
The younger half-sister, Make No Shadows, finished second in the race with a time of 17.46. The four-year-old
Solid Paint-bred mare is also owned by Sammy Hester and Charles Trochta of
Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was bred by Sammy and his wife Nadine Hester, by sire Oak
Tree Special AQHA and out of Treasured Chick. Ridden by jockey Rodrigo Vallejo,
she earned $5,800 for the second-place finish, making her lifetime earnings
$87,095.
Finishing third was Got Country Grip, after a slow start he finished strong,
running a time of 17.52. He earned $3,295 for the third-place finish, bringing
his lifetime earnings to $348,287. He was bred by Linda Fox of Maud, Oklahoma.
He is owned by Jimmy Maddux of Weatherford, Texas and trained by Brandon Parum
of Jones, Oklahoma. The seven-year-old Solid Paint-bred gelding was ridden by G.
R. Carter, Jr.
Other horses completing the race, along with times, include Awesome Fling
(17.59), G I Jana (17.65), Texas Royal Snow (17.67), Flash N B Gone (17.74), SM
Country Bandit (17.78) and Flashy Dos (18.01).
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 2009, more than 540 starters competed in
more than 530 APHA-recognized races for record purses totaling more than $4.7
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 racing@apha.com, or
visit paintracing.com.