Barney Ofield beats tough field in Mister Lewie Memorial
Handicap
Barney Ofield picked up a win in a March allowance race and now in the
Grade 1 Mister Lewie Handicap at Remington Park in Oklahoma City on April 16. He
was racing against a very tough field of stakes winners, and proving that a
five-year old gelding can still outrun the "big dogs." Barney Ofield commanded
the lead from halfway down the track and passed the leaders and won by a full
length ahead. For the 400-yard race, his time was 19.71 seconds, for a 95 speed
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Barney Ofield wins Mister Lewie Handicap. Photo courtesy: Dustin Orona Photography.
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Barney Ofield is a sorrel solid Paint-bred by Judys Lineage and out of Shero, by
Texas Hero. Bred by Marion Hoskin of Ada, Okla., he is currently owned by Julie
Haywood and Joni Willis of Sallisaw, Okla. He earned $20,500 for the win, making
his lifetime earnings $95,399 for 28 starts. He is trained by Eddie Willis and
was ridden by Jimmy Brooks.
Finishing second was Special Sign, a three-year-old sorrel solid Paint-bred
gelding by Special Leader AQHA and out of Signs Of Summer. Bred and owned by The
Painted Pitchfork in Rifle, Colo., he earned $6,000 for this race, making his
lifetime earnings $41,777 for 10 starts. He is trained by Dee Keener and was
ridden by G. R. Carter, Jr.
Finishing third was Flashy Dos, a four-year-old bay solid Paint-bred gelding by
Dos Poruno and out of Katiewantsafastone. The stakes winning gelding was bred by
Kay Churchwell of Okmulgee, Okla., and is owned by B. J. Hall and Jeff Dean of
Porter, Okla. He earned $4,300 for this race, making his lifetime earnings
$84,603 for 15 starts.
Other horses completing the race, along with times, include PF Chief Runnin Bear
(19.93), Moon Bully ApHC (20.00), Dodacious (20.20), Awesome Fling (20.33),
Kellys Broom ApHC (20.53), G I Jana ApHC (20.55) and Dos Gatos (20.62).
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 2010, more than 500 starters competed in
429 APHA-recognized races for record purses totaling more than $4.1 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.
For more information on Paint Horse racing, contact APHA’s racing department at
(817) 222-6444, email racing@apha.com, or
visit www.paintracing.com.