APHA announces 2011 Running Champions
FORT WORTH, TEXAS—PF Chief Runnin Bear and Flashthechicks were named the
American Paint Horse Association’s Running World Champions for 2011. The Regular
Registry and Solid Paint-Bred world champions respectively, and 16 other Running
Champions were announced January 21 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. At the
same time, APHA names the year’s Honor Roll Champions along with an
International - Canadian Champion.
2011 World Champions
The 2009 World Champion PF Chief Runnin Bear had an outstanding 5-year-old
season winning 5 of his 7 starts in 2011 therefore earning him the 2011 World
Champion title for the second time. He is owned by partners Sherry Koltiska of
Lander, Wyo. and Lynn and Betty Bettinger of Waco, Texas. The 2006 brown tobiano
gelding earned $51,871 and won the G1 Lewis Wartchow Memorial Stakes, the G1
Olympia Joe Handicap and the inaugural Colors of the Wind Stakes, bringing his
lifetime earnings to $143,000. PF Chief Runnin Bear was also named Champion Aged
Gelding, Champion Aged Horse, and #1 Honor Roll Racing Gelding.
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PF Chief Runnin Bear was named the 2011 Paint Racing World
Champion Regular Registry. Shown here winning the 2011 Colors of the Wind Stakes
at Retama Park Racetrack. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.
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Another horse who had a stellar year was the 2011 Solid Paint-Bred World
Champion Flashthechicks. He became the tenth 2-year-old to earn over $100,000
during their 2-year-old year with earnings in excess of $186,000. Flashthechicks
is owned by the 2011 Leading Breeder and 2011 Leading Owner, Shirley Wheeler of
Boynton, Okla. The 2009 sorrel solid gelding had a speed index of 99 with
earnings in excess of $186,000 for the year and won major stakes races such as
the G1 Graham Futurity, the G1 American Paint Classic Futurity and the RG1 Pot
O’ Gold Futurity. Flashthechicks was also named the Champion Solid Paint-Bred
2-Year-Old Gelding, Champion Solid Paint-Bred 2-Year-Old and the #1 Honor Roll
Solid Paint-Bred Racing Gelding.
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Flashthechicks was named the 2011 Paint Racing World
Champion Solid Paint-Bred Registry. Shown here winning the 2011 Pot O’ Gold
Futurity at Will Rogers Downs Racetrack. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.
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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.
The 2011 Leading Owner and 2011 Leading Breeder titles go to first-time
recipient Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Okla. Shirley owns and bred the 2011 Solid
Paint-Bred World Champion, Champion Solid Paint-Bred 2-Year-Old Gelding and
Champion Solid Paint-Bred 2-Year-Old Flashthechicks, along with the 3-Year-Old
Champion Filly Eye Opening Chick. Wheeler’s horses earned more than $203,000 in
2011.
The 2011 Leading trainer goes to Dee Keener of Inola, Okla. Keener earned this
award in 2009 as well. Keener’s horses earned over $327,000 and included top
runners SW Eye Candy, Some Are Panthers and Super Black Knight.
The 2011 Leading Jockey goes to G.R. Carter, Jr. for the eighth time. G.R.
guided CRM Livewire, Brief Encounter, SW Eye Candy and Prize Jive to victories
with total earnings in excess of $224,000, bringing his lifetime earnings in
excess of $2,719,000.
"Each year as we reflect on all of paint racings accomplishments we
realize 2011 was no different with our champions demonstrating their toughness
on the track" said APHA Director of Racing Karen Utecht. "We thank our owners,
breeders, trainers and jockeys for their role in the success of Paint Racing. We
congratulate our 2011 champions and look forward to a very successful 2012!"
APHA would like to congratulate all of its 2011 champions.
Regular Registry Running Champions:
2-Year-Old Colt
2-Year-Old – CRM Livewire
(Cartel Success AQHA x Elaina Go Go)
Owner: Dan and Kaye Jones of Kemp, Texas
Breeder: Dan Jones of Kemp, Texas
2011 earnings: $17,391
2-Year-Old Filly – Brief Encounter
(Country Quick Dash x Judy Janise)
Owner: Merle Rutherford of Lubbock, Texas
Breeder: Merle Rutherford of Lubbock, Texas
2011 earnings: $20,008
2-Year-Old Gelding – SM Streakin Country
(Country Quick Dash x Ms Streakin Stride AQHA)
Owner: Jeff or Angie Dean of Coweta, Okla.
Breeder: Rafter SM Ranch of Wagoner, Okla.
2011 earnings: $6,993
3-Year-Old Colt – Dos Jakes
(Dos Poruno x Bug Lover AQHA)
Owner: Milford G. Roberts, Jr. of Lockesburg, Ark.
Breeder: Milford G. Roberts, Jr. of Lockesburg, Ark.
2011 earnings: $18,612
Lifetime earnings: $22,283
3-Year-Old Filly – Eye Opening Chick
(Mr Eye Opener AQHA x Kickin Chicken)
Owner: Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Okla.
Breeder: Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Okla.
2011 earnings: $17,244
Lifetime earnings: $21,123
3-Year-Old Gelding
3-Year-Old – Streakin Seven
(Texas Six x Royal Quick Deal)
Owner: Ronald Davis of Sapulpa, Okla.
Breeder: Kay Churchwell of Okmulgee, Okla.
2011 earnings: $28,906
Lifetime earnings: $60,266
Aged Stallion – Moholme Judy
(Judys Lineage x A Flyin Furr Holme AQHA)
Owner: Felipe Martinez, Sr. of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Breeder: Billy Dean Harp of Tuttle, Okla.
2011 earnings: $16,354
Lifetime earnings: $32,718
Aged Mare – Dashin Razzamatazz
(Country Quick Dash x Lady Win Dancer AQHA)
Owner: Don or Alice Ketchum of Indianola, Okla.
Breeder: Don or Alice Ketchum of Indianola, Okla.
2011 earnings: $6,338
Lifetime earnings: $12,202
Aged Gelding – PF Chief Runnin Bear
Aged Horse World Champion
(Grand Point x SC Running Cloud AQHA)
Owner: Sherry Koltiska of Lander, Wyo. and Lynn and Betty Bettinger of Waco,
Texas
Breeder: Randy Davis of Vinita, Okla.
2011 earnings: $51,871
Lifetime earnings: $143,373
Regular Registry Honor Roll:
No. 1 Racing Honor Roll Stallion: CRM Livewire
Owner: Dan and Kaye Jones of Kemp, Texas
No. 1 Racing Honor Roll Mare: Independent Woman
Owner: Ralph Danard of Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada
No. 1 Racing Honor Roll Gelding: PF Chief Runnin Bear
Owners: Sherry Koltiska of Lander, Wyoming and Lynn and Betty Bettinger of Waco,
Texas
Solid Paint-Bred Running Champions:
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt – General Gordiz (Awesome Chrome x
Killer Corona AQHA) Owner: Javier Lujan of Pharr, Texas Breeder: Javier Lujan of
Pharr, Texas 2011 earnings: $21,990
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly – Junglebell (Jungle Jet x
Jezebellway) Owner: Jerrod Clark of Davenport, Iowa Breeder: Ray Enlow of
Sapulpa, Okla. 2011 earnings: $41,743
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Champion
Solid Paint-Bred World Champion – Flashthechicks
(Royal Quick Flash x Game Chicken)
Owner: Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Okla.
Breeder: Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Okla.
2011 earnings: $186,007
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt – Memory Keeper
(Streakin La Jolla AQHA x Three Ohs Dondi)
Owner: Jim and Linda Whitener of Cleveland, Texas
Breeder: Jim and Linda Whitener of Cleveland, Texas
2011 earnings: $15,632
Lifetime earnings: $57,200
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly – Rio Rojo Jessie
(Feature Mr Jess AQHA x Call Me Silking)
Owner: Don Kelly of Natchitoches, Louisiana
Breeder: Don Kelly of Natchitoches, Louisiana
2011 earnings: $40,836
Lifetime earnings: $134,989
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Champion – Flash Of Silk
(Royal Quick Flash x Judys Silk)
Owner: B.J. Hall and Jeff Dean of Porter, Okla.
Breeder: H.T. and Kay Churchwell of Okmulgee, Okla.
2011 earnings: $66,880
Lifetime earnings: $111,594
Aged Solid Paint-Bred Mare – Special Brown Lady
(Another Hero AQHA x Kodachrome Miss)
Owner: Teddi Meek of Sallisaw, Okla.
Breeder: David Chapman of Kiowa, Okla.
2011 earnings: $6,672
Lifetime earnings: $11,282
Aged Solid Paint-Bred Gelding
Aged Solid Paint-Bred Horse – Barney Ofield
(Judys Lineage x Shero)
Owner: Julie Haywood and Joni Willis of Sallisaw, Okla.
Breeder: Marion Hoskin of Ada, Okla.
2011 earnings: $47,582
Lifetime earnings: $111,737
Solid Paint-Bred Honor Roll:
No. 1 Solid Paint-Bred Racing Honor Roll Stallion: General
Gordiz
Owner: Javier Lujan of Pharr, Texas
No. 1 Solid Paint-Bred Racing Honor Roll Mare: Prize Jive
Owner: Larry Spurlock of Inola, Okla.
No. 1 Solid Paint-Bred Racing Honor Roll Gelding:
Flashthechicks
Owner: Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Okla..
International/Canadian Champion: Independent Woman
(Royal Quick Flash x Straight Aze)
Owner: Ralph Danard of Stony Plain, AB, Canada
Breeder: David Hughes and Bruce Bessonet of Jones, Okla.
2011 earnings: $16,326
Lifetime earnings: $22,735
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.