Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Announces
2005 Inductees
San Antonio, TX – September 8,
2005— “And the nomination goes to…” are the words
the horseracing industry has been waiting to hear. The inductees will join the
best of the best at the Texas Horse Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, housed at Retama Park. This year, the
Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame will hold their annual Gala and Fundraiser on October 1, 2005 beginning at 4:00 pm at Retama Park Racetrack and
will be followed by the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Stakes.
According to Frances Rushing, Executive Director, “This year’s nominees are
well deserved, pillars of the horseracing community, who helped put Texas horseracing on the map. We are very pleased to be honoring
these outstanding individuals and horses by inducting them into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame.”
The Inductees include Mr. D. Wayne Lukas,
who has been in the industry since 1972. He has since become the most successful
trainer in the history of the Breeder’s Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, with earnings of $18,128,000. Mr. Herbert Graham operates Graham Farms in Gardendale, Texas. The
farm is home to many top American Quarter Horse stallions and houses one of the largest bands of broodmares in the nation. Josephine Abercrombie along with her father, the late Houston oilman, J.S. Abercrombie established
Pin Oak, a thoroughbred-breeding farm. Pin Oak is known for its accomplished
breeding and racing operation. Miss Princess began her racing career in 1945
in Mexico City. Her most anticipated race of all time was in 1947, where she ran against
Shue Fly, who throughout the 1940’s, was untouchable on the Quarter tracks. Miss
Princess retired after she successfully achieved all her owners and trainers set out for her to accomplish. Mr. Jim Helzer is being honored with the JoAnn Weber Distinguished Service Award for his many contributions
to the Texas Horse Racing Industry. Mr. Helzer established JEH Stallion Station
East and JEH Stallion Station West, and has served within the American Quarter Horse Association, Texas Quarter Horse Association,
Texas Thoroughbred Association, Texas Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, and the Texas Horsemen’s
Partnership management committee. This is the first year for this award which
is named after JoAnn Weber who lost her battle with Cancer in December of 2004 and who gave many years of distinguished service
to the horse racing industry. She was also the first Executive Director of the
Texas
Horse Racing Museum and Hall of Fame.
Rushing states “This year’s gala is going to be one to remember with everyone coming together
to celebrate the success of these individuals and to help raise money to support the ongoing work of the Texas Horse Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, to be built on the grounds of
Retama Park”
