Tyx sired numerous horses who went on to excel in the Sport of Endurance. Proud Legacy, who won the King Forest 100km in England, Maqina who has won the Japan Cup twice and BC. Tycker Tape who is also doing well in Japan. Tyxson who competes in the middle East. Shahdon, the gelding Valerie Kanavy won two AHA 100 mile National Championships on and ran 5th in the 2003 European Championships. Celebracion who has been very sucessful in Sweden. Tryxa and Desparaddo who have recently been purchased by Rolling Stone Farm in New York. Jullianna and Sarahs Song both in the 2006 AERC standings for Best Condition. There are many others to numerous to mention.

Art loved the horses and was very fond of the youngsters, he spent lots of time handling the foals, and all of his horses were very nice to work with as a result of the time he spent with them. He was an astute business person and had a gift for detail. He was a true gentleman and I always knew he would treat me fairly. His place was always well organized and picture perfect, his horses were well cared for and it showed. Art was the kind of man who gives owners and breeders of horses a good name, I was proud to be his friend.

Tracy

Tracy Webb at Flight Leader Farm

Arthur J. Naquin III,
owner of Aventura Arabians, dies at age 77

"Owning, breeding, foaling and caring for the horses is something that we both enjoy more than anything else that we've ever done," said Art in an interview several years ago. "There's nothing quite like the feeling of celebrating your first win in the winner's circle with your horse. Imagine if your first win was in a stakes race! That was our introduction to Arabian racing in 1987."

That year, the Naquins had two 3-year-old geldings, Nasri (*Norton x Elmas Bint Masri, by Masri) and Desteyn (Mosco x Diamond Destiny, by Ferouk) that were just standing in the pasture. Art and Helen thought these geldings looked like pretty good physical specimens, and Oklahoma was running some Arabian races at that time. So the Naquins turned these two geldings over to a trainer there at Sallisaw. She trained them for several months, then entered one of them (Nasri) in a race called the Midwest Arabian Stake. Art recalled, "Son-of-a-gun, our horse won it!"

By the turn of the millenium, the Naquin's 115 acre ranch was home to over 50 horses, including pure Polish and Crabbet-bred mares. Their lives with Arabian racehorses and the people that surround them was an adventure the Naquins invited everyone to enjoy.

Aventura Arabians was the name of their ranch in Canton, Texas. The name Aventura means adventure in Spanish. The Naquins' actual involvement with the Arabian breed began five years earlier than their racing start. In the fall of 1988 after they were enjoying such quick success in racing , Art and Helen were starting to think pretty seriously about breeding for racing and decided to see if they could find a suitable herd sire. "So we got in our automobile and went hunting. Probably looked at four or five possibles, including some of Elvie Dublin's. The tail end of our excursion was Sam Harrison's place in Louden, Tennesee. Sam had several Samtyr sons, which was the breeding we were most anxious to get, and we picked Tyx as the best of the lot. He was a good stallion for us- excellent on the racetrack and he has sired large, big boned, stucturally correct horses."

This chestnut colt, Tyx, went on to serve Aventura well. As a racehorse, he started 38 times from age 3 through age 7, won 5 races including the Texas Derby Handicap, finished second 7 times and third 5 times. His toal earnings were $16,310, which he earned at tracks including Delaware Park, Los Alamitos and Bay Meadows when the purses were very small.

Tyx was brought home to Aventura for stud duty in 1990, but he only got to breed one mare before a call came from Johnny Tabor with TABA stating that Bandera Downs was going to start writing Arabian races. Thus Tyx was put back into training for another year to help them fill races and get Texas Arabian Racing off the ground!

Tyx had a royal pedigree, being by the leading sire Samtyr and out of the winning mare, Dimfixa. She crossed extremely well with Samtyr and produced three additional stakes winners, Samtyra (Darley Champion 3 and 4-Year-Old Filly), Sams Fix and Tyrix, as well as stakes placed winners Galapagos IA and Tyrixa. With this solid black-type pedigree and stakes winning record, Tyx was a promising stallion prospect for Aventura. He proved just that- siring many winners for Aventura. Tyx died on March 20, 2004, leaving behind 75 get and grandget to carry on his legacy.
Through the years the Naquins were rewarded with other fine runners, including Amazing Games, Connie O, Destinacion, Destyna, Dunedust, Fantastyx, Fantia, *Nimfa, Proud Legacy, Shahdon, Star Ptrack, Tyxoma, and Tyxson. Also they were proud to own Iknow Iknow, a 1997 bay, pure Polish stallion, *Wiking X x *Edukacja, with the tail dam Woloszka. IKNOW IKNOW is a multi race and stakes winner of 2001 Texas Ranger. TABA Horse of the Year and TABA Champion 4 Year old Colt/Gelding 2001.

The Naquins and their horses achieved many awards throughout their years of Texas racing, and were among the high ranking owners in the Texas Accredited Bred program.

Tammy DeShazo wrote to TABA after Art's passing. "I worked for them for Seven years (1990-1997) went to many races. Good Memories. They will be missed! I am sending you a picture of Art I found on the TABA web page I think it sums up his love for Racing and the Arabian Breed."

Memorial services for Arthur J. "Art" Naquin III, were held at 3 p.m. Friday, January 20, at Eubank Funeral Home Chapel, Canton, with Keith Carlisle officiating. Art died January 16, 2006, in Athens. The memorial service was on Friday the Twentieth.

"Yes we did run his horse Corredor on the Twentieth, because Art would have wanted it that way." said Rachelle Russell and Glen Rottweiler, long time race trainers for the Naquins. "Art and Helen had a deep love for their Arabian horses, they had many ups and downs these last few years, but their horses were always at the top of their list. This last year and a half, Art had gotten back in the saddle and was riding Amazing Games all over his property and enjoyed life to the fullest. They were wonderful owners and we miss the both of them dearly."

Art Naquin was born August 15, 1928, in New Orleans, La. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur J. and Anna Baker Naquin Sr.; and his wife, Helen Naquin. Survivors include nephews, great-nephews, brother-in-law and other relatives, and all of us who joined him in his adventures.