Press Release - 2 March 2009

Texas Breeders, Owners and Horses honored at the 2009 Darley Awards

The Texas Arabian Breeders Association was proud that Texas could serve as the host location of this year's Darley Awards. The Darley Awards for the Arabian horse, akin to the Eclipse Awards for Thoroughbreds, honor the best in the USA for the previous year of Arabian racing. Even just a decade ago, it was difficult and very rare for Texas owners, trainers, and horses to achieve these high levels of excellence. This year not only was Texas honored to help host the Darley Awards weekend, but many Texas horses and their connections were recognized for at the event for their outstanding performance.

This year, the Darley for Owner of the Year was awarded to Texas's Sam Vasquez. Sam's leading horses were Jessys Princess, Caitlyns Hot, TM Marie Laveau, Golly Bret, and Coming Through. Sam's horses ran in 85 races, with 33 wins, 19 seconds and 8 thirds, 13 stakes wins and 9 stakes placings to an earnings figure of $209,875. Sam comments, "I had the best year I've ever had in racing, that's including when I had 5 or 6 Thoroughbreds running too. I got lucky, and probably more than anything, my breeding proved itself. But, I guess that's still luck, because we all sure know without that you're up a creek. There are some of us that are really into it, because we do enjoy the morning drive to go see the horses work, the camaradarie that goes on between owners and trainers, and seeing the horses actually run. I've been in this business since '91 and this will be the first time I actually made a profit, but I've enjoyed every minute of the trip. I wouldn't change a thing. I've learned alot about horses and people, and more than anything, myself. Finding something that I really enjoy was something that I wasn't expecting, but things changed along the way. If anyone knew how much money I've put into this race thing, they would definitely think I'm crazy. But, with the year I've had, maybe crazy like a fox."

Darley Trainer of the Year was awarded to Elizabeth Brand, a woman with strong roots in Texas. Liz got her start in Colorado in the '90s, but has regularly supported the Texas meets every year. The leading horses in 2008 that put her to the top in earnings ($278,195) were Texas horses; and vice versa of course, Liz's excellent work boosted those horses to their own achievement awards.

Following are the outstanding horses with Texas connections who received national recognition this year at the Darleys:

GOLLY BRET	DARLEY WINNER - THREE YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING	BRED AND OWNED BY SAM VASQUEZ OF GALVESTON TEXAS
THEORETICALLY	DARLEY NOMINEE - THREE YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING	BRED BY LESLIE GICEWICZ OF WILLIS TEXAS AND OWNED BY OAKCREST FARMS LLC OF WILLIS TEXAS
BLACK BEACHES	DARLEY NOMINEE - THREE YEAR OLD FILLY	OWNED AND BRED BY JANE R TEUTSCH, NOW IN HEMPSTEAD TEXAS
AURORAS RAINBEAU	DARLEY NOMINEE - FOUR YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING	OWNED AND BRED BY MANDOLYNN HILL FARM OF AUBREY TEXAS
CAITLYNS HOT	DARLEY NOMINEE - FOUR YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING, DARLEY NOMINEE - SPRINTER	OWNED AND BRED BY SAM VASQUEZ OF GALVESTON TEXAS
REMARKABLE MAN	DARLEY WINNER - FOUR YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING	BRED BY MANDOLYNN HILL FARM OF AUBREY TEXAS
DC WILLFUL SPIRIT	DARLEY NOMINEE - FOUR YEAR OLD FILLY	OWNED AND BRED BY DAN & CLAUDIA SPEARS OF WILLIS TEXAS
TM MARIE LAVEAU	DARLEY NOMINEE - FOUR YEAR OLD FILLY	OWNED BY SAM VASQUEZ OF GALVESTON TEXAS, BRED BY TODD MOAK OF WARREN TEXAS
DJET SET DE FALGAS	DARLEY NOMINEE - OLDER HORSE	OWNED BY JANE R TEUTSCH, NOW IN HEMPSTEAD TEXAS
THE LAST DANSE	DARLEY NOMINEE - OLDER HORSE	OWNED BY KEN & NANCY BLEWETT OF KINGSBURY TEXAS
JESSYS PRINCESS	DARLEY WINNER - OLDER MARE, DARLEY NOMINEE - SPRINTER	OWNED AND BRED BY SAM VASQUEZ OF GALVESTON TEXAS
ROLLY POLLY	DARLEY NOMINEE - OLDER MARE GICEWICZ PHOTO	OWNED BY KEN & NANCY BLEWETT OF KINGSBURY TEXAS

For a full list of Darley Nominees and Darley Winners, see the website of the Arabian Racing Cup.