Jones Among Five for 2016 Texas HOF Class
Description:
The Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame will enshrine four people and one horse Oct. 29 at Retama Park in Selma, Texas.
The 2016 Hall of Fame class includes John T.L. Jones Jr., Dr. Nat Kieffer, Hugh Fitzsimmons, Jay Pumphrey, and Quarter Horse First Down Dash.
A Texas native, Jones was a manager and trainer for prominent Quarter Horse owner and breeder Walter Merrick from 1966 to 1970, before becoming the owner and manager of Walmac Stud near Lexington. He is a founder of the Breeder's Cup and co-owner of Quarter Horse racing's all-time leading money earner Ochoa. Jones has served as the vice chairman for the Kentucky Racing Commission, director of the Association of State Racing Commissioners, director for the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, and is a former member of the executive committee of the Texas Horse Racing Association.
Kieffer is an internationally recognized expert on animal science and genetics and is a former Texas A&M University professor. He has served as chairman of the Texas Equine Research Advisory Committee and as a director for the Texas Thoroughbred Association. Kieffer is an accomplished breeder being credited with such runners as Passover, a former Hall of Fame inductee, Texas champion claimer Deviously Fast, and TTA Sales Futurity winner Precaution. He currently owns and operates Touchstone Farm in College Station, Texas.
Fitzsimons began breeding Thoroughbreds for racing and polo in 1956 at the San Pedro Ranch in Carrizo Springs, Texas. He is a former director and life member of the Texas Thoroughbred Breeders Association, as well as a member of The Jockey Club, Thoroughbred Club of America, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, Water Hay Oats Alliance, and the Grayson Jockey Club Foundation-Rokeby Circle. Fitzsimons served as the president of the TTA from 1997 to 1998 and is also a founding member of the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame. He served as the chairman for the Texas Racing Commission, Horse Racing Section from 1988 to 1993.
The late John Boyce "Jay" Pumphrey and prominent sire First Down Dash represent Texas' Quarter Horse sector.
The Texas Racing Hall of Fame celebration is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. CT at Retama, and will run before and during the races. Proceeds from the gala, which is open to the public, will benefit the Saddle Light Center; Groom Elite; and the Race Track Chaplaincies at Lone Star Park, Sam Houston Race Park, and Retama.
For more information or to purchase tickets for the gala at $125 per person, visit www.txhof.com.