ALEXANDRIA, LA-MARCH 5,2018--The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) is pleased to announce the 2017 association's annual Champions. Each of the recipients will be honored at the annual LQHBA Membership Meeting & Awards Banquet on Saturday, March 24 at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, Louisiana.

The 2017 Louisiana Quarter Horse champions are determined each year by a format established in 2015 by the LQHBA Board of Directors. In each category, winners are selected based on a combination of earnings, stakes wins, qualifying to a Futurity or Derby final and AQHA points.

"Our association takes great pride in recognizing the exceptional horses and individuals who breed, own and race Quarter Horses in Louisiana," said Tony Patterson, LQHBA executive director. "We congratulate each of the 2017 champions and look forward to honoring them at our LQHBA Membership Meeting & Awards Banquet this month."

2017 LQHBA Champions

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly
DASHNUNDER AFULLMOON
Owner: Rogelio Marquez, Jr.
Breeder: Spring Hill Farms & Sherry Dunn

Champion 2-Year-Old Colt (Co-Champions)
YOU DRIVE I FLY
Owner & Breeder: Richard & Janelle Simon

JRS NATURAL RUNAWAY
Owner: Triple C Racing Stables, LLC
Breeder: Julien R Stevens, III & Paul Rigdon

Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding(Co-Champions)
JRS TAYLORS RUNNAWAY
Owner: Rosalio Espinosa
Breeder: Julien R Stevens, III

SECOND DOWN LEAVING
Owner: Eulalio Argote & Victor Alvarado
Breeder: Grant Farms, LLC

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly (Co-Champions)
SHEZ THE BOMB
Owner: Watson Land & Cattle & Live Oak Farms
Breeder: Live Oak Farms, Inc.

LA MOS CORONA
Owner: Manuel Alvarez
Breeder: Oscar Rohne

Champion 3-Year-Old Colt (Co-Champions)
HEZ FOR REAL
Owner: Watson Land & Cattle (Paul Watson)
Breeder: Daniel Trahan

FABULOSLY FAST GAME
Owner: Martin Trejo & RC Stables, LLC
Breeder: Grant Farms

Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding
FIRST PRIZE BOURBAN
Owner: Charles Boudreaux
Breeder: Weetona Stanley

Champion Aged Mare
SWEET BRU
Owner: Jose Ortiz
Breeder: Ceburn L. Baker, Jr.

Champion Aged Stallion (Co-Champions)
JESS LA JOLLA BLUE
Owner: Bernal Arturo Olvera
Breeder: Jumonville Farms

SCOOPIES LEAVING YOU
Owner: Joel Galindo
Breeder: Gerald D. Libersat

Champion Aged Gelding (Co-Champions)
HEZA LOUISIANA DASH
Owner: TM Ranch
Breeder: Jumonville Farms & Burnett Ranch

IM MIGHTY FAST
Owner: Triple C Racing Stables, LLC
Breeder: Brent Cody LeBlanc

Champion Distance Horse (Co-Champions)
B AND G FAST DASH
Owner: Mo Racing
Breeder: B & G Group Investments, Inc.

IM MIGHTY FAST
Owner: Triple C Racing Stables, LLC
Breeder: Brent Cody LeBlanc

Top Money Earner
YOU DRIVE I FLY
Owner & Breeder: Richard & Janelle Simon

Champion Stallion
HEZA FAST DASH
Owner: Heza Fast Dash Syndicate

Champion Broodmare
EYEJESSLOVELOUISIANA
Owner: Jumonville Farms & Burnett Ranch

Champion Trainer
KENNETH ROBERTS, SR.
Champion Jockey
DAMIAN MARTINEZ

Champion Breeder
RICHARD & JANELLE SIMON

Champion Owner
ROGELIO MARQUEZ, JR.

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2018 Hall of Fame Inductees

As previously announced, Louisiana Quarter Horse breeder and owner, John Lionel Soileau, Sr. and noted racehorse and stallion Hemp Meyers will be inducted into this year's Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) Hall of Fame. This is the third year that LQHBA has named its recipients. The ceremony, in conjunction with the annual LQHBA Membership Meeting & Awards Banquet, will take place on Saturday, March 24 at the Evangeline Downs Events Center in Opelousas, Louisiana.

About the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) LQHBA is the state racing affiliate of the American Quarter Horse Association. It is also the official registry for accredited Louisiana-bred racing Quarter Horses and is recognized by the Louisiana Legislature and the Louisiana State Racing Commission.

Since its inception in 1966, the association has developed a number of programs to further breeding and racing in Louisiana. Last year, purses in Louisiana totaled approximately $20 million, and breeders' incentives for mares and stallions exceeded $4.7 million. LQHBA oversees the annual LQHBA Yearling Sale and Fall Mixed Sale and has raised and donated over $500,000 to support its Louisiana youth scholarship program.