AJAX, ONT—JULY 10, 2026—The late Ralph Pearson, one of the pioneering figures in Ontario Quarter Horse racing whose vision helped establish the sport in the province and paved the way for racing at Ajax Downs, will be honored posthumously with a Meritorious Award from the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Pearson, who passed away last year at 92, played a pivotal role in bringing pari-mutuel Quarter Horse racing to what was then known as Picov Downs in the early 1970s. He was also instrumental in organizing Quarter Horse race meets at Woodbine and other Ontario racetracks during the sport's formative years.

A driving force behind the development of Ontario's Quarter Horse racing industry, Pearson helped establish the province's stakes and futurity programs and ...

DALLAS, TX–JULY 9, 2026–Billy Peterson, winner of the 1995 All American Futurity, joins Episode 69 of QH Racing Talk — Weekly for an in-depth conversation about his remarkable career, from his early days as a jockey to his career as a Financial Planner.

Billy Peterson has been one of the most accomplished and respected jockeys in Quarter Horse racing. Throughout his career, he earned a reputation as a top rider, highlighted by his victory aboard Winalota Cash in the 1995 All American Futurity. His success in the saddle and now breeder/owner in the Quarter Horse racing industry have made him one of the sport's most recognized ...

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

VILLE PLATTE, LA—JULY 9, 2026—The Quarter Horse industry is mourning the loss of Kimberly "Kim" Arabie Blanchet, co-owner of Blanchet Farms, who passed away Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at the age of 62, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Known throughout the racing industry as "Kim," she and her husband, Chris Blanchet, built Blanchet Farms into one of Louisiana's premier Quarter Horse breeding, foaling, sales preparation, and racehorse development operations. For ...

CLAREMORE, OK–JULY 9, 2026–The Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA) has announced that stall applications are now available for the upcoming 2026 Will Rogers Downs Fall Quarter Horse/Mixed Meet, while also unveiling substantial overnight purse increases and a new owner incentive program for the season.

Applications are due by Sunday, August 2, and may be submitted in person at Fair Meadows or Will Rogers Downs, or emailed to theresa.luneack@cnent.com. The stall application is available through OQHRA.

Quarter Horse ...

By David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALEXANDRIA, LA–JULY 9, 2026–A regular meeting of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) Board of Directors is scheduled for Thursday, July 16, in The Clubhouse at Delta Downs, ...

By StallioneSearch

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX—JULY 9, 2026—Lone Star Park has issued a reminder to horsemen that the first sustaining payments for the 2026 Dash for Cash Futurity and Dash for Cash Derby are due Wednesday, July 15.

The sustaining payment is $400 for horses that have already been nominated.

 Owners of horses not previously nominated also have the opportunity to make a late nomination ...

By Don Stevens

VINTON, LA–JULY 8, 2026–Delta Downs will host the richest American Quarter Horse program of the year on Saturday, July 11, when Louisiana Showcase Night takes center stage. The annual event is devoted to horses bred in Louisiana, with nine stakes races during a 10-race card. The main event will be the $602,705 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1), which will serve as the nightcap.

The first post time will be 6:15 pm (CDT).

The fastest qualifier for the Lee Berwick Futurity was Rogelio Marquez, Jr.’s Rdd Reason For B, who has been installed as the 7-2 second choice in the morning line. The Juan C. Garcia trainee will be ridden by Leonardo Rodriguez, who has ...

By Martha Claussen

VINTON, LA–JULY 7, 2026-On Saturday, July 11, the final of the $602,705 Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) will take place at Delta Downs. The field for the championship for accredited Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds was decided on Friday, June 19, when 11 trials were completed over a sloppy racetrack.

It was a challenging evening for the juveniles and their connections, as the 350-yard times were closely followed throughout the ...

By Ralph E. Rampellini/Courtesy DRF

GRAPEVINE, TX–JULY 6, 2026–On the 250th anniversary of our country, the Sport of Kings lost one of its best advocates. Mary Rampellini was raised in horse racing and destined to be in the sport.

Two days before Mary’s passing, my mom had an old photo album out that I had never seen before. There was a picture of my dad working at Spendthrift Farm ...

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JULY 4, 2026– Friday night's card at Retama Park featured three trial heats for the $181,000 Retama Park Derby presented by 440 Equine, with 26 three-year-olds vying for ten berths in the July 25 final. The evening concluded with the $50,000 Grade 3 Selma Stakes, while fans also enjoyed live entertainment from the Broken Duck Feet Band and a post-race fireworks display.

The night's leading horsemen turned in standout performances. Luis Vivanco, Gilberto Linares, and Rosendo Pina ...

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JULY 3, 2026–Thursday's program at Retama Park featured 88 juveniles competing in nine trial heats, all hoping to earn one of ten spots in the $683,700 TQHA Sale Futurity-RG1 finals on July 25.

The trials not only determined the 10 finalists for the July 25 championship, but also highlighted the horsemen who dominated the night's nine qualifying races at Retama Park.

Retama Park's leading rider, Nestor Duran, turned in the ...

By StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JULY 2, 2026—Bett The Limit has been reinstated as the winner of the 15th trial to the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity following a unanimous ruling by the New Mexico Racing Commission during a special meeting held Thursday, earning the filly a spot in the $1,000,000 final on July 12 at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The Commission unanimously overturned the stewards' disqualification from last Saturday's Day 2 trials, restoring Bett The ...

DALLAS, TX–JULY 2, 2026–Janet VanBebber, Chief Racing Officer for the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), joins Episode 68 of QH Racing Talk — Weekly for an in-depth conversation about her remarkable career, from her early days as a trainer to her leadership role within the AQHA and her lasting contributions to the Quarter Horse racing industry.

For decades, VanBebber has been one of the most respected and influential women in Quarter Horse racing. Throughout her career, she has helped shape the sport as a trainer, racing executive, and industry leader, earning widespread recognition for her dedication to advancing Quarter ...

SHELBYVILLE, IN–JULY 1, 2026–Fresh on the heels of the cancellation and move of the Wednesday, July 1 racing card to Monday, July 6, Horseshoe Indianapolis has made the decision to also cancel the Thursday, July 2 racing program. Elevated heat indexes are predicted to surge past unsafe conditions prompting the second cancellation this week.

“With the forecasted heat index approaching 110 degrees, we are being proactive and canceling racing on Thursday,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “We work closely with our horsemen’s groups to determine the best decision in these cases. We fully expect to be racing Saturday, July 4th as the heat subsides a bit in ...

By StallioneSearch

ALEXANDRIA, LA–JULY 1, 2026–July brings several important deadlines for Louisiana horsemen, beginning July 1 with Foaling Reports due at a fee of $40. Also due on July 1 are the fourth payment for the 2026 LQHBA Sale Futurity ($500), 2026 ICSI Form Part 2 and Part 3, Embryo Transfer Mare reports ($25), and Leased Mare paperwork to the LQHBA office.

Horsemen should note that beginning July 2, Foaling Reports will increase to $250 through December 31, 2026. The $500 payment for the 2026 Big Easy Futurity is ...

By Chelsea Hackbarth, Paulick Report

VINTON, LA–JULY 1, 2026–A trio of Quarter Horse trainers has been sanctioned after a June 29, 2026, meeting of the Louisiana State Racing Commission, ...

By Tammy Knox

SHELBYVILLE, IN–JUNE 30, 2026–Due to forecasted heat index numbers in the Central Indiana area Wednesday, July 1, Horseshoe Indianapolis has moved the entire racing program to Monday, July 6. The 10-race program will begin at 2:10 p.m. Monday, July 6 with no live racing as previously scheduled held Wednesday, July ...

By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA—JUNE 29, 2026—Los Alamitos Race Course will provide an enhanced simulcast presentation for its weekend night Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred racing programs starting Sunday, July 5. The debut broadcast will feature a full night of trials for the California-bred Governor’s Cup Futurity and Governor’s Cup Derby.

For fans who cannot attend on-track or visit an off-track satellite facility, the updated television, simulcast, and live streaming options ensure steady coverage of ...

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA.–JUNE 29, 2026–The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) sent out a reminder to owners and trainers that nominations for the 2026 Big Easy Futurity are due and must be postmarked on or before Thursday, July 2, 2026.

The race, to be contested over 350 yards for 2-year-olds, will offer $75,000 added with an estimated purse of $200,000. Trials are scheduled for Friday, August 7, with the finals set for Friday, August 28 at Delta Downs in Vinton, ...

By StallioneSearch

DENTON, TX–JUNE 27, 2026—Former Quarter Horse jockey James Norman Brooks, affectionately known throughout the racing industry as “Diamond Jim,” passed away June 26 in Denton, Texas, just two days after celebrating his 75th birthday.

A multiple Grade 1-winning rider, Brooks entered the racing industry in 1971 when a ...

By Tammy Knox

SHELBYVILLE, IN–JUNE 27, 2026–Tony Cunningham has been a major player in Indiana pari-mutuel Quarter Horse racing since its inception in 1997. The Michigan native has competed every year since that time. Many of his wins have been secured in the Hoosier State, and now a special milestone can be added to his credentials. Cunningham scored two wins ...

DALLAS, TX–JUNE 25, 2026– Episode 67 of the industry-leading podcast QH Racing Talk Weekly brings together three guests whose careers span through generations of Quarter Horse racing: newly announced AQHA Hall of Fame inductee F.E. "Butch" Wise, Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association President Christina Sowders, and 16-year-old stakes winning jockey Ryder Olmstead.

From working at the AQHA earlier in his career to serving on various committees ...

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TEXAS–JUNE 24, 2026–Retama Park's 2026 live Quarter Horse meet is set to begin Thursday, June 25, with a full three-day weekend of racing. The opening weekend will feature six stakes races, including three on Thursday and three on Saturday.

Fans can enjoy $2 draft beer specials while watching live Quarter Horse racing, and military personnel ...

By Tammy Knox

SHELBYVILLE, IN–JUNE 24, 2026–It was a fun day of racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis as the afternoon featured the 12th annual World Jockey Challenge. ...