FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Leading Trainer
Paul Jones and Dr. Leonard Blach Head Ruidoso Hall of Fame Class
RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (January 12, 2009) – Paul Jones, the all-time leading
money-earning quarter horse trainer, heads the 2010 class to be inducted into
the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame during the induction banquet on June
26.
Joining Jones in the 2010 class are owner/breeder Dr. Leonard Blach, jockey
Eddie Garcia and the All American Futurity winning horse Mr Master Bug.
Jones has recently dominated quarter horse racing with seven-straight titles as
the nation’s champion quarter horse trainer. He is favored to earn his
eighth-straight title when the champions are announced on Wednesday.
In December, Jones became the all-time leading money earning quarter horse
trainer when he surpassed Blane Schvaneveldt. Each trainer has saddled the
earners of more than $55 million. Schvaneveldt, a 12-time national training
champion, is a member of the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame.
Last year, Jones’ horses earned a record $7,481,604, which was more than
$2,000,000 above the second- and third-leading money earning trainers combined.
In 2009, Jones won his third Grade 1, $2,000,000 All American Futurity with his
probable champion 2-year-old Runnning Brook Gal. He also swept the top three
spots in the Grade 1 All American Derby and won the Grade 1, $2,000,000 Los
Alamitos Two Million Futurity.
Blach, of Roswell, New Mexico, owns and operates Buena Suerte Equine, a major
breeding operation. He was the veterinarian and ranch manager of Buena Suerte
Equine’s predecessor Buena Suerte Ranch, which stood leading sires Easy Jet and
Go Man Go.
Blach is co-owner with Mark Allen of 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.
The gelding was also second in the Preakness Stakes and third in the Belmont
Stakes. Blach and Allen brought Mine That Bird to Ruidoso Downs to lead the post
parade for the 2009 All American Futurity before more than 23,000 fans.
Garcia has been a stalwart in the jockey colony at Los Alamitos Race Course in
Southern California and is that track’s all-time leading rider with nearly 2,600
winners. He surpassed Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame member Danny Cardoza
to reach the top spot.
He earned his richest win in 2008 when he teamed with Schvaneveldt to win the
Los Alamitos Two Million with Tres Passes. He won the race in 1996 (when it was
the Los Alamitos Million) with Corona Cartel.
Marvin Barnes’ Mr Master Bug became the first racehorse of any breed to win a $1
million first-place check when won the 1982 All American Futurity. The stallion
trained by Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame member Jack Brooks retired with
earnings of $1,793,718. He still holds the title of the all-time leading
money-earning quarter horse stallion 30 years after he was foaled.