Four Enshrined in Ruidoso Hall

Four Sixes, Didericksen, Taylor and DM Shicago enshrined in Ruidoso Racehorse Hall of Fame.

June 30, 2012

The Four Sixes Ranch, trainer Heath Taylor, jockey Kip Didericksen and world champion DM Shicago were inducted into the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame on Friday night at Ruidoso Downs.

The videos for each of the 2012 inductees may be seen by going to www.raceruidoso.com/hall-of-fame.php.

The Four Sixes Ranch is part of the famous Burnett Ranches LLC, which is among the most storied family-run businesses in Texas history. It was started by Captain Samuel “Burk” Burnett in 1868 when he bought 100 head of cattle with a “6666” brand. The operation now stretches over nearly 300,000 acres in the “big ranch country” of Texas and is overseen by Burnett’s great-granddaughter Ms. Anne Marion, also known as Little Anne.

In addition to the vast cattle business, the horse operation has set the highest standard for racing, performance and ranch horses. Their foundation stallions included Cee Bars, Hollywood Gold, Joe Hancock and Grey Badger III. The ranch’s racehorse breeding program has flourished over the past 50 years and has been headed by world champions and leading sires Dash For Cash, Streakin Six and Special Effort.

The Four Sixes currently has a very deep stallion roster headed by leading sire Mr Jess Perry, the second-ranked sire of graded stakes winners in 2011. His 2011 stakes winners include Heritage Place Futurity (G1) winner High Rate Of Return and Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1) winner Miss Racy Jess.

Their first-year sire One Famous Eagle sired the first- and third-place finishers in the Ed Burke Million Futurity (G1).

Taylor has become one of the most important trainers in Quarter Horse racing. He is the all-time third-ranked trainer of stakes winners behind Paul Jones and Blane Schvaneveldt and the fourth-ranked trainer of all-time money earners behind Jones, Schvaneveldt and Jack Brooks. Each of those trainers ranked ahead of Taylor is a member of the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame.

Taylor saddled Jerry Windham’s Stolis Winner to victories in the All American Futurity (G1) and Rainbow Futurity (G1) on his way to being honored as the 2008 world champion as a 2-year-old. He is now the all-time leading money earning Quarter Horse at $2,235,161.

A dominant jockey in major stakes races throughout Quarter Horse racing, Didericksen was honored as the national champion jockey in 1986 and then in 1989 through 1992. During his championship years he guided two-time world champion Refrigerator to wins in the All American Futurity (G1) in 1990 and the Champion of Champions (G1) in 1992. He also won the 1990 Champion of Champions with world champion Dash For Speed.

Didericksen scored multiple graded wins in the Rainbow Derby, Los Alamitos Championship, Los Alamitos Derby, Ed Burke Futurity, Kindergarten Futurity, Golden State Derby, Governor’s Cup Futurity, PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity and El Primero Del Ano Derby. He also had Grade 1 wins in the Ruidoso Derby, Go Man Go Handicap and the Vessels Maturity.

Racing for owners Fredda Draper and Don Moler, DM Shicago became one of the all-time fan favorites at Ruidoso Downs when he won the 2004 All American Futurity and returned the following summer to sweep the three Grade 1 derbies. He won the Ruidoso Derby by a neck, the Rainbow Derby by three-quarters of a length and then the All American Derby by one length to secure the 2005 world champion title.

Trained by Carl Draper, DM Shicago raced into the national Quarter Horse spotlight when he won the 2004 All American Futurity by an expanding three-quarters of a length in a then stakes record :21.00 for the 440 yards.

A son of Separatist, DM Shicago became third horse to take the three derbies and the fifth horse to win the All American Futurity and the All American Derby, but he is the only All American Futurity winner to also win the three prestigious derbies.

Jockey Juan Vazquez was aboard for each of DM Shicago’s 19 career starts and the powerful gelding made his first 11 outs at Ruidoso Downs. He had seven wins, two seconds and two thirds at Ruidoso Downs while earning $1,812,513 of his career earnings of $1,873,730 at the mountain track.

The Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame celebrates the greatest horsemen and horses who have impacted the sport. The non-profit hall of fame is open free to the public and all donations are tax deductible.