FOUR ENTITIES INDUCTED INTO RUIDOSO HALL OF FAME

June 29, 2009 - On Saturday night, Ruidoso Downs welcomed to their Hall of Fame four entities that have made a huge impact at the New Mexico racetrack.

The humans include Ted Wells Jr., the Allred Bros., and G.R. Carter Jr.

A resident of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, Wells won the 1965 All American Futurity with Savannah Jr. He also trained major stakes winners Bob’s Folly, Easter Rose and Lena’s Bar (TB) for legendary horseman Walter Merrick. Lena’s Bar eventually produced 1969 world champion and All American Futurity winner Easy Jet.

Based in Mesa, Arizona, the three Allred brothers – Jerry, Dale and Harvey – built a breeding program that produced such distinguished runners as 2002 All American Futurity winner and two-time champion AB What A Runner. The brothers also bred Grade 1 winners One Slick One, A Streak of Cash and Dash In Style.

Carter is the first active jockey ever inducted into the Ruidoso Hall. Last June, he became Quarter Horse racing’s all-time leading money-earning jockey, and his career mount earnings sits at more than $47.1 million. He won the 1998 All American Futurity with Falling in Loveagain, and won last year's edition with Stolis Winner. He also won the 2004 Ruidoso Futurity (G1) with All About Ease, the 1996 Rainbow Futurity (G1) with Swingin Val, the 1996 All American Derby (G1) with Dashing Perfection and the 1998 Rainbow Derby (G1) with Dashin Is Easy.

Strawberry Silk was the only equine inducted. The 1987 Beduino (TB) mare was raced by Jacqueline Spencer and is now owned by David and Susan Mackie, and from 1989-1991, she won 11 of 17 starts, plus three seconds, and earned $1,266,263 and honored as the sport's champion 2-year-old filly. She won the 1989 All American Futurity (G1), plus was second in the Grade 1 Kansas and Rainbow futurities, and the following year she was fourth in the Kansas Derby (G1). Her impact continued with her foals, which include champion and All American Derby (G1) winner Stoli -- sire of 2008 All American Futurity (G1) winner and world champion Stolis Winner -- and Ruidoso stakes winners Rousing Encore and Pappasito.