The American Quarter Horse Journal — Thanks to a recent generous donation by the R.D. and Joan Dale Hubbard Foundation of Ruidoso, New Mexico, the American Quarter Horse Foundation will soon begin construction on a comprehensive racing exhibit. The All American Futurity Theater will be the focus of the exhibit, which will be housed within the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo, Texas.
The R.D. and Joan Dale Hubbard All American Futurity Theater and Exhibit will incorporate a dynamic exhibit of All American Futurity memorabilia, including photos, silks and trophies housed within a mini-theater where up to six people can comfortably watch a documentary-style video in an on-demand setting. The documentary will feature available video from each year’s race, including both pre- and post-race footage, and participant comments to enhance the historic aspects and feel of the piece. Viewers will have the opportunity to watch specific races by year, jockey, owner, trainer, breeder or horse.
The All American Futurity (G1), which is run on Labor Day each year at Ruidoso Downs in Ruidoso, New Mexico, is the richest race in American Quarter Horse racing. Open exclusively to 2-year-olds, it was the world’s first $1 million horse race, and currently awards at least $1 million to the race winner.
The goal is to create an educational racing exhibit that showcases Ruidoso Downs, key trainers, horses and important facts about the All American that new fans and seasoned racing enthusiasts will find fascinating. This project will also serve to collect and categorize all available video pertaining to the All American Futurity. The exhibit will also include the actually racing gates from the first All American Futurity, currently located in this area and named in honor of AQHA Past President Jim Helzer and wife Marilyn, who are also prominent American Quarter Horse racehorse breeders and trainers.
The educational components of the exhibit are sure to inspire young museum visitors toward pursuing a career in the racing industry and provide relevant information on higher education opportunities at participating universities as well as information on scholarships available through the American Quarter Horse Foundation.
“This generous gift from the R.D. and Joan Dale Hubbard Foundation is going to allow the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum to create an exhibit that will recognize the All American Futurity’s place in racing American Quarter Horse history and in making notable American Quarter Horse racehorses,” said AQHA Executive Vice President Don Treadway Jr.
R.D. Hubbard is a member of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, one of the highest and most distinguished honors in the horse industry. R.D owned and raced champions including Stoli, Super Sound Charge and his homebred Ketel Won, and bred Grade 1 winners Racy N Lacy, Star Of Sierra Leone and Miss Jordash. He also, in partnership with Johnny T.L. Jones, bred and owns champions Noconi and Brenda Beautiful. Joan Dale bred and raced champion Prankster CF.
“Joan Dale and I are pleased to partner with AQHA in creating this wonderful theater and exhibit to showcase and preserve the importance of the All American Futurity and Ruidoso Downs in Quarter Horsing Racing History” said R.D. “Quarter Horses and Quarter Horse racing have always played a large role in our personal lives.”
The R.D. and Joan Dale Hubbard All American Futurity Theater and Exhibit is slated to be finished in August 2011. Click here to get information on American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame admission and hours of operation, or find out how you can contribute to the worthwhile programs and initiatives – scholarships, equine research and America’s Horse Cares, which provides grants to therapeutic riding facilities – of the Foundation.
“Joan Dale and I want to personally thank AQHA for its efforts educationally in promoting the importance of the American Quarter Horse on the history of this country and Quarter Horse racing in the sport of horse racing, in general,” said R.D.
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal or America’s Horse, visit AQHA Publications
Discover more from Ebarrelracing.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
