Former NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme was elected president of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association board of directors, it was announced Aug. 17.
The meeting was held at Harrah's Louisiana Downs as part of Louisiana Cup Day, one of the four state-bred championship race days.
Dexter Gary, who led the board as its president for two years, nominated Delhomme for the position, citing Delhomme's leadership, national recognition, and positive image throughout the industry.
"I am all about moving forward for the best of this industry," said Delhomme after he was elected. "We have strong members on this board and I want us to use our best qualities to go forward."
Delhomme's brother, Jeff, played football for McNeese State as a top wide receiver from 1987-90. The younger Delhomme was a quarterback for the University of Louisiana-Lafayette from 1993-96 before being signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent after the 1997 NFL Draft.
Delhomme began his professional career as a practice squad player with the Saints in 1997 and 1998 and played in the NFL Europe for two years in between NFL seasons. Returning to the Saints, Delhomme played his first NFL games in 1999.
He was the Carolina Panthers' starting quarterback from 2003 to 2009. Delhomme holds most of Carolina's quarterback records and led the team to Super Bowl XXXVIII in his first season with the Panthers. Since his departure from Carolina, Delhomme played for the Cleveland Browns in 2010 and Houston Texans in 2011.
The Delhomme family shares a lifelong love of racing with Set-Hut Stables in southern Louisiana. Long before Delhomme learned to throw a football, he learned about caring for the horses his father raced at Louisiana tracks.
"The values I learned while training horses as a child showed themselves in my development as a football star," said Delhomme. "I found in horse racing an outlet for my competitive juices in retirement."
Elected as first vice president is Keith Myers. Myers and his wife, Ginger, own Coteau Grove Farms in Sunset, La. Second vice president is Brett Brinkman, who trains and breeds racehorses. He is the owner of Le Mesa Stallions in Carencro, La.
Also serving on the board are Jay Adcock, Charlotte Stemmans Clavier, Jeff Delhomme, Tom Early, Dexter Gary, Nathan Granger, Michelle LaVoice, Neal McFadden, Val Murrell, Lora Pitre, and Michele Rodriguez.
