Ninety Nine Jack Named New Mexico's 2004 Champion Older Horse

Ninety Nine Jack, who earned more than $173,000 in 2004, was named champion older horse among Thoroughbreds at the New Mexico Horse Breeders Association's recent annual awards banquet in Albuquerque. Championships were awarded for both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse categories.

A son of Jack Wilson, Ninety Nine Jack had seven wins from 12 starts and earned $173,821 in 2004. He is owned by Mary H. Bowden, of Horseshoe Bay, Texas, and was bred by Larry R. Teague, of Hobbs, N.M. Teague also bred and owns Rocky Gulch, who took home 3-year-old male honors and he owns Rona Prospect, who earned the Broodmare of the Year title. Teague was also recognized as outstanding Thoroughbred breeder at the awards event.

Champion older female honors went to William T. Stradley's homebred Shemoveslikeaghost, who won four of seven starts and earned $174,774 in 2004.

The champions in other categories are:

Two-year-old male: Sandias Peppermint (by Sandia Slew out of Peppermint Kris) bred by Joyce D. Erickson and owned by C.W. Atkinson, L.A. Malechek III, and G.B. Georgiades.

Two-year-old female: Hush's Gold (by Untold Gold out of Whats the Hush) bred and owned by R. A. Canning.

Three-year-old female: Hat Creek (by Prospector Jones out of Lucky Secretary) bred by Boyd Clement and owned by Don Stockbridge and Becky Torres.

Stallion of the Year: Prospector Jones (owned by James Brunacini) with progeny earnings of $1,018,076 in 2004.

Freshman Sire of the Year: Untold Gold (owned by Gail Ackerman) with progeny earnings of $100,915 in 2004.

In other business, the New Mexico Horse Breeders' Incentive Award Fund totaled $3,110,131 in 2004. Three hundred and seventy-four breeders, 809 owners, and 131 stallion owners shared in the distribution. The top five breeders in New Mexico determined by total monies awarded from the fund were: Mike C. Abraham, of Albuquerque; Teague, of Hobbs.; Rita J. Danley, of Anthony, N.M.; Richard A. Brunacini and Kay M. Thurman, of Belen, N.M.; and Diamond P. Ranch (Linda S. Parrish, et al.), of Meadow, Texas.