Drank Like Hank & Livewires Turnpike are APHA’s 2023 World Champion Running Horses

APHA’s 2023 world champion running horse titles were claimed by a pair of CRM Livewire sons for the second year in a row.

World Champion Running Horse: Drank Like Hank

Drank Like Hank, a 2021 bay tobiano gelding, secured his first APHA world championship running horse title and a pair of championships in the 2-year-old division. By CRM Livewire and out of Irish Vendetta (QH), Drank Like Hank made a name for himself under the tutelage of trainer Matt Whitekiller. He logged four wins in his freshman campaign, including stakes wins in the G1 Pot O’ Gold Futurity and the G1 Texas Hero Paint & Appaloosa Futurity. Drank Like Hank earned $79,513 for owner and breeder DeRae Racing of Guthrie, Oklahoma.

World Champion Solid Paint-Bred Running Horse: Livewires Turnpike

Livewires Turnpike swept a pair of 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred racing champion titles en route to claiming the world champion running horse title. This is his second consecutive world champion running horse honor. The 2020 black solid gelding is by CRM Livewire and out of Wagon On Turnpike. In 2023, Livewires Turnpike won three G1 races: the $35,000 Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Stakes, the $34,450 Mister Lewie Memorial Stakes and the $34,300 National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Stakes. He’s won 10 races in his career, with lifetime earnings of $195,294.
Bred by Nolan Pevehouse of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, Livewires Turnpike is owned by Bryan Hawk of Purcell, Oklahoma.

Congratulations to the 2023 APHA running horse champions:

2023 Leading Breeder: Nolan Pevehouse, with earnings of $171,875
2023 Leading Owner: Jay Ross, with earnings of $179,140
2023 Leading Trainer: Matt Whitekiller, with earnings of $578,697
2023 Leading Jockey: Roman Cruz with earnings of $215,907

2-Year-Old Colt: SW Ares
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt: Triple L Xpress
2-Year-Old Filly: OP Lil Becca
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly: Whiskey And Rain
2-Year-Old Gelding: Drank Like Hank
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding: Mighty Mocha
2-Year-Old Champion: Drank Like Hank
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Champion: Whiskey And Rain

3-Year-Old Colt: Zbars Livewire FS
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt: None Eligible
3-Year-Old Filly: RP Dirty Barracuda
3-Year Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly: Mimosa Lady
3-Year-Old Gelding: Hold My Beer
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding: Livewires Turnpike

3-Year-Old Champion: Hold My Beer
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Champion: Livewires Turnpike

Aged Stallion: Hot Flash H
Aged Solid Paint-Bred Stallion: Pato
Aged Mare: RP Reckless Wire
Aged Solid Paint-Bred Mare: El Docs Best Chic
Aged Gelding: Over The Shock
Aged Solid Paint-Bred Gelding: CL Flew The Coop
Aged Champion: Over The Shock
Aged Solid Paint-Bred Champion: El Docs Best Chic

World Champion: Drank Like Hank
SPB World Champion: Livewires Turnpike

Broodmare of the Year: Irish Vendetta
Distance Champion: Secrets Livewire
Claiming Champion: Over The Shock

2023 Regional Racing Awards

Northwest
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah
Horse: KGS Wish
Owner: Betty Charbonneau
Breeder: Kenneth D. Groce
Trainer: Jeff Charbonneau

Southwest
Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada
Horse: OP Lil Becca & VP Rocket Ryon
Owner: Guerras Racing Stable
Breeder: Scott or Lindsey Pruett
Trainer: Matt Whitekiller

Central
Oklahoma, Colorado
Horse: Triple L Xpress
Owner: Jay Ross
Breeder: Nolan Pevehouse
Trainer: Dee Keener

Canada
Horse: Snow Much Fun
Owner: Milena A. Kwiecien
Breeder: Milena A. Kwiecien
Trainer: Jason Pascoe

There were no qualifiers for Eastern (Michigan, Kentucky, Florida).

Images courtesy Dustin Orona Photography

[Reprinting all or part of this news release is permitted, so long as credit is given to the Paint Horse Journal and a link provided back to apha.com.]

About APHA

The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded in 1962. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.