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APHA announces 2013 Running Champions

Familiar faces and young superstars combined to create a memorable year of Paint Horse racing in 2013. CRM Livewire and Imflashinthechicks took home the American Paint Horse Association’s top honors for racehorses: the titles of 2013 APHA Running World Champions. CRM Livewire earned his second-consecutive World Champion title for Regular Registry Paints, and Imflashinthechicks dethroned his full brother Flashthechicks to earn the Solid Paint-Bred World Champion title.

The Running Champion awards are presented annually to Paint Horses that demonstrate athleticism on the racetrack. Selection is based on their level of competition, location, races won and earnings. Awards are presented in three age categories for both Regular Registry and Solid Paint-Bred Registry horses, and the winners are selected by the APHA Racing Committee. Canadian/International, Distance and Claiming Champions were also named, along with racing Honor Roll champions.

 


2013 World Champions

With CRM Livewire returning to the track as an aged horse in 2013, breeder/owners Dan and Kaye Jones knew defending the stallion’s 2012 World Championship would be difficult. But with only four starts in 2013, CRM Livewire proved he still had what it took to top his challengers, earning a second World Champion Running Horse award, along with the 2013 Champion Aged Horse and Champion Aged Stallion titles. The 2009 bay tobiano stallion also earned his third consecutive No. 1 Honor Roll Stallion title.

Though his year started a little slow with outings in a pair of 400+ yard handicaps at Remington Park, CRM Livewire came back strong in the fall, winning the Green Country Handicap at Will Rogers Downs in October and placing second in an allowance in November. With earnings of $10,518 in 2013, CRM Livewire broke the $100,000 mark in lifetime earnings. By Cartel Success (QH) and out of Elaina Go Go, CRM Livewire was trained by Matt Whitekiller.

2013 World Champion Regular Registry Running Horse CRM Livewire

Shirley Wheeler’s precocious 2-year-old gelding Imflashinthechicks accomplished a feat in 2013 that has eluded other racehorses for two years: beating out big brother Flashthechicks for the World Champion SPB Running Horse title. Imflashinthechicks was also named Champion 2-Year-Old SPB and Champion 2-Year-Old SPB Gelding, as well as the No. 1 SPB Honor Roll Gelding for 2013.

 

2013 World Champion Solid Paint-Bred Running Horse Imflashinthechicks

Tallying a record of seven wins, two seconds and a third in 11 starts, Imflashinthechicks had an outstanding year, garnering $136,636 in total earnings—he was one of only two 2-year-olds to break the $100,000 mark last year. The 2011 sorrel solid gelding won the Oklahoma Paint Futurity and the G1 Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Futurity, was second in the American Paint Classic and Lone Star Speedhorse Futurity, and was named Speedhorse Triple Crown High-Point Champion. Bred and owned by Shirley, Imflashinthechicks is by Royal Quick Flash and out of Game Chicken. He is trained by Luis Villafranco.

Additional Honorees                                                 

APHA also recognizes individuals who contribute to the success of the breed’s running champions. Each year, the association honors the leading breeder, owner, trainer and jockey.

 

Thanks in part to the dominant performances on the track in 2013 by her trio of runners, Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Oklahoma, was named the 2013 Leading Owner and Breeder—this is her third consecutive time to win both titles. In addition to World Champion SPB Running Horse winner Imflashinthechicks, Shirley also owns and bred Imachickenkicker, the 2013 Champion 3-Year-Old SPB and 3-Year-Old SPB Filly, and Flashthechicks, the 2013 Champion Aged SPB and Aged SPB Gelding. She also owns the 2013 Broodmare of the Year Game Chicken, who is the dam of all three of Shirley’s racehorses.

 

Dee Keener of Inola, Oklahoma, earned a third consecutive Leading Trainer title in 2013. Keener-trained horses captured $314,006 in earnings during 2013.

 

G.R. Carder Jr. earned a perfect 10 in 2013—he is again honored as APHA’s Leading Jockey title for the tenth time. The talented horseman piloted his mounts to total earnings worth $193,341 in 2013.

 

Finally, Henry and Linda Bowlan of Tecumseh, Oklahoma, are the recipients of the Paul Harber Racing Distinguished Service Award for 2013. Longtime Paint racing supporters, the Bowlans have bred and raised a number of top horses that have earned in excess of $1 million on the track and helped further the Paint racing industry. Among their most notable horses is Judys Lineage, Paint racing’s No. 2 lifetime leading sire whose progeny have earned nearly $5 million on the track. Still active in the industry, the Bowlans are ranked No. 4 on APHA’s lifetime leading racing breeders list for track earnings.

 

“APHA is proud to celebrate this outstanding group of athletic Paint racehorses and dedicated supports,” APHA Executive Director Billy Smith said. “Congratulations on a job well done, and best of luck this year.”

 

The 2013 Racing Champions are as follows:

 Regular Registry

Champion 2-Year-Old & Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding: Royal Country Grip

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: She Real Country

Champion 2-Year-Old Colt: None Eligible

 

Champion 3-Year-Old & Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding: Lajollas Mr Big Stuff

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly: Kaylees Krazy Paint

Champion 3-Year-Old Colt: None Eligible

 

Champion Aged Horse & Champion Aged Stallion: CRM Livewire

Champion Aged Gelding: PF Chief Runnin Bear

Champion Aged Mare: None Eligible

 

No. 1 Honor Roll Stallion: CRM Livewire

No. 1 Honor Roll Mare: She Real Country

No. 1 Honor Roll Gelding: Judys Clone

 

Solid Paint-Bred Registry:

Champion 2-Year-Old & Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding: Imflashinthechicks

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: Turbulence

Champion 2-Year-Old Colt: None Eligible

 

Champion 3-Year-Old & Champion 3-Year-Old Filly: Imachickenkicker

Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding: Hesa Sweet First Down

Champion 3-Year-Old Colt: None Eligible

 

Champion Aged Horse & Champion Aged Gelding: Flashthechicks

Champion Aged Mare: Power Possum

Champion Aged Stallion: None Eligible

 

No. 1 Honor Roll Stallion: General Gordiz

No. 1 Honor Roll Mare: Turbulence

No. 1 Honor Roll Gelding: Imflashinthechicks

 

Special Champions

Leading Breeder & Leading Owner: Shirley Wheeler ($236,197)

Leading Trainer: Dee Keener ($314, 006)

Leading Jockey: GR Carter Jr. ($193,341)

Canadian Champion: Kick Buttowski

Distance Champion: DSP Annies Flash

Claiming Champion: Tiffanys Sparkle

Broodmare of the Year: Game Chicken

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About APHAThe American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded. APHA creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses.

For more information, contact:
APHA Marketing
(817) 834-2742

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