Hall of Fame - Horses December  3, 2024

The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders' Association Hall-of-Fame showcases the many horses and people who have earned the distinction of becoming part of Quarter Horse Racing history in Louisiana. To be part of the Hall-of-Fame, horses and people must have been outstanding over a period of years in a variety of categories. They must have brought exceptional visibility and/or contribution to Quarter Horse Racing and the State of Louisiana.

Hall-of-Fame inductees are chosen each year by a selection committee and are honored at the annual LQHBA Awards Banquet. The inaugural inductee class were announced in January 2016. On April 9, 2016, Leverne Perry and Claude and Bessie Lea Jeane, Oh Black Magic, Rocket's Magic and Royal Bushwhacker were inducted into the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) inaugural Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the association. Owner-breeder Claude W. Boutte, Jr. and Grade 1 winner and industry leading sire Feature Mr Jess were inducted in 20121.

Outstanding Louisiana Quarter Horse trainer Phillip Calais, Sr. and iconic stallion Heza Fast Dash will be honored in the 2022 class.

A special thank you to Martha Claussen for research and writing bios and to Speedhorse and TRACK magazines for helping track down photos of these inductees from their archives.

The inductees have each played a significant role in Louisiana Quarter Horse industry. Inductees into the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders' Association Hall-of-Fame are:

PEOPLE

  • Claude W. Boutte, Jr.
  • Claude & Bessie Jeane
  • Dale Rogers
  • Glenn Fontenot
  • J.E. Jumonville, Jr.
  • John L. Soileau, Sr.
  • Leverne Perry
  • Lee Berwick
  • W.A. Darling

HORSES

  • Feature Mr Jess
  • Go Vicki Meyers
  • Hemp Meyers
  • Hesajoy
  • Jess Louisiana Blue
  • Mr Jess Perry
  • Oh Black Magic
  • Rockets Magic
  • Royal Bushwhacker
  • Streakin La Jolla
  • Vals Fortune

Below are photos of each Hall of Fame member inducted in 2021. Click their photo or name in the left toolbar to read their biographical information. To view previous Hall-of-Fame member bios click on "PEOPLE" or "HORSES" in the left tool bar.

HEZA FAST DASH

Inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame in 2022

Heza Fast Dash • 1998 - 2019

Leading sire Heza Fast Dash is the 2022 equine inductee into the LQHBA Hall of Fame. The son of Heza Fast Man out of the Dash for Cash mare First Prize Dash was bred in Oklahoma by prominent horsewoman Weetona Stanley and was born on March 21, 1998.

He made 18 starts in his racing career, winning three races and was the runner-up up in the Remington Park Futurity (G1) for conditioner Rodney Reed. He retired with earnings of $136,123.

What transpired following his retirement was a very interesting acquisition that speaks volumes of the men involved. It began with James Pruitt who made a phone call to Jude Robicheaux, the patriarch of Robicheaux Ranch in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. He asked Jude to come to Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Oklahoma to evaluate Heza Fast Dash as a prospective stallion.

"I had no interest in going all the way to Oklahoma," admitted Jude. "James and Coulon would not leave me alone, so Coulon and I drove up to see him. When we got to Tulsa, the stable gate was locked; we had to spend the night and come back first thing in the morning. It was so dark; I couldn't really see him."

Coulon Jumonville headed a group who purchased Heza Fast Dash in the summer of 2002 and brought him to Louisiana. © Coady Photography
Coulon Jumonville remembered every detail of that trip to Tulsa.

"James Pruitt, a dear friend of the family, had it in his mind that Heza Fast Dash would make a good stallion," said Jumonville. "He was a good solid horse, and his mom was a full-sister to First Down Dash, but (his sire) Heza Fast Man wasn't hot at the time." The six-figure purchase was a huge risk to the Louisiana horsemen at the time, and they were not sure that the acquisition was worth the risk. Pruitt convinced them that forming a syndicate would be prudent and David Smith and M.C. Morris joined Jumonville and Robicheaux as investors.

Smith, who later founded StallionesSearch, was the Agent for Weetona Stanley and sold Heza Fast Dash to Coulon. He used his commission to stay in as a part owner in the original deal before he was syndicated.

"He was the best investment I ever made in the horse business," stated Smith.

Pruitt was instrumental in attracting additional investors for the syndicate, but Jumonville had a clear vision to the future of Heza Fast Dash.

Leading sire Heza Fast Dash and Robicheaux Ranch farm manager Ryan Robicheaux.
© Amanda Glidden / Plugged In Equine Marketing
"It's the only horse deal that I've been in that I never lost a nickel," he said. "Heza Fast Dash was a once in a lifetime horse. He had a great demeanor and passed his sense to his babies. You could cross him with anything!"

When Heza Fast Dash arrived at Robicheaux Ranch in 2000, the farm had four stallions. His fee was set at $2,500 and Ryan Robicheaux, who serves as farm manager for the family-owned ranch, originally shared his father's doubts.

"When daddy first got him, I wasn't sure he would be a producer," he said. "He looked more like a roping horse!"

But Ryan soon became a believer as Heza Fast Dash embarked on a prolific second career as a stallion.

His first crop of foals hit the ground in 2004 and made a significant impact on the track two years later. Heza Fast Dash ended 2006 as the #2 leading first-crop sire of money earners with 20 winners and 2 stakes winners earning $686,527. A top three leading sire in his second and third crops he climbed into the top-ten leading sires of money earners list by 2010, where he remained throughout his career.

In 2013 Heza Fast Dash was the #1 Leading Sire of Money Earners in the nation with 89 winners, 20 stakes winners and earnings of $3,758,069. Rounding out the top five that year were Corona Cartel, Pyc Paint Your Wagon, Valiant Hero and FDD Dynasty.

Eysa Jess Jumpn is Heza Fast Dash's all-time leading money earner with 15 wins to 4, $932,387.
© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
"He wasn't the easiest breeder," explained Ryan. "There were so many mares that he had no interest in, but he was very fond of a paint mare, who became his girlfriend and helped us in the breeding shed."

His stud fee rose to $8,000 and in 13 crops, he sired the earners of more than $30.6 million, which placed him eighth on the AQHA Racing list of all-time leading sires by money earned. Of course, his imprint on Louisiana Quarter Horse racing was unsurpassed. Heza Fast Dash was among the leading sale sires in Louisiana most of his career. Heza Fast Dash top performers include 18 runners of over $300,000, 11 runners over $400,000, 4 runners over $500,000, 1 over $700,000.

Eysa Jess Jumpn ($932,387), who won 15 of her 21 starts including the Lee Berwick Memorial Louisiana Bred Futurity [RG1); Dashinunder Afullmoon ($711,951), also a Lee Berwick Futurity Champion; Ol Time Preacher Man ($565,933),who won the LQHBA Louisiana Million (RG1); Heza Louisiana Dash ($531,041); Jes A Fast Dasher ($493,459) and Zupers Quick Dash ($471,129) to name only a few.

Heza Fast Dash's #2 leading money earner, Dashnunder Afullmoon (inside) winning the 2018 LQHBA Breeders Derby at Evangeline Downs. © Coady Photography
Heza Fast Dash died on January 24, 2019, following complications from laminitis. He was buried at Robicheaux Ranch, where he stood his entire stallion career.

Through the years, Heza Fast Dash not only put Robicheaux Ranch on the map but endeared the bay stallion to each member of the family.

"For a horse that only made $136,000 on the track to produce over $30 million in progeny is really something," stated Ryan. "Heza Fast Dash was a very special horse and has done so much for our family. We will never forget him."