BREEDER RUSSELL MOWAD

Russell Mowad grew up in a very small town called Oakdale, Louisiana. He remembered that he always wanted a horse as a child, but it never came to fruition.

However, he never gave up his dream, and when he married his wife, Judy, they bought a horse! Forty-three years later, he's still in the business as an owner and breeder. His passion for Quarter Horses is strong, and on April 11, he was honored at the LQHBA Annual Awards Banquet for the accomplishments of his homebred, Fast Talkin Henry.

The Man and His Mares

Mowad enjoyed his years in the early '80's claiming and running horses .

"I had a stakes-winning son of Easy Jet, who was "king" of the brush tracks," recalled Mowad.

He also owned Klassy Prize Perry, who was the 2012 regional high point leader as a 3 year-old filly in the East region.

Over the years, what really began to intrigue Mowad was the breeding side of the sport. Two of his most noted mares are Streakin Cindy and Yacht Sea. Streakin Cindy produced LQHBA Champion Fast Talkin Henry and Yacht Sea is the dam of Lets Play Yacht Sea, who ran 19 times in Louisiana, earning close to $100,000.

Mowad recalls that he was scoffed at when he claimed Streakin Cindy.

"I didn't care what anyone thought," he said. "I liked her pedigree and that she was by Streakin La Jolla out of a Runaway Winner mare. She won two races for me before I retired her."

Fast Talkin Henry

Streakin Cindy was bred to Heza Fast Dash and Fast Talkin Henry arrived on March 26, 2010.

"I don't remember too much about him as a weanling, but as the (LQHBA) Yearling Sale got closer, he seemed to be getting quite a bit of attention," said Mowad.

Eric P. Johnson, who resides in The Woodlands Texas, has owned Quarter Horses going on four years. He had vivid recollections of how he and trainer Heath Taylor spotted Fast Talkin Henry at the LQHBA Yearling Sale. Of course, Hip number 309 was listed in the catalog as Ryan River, but Johnson promised his son, Henry, that the horse would bear his name.

"There was a lot of buzz about him," said Johnson. "Both Heath and Randy Hebert, who prepped him for the sale, felt that he was the real deal. We ended up signing the ticket for $16,500, but I was prepared to go higher."

Fast Talkin Henry has some issues during his 2-year-old campaign, but lived up to his potential as a 3 and 4 year-old. He has won of 10 of 17 career outs, with stakes wins including the $100,000 Louisiana Classic (RG2) at Delta Downs, followed by the $60,000 Mid-City Stakes, $35,000 Amelia Belle Stakes and the $50,000 Opelousas Stakes to conclude his 2014 campaign.

Champion Breeder Recognition

At the annual Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association banquet on April 11 at Delta Downs, Mowad was accompanied by his wife, children and grandchildren as he accepted the award for Fast Talkin Henry as 2014 Champion Aged Gelding.

Johnson has turned down numerous offers to sell his intrepid sprinter, who won five of his six starts in 2014. However, he simply could not put a price tag on a horse that has meant so much to him and his family. Perhaps it has something to do with his respect for Mowad as a breeder.

"Russell is so passionate about his horses," stated Johnson. "He puts tremendous thought and care into promoting the next generation of racehorses and has assembled a small, but impressive brooodmare band."

Breeders are sometimes overlooked in their importance to the racing industry. Tony Patterson, executive director of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA), always acknowledges the significance of the smaller breeder.

"Russell has made a tremendous contribution to Louisiana Quarter Horse racing," said Patterson. "He has bred some great champions, and loves to see them run. It was very special to honor him this year as the breeder of LQHBA Champion Fast Talkin Henry."

The Mowads reside in Kolin, Louisiana and he wishes he could go to the racetrack a little more often. But these days, he takes great pleasure in seeing his broodmares and weanlings every day.

Maybe, another champion is in the making as one of the weanlings is a full brother to Fast Talkin Henry!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The LQHBA Insider is a monthly feature written by Martha Claussen. She served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park for ten years. She continues to be active in writing, fan education and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana and other regions in North America.