2008 Hall of Fame Inductees
Bill Allen
Bill Allen
Over the years he has owned many horses ranging from claimers to top level stakes runners. He has campaigned horses in virtually every racing state in the country.
Mr. Allen organized and led Black Chip Stables, owner of Wild Again, the winner of the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Classic in 1984. Wild Again stunned the racing world at 32 to 1 in beating the heavy favorites, Gate Dancer and Slew o’Gold in a thrilling stretch duel resulting in a photo finish and lengthy inquiry. Black Chip Stables paid $360,000 as a supplemental fee in order for Wild Again to qualify for the race.
Mr. Allen’s interest in Wild Again spanned another 20 years as the horse proved to be one of the most prolific sires of his generation having sired champions Wilderness Song, Free At Last, Sarava, Milwakee Brew, Wild Rush, Vicar, A Wild Ride, Wild Escapade and many other top runners.
Mr. Allen’s Texas roots and racing background led him to acquire the bond originally issued to finance Retama Park in San Antonio. He then put together the management team that successfully helped Retama emerge from bankruptcy. His inspiration was contagious in the turnaround effort.
Bobby D. Cox
Bobby D. Cox
He is a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, and has served as director and is a member of the Texas Quarter Horse Association. Cox was name Owner of the Year in 2004 by the American Quarter Horse Association.
Bobby bought his first race horse, Peter Pistola, in 1976. In 1979 Bobby moved his mares and yearlings to Winner Maker Farm. In 1993 Bobby began moving his horse facility to what is now known as Cox Ranch-Sweetwater Land and Cattle Company. In September of 2004, Cox’s Brimmerton won the prestigious All American Derby in Ruidoso, New Mexico. He repeated that performance in 2007 when Don’t Let Down won the All American Derby. Bobby Cox has bred 28 stakes winners with total earnings of $7,913,657.
Few people truly personify the American entrepreneurial spirit more than Bobby D. Cox of Fort Worth, Texas. His personal journey from very humble beginnings in East Texas to being CEO and owner of numerous businesses in a wide variety of industries is a story founded on honesty, goal-setting, dedication to loyal employees and suppliers, lofty standards for his co-workers, and a strong work ethic. It is a journey that has resulted in a level of success of which many business owners only dream.
Dorothy Turner Scharbauer
Dorothy Turner Scharbauer
She learned much about the industry from her father and won her first stakes race, the 1953 Ruidoso Derby, at the age os 22.
Valor Farm in Pilot Point, Texas grew as a result of a lifelong love of horses shared by Clarence and Dorothy Scharbauer. The couple’s interest in Thoroughbreds began with the 1959 Kentucky Derby, which Dorothy’s father, Fred Turner, Jr., won with Tommy Lee. With the goal of winning another derby, the Scharbauers began buying Thoroughbred yearlings in 1984.
Dorothy and daughter Pam purchased Alysheba as a yearling, intent on maintaining the Kentucky Derby-winning tradition started by her father. Alysheba is one of the greatest Texas-owned Thoroughbreds in history. The bay horse won the 1987 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Super Derby to earn Champion 3-year-old honors. The great Alysheba became the all-time leading earner and was later inducted into the Hall of Fame.
As with their Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse stables, the Scharbauers entered the breeding business with high goals and the dedication required to achieve them. Today, Valor Farm is home to some of the top stallions in the Southwest. The farm strives to be the finest horse farm in the industry by continually meeting the needs of today’s breeders.
Joe Straus, Jr.
Joe Straus, Jr.
He is chairman of Retama Entertainment Group in San Antonio, the management company of Retama Park Racetrack. He is co-founder of Retama Park Racetrack and partner in Straus and Novak racing stable.
Straus served on the Texas A&M Target 2000 committee and spearheaded efforts for the Texas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to serve as the lead agency to test competition racehorses.
In 2006, Joe and his brother, David J. Straus, were presented with the 2006 Freeman Award by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce for their excellence and contributions to agribusiness.