2015 Hall of Fame Inductees
Dan & Jolene Urschel
Dan & Jolene Urschel
The Texas ranchers are most famous for the exploits of their horse Pie In The Sky who won the 1979 All American Futurity. Dan and Jolene owned renowned winners Mighty Deck Three and Special Effort as well. Dan wasn’t known to let a few dollars stand in between him and a winning horse, making some of the most record setting horse purchases of his time. The Urschels were lifetime members of the AQHA. Their great-granddaughter, Kharlottie Grace, continues their legacy to this day becoming the sixth generation of the Urschel family to be involved in Quarter Horse racing. Dan Urschel passed away September 16th, 2014, survived by his wife Jolene and their children.
Senator Ken Armbrister
Senator Ken Armbrister
During his twenty year tenure in the legislature Senator Armbrister carried the Texas Racing Commission’s first Sunset legislation that stood in place during the formation of the Commission. In 2001 Armbrister was part of the delegation that went to New York to bring the Breeder’s Cup to Texas. For three legislative sessions Senator Armbrister carried legislation to legalize Video Lottery Terminals known as VLTs at race tracks. Senator Armbrister currently works as a lobbyist with the Texas Star Alliance and resides in Round Rock, Texas.
Lukin Gilliland, Sr.
Lukin Gilliland, Sr.
Gilliland started breeding quarter horses in 1965. The horses that Gilliland bred raced in various futurities and derbies in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Florida, California, and Oklahoma. His most recent win was the $365,000 Texas Quarter Horse Futurity at Retama Park Race Track in which Grey Daze, a horse bred by Gilliland, finished first.
In 1980 Gilliland co-founded Oak Cliff Thoroughbreds. Under Gilliland’s leadership, Oak Cliff Thoroughbreds bred and raced thoroughbreds in 10 states and 6 other countries. One of the more notable horses produced by Oak Cliff Thoroughbreds was Sunday Silence who won the 1989 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes with a lifetime winnings of $4,968,554. Gilliland was also known for his horse Top Divi who won multiple futurities and ran in the 1969 All American Futurity, and Si Puede who received the 2005 AQHA Superior Race Horse award. Gilliland’s horse Skywalker won the 1985 Breeders Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park.
Mr. Gilliland was a lifetime member of the American Quarter Horse Association as well as a member of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association of Texas, The Texas Thoroughbred Owners Association, the Appaloosa Horse Club, The American Horse Council, and he was a board member for the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
No Le Hace
No Le Hace
Many San Antonians still remember him. Both the Express News and the San Antonio Light newspapers sent reporters to his notable feats such as the Lousiana Derby and the Arkansas Derby which he won handily. The reporters were also in attendance when he ran second in the Kentucky Derby. The inimitable Dan Cook and Bob Ostrum from our local newspapers covered the derby and then the Preakness where he also ran second. Subsequently he was sold to Japanese interests who shipped him to Japan for stud duty.
Sammy Jackson
Sammy Jackson
Jackson started his career in the racing industry in an unlikely place, the valet lot of Delta Downs Racetrack at the age of 16. Thirty years later he would end his career as the Texas Racing Commission’s Deputy Director of Finance and Administration. Jackson graduated from McNeese State University with a degree in accounting in 1987 and served as the Delta Downs’ staff accountant until the Louisiana State Racing Commission hired him as an assistant chief auditor and accountant the next year. Jackson’s skill in horse racing mathematics were renowned and the Texas Racing Commission offered him a job in 1994. Mr. Jackson developed pari-mutuel wagering rules in Texas that later became the starting point for the national model rules. He helped form the Texas Pari-Mutuel Advisory Committee and also worked with the Texas Horsemen’s Partnership to develop a centralized bookkeeping system. In 2002 Mr. Jackson was promoted to Deputy Director for Pari-Mutuels and Licensing and over the next few years he also oversaw the Finance and Information Technology departments. Jackson was known as a loving family member with a deep loyalty to friends. Sammy Jackson passed away November 17th, 2014.
Stanley Beard
Stanley Beard
Beard was one of only three people to receive all three major awards presented by the TTA. Beard also served on the Breeder’s Cup board of directors and the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame board. Beard served as president of the Texas Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. In addition to breeding and racing, Beard was also involved in dairy farming, feed sales, and real estate. Beard’s contributions to Texas horse racing were only surpassed by his knowledge of the sport and the stories he was known to tell about the horsemen involved and the horses he owned.