2002 Hall of Fame Inductees
Easy Jet
Easy Jet
Undoubtedly one of the greatest juveniles in the history of Quarter Horse racing, Easy Jet won nine stakes races as a two-year-old in 1969, including the All American Futurity (Gr. I).
An earner of $445,723 on the track, Easy Jet moved his success to the breeding shed when his racing career was over. Easy Jet became the sire of earners of more than $26.2 million, including 145 stakes winners.
Easy Jet’s most notable offspring include three winners of the prestigious All American Futurity (Gr. I) – Easy Date (1974), Pie in the Sky (1979), and Mr. Trucka Jet (1985).
Staunch Avenger
Staunch Avenger
Foaled in 1968, Staunch Avenger was a winner of 15 of 42 starts, including the 1970 Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park and the 1971 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland.
He also set a track record for five furlongs of :57 1/5 at Arlington Park in Chicago, Illinois.
Staunch Avenger retired to stud in 1973 and became a perennial leading sire in Texas. He stood most of his stallion career at Dr. Dick Shepherd’s Classic Manor Ranch in Aubrey, Texas.
Staunch Avenger died in 1991 after producting 15 graded stakes winners among his 291 winning foals. He sired the earners of nearly $9 million.
C.W. “Bubba” Cascio
C.W. “Bubba” Cascio
“Bubba” Cascio has been one of the most successful trainers in the horse racing industry for over 40 years.
He trained Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame member Dash For Cash to two World Champion titles and has won the All American Futurity twice, with Three Oh’s in 1968 and Rocket Wrangler in 1970.In addition, Cascio trained Quarter Horse racing’s top money-earning female and World Champion, Dashingly.
In recent years, Cascio has turned his attention to training Thoroughbreds, and his runners include 2002 stakes winner Lights on Broadway and Manor Downs Futurity winner.
Joe Cassel
Joe Cassel
The Tyler, Texas resident is considered a “foundation breeder” of Arabians, with a line-bred Polish program that traces in its entirety to the first imports to this country.
He was a pioneer in the development of Arabian racing and was the first chairman of the International Arabian Racing Committee, which established this sport in the late 1950s.
In 2001, Cassel and his wife, Martha, were honored with the Arabian Breeders Association Lifetime Breeders Award.
Dr. Charles W. Graham
Dr. Charles W. Graham
”Doc,” as he is referred to by most, could arguably be singled out as the most influential individual in Texas horse racing today and in the history of Texas racing.
He was a key player in the passage of pari-mutuel legislation for Texas. Dr. Graham is also the only person to have ever been elected as both the president of the Texas Quarter Horse Association and the Texas Thoroughbred Association.
Dr. Graham has owned and operated Southwest Stallion Station in Elgin, Texas for 40 years and has built the operation into one of the most prominent breeding facilities in the Southwest for both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds.
Dr. Graham is also the owner of Graham Land & Cattle Company, Sunset Livestock Carrier’s Inc., and Wills Prairie Livestock Auction.
Tommy Oliphant
Tommy Oliphant
A trainer for over 50 years, Oliphant is a longtime member and director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association. He decided to retire as a TTA director in 2004.
A longtime and dedicated horseman, Oliphant joined forces with Texas veterinarian Dr. Dan Saunders in 1958 and started a training and breeding facility called Sunny Clime Farms. Since then, Oliphant has broken and/or given early training to over 100 stakes winners, including Cox’s Ridge, No Le Hace, and Staunch Avenger.