Dr. Larry Findley, Sr. and Sir Runaway Dash To Be Inducted Into 2024 LQHBA Hall Of Fame

The induction ceremony will take place Saturday, April 20 at the LQHBA annual awards event at Evangeline Downs.

© TRACK Magazine

 ALEXANDRIA,LA–MARCH 8, 2024–The  Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) is pleased to announce that highly respected veterinarian Dr. Larry Findley, Sr. and outstanding stallion Sir Runaway Dash will be inducted into the 2024 LQHBA Hall of Fame. They will be honored at the LQHBA Champions Banquet on Saturday, April 20 at Evangeline Downs.

Dr Larry Findley

LQHBA board member Dr. Larry Findley, Sr. has been a practicing veterinarian in Southwest Louisiana for 44 years. He grew up around horses and competed in high school rodeos. Dr. Findley worked as a groom for leading quarter horse trainer, Lee Young. Despite a broken arm, he split third and fourth in a cutting horse competition in his senior year of high school!

Dr. Findley earned a DVM graduate degree from Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine class of 1979 and credits fellow doctors, Dr. Charles Graham and Dr. Robert Lewis for their guidance in his career.

He founded Delta Equine Center in 1983.The Vinton, Louisiana facility boasts a staff of 45 employees, including partners, Dr. Philip Appleton and sons Dr. Larry Findley, Jr. and Dr. Troy Findley. The practice is open six days a week for scheduled care as well as 24 hour emergency for large animal equine.

Craig Findley uses his business acumen and serves as CEO and practice manager, overseeing a myriad of operational duties with the Veterinary Hospital, Reproduction Center and Small Animal Veterinary Hospital while fourth son Brad Findley is the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Specialist. Grandsons Caleb Findley is the Stallion Manager and Lance Findley, Farm Manager.

The diagnostic services at Delta Equine Center are highly regarded. State-of-the-art equipment including Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber and Digital Radiology. Surgeries for small and large animals are performed at their onsite hospital and they are also highly respected as an Equine Reproduction center.

Damages from Hurricane Rita in 2005 necessitated the rebuilding of Delta Equine Center and Dr. Findley recalls dodging another catastrophe in 2020 when Hurricane Laura hit.

"We incurred a million in damages, but it could have been worse," recalled Findley. "We housed horses and people who could not get home. At 2 am, I saw the eye of the hurricane right above us; thankfully by 7 am, we were clear."

In addition to the comprehensive veterinary services, Delta Equine Center also offers breeding services. They stand an accomplished stallion roster, including RC Me Leaving You, Agouti, Paint Me Perry and Majestic Cartel and Hesadashingbye.

Jerome Bellard, Cox Stallion Station Farm Manager is one of many Louisiana horsemen who have worked with Dr. Findley and his team at Delta Equine.

"Dr. Findley is great," said Bellard. "He’s ready and willing to help at any time. We just had each of our yearlings x-rayed and many of our horses have benefitted from the Hyberbaric chamber."

Dr. Findley has always been respected, not just as an equine surgeon, but as a valued leader and contributor to the Quarter Horse industry. Nationally, he is an AQHA director and member of the racing committee and council. He is a longstanding LQHBA board member, serving as first vice president and generously gives his time serving on many LQHBA committees.

Recently, Dr. Findley was appointed commissioner to the Louisiana State Racing Commission (LSRC). And is also appointed to the Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine.

Of course, Dr. Findley is well known nationally and has a long term association with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). He is an AQHA life member, AQHA director, and a member of the AQHA Racing Council and AQHA Racing Committee. Earlier this year, Dr. Findley was honored at the AQHA Racing Champions Ceremony with the John Andreini Special Recognition Award. It is awarded annually to an individual who profoundly benefits the Quarter Horse racing industry.

He enjoys the success stories about horses he has bred and watching them win graded stakes but speaks about the devastation of injuries or critical illnesses such as colic.

"This is part of our business and it’s never easy," acknowledges Findley. "I look to God and then take as much time as needed. People have apologized for crying when their beloved horses have to be euthanized. Our job is to take care of animals, but we strongly believe in showing compassion to the people who own and love them."

On April 20, he will be surrounded by his wife Anita, sons Larry, Troy, Craig, Brad, 27 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. The attendees will include friends and countless clients grateful for the care their horses received from Dr. Findley and his team. He enjoys every minute when seldom away from the practice, saying how blessed he is to have "41 head" currently in the Findley family.

It’s pretty much impossible to give a full account of Dr. Findley’s dedication and service to the Louisiana racing industry, but his son Craig sums it up pretty darn well!

"His work ethic is through the roof. He and my mom Anita raised us all with integrity and respect. We work hard, play hard and give all the glory to God. Our family is blessed, even though none of us can keep up with dad!"

Sir Runaway Dash

Graded stakes-placed Quarter Horse and prolific stallion Sir Runaway Dash is this year’s inductee into the LQHBA Hall of Fame. The striking gray son of First Down Dash was the pride and joy of Stephen Tate and the entire team at Tate Farms in Ville Platte, Louisiana where he stood from 2009 through 2018.

Sir Runaway Dash (outside) runs a nose off world champion Blues Girl Too in the Golden State Derby-G1.
© Tate Farms

Tate, like so many breeders, are astute followers of horses in their racing careers, and Sir Runaway Dash was a standout.  Bred by Lucas Racing, Inc., the brother to World Champion Wave Carver and two-time champion Ocean Runaway, made 19 starts at Los Alamitos in California for acclaimed AQHA champion trainer Paul Jones.

"His breeding was impeccable," said Jones. "He was very sound with a good temperament; an all- around really nice horse."

The Maryland-bred made just three starts as a 2-year-old, with Jones citing Sir Runaway Dash as a late-maturing runner. He was second in the Golden State Derby(G1), and finalist in the Governor’s Cup Derby(G2) and First Down Dash Handicap(G3). He made his final start on January 31, 2009, completing his career with a record of 19-4-5-3 and earnings of $120,706.

Sir Runaway Dash (outside) runs a nose off world champion Blues Girl Too in the Golden State Derby-G1. © Chris Martinez

Acquiring Sir Runaway Dash was a high priority for Tate, who watched each of his starts and was able to reach an agreement with the four owners in a relatively uncomplicated process.

"Pedigree was a big deal," stated Tate. "And the way he finished in the last 50 yards in his races. To me, watching him go into overdrive was impressive. We wanted a stallion who could produce runners capable of competing in the biggest race in Louisiana (the LQHBA Louisiana Million) at 400 yards.

Sir Runaway Dash covered 40 mares his first year standing in Louisiana and Tate’s vision was quickly realized as his offspring Perrys Runaway and T Boy C qualified for the 2012 LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity, running third and fourth behind Open Me a Corona in the final.

His prowess as a stallion was clearly not a fluke as just two years later, Sir Runaway Dash sired his first of two LQHBA Louisiana Million Champions. His first winner in the LQHBA Louisiana Million came in 2014 with Jls Dashn and Zoomn, who also won the 2015 Mardi Gras Derby and earned $534,505. Two years later, Sir Runaway Dash sired his second winner in the prestigious race when Tf Racee Runaway($536,586),  won by a neck.

Both victories meant a lot to Tate, but he and his father Steve, his dad, Steve, really liked Tf Racee Runaway by the Streakin La Jolla mare Racee Rainbows and bought him back for $8,000 in the 2015 LQHBA Yearling Sale.

Sir Runaway Dash joins an elite group of stallions, including Mr Jess Perry, Streakin La Jolla, Game Patriot and Dashing Val  whose offspring have won multiple winners of the LQHBA Louisiana Million.

Sir Runaway Dash sired 252 winners, with progeny earnings in excess of $12 million. His top performers include Tf Racee Runaway SI 104 ($536,586, Louisiana QHBA Futurity-RG1, etc.), Jls Dashn and Zoomn SI 105 ($534,505, Louisiana QHBA Futurity-RG1, etc.), Runaway Second Down SI 103 ($432,076), Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1, etc.), Sir Louisiana Dash SI 106 ($406,715, Laddie Futurity-RG2, etc.), Sir Runaway Cash SI 103 ($331,404, LQHBA Sale Futurity-RG1, etc.) and Jrs Taylors Runaway SI 102 ($313,154, LQHBA Sale Futurity-RG1).

Sadly in 2018, Sir Runaway Dash was diagnosed with cancer and spent seven weeks undergoing radiation treatment at Missouri State University.

"I spoke with the vet every day and was prepared to pick him up and bring him home," explained Tate. "However, he had a set back and I was never able to pick him up. He died on October 20, 2018, at the age of 14, following colic surgery.

"Losing him was devastating," acknowledged Tate.

The success of Sir Runaway Dash propelled Tate Farms to become one of the top breeders in Louisiana. His stall remains as is with the current stallion roster of One Dashing Eagle, One Sweet Jess, Rip Tide, Stevie B First Cash, Heza Fast Rogue, Five Bar Cartel and El Camino Cl producing their share of quality Louisiana-bred prospects.

Sir Runaway Dash was cremated and his urn, surrounded by trophies and photos, stands proudly on the mantle of Tate’s home.

"He was the horse that made us," proudly acknowledged Tate.

LQHBA Hall of Fame History
This will be the ninth class inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame, which was launched in 2016 in celebration of the association’s 50th anniversary.

INDIVIDUALS

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

HORSES

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

"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Findley and Sir Runaway Dash into the LQHBA Hall of Fame," said Bruce Salard, LQHBA executive director. "Both have set a very high standard in Louisiana Quarter Horse racing and there is no question that we will have a packed house to honor their  contributions on April 20!"

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About the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA)
LQHBA is the state racing affiliate of the American Quarter Horse Association. It is also the official registry for accredited Louisiana-bred racing Quarter Horses and is recognized by the Louisiana Legislature and the Louisiana State Racing Commission. Since its inception in 1966, the association has developed many programs to further breeding and racing in Louisiana.

Last year in Louisiana horsemen competed for over $21 million in purses, and breeders' incentives for mares and stallions of accredited Louisiana-bred foals totaled approximately $4.8 million. LQHBA oversees the annual LQHBA Yearling Sale and has raised and donated over $800,000 to support its Louisiana youth scholarship program.