Hall of Fame - Horses June  3, 2023

The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders' Association Hall-of-Fame showcases the many horses and people who have earned the distinction of becoming part of Quarter Horse Racing history in Louisiana. To be part of the Hall-of-Fame, horses and people must have been outstanding over a period of years in a variety of categories. They must have brought exceptional visibility and/or contribution to Quarter Horse Racing and the State of Louisiana.

Hall-of-Fame inductees are chosen each year by a selection committee and are honored at the annual LQHBA Awards Banquet. The inaugural inductee class were announced in January 2016. On April 9, 2016, Leverne Perry and Claude and Bessie Lea Jeane, Oh Black Magic, Rocket's Magic and Royal Bushwhacker were inducted into the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) inaugural Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the association. Owner-breeder Claude W. Boutte, Jr. and Grade 1 winner and industry leading sire Feature Mr Jess were inducted in 20121.

Outstanding Louisiana Quarter Horse trainer Phillip Calais, Sr. and iconic stallion Heza Fast Dash will be honored in the 2022 class.

A special thank you to Martha Claussen for research and writing bios and to Speedhorse and TRACK magazines for helping track down photos of these inductees from their archives.

The inductees have each played a significant role in Louisiana Quarter Horse industry. Inductees into the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders' Association Hall-of-Fame are:

PEOPLE

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

HORSES

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

Below are photos of each Hall of Fame member inducted in 2021. Click their photo or name in the left toolbar to read their biographical information. To view previous Hall-of-Fame member bios click on "PEOPLE" or "HORSES" in the left tool bar.

FEATURE MR JESS

Inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame in 2021

Louisiana-bred Feature Mr Jess became
one of the industry's leading all-time sires.

Grade 1 winner and multiple champion sire Feature Mr Jess is the newest equine inductee into the LQHBA Hall of Fame.

The son of leading AQHA sire Mr Jess Perry out of the Truckle Feature mare Brenda Feature was born on February 8, 1998. A true home bred for the farm, J.E. Jumonville, Jr. purchased Feature Mr Jess' granddam, Brenda Beauty, for $52,000 in the 1983 November Keeneland Sale in Lexington, Kentucky.

The stakes winning daughter of Cornish Prince was consigned by Johnny T.L. Jones' Walmac International, Agent for Royal. In 1986, Jumonville bred Brenda Beauty to the world champion Quarter Horse Truckle Feature and got Feature Mr Jess' dam Brenda Feature SI 94, a winner of three races at 2.

Feature Mr Jess made his racing debut at Remington Park in April, 2000, winning his trial for the Remington Park Futurity (G1) and running third to Celeb in the final.

Three months later, he was victorious in the Rainbow Futurity (G1), earning a 101 speed index under jockey Jacky Martin. First trained by Rodney Reed and then Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath, the talented colt went on to capture the Rainbow Derby (G1) in 2001 and made his last start that year in the Texas Classic Derby (G1).

Feature Mr Jess defeating world champion Whosleavingwho and Heza Motor Scooter in the 2001 Grade 1 Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs. © Quarter Racing Journal
He was the only Louisiana-bred to win a Grade 1 race at Ruidoso Downs (he won two), completing his racing career with 7 wins from 16 starts and earnings of $539,327. Jim and Marilyn Helzer joined Jumonville in the ownership of Feature Mr Jess midway through his 2-year-old campaign.

He stood at JEH Stallion Station and embarked on an exceptional stallion career. From 10 crops to reach racing age, Feature Mr Jess sired 436 winners (67%), 128 stakes horses (20%), 7 champions with earnings of $24.9 million and Average Earnings Per Starter of more than $38,000. His offspring have won some of the biggest Quarter Horse races including the All American Futurity(G1) and Champion of Champions(G1) and he is the only Quarter Horse sire with two earners of more than $1.8 million.

Four-time AQHA Racing Champion Heartswideopen winning the 2007 All American Futurity(G1) at Ruidoso Downs.
© Ruidoso Downs
Feature Mr Jess' seven champions who won 13 championship titles include 4-time AQHA Racing Champion Heartswideopen SI 104 (11 wins to 3, $1,885,283, All American Futurity-G1Ruidoso Futurity-G1, Rainbow Derby-G1, Ruidoso Derby-G1, etc.), 3-time AQHA Racing Champion Jess You And I SI 109 (19 wins, $1,851,691, Gelding, Golden State Million Futurity-G1, Champion of Champions-G1, Remington Park Inv. Championship-G1, Los Alamitos Winter Championship S.-G1, etc.), 2-time AQHA Racing Champion Feature Mr Bojangles SI 103 (8 wins to 4, $899,434, Rainbow Futurity-G1, The Championship At Sunland Park S.-G1, etc.), AQHA Racing Champion Stylish Jess Br SI 103 (11 wins to 6, $804,298, Mildred N Vessels Memorial H.-G1, AQHA Distaff Challenge Championship-G1, Charger Bar H.-G1-twice, etc.), AQHA Racing Champion Brenda Beautiful SI (4 wins to 4, $337,176, Southwest Juvenile Championship-G1, etc.), AQHA Racing Champion Jesscuzican SI 97 (5 wins, $252,891, Sunland Challenge Championship-G2, etc.), AQHA Racing Champion Wahoo SI 102 (8 wins, $166,425, Pauls Valley Handicap-G3, etc.).

He other top performers include Jess Featureme Quick SI 103 (9 wins to 7, $687,155, Hobbs America Derby-G3, etc.), Priceless Feature SI 111 (10 wins to 6, $641,668, Remington Park Inv. Championship-G1, Sooner State S.-G1, etc.), Jess Send Me SI 101 (3 wins to 3, $361,595, 2nd-All American Futurity-G1) and Jessanotheraffair SI 98 (6 wins to 5, $349,426.

Feature Mr Jess is the #1 siring son of leading sire Mr Jess Perry and the only two sires with an AQHA Racing champion in almost every category. As a broodmare sire he has sired the dams of 20 stakes winners including champion Feature Hero SI 99 ($1,418,960), One Valiant Hero SI 102 ($389,798), Jess Good Reason SI 93 ($280,282). After Feature Mr Jess died, Jumonville purchased the remaining frozen semen in 2017 and started offering ICSI breedings to him from their farm in Louisiana.

Three-time AQHA Racing Champion Jess You And I won the Grade 1 Champion of Champions. © Scott Martinez
J. E. Jumonville, Jr., who was inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame in 2019, shares what his extraordinary champion meant to the family and the entire racing industry.

“Feature Mr Jess was a big horse with incredible talent and could win going short or long,” said Jumonville. “He had a wonderful disposition; a 5-year-old girl could lead him down the shedrow.”

His passing at such a young age was heartbreaking for everyone at Jumonville Farms as his success in just eight crops was comparable to legendary Quarter Horses Corona Cartel, Mr Jess Perry and One Famous Eagle.

“It’s not what we lost, but what we were blessed with for the time we had Feature Mr Jess as a racehorse and a stallion,” stated Jumonville. “What he accomplished was just phenomenal!”