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
HORSES
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.
ROCKET'S MAGIC
Inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame in 2016Rocket's Magic stood several years
at Southwest Stallion Station in Elgin, Texas. © Orren Mixer
Rocket's Magic, the son of Rocket Wrangler out of the Uproar (TB) mare Magic Spots was bred by J. R. Adams and owned by L/J Farms Inc of Alexandria. He was from the same foal crop and same sire as AQHA Racing World Champion and former leading sire Dash For Cash. Both were out of Thoroughbred mares. Rocket's Magic was certainly a magical racehorse for the entire Romero Family. Lloyd trained the sorrel colt, his son Gerald was his assistant, and other son, Randy, rode the blazing fast juvenile.
Randy was just a teenager when he worked Rocket's Magic for the first time. He boldly predicted he would set a new track record in his racing debut. He did just that at Delta Downs, then went on to win the Old South Futurity, the FQHA Futurity, before winning his trial and running third in the 1975 All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.
The 1975 Old South QH Futurity winner's circle at Delta Downs including owner Bill Thomas, trainer Lloyd Romero and jockey Randy Romero. © Courtesy Speedhorse Magazine
He retired with a record of six wins and earnings of $117,075 and continued his excellence in the breeding shed. In 21 crops, he produced 232 winners, who earned $3.8 million. The 16 stakes winners by Rocket's Magic included Carnahan's Magic, Deck of Magic Moon, Magic Magic Magic and Magic Satin.His legacy also included honors an exceptional broodmare sire. His 182 daughters produced a steady stream of stakes winners, most notably, multiple graded-stakes champion, Jess Maid Magic, who earned $230,960.
Randy Romero was inducted into the Louisiana Racing Hall of Fame in 2004. He rode many exceptional Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse stakes winners, but had a special fondness for Rocket's Magic.
"Rocket was unbelievable," he told the AQHA Journal. "Anytime anyone came up to test him, he'd just run away from them. He was freaky fast and had a real good head on him."