By Martha Claussen

OPELOUSAS, LOUISIANA—JANUARY 28, 2026—For more than seven years, racing fans have seen the familiar face of Ismael Solis-Guevara ponying Quarter Horses for LQHBA Champion trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr. Known throughout the backside as “Mikey,” he is now quietly making a name for himself as a trainer.

His Beginning The 33-year-old was born in Moultrie, Georgia, an agricultural community ...

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JANUARY 28, 2026–Retama Park has announced that their 2026 schooling races will take place on February 4 and 18 and March 11 and 25 and April 1st if needed. All races will begin at noon each day, and admission and parking are free—no ticket purchase is necessary.

The schooling races will be streamed live, and the link will be posted on Retama Park’s Facebook page as the February 4 date approaches. Results for the schooling races will be available on StallioneSearch.com. ...

By StallioneSearch

TOPEKA, KS–JANUARY 27, 2026–The Kansas Quarter Horse Racing Association (KQHRA) reminds owners and breeders that the Kansas Jackpot Stallion Auction is currently underway and will close at 11:00 p.m. (CT) on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

Live bidding also available during the association’s convention at ...

SUNLAND PARK, NM—JANUARY 27, 2026–Live racing at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino was canceled Monday, marking the third consecutive day the track has been forced to scrap its card.

A winter storm that moved in Friday and lingered through the weekend delivered persistent rain and snow, creating unsafe track conditions.

On Friday, four races were completed before the final five were called off. Saturday’s nine Quarter Horse ...

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

WASHINGTON, OK—JANUARY 25, 2026—Apollitical Jess, the industry’s leading living Quarter Horse sire with more than $82 million in progeny earnings, has earned a rare and unique distinction in the racing Quarter Horse world: becoming an official Breyer Horse model.

To be selected as a Breyer model, a horse must be widely recognized within their discipline, hold major accomplishments, and have a story and fan base that people connect with.

Apollitical Jess has built that legacy that will live on for generations. He is not only an internationally recognized racehorse and stallion, but a name that will be relevant in bloodlines long after his career ...

CYPRESS, CA–JANUARY 26, 2026–Longtime Quarter Horse jockey Cruz Mendez, 40, underwent spinal surgery after suffering a spinal cord injury in a spill at Los Alamitos on Saturday, according to the Daily Racing Form.

The Quarter Horse jockey was aboard the 3-year-old filly Imm Relentless in the fifth race when she "lost action" and fell, the Equibase chart reports. 

Mendez was taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital after the incident and underwent surgery on Sunday.

The veteran jockey has recorded 1,184 victories in Quarter Horse races since his career began in 2010, according to ...

DALLAS, TX—JANUARY 25, 2026—StallioneSearch.com releases a new episode of QH Racing Talk—Weekly podcast, featuring retired Hall of Fame trainer Mike Robbins as this week’s featured guest.

Co-hosted by Greg Thompson and Bailey Ivey, the episode highlights Robbins’ extensive history in the sport, reflecting on a career spent training and developing racehorses at a high level. Robbins shares stories from his time on the track, discussing the great ...

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ELGIN, TX–JANUARY 23, 2026–After more than four decades in Quarter Horse racing—and a lifetime shaped by the sport—Rob Werstler will retire as Executive Director of the Texas Quarter Horse Association (TQHA) in March, 2026, concluding a respected tenure that culminated in his appointment to the association’s top leadership role in 2021.

“The TQHA has been a blessing to me and my family. I want to thank everyone who has supported ...

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ALEXANDRIA, LA–JANUARY 23, 2026–The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association announced that all winning bidders for the LQHBA Stallion Service Auction breedings will be contacted Monday and/or Tuesday, depending on weather conditions. If you have questions ...

AMARILLO, TX–JANUARY 23, 2026–AQHA Chief Racing Officer Janet VanBebber issued a written response regarding Chelsea Hackbarth’s January 16, 2026 Paulick Report story detailing the California Horse Racing Board’s approval of stricter Quarter Horse safety regulations at Los Alamitos.

Hackbarth’s report, published under the headline “They’re Putting All Of Racing At Risk’: CHRB Approves Strict New Quarter Horse Regulations,” outlined newly approved house rules that include extended standdown periods for intra-articular injections and an increased emphasis on diagnostic evaluation. The regulations are scheduled to go into effect March 1.

VanBebber sent out a report to the AQHA Racing Committee stating, “I think more needs to be said on the topic, and I will offer my point of view after you have a chance to read ...

EDMOND, OK—JANUARY 24, 2026— The Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA) will host its annual Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

The evening will honor the 2026 OQHRA Hall of Fame Inductees, alongside the 2025 OQHRA Racing Champions, as well as the American Quarter Horse Association Regional Awards, American Paint Horse Association Racing, Appaloosa Horse Club Racing, and the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission Oklahoma Bred Year End Awards.

OQHRA Racing Champion awards are determined strictly by earnings and races won, using official ...

LOS ALAMITOS–JANUARY 23, 2026–The always popular Los Alamitos Race Course Wall Calendar 2026 edition will be given away on-track on Saturday night, January 31. Patrons will receive their free calendar with their paid grandstand admission after 4:30 p.m.                          

The 2026 calendar features full color action shots of ...

FORT WORTH, TX–JANUARY 22, 2025–The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) has released its 2025 Regional Racing Award winners, recognizing the top racehorses, owners, breeders, and trainers across five regions each year.

From standout Paint racehorses to dedicated owners, breeders, and ...

By StallioneSearch

WEATHERFORD, TEXAS–JANUARY 22, 2026– Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery (ESMS) announced an addition to its team this week via a social media post, welcoming J. Dylan Lutter, DVM, as an Associate Veterinarian and Surgeon at its Weatherford, Texas location.

Founded by Dr. Mike Fox, Dr. Marty Ivey, and Dr. ...

By Jessica Hein, APHA

FORT WORTH, TEXAS–JANUARY 21, 2026– JC Speeding took off like a shot in his 2025 racing career debut. When the dust settled, he was named APHA 2025 World Champion Running Horse, Champion 2-Year-Old & Champion ...

AMARILLO, TX–JANUARY 21, 2026– American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Class of 2027 nominations are open through April 1, 2026.

Induction into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame is the greatest honor bestowed upon any horse or human in the Quarter Horse industry. Inductees hold historical significance in our industry, greatly impacting the lives of others by providing inspiration to all generations and for generations to come.

It’s up to you to ensure deserving candidates are nominated and forever honored in the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame by nominating deserving people and horses.

Hall of Fame nominations are evaluated through multiple rounds of review based on the following criteria and recommended by the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Committee for ...

By @Turfeeunapolis

SOROCABA, BRAZIL–JANUARY 20, 2026–At the Jockey Club de Sorocaba, widely recognized as the largest Quarter Horse racetrack in South America, the 2025 season showcased remarkable growth in both prize money and genetic quality. Stories were built and permanently recorded in the statistics.

Anjo Dourado HFSJ was the highest money-earning horse of the year, with R$ 1,123,100 (US$ 210,000). He won the two biggest ...

SHELBYVILLE, IN–JANUARY 20, 2026–Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing & Casino will host the grand opening and ribbon cutting for Heaven and Horseshoes, a new worship community center located near the entrance to the barn area, on Friday, February 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., in Shelbyville, Indiana.

The event will include a short program featuring guest speaker Pat Day, retired Hall of Fame jockey, with lunch served immediately following the program.

Participants scheduled to be part of the ribbon cutting include Indiana ...

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA–JANUARY 20, 2026– The 2026 Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season begins March 5 and continues to May 30. The schedule of 41 stakes events carries $5.6 million in estimated purses.

The cornerstone race for the ...

By StallioneSearch

ELGIN, TX–JANUARY 20, 2026–With snow and ice possible across Texas this weekend, the Texas Quarter Horse Association (TQHA) has cancelled its Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet scheduled for Saturday, January 24, 2026, in Waco, citing the safety of members and their horses.

Attendees who booked hotel rooms are asked to cancel reservations by calling 254-754-8484.

TQHA said the Foundation Committee will ...

By StallioneSearch

PARK CITY, KANSAS–JANUARY 20, 2026–The Kansas Quarter Horse Racing Association (KQHRA) will host its 2026 Annual Convention and Awards on Saturday, January 31, at Golden Circle Casino – Gilley’s in Park City, Kansas. The event will bring together members, families, friends, and horsemen for a full day of ...

A note from Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM–JANUARY 19, 2026– We have been diligently working with local, state, and federal agencies to evaluate ongoing flooding risks at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and determine whether flood mitigation measures could be implemented to prevent a repeat of the significant flooding that occurred in July 2024 and July 2025.

Both these flooding events were catastrophic for the customers, patrons, employees, horsemen, and horses at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack. Our goal has been to return the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack facilities and operations—if that could be done — with flood mitigation ...

By StallioneSearch

DALLAS, TX—JANUARY 18, 2026—StallioneSearch.com explores our newest format with the release of the latest episode of QH Racing Talk – Weekly. The official podcast is now available and features an in-depth conversation with 4-time AQHA World Champion Jockey, Joe Badilla, Jr. Co-hosted by Greg Thompson and Bailey Ivey, QH Racing Talk – Weekly continues its mission of connecting fans and horsemen ...

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–JANUARY 18, 2026–StallioneSearch.com concludes its webcast coverage of the 2026 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale with a video recap of day-three on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

In this episode, Stallionesearch.com highlights and analyzes the top three sellers from the final session of the 2026 January sale. According to the sales company, the 2026 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale concluded with 85% of the horses offered sold and an average sales price of $21,106.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS

The session topper on day-three, Holy Guacamolee, was the winner of both the Texas ...

ARCADIA, CA–JANUARY 18, 2026–Santa Anita Park’s newly introduced slot-styled parimutuel gaming machines were seized by law enforcement late Saturday afternoon in an escalating dispute over whether the devices qualify as legal pari-mutuel wagering or illegal gambling under California law.

According to an article written by the Daily Racing Form, observers reported that approximately 25 California Department of Justice officers arrived ...

LOS ALAMITOS–JANUARY 17, 2026–Los Alamitos will implement a new set of CHRB-approved “house rules” aimed at strengthening Quarter Horse safety protocols, with the changes taking effect March 1, 2026.

The updated standards focus on longer standdown periods for intra-articular injections, expanded use of diagnostic imaging, and tighter on-site eligibility requirements for horses competing in trials and major finals.

CHRB regulations allow for "house rules" at a specific racetrack regarding medication policies to be implemented if there is a written agreement with the horsemen's organization - in this case, ...