ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JANUARY 24, 2019—The New Mexico Horse Breeders' Association honored its 2018 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse champions during its Zia Awards Banquet at the Marriott Uptown Hotel in Albuquerque on January 24.

During the banquet, a total of 18 awards were presented.

On the Quarter Horse side, Major Bites was honored as the 2018 NMHBA champion older horse or gelding. A 6-year-old gelded son of Jesse James Jr owned by Israel Bordier and bred by Carlos F. Paez, Major Bites earned $458,000 from seven races last year, and his five stakes wins included the 440-yard, $200,000 Zia Park Championship (G1) on December 2. The gelding also won the 440-yard, $170,000 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1) for the second consecutive season.

The following Quarter Horses were also honored for their accomplishments on the track: Mamacita Cartel (champion older mare; owned and bred by David V. Bloomer), Everybuddys Talkin (champion 3-year-old filly; owned by Eric Pineda; bred by Bauer Farm), Jesse Lane (champion 3-year-old colt/gelding; owned and bred by MJ Farms), Jess Fire Chick (champion 2-year-old filly; owned by Mike C. Abraham and Paul Blanchard; bred by Mike C Abraham), and No Mires A La Luna (champion 2-year-old colt/gelding; owned by David G. Valdez and Byron R. Woodard; bred by Byron R. Woodard).

The following Quarter Horse stallions and broodmares were honored: Dyna Mo Rime (champion broodmare; owned by Carlos F. Paez) and First Moonflash (champion stallion; owned by Pierre J. Amestoy Jr., Maria G. Gonzalez, and Mike C. Abraham).

W.L. Mooring and Frank Richardson received the “Julep Cup” award from The Blood-Horse. Mooring and Richardson were the breeders of Thunder Dome, last year’s NMHBA champion older horse or gelding. A 5-year-old gelding by Dome and the Hadif mare Lauren Lynn, Thunder Dome won three stakes from 11 starts and earned $308,580 in 2018 for her owners, M.H. Carson, W.D. Carson, and Leach Racing LLC.

In addition to Thunder Dome, the following Thoroughbreds were honored for their 2018 accomplishments on the racetrack: Explosive Spy (champion older mare; owned and bred by Michael G. Weatherly), Hennessy Express (champion 3-year-old filly; owned and bred by Dale F. Taylor), Blazing Navarone (champion 3-year-old colt/gelding (owned by George Coleman and Henry Dominguez; bred by Lucky Six Inc.), Roll On Matilda (champion 2-year-old filly; owned by Raymond L. Gilder; bred by Fred Alexander and Todd Fincher), and Hustle Up (champion 2-year-old colt/gelding; owned by Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC, Bobby J. McQueen, and Suzanne Kirby; bred by Brad E. King and Todd Fincher).

The following Thoroughbred stallions and broodmares were also honored: Lauren Lynn (champion broodmare; owned by W.L. Mooring and Frank Richardson), Attila’s Storm (champion stallion; owned by R.D. Hubbard), and Abstraction (champion freshman stallion; owned by Abstraction Partnership and Susie Prather).