ALEXANDRIA, LA–MARCH 23, 2026–The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) is pleased to announce that accomplished businessman and owner Rodney Verret and multiple stakes-winning Louisiana-bred Jls Mr Bigtime will be inducted into the 2026 LQHBA Hall of Fame.

They will be honored at the LQHBA annual Awards Banquet and General Membership Meeting on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Voting will start at 2:00 p.m. (ID required to vote), and the banquet will begin at 5:00 p.m.

The event will take place in the Event Center at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, located at 2235 Creswell Lane Ext., Opelousas, Louisiana, 70570.

Rodney Verret
The winner’s circle for the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(G1) at Evangeline Downs is always packed to its fullest, with connections and well-wishers, and for good reason. The championship offers the richest purse for Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds and is a dream of a lifetime for breeders, owners, trainers, and jockeys.

On December 16, 2023, Special Wild Train B, a striking filly by Freighttrain B, could barely fit in the enclosure due to the popularity of her owner, the charming Rodney Verret.

Bred in Louisiana by Riley Blanchet, the bay filly out of the Tres Seis mare A Special Beauty was a $22,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate purchased by Verret. LQHBA champion trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr., felt she was peaking at the right time as she closed for the victory in the 400-yard final.

"Her problem all year was breaking from the gate," stated Roberts.

"When she left like she did, I knew it was all over. It was an emotional celebration in the winner’s circle for me, his family, and so many people in Louisiana who knew and respected Rodney. He put his trust and belief in me, and Special Wild Train B came through!”

Verret took the microphone and delivered eloquent remarks.

"I believed in this filly and knew she was going to come out running," Verret said. "Kenny Roberts is like a brother to me, and being surrounded by so many great people, like J.E. and Bunny Jumonville, means the world. me. I have been in several million-dollar futurities but never won one."

J. E. Jumonville remembers that evening and is proud to have seen his good friend finally win a coveted seven-figure championship.

“Rodney and I went back a long way in racing,” said Jumonville. “I met him through Sam Rankin, and as I got to know him, I saw that he always bought quality horses. I respected and admired him very much.”
Verret passed away less than one year from that crowning moment with an extensive list of lifetime accomplishments in addition to his victory in the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity.

He was a graduate of St. Martinville High School, Class of 1956, and a Track and Field State Champion in the 220-yard dash and runner-up in the 100-yard dash, helping the team to win the State Championship that year. He ran track in his freshman year at LSU before transferring to USL, where he earned his degree in Petroleum Engineering. He worked for National Oilwell Varco prior to opening Par Industries in the Port of Iberia and Superior Derrick Services.

Verret bought his first horse with Sam Rankin, who would turn out to be a business partner and lifelong friend.  His passion for horses continued, and in the late 70s, Rodney, Rankin, and Jerry Jones bought Evangeline Downs Race Track. After selling Evangeline Downs, Verret opened Cajun Downs at the now famous Robicheaux Ranch before selling it to his good friends, Jude and Regina Robicheaux.

 He also served as LQHBA President in the 90's, playing a critical role in getting purses increased via slot machine revenue. In the early 2000s, OBI became Superior Derrick Services, then Champions Resources. Verret remained there until his retirement in 2023. He often cooked lunch for the work crew and friends.

Verret was 87 at the time of his passing on September 26, 2024, at his home in Opelousas, with funeral services held on October 1, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Susan LeBlanc Verret, of Opelousas; daughters, Peggy and Paula; sons, Frank and Rodney; 15 grandchildren, as well as numerous great-grandchildren.

With his achievements in business and racing, it is a certainty that this year’s LQHBA Awards Banquet and Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be well attended and the tributes to a great Louisiana horseman will be highly entertaining.

JLS Mr Bigtime
There are many accomplished Louisiana-bred millionaires, but just a few share the distinction of putting Louisiana on the map.  JLS Mr Bigtime certainly did that and will be honored as a member of the LQHBA Hall of Fame on April 17. Bred and owned by Jls-Speed Horse Ranch Inc, the son of Bigtime Favorite out of the Osceola Warrior mare Psalmist arrived at their Opelousas farm on January 17, 2008.

Family patriarch John Souieau felt that the cross would be a good one. Close friends with Chris and Kim Blanchet, who sell prepped horses for Jls-Speed Horse Ranch Inc each year, John would always ask for their opinion on the 2-year-old crop.

“John would always ask which of the babies would be a good futurity prospect,” recalled Kim. “Chris pegged Jls Mr Bigtime in that category right off the bat.”

Chris Blanchet was not the only one to give his stamp of approval. The late Jacky Martin, who broke the sorrel gelding and saw something special.

“Jacky loved him,” stated Darrel. “He told me that “this one can go to the Mountain.”

Consigned to the 2009 LQHBA Yearling Sale, JLS SpeedHorse had decided they would take no less than $20,000.  The bidding went to $19,000, and based on Martin’s evaluation, Jls Mr Bigtime remained with the Soileau family.

He ran his first career race on February 10, 2010, at Louisiana Downs. It was a trial for the Mardi Gras Futurity, and although he won at first asking, he did not qualify. Jockey  Gilbert Ortiz saw his potential but reported to trainer Darrel Soileau that some equipment changes were in order.

“In the starting gate, he threw his head up high and just wanted to take off,” said Ortiz. “We worked with him, and he definitely came around.”

He remained in Louisiana, making three more starts before running second, by a neck, in the $375,000 Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity(RG1) on July 10 at Delta Downs.

He was sent to Ruidoso Downs and, under the care of respected veteran Sleepy Gilbreath, was supplemented for $50,000 in the All American Futurity(G1). Jacky Martin had the call in his trial win, in which he won in :21.220 seconds. An overflow Louisiana cheering section held their breath as Jls Mr Bigtime surged to the lead at the top of the stretch before longshot Mr Piloto defeated him by a neck.

“We really thought he had won, “said Kim Blanchet of the very close finish. “But interestingly, John Soileau had ties to Mr. Piloto, and if you look at bloodlines, you will see that.”

The Soileau family experienced the gamut of emotions on Labor Day, but headed home knowing that their homebred had plenty left in his tank.  They were correct as JLS Mr Bigtime posted the top qualifying mark to the $526,593 LQHBA Breeders' Futurity at Evangeline Downs and set a new 400-yard track record of :19,411 in the final under rider Jarrod Deschamp.

Jls Mr Bigtime wrapped up his 2-year-old season with 6 wins and 2 seconds from 9 starts, earning $599,962.

He returned to Ruidoso Downs in 2011, making four starts competing in trials for the Rainbow Derby (G1) and running third in the All American Derby(G1).

The highly accomplished gelding became just the second Louisiana-bred Quarter Horse to eclipse the $1 million earnings mark on December 12, 2015, when he finished second in the  $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Quarter Horse Classic at Fair Grounds. Vals Fortune set the mark of $1,111,591 in 2005.

JLS Mr Bigtime's overall record stands at (35) 12-5-5 with earnings of $1,031,147. He was named the 2010 AQHA Racing Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding, an AQHA Racing Superior Race Horse in 2011, and set three track records. He passed away last July at the age of 17 at Blanchet Farms.

“After breeding season, Chris was thinking about transitioning him as a riding horse,” explained Kim. “The colic came on so suddenly that there was no way to save him.”

But, once again, the bonds between great Louisiana breeders and horsemen create memories and Hall of Fame recognition. This year, the honor goes to Jls Mr Big Time.

“He became a millionaire, but beyond that brought us together as a family,” admitted Darrel. “To breed a horse with that level of success was a great accomplishment for our farm, and we shared that with  Chris and Kim Blanchet, our neighbors and great friends.”

LQHBA Hall of Fame History
This will be the 11th class inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame, which was launched in 2016 in celebration of the association’s 50^th 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.
Larry Findley, Sr.
Ronald Briley

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
Sir Runaway Dash
Zupers Quick Dash

"We are pleased to welcome Rodney Verret and Jls Mr Bigtime into the LQHBA Hall of Fame,” said Bruce Salard, LQHBA executive director. “Both are deserving of this honor based on their considerable accomplishments in the Louisiana Quarter Horse industry. We know that this year’s banquet will be well attended to honor these deserving 2026 inductees!”

About the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA)
The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (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 $23 million in purses, and breeders' incentives for mares and stallions of accredited Louisiana-bred foals totaled approximately $4.4 million. LQHBA oversees the annual LQHBA Yearling Sale and Fall Mixed Sale and has raised and donated close to $1 million to support its Louisiana youth scholarship program.

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