Kenneth Weeks, who has trained Quarter Horses since 2008, has built a reputation in Louisiana racing with a hands-on, “old school” approach that puts horsemanship first.

© Courtesy of Donna Dickenson Weeks

By Martha Claussen  

SHREVEPORT, LA–MARCH 2, 2026–Kenneth Weeks has been training Quarter Horses since 2008. Born and raised in Citronelle, Alabama, Weeks learned from his father, Doug, who is also a trainer. Weeks describes his approach to conditioning quarter horses as “old school”.

“I’m all about the horses,” Weeks explained. “Everybody likes to win, but for me, I go to sleep at night knowing that I’ve cared for them well.”

Two of his most successful Louisiana-breds have history with the highly respected Jumonville Farms in Ventress, Louisiana.

Corona Blue Estrella with Ricardo Hernandez aboard wins the Grade III $50,000 Miss Polly Classic at Delta Downs. © Hodges Photography / Paula Tindall

Grade 3 champion Corona Blue Estrella is one of his top performers. She was consigned to the 2022 LQHBA Yearling Sale, and Weeks made a trip to Jumonville Farms in advance of the sale to take a closer look.

“She wasn’t the biggest, but I loved her pedigree,” recalled Weeks,  “Dutch Jumonville put her in a pen for me, and I was impressed with the way she moved; her feet didn’t hit the ground. I was looking at her for owners Lester B. Columb, Jr, and Raymond Loup. They were more interested in a bigger filly, but she was the one I really wanted.”

Weeks was able to sign the ticket for $17,000, and his instincts were rewarded when the daughter of Jess Louisiana Blue won six of her 17 career starts, including the Miss Polly Classic (G3) in 2024, and placed fourth in the Grade 2 Louisiana Classic. Her earnings stand at $153,545.

Corona Blue Estrella with Kenneth Weeks and Ricardo Hernandez after winning the Grade III $50,000 Miss Polly Classic at Delta Downs. © Hodges Photography / Paula Tindall

“I remember when he visited the farm to take a look at Corona Blue Estrella,” said Dutch, Farm Manager for Jumonville Farms and former LQHBA board member. “It was apparent that Kenneth liked her, but he had a poker face on that day, so I really didn’t know how much!”

Her 2026 racing plans are on hold as she is in the process of embryo retrieval with noted stallions Chilitos and Kvn Corona on the radar.

“My hope is that she doesn’t race again, said Weeks. “She’s done everything we asked, and I would rather see her live out her life on our farm.”

Weeks has enjoyed a solid working relationship Dutch, including a collaboration with the Jumonville Farms homebred Power of the Smile.

“He was a real big horse and had no success as a two-year-old,” recalled Jumonville. “We waited until the end of the year to race him. I remember asking myself, What am I going to do with this big sucker, Maybe thinking he would be better suited for jumping.”

Power Of The Smile winning the Evangeline 870 Stakes.
© Hodges Photography

Jumonville conferred with Weeks and asked his opinion on the son of Power Jam out of a full sister to Louisiana Blue.

They agreed to give him a try as a distance horse, and he hit the board in each of his 2025 starts, completing the year with an exciting victory in the EVD 870 Stakes on December 20 at Evangeline Downs.

“Every horseman has a different approach to training racehorses,” said Jumonville. “Kenneth is a very straightforward guy, always looking to do right by his horses, and that’s what I appreciate about him.”

Trials for the Mardi Gras Oaks, Derby, and Futurity, as well as the Louisiana Downs Futurity, are coming up in the first week of March. Weeks, who has 25 horses in training, shared that he will only enter one juvenile, Sixes Fly Higher, on Friday, March 6, in trials for the Louisiana Downs Futurity.

“I have several 2-year-olds, but this is the one I feel is ready,” he said.

The Texas-bred daughter of Eagles Fly Higher out of the Jumpn mare Stevie Six was bred in Texas by Joye Leann Nalls and owned by Nalls and James Hrabovsky.

“Brian Stroud got her going in Texas, and she has worked from the gates three times at Louisiana Downs,” said Weeks. “She’s talented but can be difficult; Leann shared that she was born that way!”

With a multitude of Futurity options coming up at Delta Downs and later in the year at Evangeline Downs, the very patient Weeks is in no hurry to claim a trophy.

“I really enjoy working with the babies, but know that not all horses will become stakes winners,” stated Weeks. “All I can tell my owners is that the horses will be well-schooled. Not every horse has the mentality it takes to win races,” stated Weeks. “ I don’t believe in pushing them. If they don’t hit the board in four starts, I will discuss options with my owners.”

What We Gonna Do Is, won just one Quarter Horse race for Weeks, but topped $200,000 as a World Champion Steer Wrestling competitor. Courtesy of Donna Dickinson Weeks

Weeks is supported by his wife of 17 years, Donna, and their daughter, Kenzie, 16. Both are an integral part of Week’s Wide Open Racing and can rattle off the names of the barn’s winners and retired runners who have gone become successful after the conclusion of their racing career.

Barrel racing proved to be a solid fit for Jessadasher, who teamed with Janee Ornelas in the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Courtesy of Donna Dickinson Weeks

Two of the standouts include Jessadasher, who won only one race, but he and Janee Ornelas dazzled in the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Also, What We Gonna Do Is, a Mare by Royal Shakem, won just one of her six outs on the racetrack, but, teaming with JD Struxness, she is a World Champion in Steer Wrestling, and they have earned over $200,000 together.

“Donna was born into racing, and both she and Kenzie are all about the horses,” stated Weeks.

Weeks has saddled over 3,500 Quarter Horses with 509 wins, according to Equibase. He continues to be a respected member of the Louisiana Quarter Horse community.

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Martha Claussen has been involved in racing since 1997, when she served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park for ten years. She continues to be active in writing, fan education, and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana, Indiana, and other regions in North America.

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