Recently, I was watching a rerun marathon of the drama Criminal Minds on TNT. The actor caught my attention because he looked familiar for some reason. About halfway through the show, I realized that it was Riley Smith, whose father is trainer and AQHA judge Russ Smith of Whitesboro, Texas. Riley is also a former AQHYA President (96-97) and showed mainly in the pleasure and halter events when he was a youth exhibitor. Seeing him on television, made be wonder what he has been up to all these years since he stopped showing horses.

With his “Just Win” motto and $600 an hour fee, Thomas Matthew Corea has established himself as one of the top trial lawyers in the country. In January of 2003, he founded The Corea Firm, PLLC in Dallas, Texas with “the goal of litigating and trying cases in his own style: with zealous advocacy and personalized attention to clients.” He has built his farm in Palmer, Texas--WhistleStop Ranch will the same amount of passion as he has built up his law practice. Check out the backstory of one of the newcomers to our industry.

Well respected breeder and trainer, June Warren of Yukon, Oklahoma has passed away at the age of 52 after a two year battle with brain cancer. June requested that there not be a funeral. Instead, there will be a memorial party at a show. We will update you as soon as we have more information about the memorial. Please read more about this amazing lady that touched the lives of many in the industry. 

MORE NEWS: There will be a memorial service at Char-O-lot Ranch on Sunday morning at 11am (EST). 
Unfortunately, his wife, Sue, still remains hospitalized. Please keep this family in your prayers at this difficult time. 
Bradenton.com has more information regarding the death of Doug Schembri and confirms that he died of heart disease. Read article for more updated information.

At this year's AQHA Youth World Show, there were 142 exhibitors who qualified to compete in the Trail, but oddly, no one from the first 81 horses made it back to the finals. However, seven of the last 16 horses returned to the finals. We started wondering how much your draw number really matters, and if it does, do they need to have cuts for these classes as well to even the playing field?

A mare that won Grand Champion in a Quarter Horse class at the New Jersey State Fair/Sussex County Farm & Horse Show shown by Mitch Leonarski was killed and another mare that won Grand Reserve Champion in the same show was injured in a chain-reaction collision on the New Jersey Turnpike just hours after the show Friday.

Sue Dempze is largely known in the industry as a supportive horse show mom. She can be seen on the sidelines rooting for her daughter, Jenna, who currently shows in the amateur and futurity western pleasure events with her current mount, Sure Am Hot. Many people may also know that the family is somehow involved with cranberries and the company Ocean Spray, but they may not know the exact details. It is quite an interesting story.

Show Stop Farm and McGrath Quarter Horses again offer the proven bloodlines of Luke At Me with three top prospects in the Reichert Yearling Hunter Under Saddle Stakes Sale. "Nancy Sue Ryan and I are committed to offering top prospects at the Reichert Sale in hopes of helping to grow this aspect of the Rechert Celebration and offer hunt seat owners and trainers a venue to show futurity horses," said Kevin McGrath of McGrath Quarter Horses, owner of the stallions Million Dollar Luke, BR Iam and Good Huh.