2025 LTBA Annual Awards Banquet and REAP Benefit
On Saturday, August 2nd, Louisiana horsemen and women gathered to celebrate the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association’s 2024 Champions, and to benefit REAP (Racetrack Employee Assistance Program). The crowd filled Evangeline Downs’ Mojos for food, drinks, music and prizes in addition to honoring the connections of Louisiana’s most recent racing and breeding champions. The running of the DS Shine Young Futurity for colts and geldings and the third running of the Louisiana Stallion Stakes presented by Coteau Grove Farms, added to the exciting evening.
2024 Accredited Louisiana Bred Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
Secret Faith closed out 2024 winning the Louisiana Futurity filly division at Fair Grounds. Hodges photography.
Secret Faith
Sire: Aurelius Maximus
Dam: St. Joan
Breeder: J. Adcock & Hume Wornall
Owner: Norman Stables, LLC
Trainer: Jayde J. Gelner
LTBA Assistant Director, Mike Whitler presents the trophy for 2 Year Old Louisiana Bred Champion Filly, Secret Faith, to Robert Norman, of Norman Stables, owner; and Jayde Gelner, trainer.
2024 Accredited Louisiana Bred Champion Two-Year-Old Colt or Gelding
Smoken Wicked
Smoken Wicked wins the Louisiana Futurity colt and gelding division at Fair Grounds. Hodges photography.
Sire: Bobby’s Wicked One
Dam: Street Smoke
Breeder: Tom Curtis & Wayne Simpson
Owner: Valene Farms LLC
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
LTBA Board member, Michelle Lavoice, presents the owners award for 2 Year Old Louisiana Bred Champion Colt or Gelding, Smoken Wicked, to Murray Valene. Pictured left to right, are Lavoice, Valene, and Elizabeth Lavoice.
2024 Accredited Louisiana Bred Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
Six String gets in front of Luyv to win the Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint. Hodges photography.
Six String
Sire: Star Guitar
Dam: Oh Whata Holiday
Breeder/Owner: World War IV Racing and Rebel Tide Racing LLC
Trainer: Allen Landry
LTBA Assistant Director, Mike Whitler, presents the trophy for 3 Year Old Louisiana Bred Champion Filly, Six String to her connections, World War IV Racing and Rebel Tide Racing LLC, owner/breeder, and Allen Landry, trainer.
2024 Accredited Louisiana Bred Champion Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding
El Dinero
El Dinero wins the 2024 Crescent City Derby at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography.
Sire: El Deal
Dam: Money For Makeup
Breeder: J. Adcock & Hume Wornall
Owner: Tav Enterprises LLC
Trainer: Patrick Devereux
LTBA Secretary/Treasurer Roger Heitzman presents the trophy for 3 Year Old Louisiana Bred Champions El Dinero to trainer Pat Devereux, accepting for TAV Enterprises LLC, owner.
2024 Accredited Louisiana Bred Champion Four-Year-Old and up Fillies & Mares
OVERALL ACCREDITED LOUISIANA BRED HORSE OF THE YEAR
Free Like A Girl
Free Like A Girl wins the John Valene Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges photography.
Sire: El Deal
Dam: Flashy Prize
Breeder: Kim Renee Stover & Lisa Osborne
Owners: Gerald Bruno Jr., Carl Deville, Chasey Pomier & Jerry Caroom
Trainer: Chasey Deville Pomier
LTBA President, Keith Hernandez (2nd from left) presents the trophies for 4 Year Old and Up Louisiana Champion Filly or Mare, and 2024 Louisiana Horse of the Year, Free Like A Girl to her many connections.
2024 Accredited Louisiana Bred Champion Four-Year-Old and up Males
Touchuponastar
Touchuponstar takes his third consecutive Louisiana Champions Day Classic. Hodges photography.
Sire: Star Guitar
Dam: Touch Magic
Breeder: Coteau Grove Farms
Owner: Set-Hut LLC (Jake Delhomme)
Trainer: Jeff Delhomme
LTBA Assistant Director, Mike Whitler, presents the award to the connections of 4 Year Old and Up Louisiana Champion Male to the connections of Touchuponastar.
2024 Louisiana Champion Broodmare of the Year
Charged Cotton
Dehere – Lightning Lydia by Broad Brush
Owner: Brittlyn Stable LLC (Evelyn Benoit)
Evelyn Benoit of Brittlyn Stable, LLC along with friends, accepts the award for Louisiana Broodmare of the Year, Charged Cotton, from LTBA Assistant Director, Mike Whitler.
Andrew L. “Red” Erwin Stallion of the Year
Star Guitar
Quiet American – Minit Towinit by Malagra
Owner: Brittlyn Stable Inc. (Evelyn Benoit)
LTBA Secretary/Treasurer Roger Heitzmann, presents the award for Louisiana Stallion of the Year, Star Guitar, to Brittlyn Stables Inc.’s Evelyn Benoit and friends.
Leading Breeder by Breeders Awards
Brittlyn Inc.
LTBA President Keith Hernandez, presents the award for Leading Louisiana Breeder by Breeders Awards, to Brittlyn Inc.’s Evelyn Benoit and friends.
Leading Percentage Breeder of Stakes Winners
Tony Doughtie
Michelle Lavoice accepts the award for Leading Louisiana Breeder by Percentage of Stakes Winners for Tony Doughtie, who was unable to attend the banquet. LTBA Assistant Director, Mike Whitler presenting.
REAP Benefit
Following the awards presentation, the festivities continued with a delicious buffet catered by Evangeline Downs. Silent and live auctions, and a reverse drawing raffle were held, all to benefit REAP (Racetrack Employee Assistance Program). Coteau Grove Band, had feet tapping, hands clapping, and even a couple of rogue dancers. The Coteau Grove Project performance was donated thanks to the generosity of Keith and Ginger Myers and the Myers Family Foundation.
The benefit brought in approximately $31,000 for REAP. The proceeds (along with regular support of Horsemen in Need) will go towards renovating REAP Hall on the Evangeline Downs backside.
The Reverse Drawing was won by Tyler Miller ($500), Carrol Castille ($1,500) and LA HBPA ($3,000). LA HBPA generously donated the money back to REAP.
The Coteau Grove Project
REAP thanks all the generous Sponsors of the event:
$2,500 level
Delhomme Vet Clinic
Evangeline Downs
Whispering Oaks
$1,500 level
LA HBPA
Schumacher Family Foundation
$1,000 level
Clear Creek Stud
Valene Farms
$500 level
Blue Ridge Farms
Coteau Grove Farm
Intrepid Thoroughbreds
Pat Devereux
as well as all who donated to the auction