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Herbert Graham has been one of the most active supporters of horse racing in Texas for more than 20 years. Herb and his wife, Ginger, operate Graham Farms in Gardendale, Texas. The farm has been home to many top American Quarter Horse stallions such as the Champions and leading sires Rocket Wrangler, Moon Lark and Easily Smashed. With one of the largest bands of broodmares in the nation, the Grahams soon became leading breeders.
Active in the the entertainment business for many years Graham was able to get a sponsorship for a major futurity from a brewery and in 1983 ran the first Graham Farms Futurity at Val Verde Downs in Del Rio. Before the return of pari-mutuel wagering to Texas, the Graham Farms Futurity consistently hit the $250,000 mark and had a $325,935 purse in its third running in 1985. One of the most popular races in the nation, the Graham Farms Futurity assumed Grade I status. In the 11 years which Graham Farms co-sponsored the race, the Graham Farms Futurity paid out $3,160,437. The Graham Farms Derby, a companion race for the Graham Farms Futurity, paid out $923,195 over 11 years, bringing the total of the Graham Farms races to nearly $4.1 million.
Herbert Graham partnered with Bobby Cox in the 1990’s and sponsored the West Texas Winnermaker Futurity. The futurity was $50,000 added with estimated purses of $100,000. The first year, 1994, the West Texas Winnermaker Futurity was run at Bandera Downs, 1995 and 1996 Manor Downs and 1997 Retama Park.
In the early 1990’s, the Graham’s turned their interests from Quarter Horse racing to Paint racing and soon began to dominate that sport. The Graham Paint Futurity is a race which is restricted to horses sired by stallions which they own. The race soon became the largest Paint race in the nation. With Raise A Jet standing at Southwest Stallion Station in Elgin, Texas and Texas Hero standing at Lazy E Ranch in Guthrie, Oklahoma, the Grahams have two of the hottest sires in the nation. In 2002 held at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, the $75,000 added Graham Paint Futurity had a purse of $143,759.
Herbert Graham worked extensively with the late Pinkie Ruden to get pari-mutual racing passed and was one of the original 10 to invest $10,000 to start pari-mutual racing in Texas. Herb has been long active in various horse racing associations and active politically on the state and national levels.
Herbert Graham has been one of the most active supporters of horse racing in Texas for more than 20 years. Herb and his wife, Ginger, operate Graham Farms in Gardendale, Texas. The farm has been home to many top American Quarter Horse stallions such as the Champions and leading sires Rocket Wrangler, Moon Lark and Easily Smashed. With one of the largest bands of broodmares in the nation, the Grahams soon became leading breeders.
Active in the the entertainment business for many years Graham was able to get a sponsorship for a major futurity from a brewery and in 1983 ran the first Graham Farms Futurity at Val Verde Downs in Del Rio. Before the return of pari-mutuel wagering to Texas, the Graham Farms Futurity consistently hit the $250,000 mark and had a $325,935 purse in its third running in 1985. One of the most popular races in the nation, the Graham Farms Futurity assumed Grade I status. In the 11 years which Graham Farms co-sponsored the race, the Graham Farms Futurity paid out $3,160,437. The Graham Farms Derby, a companion race for the Graham Farms Futurity, paid out $923,195 over 11 years, bringing the total of the Graham Farms races to nearly $4.1 million.
Herbert Graham partnered with Bobby Cox in the 1990’s and sponsored the West Texas Winnermaker Futurity. The futurity was $50,000 added with estimated purses of $100,000. The first year, 1994, the West Texas Winnermaker Futurity was run at Bandera Downs, 1995 and 1996 Manor Downs and 1997 Retama Park.
In the early 1990’s, the Graham’s turned their interests from Quarter Horse racing to Paint racing and soon began to dominate that sport. The Graham Paint Futurity is a race which is restricted to horses sired by stallions which they own. The race soon became the largest Paint race in the nation. With Raise A Jet standing at Southwest Stallion Station in Elgin, Texas and Texas Hero standing at Lazy E Ranch in Guthrie, Oklahoma, the Grahams have two of the hottest sires in the nation. In 2002 held at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, the $75,000 added Graham Paint Futurity had a purse of $143,759.
Herbert Graham worked extensively with the late Pinkie Ruden to get pari-mutual racing passed and was one of the original 10 to invest $10,000 to start pari-mutual racing in Texas. Herb has been long active in various horse racing associations and active politically on the state and national levels.