Top Quarter Horse Trainer Announces Retirement

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Trainer Jack Brooks, an eight-time winner of quarter horse racing's top event, the All American Futurity, announces his retirement after a 47-year career. <br/><br/>The 71-year-old

Thursday, March 1st 2007, 6:15 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Trainer Jack Brooks, an eight-time winner of quarter horse racing's top event, the All American Futurity, announces his retirement after a 47-year career.

The 71-year-old Brooks, who made the announcement Wednesday, began training horses in 1959 at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. He's won three trainers' titles at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, including one last year.

The American Quarter Horse Association did not keep training records before 1970, but since then, Brooks has won 1,774 quarter horse races and has earnings of more than $37.3 million.

The All American Futurity, run annually on Labor Day, began in 1959 at Ruidoso Downs and offered a purse last year of $1.9 million.

Brooks, who lives in Edmond and has a farm in Jones, won the event eight times between 1978 and 2000.

No other trainer has won the race more than three times.

Remington Park general manager Scott Wells calls Brooks, quote, ``far and away the greatest quarter horse trainer who ever lived.''