The 2021 Ruidoso Downs Hall of Fame Induction class includes some of the most impressive talent in the business – and they are all ladies. On July 10, 2021, the filly Laico Bird, owner/breeder Julianna Hawn Holt, trainer Donna McArthur and jockey Tami Purcell-Burklund will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony that will be held in the Turf Club at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

Tickets are $50 per person and are available here or by calling 575-378-4140. All proceeds benefit the All American Ruidoso Downs Foundation and the John Andreini Scholarship Fund for Racetrack Youth.

LAICO BIRD - HORSE

In 1967, Laico Bird not only won the All American Futurity but was also voted the AQHA World Champion, Champion Mare and Champion 2-year-old Filly. As a 2-year-old, she had 17 starts, 11 wins and 5 seconds with 5 stakes wins on 6 different racetracks. At the time of her retirement from racing in 1968, she had 34 starts with 17 wins, 12 seconds, and 3 thirds with earnings of $435,653 and was the all-time leading money earning Quarter Horse in race training.

Laico Bird is owned by Jimmy R.B. Jones and his late brother Floyd H. Jones, Jr. of Norman, OK.

JULIANNA HAWN HOLT – BREEDER/OWNER

Perennially among the leading AQHA breeders of racehorses in the nation, Julianna Hawn Holt has bred earners of more than $9,977,000 from her Blanco, TX-based ranch. Her presence at the annual Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale has been paramount for the past 20 years where she has sold many of the industry’s top racehorses including All American Futurity winner Fly Baby Fly, Los Alamitos $2 Million winner Flash And Roll, Rainbow Futurity winner A Revenant and leading sire Valiant Hero.

 Her elite set of broodmares include the champions of champion producers Apollitical Time, Coronas First Diva, Eddie Jym, Kates Dynasty, Stylish Jess BR , and Flash And Roll. Her current racemares are recent millionaire Apollitical Patty and 2020 stakes winner Aint She Tempting.

Hawn Holt is also the co-owner of the San Antonio Spurs.

DONNA MCARTHUR - TRAINER

With earnings of $13,606,700 and an impressive 64 Quarter Horse stakes wins, Donna McArthur is the only female trainer to have ever been named the AQHA Champion Trainer. She trained All American Futurity winner Corona Cash, Los Alamitos Millions winners Corona Kool and This Snow is Royal, Champion of Champions winner Dashing Folly and leading sire James James Jr. In addition, she has also trained 415 Thoroughbred starters earning $585,342 and recording 43 wins.

Donna and her husband James McArthur have won the All American Futurity a combined three times with Corona Cash (1997), Eastex (1984), and Easy Date (1974). Husband James was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

TAMI PURCELL-BURKLUND – JOCKEY

As the AQHA’s all-time leading female jockey of money earners, Purcell-Burklund had 5008 Quarter Horse starts in her career and rode her mounts to 823 wins with earnings of $9,905,500. She also had 1,810 Thoroughbred starts with 200 wins and earnings of $726,574.

Her list of major stakes wins is nothing less than impressive. In 1997, she rode All American Futurity winner Corona Cash to victory. She was also aboard Champion of Champions winner Dashing Folly, Rainbow Futurity winner Feet Down First, AQHA Challenge Championship winner Kool Kue Baby, Texas Classic Futurity winner Toast to Dash, Remington Park Futurity winner Bullet Bullion, and Louisiana QHBA Futurity winner Shining Tee Pie.

The evening will kick off with a cocktail party in the Hall of Fame. A prime rib dinner will follow in the Turf Club and the induction ceremony will immediately follow. After the ceremony, Coby Carter will entertain guests with live music. Tickets are on sale now for $50.