Chha LogoLogo
Johnson, Kuebler inducted into Calif. Hall of Fame
January 24th 2010 - Robin Clements chairperson for CHHA Hall of Fame

The California Harness Horsemens Association has announced it’s inductees for the class of 2010. Robert “ Bob “ Johnson, Fred Kuebler, Hunters Star and Stand By N will be inducted at the annual CHHA meeting in March.
 
In 1967 Bob Johnson left his home state of Texas and headed to Pompano Park to work with the harness horses, and later that year went to Chicago to work under the stable of Bob and Richard Farrington. It was here where he learned the horse business and in 1969 headed west to California where he eventually picked up his trainers license. Training for such owners as Charlie Meyers, Ed Ackinson and Maurice Seigel, Bob’s stable flourished with such outstanding campaigners as Rowdy Yankee, B C Count and Joie De Vie. When the California circuit started to decline in the mid 1990’s, Bob again headed east but the sunshine state called him back home where he then picked up owners like David Neumeister and Lonnie Beck and under his care raced  Gimmewhatineed  a track record holder at Cal Expo for many years and the great raceway mare Maudlin Hanover.
 
In the summer of 1971 and with the opening of Golden Bear Raceway at Cal Expo, Fred Kuebler started his craft as a groom working for the late Marc Grenier. With his brother Rick also now in the horse business, it was only a matter of time before their parents, Howard and Elise Kuebler joined together to form My Hero Racing Stables named after the family sandwich shop. While Rick took the reins, it was Fred who trained and managed the rising stable. Campaigning such horses as The Thisther Thavage, The Thilly Brudder and The Thilly Thither, My Hero became one of the top stables in California. At the end of the Golden Gate Fields meeting in 1978, Fred, using his college degree went to the management side to work for Lloyd Arnold as a laison between the horsemen and management. Later Fred then rose the ranks from assistant race secretary to race secretary. Over the years he has worn a different hat working as a Director of Racing, Simulcast Director, Mutuel Manager, Assistant General Manager to General Manager.
 
Two outstanding horses will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Hunters Star by Stars Pride proved a worthy candidate as he has literally became a founding sire in California. Owned by the late Jack Marsh and trained and driven by Jack Sherren, Hunters Star earned $ 44,980 on the pace and took a mark of 1:57.1m. But it was off the track where Hunters Star dominated. Standing at Man Mar Ranch in Dixon, Hunters Star proved to be one of the best California sires on the trot and pace, taking many top stallion of the year awards. Siring 720 foals, his offspring has amassed $15,767,996 in earnings. Some of his top foals were Magna Hawk  T, 1:58.2m, $354,000, Native Star P, 6 1:55.1m $322,010, Foxy Markenjay T,4 2:00.2m $322,010. Hunters Star also was noted as being a top broodmare producing sire with such great mares as Kute Markenjay whose foals have earned over 1 million to date. It was only fitting that Hunters Star’s last foal be named Hunters Last Star T, 5, 1:58.1m $117,741.
 
Stand By N, P, 7 1:52.1m $ 254,381 not only was a great raceway mare but also proved her worthiness as one of California’s top broodmares. Brought over from New Zealand, Stand By N by Jamie Hanover out of Lea Breeze was owned by longtime California owners Bob and Loretta Staats and trained by the late Robert “ Bob “ Gordon. Having been retired to the broodmare shed, Stand By N had 9 foals and 7 of racing age. Her foals have earned $941,115 and per foal have averaged $134,445 in earnings. With such top foals to her credit as Moxie, by Cole Muffler P, 6 1:49,3s  $402,465, TuTuff  by Tulane P,3 1:52.4m and Reno Rose by Gimmewhatineed P,3 1:52.3m $162,445. One of Stand By’s fillies, BG’s Prodigy along with her stable mate Bells to be Rung dead heated for the win while breaking the track record in the sires stakes as a 2 yr old. Not to be out done by her sister, Reno Rose, broke the 2 yr old pacing filly track record again the next year. At the age of 23, Stand By N was retired from the breeding shed and given to Elk Grove resident Judy Painter where she was given a home fitting of a champion to live out her days.
 
And finally the Hall of Fame committee decided to award the Lifetime Achievement award to longtime owners Michael and Billie Schwartz for their dedication and contribution to the sport of California harness racing. The late Michael Schwartz along with his wife Billie, not only were owners and breeders for many years but also were financial contributors to the investment and start up of Capitol Racing. Michael also served as president of the California Harness Horsemen’s Association for many years. Billie is still active as an owner and breeder in the sport.