Susan Meyer and T M Fred Texas Inducted Into Arabian Jockey Club Hall of Fame

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By Evie Tubbs Sweeney

The Arabian Jockey Club (AJC) is the official non-profit representation of Arabian racing in the United States and manages the Arabian Racing Hall of Fame (for horses) and Tent of Honor (for people) inductions. This year, it proudly introduces two deserving individuals for each category.

T M Fred Texas
T M Fred Texas, a 2007 grey stallion sired by Arabian racing super sire Burning Sand out of the dam Queen Kong, won 12 of 21 races from 2010 to 2013, including six Grade/Group stakes. His three Grade/Group 1 victories were the 2011 UAE President Cup at Churchill Downs, the 2012 UAE President Cup at the Preakness, and the 2012 Dubai Kahayla Classic in the United Arab Emirates. He was the Darley Award Horse of the Year for 2011. Currently standing at Al Shaqab in Qatar, T M Fred Texas is also the sire of American Grade 1 winner RB Texas Hold Em, Qatari-based Group 1 winner Abbes, and other offspring that have won Grade/Group races all around the world. More than just his successes on the track, T M Fred Texas changed the way American-bred horses are campaigned with connections targeting races across the United States and around the world.
Sue and Jim Meyer
Susan Meyer is well-known and greatly respected not just within Arabian racing, but throughout the Arabian horse industry. Sue, along with her husband, Jim, are breeders of champion Arabian horses for over 50 years in halter, performance, & racing. The Meyers have both won numerous regional and national championships – several astride horses they personally bred – in hunter pleasure, reining, ranch riding, and halter. Sue has wholly dedicated her life to the Arabian horse, having served on a plethora of boards that are custodians of the breed, including:

  • Member of the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) Board of Directors since 2010 (& lifetime member of the Arabian Horse Association)
  • Inaugural member of the inaugural AHA Market Development & Promotion Committee – Board Member of the Purebred Arabian Trust (PAT) since 2002 (where she led the Interior Design Committee for the Al-Marah Arabian Horse Galleries at the Kentucky Horse Park that opened in 2008)
  • Vice-President in 2003/President of the Arabian Jockey Club since 2018. (Her greatest accomplishment as President saw the $100,000 UAE President Cup return to the Preakness, providing the Arabian breed with one of its biggest stages in the world to race in terms of crowd size, media coverage, and betting handle.)
  • Inaugural President of the Arabian Breeders Association, founded by Sheila Varian
  • Advisory Committee Member of the North Carolina State University College’s Life Sciences
  • Member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee for Bayer Corp dealing with humane treatment of lab animals
  • Member of the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium for ethical practices of racehorses
  • Lifetime Member of the North Carolina Arabian Horse Association (and manager of several shows in the 80s when her husband, Jim, was president).
  • Arabian horse judge to shows in Venezuela, Australia, South Africa, and Israel National Championships

Sue and Jim have been fortunate to enjoy the unique thrill of witnessing several homebreds wear national champion roses in show rings over the years. But one Arabian racehorse will forever be linked to their legacy. Hiab Al Zaman, a 2017 chestnut stallion with a big personality and immense talent, sustained a stall accident as a weanling in the first days of his young life. The Meyers nursed Hiab back to health and campaigned him to Darley Horse of the Year in 2021, along with a win in the 2022 UAE President Cup by a record margin for the American leg of the prestigious series.

Few in the Arabian industry have so sacrificially dedicated their lives to the betterment of the Arabian horse than Sue Meyer, and she has done with the utmost level of integrity in every leadership position she’s served, big or small.

“Sue is my friend and has served as a PAT Trustee since 2002,” says Bob Fauls, president of the Purebred Arabian Trust. “Her enthusiasm, common sense and insightful analysis has inspired all who want the best for the Arabian horse. Sue’s positive personality creates the environment to develop problem solving policies which benefit the Arabian horse. I could write a book about Sue. But I’ll simply say, with gratitude: ‘Thank you, Sue!’”

AJC Past President, Kathy Smoke, echoes similar sentiments.

Sue Meyer

“Racing Arabians has taken me around the world, and I’ve met many incredible women and men during my time on the AJC board,” said Kathy. “From our first meeting many moons ago to this day, I’ve been continually impressed with Sue’s business acumen, her extensive knowledge of horses (Arabians in particular), and her love of life and sense of humor. Sue’s adventurous spirit for travel, good cuisine, and living life to the fullest are a few of the things we found in common. Sue has become my dearest friend without even trying. She was a crucial support in my role as AJC President, and she excelled when she stepped up to that position. Our memories and friendship will last my lifetime. I truly cannot think of anyone who has given more to this breed and to the sport of racing Arabians. Sue deserves this honor in so many ways.”

 

Induction into the Arabian Jockey Club Tent of Honor and Hall of Fame represents one of the highest honors that can be bestowed in Arabian horse racing. Susan Meyer represents just the 27th person inducted into the Tent of Honor and T M Fred Texas the 27th stallion or gelding into the Hall of Fame since the founding of the awards in 1995.

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