Meet the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Six individuals and horses whose contributions have shaped the American Quarter Horse industry will be inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame as the Class of 2026.

Induction into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by the American Quarter Horse Foundation. In 2026, six individuals and horses whose influence has helped shape the American Quarter Horse industry will join the prestigious list of inductees. The Class of 2026 will be honored during the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Induction & Reunion Celebration September 11-12, 2026, in Amarillo, Texas. More information is available on the event site.

The Class of 2026 includes three AQHA members and three horses: AQHA Professional Horseman Bobby Lewis, AQHA’s first international member Cesar Pedrero, AQHA Past President Floyd E. “Butch” Wise, Dollie Pine, WR This Cats Smart and Runaway Wave.

 

 

Bobby Lewis
During his career, AQHA Professional Horseman Bobby Lewis of Overbrook, Oklahoma, has won 38 AQHA world championships on 32 horses, as well as 30,794.5 AQHA points across 18 events. Bobby showed Genuine Redbud to the 1995 AQHA Superhorse title at the AQHA World Championship Show and was part of the team that showed Reprise Bar to the 1984 Superhorse title. Bobby was also the breeder of Real Gun, the 2004 AQHA Superhorse. Bobby, who is an AQHA 40-year cumulative breeder, has total earnings from breeding American Quarter Horses exceeding $3 million. He was inducted into the National Cutting Horse Hall of Fame in 2006.

 

 

Cesar Pedrero
An AQHA member since 1968, Cesar Pedrero of Mexico was the first international member of AQHA and co-founded the Mexican Quarter Horse association in 1968. A 40-year cumulative American Quarter Horse breeder, Cesar also produced the first American Quarter Horse halter show in Mexico in 1970. Along with that, he introduced Quarter Horse racing to Mexico in 1983, where the futurities and derbies grow in their continued success. Cesar was the owner of two Mexican champion racehorses, Stage Door Smash in 1988 and Passem Glass in 1992. Cesar is also in two halls of fame in Mexico for his work in the equine industry.

 

Butch Wise
AQHA Past President and bloodstock agent Floyd E. “Butch” Wise of El Reno, Oklahoma, has been a long-time director and has served on several AQHA committees, including the AQHA Stud Book and Registration Committee and Racing Council. Butch has earned more than $1 million on horses he has owned outright and in partnership. He is also a past president of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association and has been inducted into the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing and Remington Park halls of fame.

 

 

 

 

Dollie Pine
AQHA Champion Dollie Pine, who was by Poco Pine and out of Hobo Sue by Hobo, shares a lineage like no other. Her pedigree includes American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame members Traveler, Zantanon, Poco Bueno and King P-234. The 1960 mare, who was bred by Hall of Fame member Paul Curtner and owned by Harold Mills, produced 14 foals that earned four open AQHA Champion titles, five open performance Registers of Merit and three open Superiors. Her progeny includes the great Zippo Pine Bar. Her grandprogeny includes Zips Chocolate Chip and Zippos Mr Goodbar. She also has great-grandson A Good Machine; and great-great-grandson Harley D Zip.

 

 

 

WR This Cats Smart
WR This Cats Smart, who earned more than $200,000 in National Cutting Horse Association competition, has sired 1,574 registered American Quarter Horses as of the end of February 2026, with collective earnings of more than $19.5 million in cutting, reining, working cow horse, roping, ranch horse and timed-event competition. Bred by Wiens Ranch Company Inc. of Sedalia, Colorado, WR This Cats Smart was owned by the AQHA Best Remuda Award-winning Wagonhound Land & Livestock of Douglas, Wyoming, which is also an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder. This stallion has made a significant impact on the ranch’s remuda and performance-horse programs nationwide.

 

 

Runaway Wave
The 2005 AQHA Broodmare of the Year, Runaway Wave became an AQHA Dam of Distinction in 2007. By Runaway Winner, a race sire of earners of over $13 million, and out of the Thoroughbred mare In The Curl, Runaway Wave earned nearly $80,000 on the track. But as her breeding awards illustrate, her bigger success has been in producing 46 American Quarter Horse foals that have won 88 races, earned more than $4 million and one AQHA racing world champion title. In 2015, she became the all-time AQHA Leading Broodmare by Progeny Earnings, a title she held through 2021. She is currently second on that list. Her progeny includes champions Ocean Runaway and Wave Carver, who each have earnings of more than $1 million. She was bred by Allison and Daniel Lucas of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is owned by Daniel and Michelle Lucas of Portland, Tennessee.