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Texas Hall of Fame Gala Family Affair© Greg Melikov
Nov 11, 2002
"I'm the first one to be inducted in the Hall of Fame as a left-handed Italian," C. W. "Bubba" Cascio told a gathering of horse lovers at Retama Park. "It's a great honor."
The occasion: the fourth Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala. The prevailing atmosphere: much love among family and friends.
Cascio set the tone for the fall evening when six new members were inducted. He introduced and thanked everyone from his wife to friends, including two who followed with acceptance speeches.
One of the most successful quarter-horse trainers, Casio also thanked his mother-in-law, son, grandson, a veterinarian, other friends, etc.
"I always thought you had to be in the right place at the right time," the 70-year-old said. "That's how I like to look at it (my career)."
And what a career it has been for more than four decades: Cascio trained Texas Hall of Fame champion Dash for Cash. He won the All American Futurity twice, with Three Oh's in 1968 and Rocket Wrangler in '70. He trained the top money-winning female quarter horse female, Dashingly.
Two of Cascio's close friends also honored included Joe Cassel, a pioneer in the development of Arabian racing and first chairman of the International Arabian Racing Committee, which established the sport in the late 1950s.
"I've known Bubba Cascio for a lifetime," Cassel said. "I thought he was an older man than that."
Hall of Fame galas, which include $100 a plate dinners, raffles and auctions, are also staged to raise money for a museum to preserve the rich history of horse racing in the Lone Star State.
There were 390 in attendance, according to Doug Vair, Retama's director of publicity. "That's the largest crowd, by far. More than $27,000 was raised."
Close to $580,000 in donations and pledges have been raised toward the goal of $1.5 million needed to erect the Hall of Fame on the Greater San Antonio track's grounds, Vair said.
JoAnn Weber, Hall of Fame executive director who has been ill this year, received a standing ovation when she was surprised with the organization's Industry Achievement Award. "The horse racing industry means so much to me," she said.
Other new Hall of Fame members are:
Tommy Oliphant, another Cascio close friend and a trainer for a half-century; Dr. Charles W. Graham, key player in passage of pari-mutuel legislation for Texas and the only man elected president of the Texas Quarter Horse and Texas Thoroughbred associations; Staunch Avenger, outstanding thoroughbred who sired 15 graded stakes winners; and Easy Jet, one of the greatest juveniles in quarter-horse racing history who captured nine stakes in '69 as a 2-year-old, including the All American Futurity.
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