Amarillo, Texas - American Quarter Horse owner and breeder Henry Brown, was elected chairman of the American Quarter Horse Association Racing Council during its most recent meeting held in Ruidoso, New Mexico on August 15.

Brown, is a longtime breeder and owner of champion racing American Quarter Horses from Purcell, Oklahoma. Formerly in the auto business for 30 years, Brown owned a dealership located in Mesa, Arizona. That dealership, from 1996 through 1999, was the world's largest Chevrolet retail dealership. While in Arizona he served 10 years as a director of the Arizona Quarter Horse Racing Association.

Joining AQHA in 1986, Brown was elected to the AQHA Racing Committee in 1999. His involvement in the breeding industry runs deep having bred nearly 150 American Quarter Horses. Brown bred 1999 AQHA Three-year-old Champion Colt Okey Dokey Dale. He also bred 1999 Ruidoso Futurity (G1) winner Chick On The Take.

Brown currently is listed as the owner of 112 American Quarter Horses. His champions include four-time champion Corona Cash, who captured the two-year-old and two-year-old filly title in 1997 and three-year-old and three-year-old filly title in 1998. He also owned Dashing Folly when she was named 1997 Champion Aged Mare. Brown also is recognized for breeding some of the industry's top selling yearlings. Tiny First Effort, which was bred and consigned by Brown, was the 1999 sale topper at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sales for $550,000 marking a sale company record.

Brown moved his horse operations, Spear-Cross Land and Livestock, LLC from Arizona to a 360 acre farm in Purcell, Oklahoma, in the summer of 2000. Last year he joined in partnership with owner/breeders Vaughn Cook and Dr. Jim Bailey to purchase and operate Royal Vista Southwest, a 160 acre facility also located in Purcell. Over the past year Royal Vista Southwest bred 300 mares in its first year of operation.

During their August meeting, the AQHA Racing Council also elected C. Berry Madden, of Humble, Texas, as its vice-chairman. Madden is in his third year as an AQHA Director and has been an active member of the AQHA Racing Committee for five years serving on the Industry Relations subcommittee. He has been an active American Quarter Horse breeder, owner and trainer for many years.

The owner of the Diamond M Ranch, Madden currently serves as president of the Texas Quarter Horse Association. He has been a TQHA Director since 1998. Madden's primary business involves real estate investments.

The AQHA Racing Council is a 10-member steering committee, which recommends policy and develops programs for the marketing of American Quarter Horse racing. Members of the 92-person AQHA Racing Committee annually elect new members to the Racing Council.

Members on the council through June 2002 include:
Henry Brown, Purcell, OK (Racing Council Chairman)
C. Berry Madden, Humble, TX (Racing Council Vice Chairman)
Jim Shoemake, St. Louis, MO (AQHA First Vice President)
Steve Stevens, Houston, TX (AQHA Second Vice President)
Edward C. Allred, Los Alamitos, CA
Duayne Didericksen, Bosie, ID
Walt Fletcher, Lakin, KS (AQHA Racing Committee Chairman)
Russell Harris, Bandera, TX
Ben Hudson, Morgan Mill, TX
Butch Wise, El Reno, OK