For the Reporter

Trainer Wesley Ward and jockey Gary Boulanger head a stellar field of 2015 Washington Racing Hall of Fame inductees, Emerald Downs announced Tuesday.

Travel Orb, Washington’s Horse of the Year in 1965 & 1966, was elected in the Male Horse category, and Ropersandwranglers, winner of 10 stakes at Emerald Downs from 1996-98, won the filly and mare division.

Herman Sarkowsky, iconic Seattle businessman who bred and raced three state champions and also campaigned 1993 Eclipse Award winning 2-year-old filly Phone Chatter, will be inducted in the breeding division.

The Washington Racing Hall of Fame’s 13th annual induction ceremony is Saturday, Aug. 8 in the Emerald Room following the day’s races.

Boulanger turned in the greatest three-year run in state history, piling up 637 wins and Longacres’ riding titles in 1989, 1990 and 1991; his 247 wins in 1991 broke the single-season record set seven seasons earlier by Gary Stevens. A 47-year-old native of Drayton Valley, Alberta, Boulanger has won more than 3,200 races in a 20-year career that resumed two years ago at Woodbine.

Winner of the 1984 Eclipse Award for Apprentice Jockey, Ward outgrew riding and has developed into one of the nation’s foremost trainers. In 2009, Ward became the first American trainer to win at Royal Ascot, a feat he has now achieved six times capped by Undrafted’s win in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes last month. A 47-year-old native of Selah, Ward also had two winners in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, and has amassed 34 graded wins overall.

Orb, a 1962 Washington-bred by Perambulator-Ay-Say, defeated the great Native Diver in the 1966 Californian Stakes before over 50,000 fans at Hollywood Park. A multiple stakes winner in Washington and California, Travel Orb racked up 18 wins and more than $200,000 in purses during his remarkable career.

Ropersandwranglers, a 1993 California-bred by Endow-Silent Surprise, was one of the first superstars at Emerald Downs. Conditioned by Washington Hall of Fame trainer Bud Klokstad, she racked up five division titles at Emerald Downs, winning seven straight stakes in one stretch, and was 13-of-20 overall.

Earlier this year, Robert Geller was bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award for his 19-plus seasons as Emerald Downs’ track announcer.

Washington Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame

Horse (year inducted)

Travel Orb (2015-male)/Ropersandwranglers (2015-filly or mare), Chum Salmon, (2014-male)/Delicate Vine (2014-filly or mare), Military Hawk (2013-male)/Table Hands (2013-filly or mare), Hilco Scamper (2012-male)/Rings a Chime (2012-filly or mare), Pataha Prince (2011-male)/Firesweeper (2011-filly or mare), Biggs (2010), Sparrow Castle (2009), Belle of Rainier (2008), Peterhof’s Patea (2007), Sir William (2006), Smogy Dew (2005), Turbulator (2004), Saratoga Passage (2004), Captain Condo (2003), Chinook Pass (2003), Trooper Seven (2003).

Jockey

Gary Boulanger (2015), Ricky Frazier (2014), Gallyn Mitchell (2013), Paul Frey (2012), Vicky (Aragon) Baze (2011), Joe Baze (2010), Lennie Knowles (2009), Larry Pierce (2008), John Adams (2007), Albert Johnson (2006), Basil James (2005), Russell Baze (2004), Gary Baze (2003), Ralph Neves (2003), Gary Stevens (2003).

Trainer

Wesley Ward (2015), Ben Harris (2014), Howard Belvoir (2013), Wayne Branch (2012), Tim McCanna (2011), Bill McMeans (2010), Kathy Walsh (2009), Glen Williams (2008), R.H. McDaniel (2007), Frances Keller (2006), Bud Klokstad (2005), Charles Whittingham (2004), Allen Drumheller (2003), Jim Penney (2003), Tom Smith (2003).

Breeder

Herman Sarkowsky (2015), William C. & Barbara Nelson Jr. (2014), Czech-Mate Farm (2013), George Newell (2012), Grousemont Farm (2011), Les Turner (2010), Wilbur & Marianne Stadelman (2009), Frank Brewster (2008), Dan Agnew (2007), C.J. Sebastian (2006), Guy & Barbara Roberts (2005), George Drumheller (2004), Herb Armstrong (2003), Jerre Paxton (2003).

Lifetime Achievement

Robert Geller (2015), Ralph Vacca (2013), Jack Hodge (2012), Karen & Mickey Taylor (2011), James Seabeck (2010), Pete Pedersen (2008), Ron Crockett (2004), Joe Gottstein (2003).

2015 Washington Racing Hall of Fame Finalists

Male Horse: Hank H., Mustard Plaster, Sirde, Travel Orb

Filly & Mare: Bix’s Bet, Favored One, Ropersandwranglers, Tali’sluckybusride

Jockey: Gary Boulanger, Basil Frazier, Juan Gutierrez,Pepper Porter

Trainer: Doris Harwood, Frank Lucarelli, Marion L. Smith, Wesley Ward

Breeder: Mel & Helen Beck, William & Mary Lou Griffin, Herman Sarkowsky, Frederick & Debra Pabst

Washington Racing Hall of Fame voting is composed of 16 voters, four each from the WTBOA, HBPA, Emerald Downs and Media. Four finalists were chosen in each category.