Claro Quizada has been named the Florida HBPA’s Groom of the Month for September, 2021. Quizada has been a member of the team at Joe Catanese’s barn for nearly half the span of Catanese’s training career. “I’ve been training for 40 years,” Catanese said. “Back when I was doing everything myself, Claro and his wife...Read More
Trainer Georgina Baxter decided to nominate Rene Reyes for the Florida HBPA’s Groom of the Month Award because, she said, “He is simply one of the best grooms on the backside. He takes care of all my good horses. You don’t have to ask him to do anything, he knows what to do and he...Read More
Originally from Guatemala, Neftaly Payeras had no experience with horses when he came to the U.S. But family members opened the door to the racetrack, and paved the way to a career that Payeras now loves. He is honored as the Florida HBPA’s Groom of the Month for June. “When I first came to the...Read More
The FHBPA honors Ramon Circo, part of trainer Kathy Ritvo’s team, with the Groom of the Month Award for May. Originally from Mexico, Circo has worked for the Ritvo barn for more than 15 years. “He’s been with us a long time and he’s like a member of the family now,” Ritvo said. “He’s very...Read More
The FHBPA is pleased to announce that Sheldon Spencer, from the barn of trainer Monica McGoey, has been selected as the Groom of the Month for April. Originally from Philadelphia, Spencer was just a kid when he started working with horses in 1978 at the old Keystone Park. He spent some time in West Virginia...Read More
The FHBPA is pleased to announce that Jesus Tapia, from the barn of Mark Casse, has been selected as the Groom of the Month for March. The 26 year old is a native of Mexico and has employed at the barn for the last 3 years. Jesus is single but does have 2 brothers that...Read More
The FHBPA is pleased to recognize Russty Rendon as the“Groom of the Month” for February 2021. Russty, 37, has worked in the barn of trainer Freddy Velasquez since 2016. He is a native of Puerto Rico, and learned the ropes from his father, a retired/former trainer in PR. According to Freddy, “Russty is exceptionally good...Read More
As we begin the New Year, the FHBPA is pleased to recognize Oscar Ticun as the Groom of the Month honoree for January. He will be presented with his award on Friday January 22. Oscar first started working with horses about 6 years ago, and the 23 year old native of Guatemala has been a...Read More
The FHBPA is pleased to have recognized Angel Aragon as September’s Groom of the Month, Angel received his award in a winners circle presentation at Gulfstream Park. Angel, age 37, came down from the Chicago area about a year ago and joined the barn of Kenny and Cheryl Winebaugh. Kenny says that Angel oversees a...Read More
