Buchanan, Quarter Horse trainer, dies at 69

Quarter Horse trainer John Buchanan died Friday in Ruidoso, N.M., according to his friends.

Buchanan died a little more than a week before his stable puts leading runners in two major stakes at Ruidoso Downs – Ratification in the $421,165 All American Oaks on Sept. 6, and Jettz in the $3 million All American Futurity on Sept. 7.

Those horses are expected to run in Buchanan’s name. Their day-to-day training is under the direction of Buchanan’s assistant, the former jockey Juan Vazquez.

Buchanan was 69. A native of Florida, Buchanan trained primarily for Fort Worth businessman Bobby Cox in recent years. Buchanan lived in Peaster, Texas, west of Fort Worth.

Buchanan had been hospitalized in recent days and suffered a heart attack on Friday, according to Bill Melson, Cox’s racing manager.

Ratification, owned by Cox, was Buchanan’s final winner, in a division of the All American Oaks on Aug. 23.

Buchanan won the 1987 All American Futurity with Elans Special. In 1993, Buchanan won the Texas Classic Derby at Trinity Meadows with Seals, the year he had a career-best 61 wins.

In the 2000s, Buchanan’s leading horses included Pivotal Decision, who won the 2000 Dash For Cash Futurity at Lone Star Park and the 2001 Dash For Cash Derby at the same venue; Dont Let Down, who won the 2007 All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs; and Zoomin with Ease, who won the 2009 Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso.

Earlier this summer, Ratification won the $315,739 Rainbow Oaks. She is expected to be favored in the All American Oaks.

A memorial service will be held in coming weeks, Melson said.