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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 143
BY SENATOR LONG
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Ronald D. Ardoin for being named to the 2013 Louisiana
Sports Hall of Fame Induction class.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend and congratulate Ronald D. Ardoin for being named to the 2013 Louisiana2
Sports Hall of Fame Induction class.3
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the citizens and Senate of Louisiana have4
learned of the prestigious honor bestowed upon top jockey Ronald D. Ardoin on his5
induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame; and6
WHEREAS, the inductees are chosen after extensive deliberations by an expert panel7
of Louisiana Sports Writers' Association members from across the state who annually8
consider more than one hundred twenty nominees for this honor; and9
WHEREAS, Ronald D. Ardoin was born on June 13, 1957, in Carencro, Louisiana,10
and began his long and lustrous career as a top jockey by riding in bush track races in11
Louisiana; and12
WHEREAS, in 1973, at the Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana, Mr. Ardoin earned13
the first of his five thousand two hundred twenty-six wins out of thirty-two thousand three14
hundred thirty-five career mounts during his long and successful thirty-one year career in15
racing; and 16
WHEREAS, Mr. Ardoin's win total is second among Louisiana natives, and his17
mounts won just under fifty-nine million in purse money; and18 SR NO. 143
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WHEREAS, he won twelve riding titles at Louisiana tracks, earning six at the Fair1
Grounds Race Course in New Orleans with one thousand six hundred ninety-one wins, and2
the other titles at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City where he is the track's all-time leader by3
wins and stakes wins with two thousand eight hundred and forty-eight wins; and4
WHEREAS, he also won riding titles at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, and5
Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he scored his most significant6
win of his career riding Zarb's Magic to victory in the 1996 Arkansas Derby leading him to7
his second Kentucky Derby, with his first appearance in 1985 finishing tenth, and thirteenth8
on Zarb's Magic in 1996; and9
WHEREAS, on August 20, 2000, he became the 16
th
jockey in North America to win10
five thousand races when he rode Heart of an Angel to victory at Louisiana Downs; and11
WHEREAS, Ronald D. Ardoin has been honored by being placed in the Fair Ground12
Racing Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Lone Star Park Hall of Fame in 2007; and13
WHEREAS, Ron Ardoin had an extraordinary career until a wrist injury forced him14
to retire in 2003; and15
WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,16
and the overall vitality of American society depends, in great measure, upon the dedication17
of great men like Ronald D. Ardoin who strive to show others through hard work and18
dedication that all dreams are possible.19
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana20
does hereby commend and congratulate Ronald D. Ardoin on his impressive and successful21
career as a top jockey and on being named as an inductee into the 2013 Louisiana Sports22
Hall of Fame.23
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to24
Ronald D. Ardoin.25
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
Long SR No. 143
Commends and congratulates Ronald Ardoin for being named to the 2013 Louisiana Sports
Hall of Fame Induction class.