The National HBPA Foundation and HBPA state affiliates are rallying to assist trainer Eric Reed and his wife, owner Kay Reed, after 23 horses in their care were killed in an early-morning barn fire Sunday.

The large barn, believed to have been struck by lightning, is one of three at the Reeds’ Mercury Equine Center on Russell Cave Road in Lexington. Another 13 horses were saved by the Reeds’ employees who risked going into the burning barn at the private training facility.

Through its charitable foundation, the National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association will match HBPA affiliated-organizations contributions to help the Reeds. The foundation’s contribution will cap at $10,000, but the hope is that much more than $20,000 is donated overall.

While Reed is based in Kentucky, he also races extensively in West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Illinois. He told Kentucky HBPA executive director Marty Maline that he had lost almost everything, including substantial tack and supplies.

The HBPA contributions will go into an account for the Reeds at Horse Cents tack shop in Versailles, Ky., where the trainer does considerable business, allowing him to buy what he needs.

“Benevolence is the core of what the National HBPA stands for,” said Leroy Gessmann, president of the National and Iowa HBPA and chair of the organization’s National Assistance Committee. “We are first and foremost here to help horsemen. In this instance, Eric Reed and his stable have undergone a severe tragedy, a nightmare for any trainer. We are here to help him, as we know he would do for us.”

There are several ways that individual horsemen and the public can help:

• Donations to Reed’s fund through the National HBPA, a tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) fund, are tax deductible. Contributions can be made online via credit card at https://nationalhbpa.com/donate/. Checks made out to the National HBPA Foundation, with “Eric Reed fund” written in the memo, can be mailed to the National HBPA, 870 Corporate Dr., Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40503-5419.

• Donations also can be mailed to, or dropped by, Horse Cents, 199 Markham Drive, Versailles, KY, 40383. Such checks should be made payable to Horse Cents-Eric Reed fund. Credit-card contributions can be made over the phone by calling Horse Cents at 859-873-4707. These donations are not tax deductible.

• Donated tack and supplies can be dropped off at Horse Cents or any of three Kentucky HBPA offices: the main office at 3729 S. Fourth Street, Louisville, 40214, or the backside offices at Turfway Park in Florence and The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington.

• A Go Fund Me account has been set up by the Reeds’ close friends Mike, a steward in Ohio and the 1970 Kentucky Derby-winning jockey, and Kitty Manganello. http://bit.ly/2icnkYO

The University of Southern Indiana Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the selection of the 2017 USI Athletic Hall of Fame class that will be inducted during homecoming week in February. The class of six individuals and one team was selected by a nine-member USI Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.
Any Screaming Eagles fan was eligible to nominate student athletes or teams on the 10th anniversary of their last season of competition, or a coach/administrator who has been separated from the Department of Athletics for two years.

This year’s class includes Moulton Cato ’85 (Men’s Soccer, 1981-84); Jenny Farmer Thurner ’04 (Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field, 1999-2004); Dean Mills ’97 (Men’s Soccer, 1992-95); Adrienne Seitz Runyan ‘ 99 (Women’s Basketball, 1995-99); Amy Stetler Harper ’99 (Softball, 1996-99); Nicole Vine Braun ’02 (Softball, 1998-2001); and USI’s 1983 GLVC Champion Women’s Tennis team.

“I continue to be amazed by the amount of outstanding student-athletes and teams this University has had,” said USI Director of Athletics Jon Mark Hall.  “The Class of 2017 truly represents our growing tradition here at USI. The six individuals and one team that will be honored in February are truly worthy of this extraordinary honor. I know that the entire USI community is proud of this class and what it accomplished while at USI.”

Plans are underway for the induction ceremony on the evening of February 3.

2017 USI ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS
Moulton Cato (Men’s Soccer, 1981-84): Cato was a four-time All-GLVC and GLVC Champion for men’s soccer. The three-time All-Region performer finished his career as the all-time leader in assists (18 more than the second all-time leader and a record that has stood for 32 years). Cato also has had a successful career in club and college coaching following his USI career. He was a USI men’s soccer assistant coach for the GLVC championship teams in 1989, 1990, and 1991.

Jenny Farmer Thurner (Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field, 1999-2004): Thurner was a two-time All-American in Outdoor Track & Field, earning honors in the 3000 meters and 5000 meters. She also is the only four-time NCAA Division II All-Region performer in the history of USI Women’s Cross Country history. Thurner held USI records in the indoor 800 meters, the mile, 3000 meters, and 5000 meters, as well as outdoor records in the 800 meters, 1500 meters, and 3000 meters.

Dean Mills (Men’s Soccer, 1992-95): Mills played three years as a member of USI’s only NCAA Division I program from 1992 to 1994 and one year at NCAA Division II when the Eagles returned to the GLVC in 1995. He was an ISAA Scholar All-American in 1995, as well as earning NCAA II All-Region and Academic All-GLVC. The 1995 USI team captain was the team’s Most Valuable Player during the program’s last year at Division I.

Adrienne Seitz Runyan (Women’s Basketball, 1995-99): Seitz was the starting point guard for some of the best teams in the history of USI Women’s Basketball. She finished ranked in six major categories in the USI Women’s Basketball record books for individual statistics and remains ranked first in games played and assists; second in steals; 11^th in blocked shots; 18^th in rebounding; and 26^th in scoring while playing with USI greats and Hall of Famers LeAnn Freeland and Eileen Weber. Seitz directed teams to an overall record of 97-27 and 69-11 in the GLVC during her four years. USI, as a team, won the GLVC twice, the GLVC tournament once, appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament three times, won the 1997 NCAA II Midwest Regional championship, and advanced to play in the 1997 NCAA II championship game.  Seitz also led USI to a perfect 20-0 GLVC campaign in 1998, a feat that has never been duplicated.

Amy Stetler Harper (Softball, 1996-99): Stetler was named All-Region twice and All-GLVC three times during a dominating four-year career. She continues to hold the season record for ERA, complete games, shutouts, and wins, as well as the career marks for ERA, wins, and shutouts. Stetler also set and holds the USI record with 51.1 consecutive shutout innings.

Nicole Vine Braun (Softball, 1998-2001): Vine was three-time All-Region player and a four-time All-GLVC performer. She also was a four-time Academic All-GLVC and a 2001 Academic All-District student. On the field, Vine ranks third all-time at USI in runs scored and in hits.

USI’s Perfect 1983 GLVC Championship Team:  The 1983 USI women’s tennis team was flawless in the GLVC Tournament winning each of the nine flights for a perfect score of 36 points. The perfect score was never duplicated in flighted GLVC Tournament history with conference changing to team head-to-head completion in the mid-1990. In addition to the perfect score in the GLVC Tournament, USI was a 14-1 overall, winning eight matches 9-0, and winning 117 of 135 sets.  The members of the 1983 squad include Head Coach Jane Davis Brezette Lisa Titzer Dozier ’86, Laurie Peters ’86, Debbie Floyd Shelling ’85, Jennifer Northam McAtee ’92, Sherril Heldman ’87, Julie Workman, Marcia Huff ’85, and Vanessa Dixon Burka ’84.