Equine broker eyes Hopkins County

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Dick Lossen (center) and son John (right) visits Rafter L Training Stables and manager Cliff Bailey (left). -Staff photo by Cope

December 4, 2003 -- Well-known equine broker Dick Lossen, of Lexington, Ky., feels the Northeast Texas county he visited in late November is a "great potential growth area for the Texas thoroughbred industry ... or for any breeding operation."

Lossen, and 21-year-old son John Lossen, visited Hopkins County on Nov. 21 with interest of expanding their equine buying/selling business into the Texas market.

Lossen, a veteran bloodstock broker, feels Hopkins County has several assets for owners of horses, of any breed or discipline. He specifically cited the large ag-related employee base, a good water supply, good year-round climate, reasonably-priced land, and the geographical proximity to half a dozen race tracks accessible by a major highway system.

The Lossens were hosted on their trip by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, and Rafter L Stables - two entities striving to have the county grow in reputation as good horse country.

While at Rafter L just outside of Sulphur Springs, Lossen viewed their horses and training facilities. Besides complimenting the horses, Lossen also commented on the the great hospitality and horse-knowledge of ranch owner Mary Bonham and manager Cliff Bailey.

"This area is so conducive to breeding operations," Lossen added. "It's an ideal location and a great area for all breeds. ... If Texas will catch up to their neighbor, Louisiana, and get some VLTs, those one-arm bandits, and get some revenue to embrace racing, I think this area could turn into another Ocala (Florida)."

Lossen "winters" in Ocala, but mainly resides in Lexington. He has bought and sold horses throughout the United States, and even abroad. Last year, Lossen sold the top stallion in Texas, Valid Expectations. The stallion is owned by five major Texas breeders who "are patriotic to Texas and has left the stallion here (instead of moving him to Kentucky where they could double his stud fee) because they want the Texas (horse) industry to grow."

In the saddle at a very young age, Lossen has been around horses all his life, and comes from a rodeo/horse training family. At the age of 5, Lossen said he was doing trick riding in rodeos his family hosted. "It was during the war, and we couldn't get gas to go any place, so we had rodeos so they (competitors) wouldn't have to travel."

Lossen has owned horses, trained horses, and now feels thankful he can "do what I want to do, and what I'd be doing anyway, and get paid for it."

His three children, and wife, are also involved in some way with horses - his oldest son is a farrier, his daughter does research for Thoroughbred Times, and his youngest son is learning the business of brokering horses. Lossen's wife "is one of the best pedigree researchers there is. ... So with a dam and a sire so involved with horses, it's not unusual their offspring are too."