Grade 1-placed, five-time stakes winner in 2024, and millionaire Free Like a Girl  was named the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s Horse of the Year, the organization announced March 10 along with its other champions for the year.

Bred by Kim Renee Stover and Lisa Osborne, Free Like a Girl won six times and placed five times out of 14 starts last year and banked $1,039,400 in earnings. The now-6-year-old daughter of El Deal  out of Flashy Prize (Flashy Bull ) has compiled a career record of 21-13-6 from 49 starts and has total earnings of $2,253,438.

Partners Gerald Bruno Jr. and Jerry Caroom campaigned the mare with co-owner/trainer Chasey Deville Pomier. They won the Shantel Lanerie Memorial Stakes, Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes, Magnolia Stakes, Treasure Chest Stakes, and John Valene Memorial Stakes. The mare also ran second in the La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs and third in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park.

Free Like a Girl also was named champion 4-year-old and up filly or mare. Her Horse of the Year title is her second, having received this top honor in 2022 along with being named champion 3-year-old filly. Bruno bought Free Like a Girl for $5,500 during the 2020 Equine Sales of Louisiana Yearling Sale from consignor Oakridge Farm.

Evelyn Benoit’s Brittlyn Stable was named breeder of the year based on having accumulated the highest amount of breeder’s awards for the calendar year. Brittlyn was represented by four black-type stakes winners last year, led by hombred grade 3 winners Manama Gold  and Ova Charged . Both graded stakes winners are by Brittlyn’s homebred stallion Star Guitar  , who was named 2024’s leading Louisiana stallion. Star Guitar stands at Clear Creek Stud.

Charged Cotton, a stakes-winning daughter of Dehere and the dam of Manama Gold and Ova Charged, was named broodmare of the year. Ova Charged won six of seven starts last year, with five wins in black-type stakes. Her top performance came in the Unbridled Sydney Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs. Manama Gold won last year’s UAE Oaks (G3) at Meydan Racecourse.

Tony Doughtie is the year’s leading Louisiana breeder by percent stakes winners at 40% from starters. This category considers all breeders with five or more starters.

The LTBA’s other champions for 2024 were elected by its membership. are as follows:

Awards will be presented during the LTBA annual banquet, which is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 2 at Evangeline Downs. The banquet will be held in conjunction with a fundraiser for the Rehoming and Education for Off-Track Thoroughbreds program, also known as R.E.A.P.

The Louisiana Department of Health will no longer promote mass vaccinations, according to the state attorney general, who announced this decision Feb. 13.

According to a memorandum to LDH Team Members by Surgeon General Ralph Abraham, Louisiana and LDH traditionally have advocated for vaccines to prevent illnesses through multiple channels, including parish health units, community health fairs, partnerships and media campaigns. Abraham noted that while they encourage patients to discuss vaccination risks and benefits with their providers, LDH will discontinue promoting mass vaccinations.

This decision raises questions about its potential consequences for the community.

Deborah Gurgel Smith, Ph.D., LSU Health Shreveport School of Allied Health Professions, warned that not promoting vaccines can lead to increased hospitalizations and deaths, especially during outbreaks of contagious diseases like measles, which has been reported in Texas and poses a risk to Louisiana.

“The importance of actually promoting mass vaccination — it can impact people’s lives in general,” Smith said. “If we decline the vaccine promotion that can reverse decades of progress in controlling preventable diseases such as measles and polio that were once eradicated in the United States. I think this is a public health priority − we keep preventing infectious diseases.”

Smith said the Louisiana Department of Health is tasked with promoting and campaigning for vaccinations, and she is unclear as to why this should be stopped, as the department is one of the community’s primary sources for health information, which helps individuals make informed decisions regarding their health.

“If we don’t promote with true facts, like scientific knowledge — our community will know how to make their own decisions based on what,” Smith said. “Those decisions that were once eradicated such as polio, measles — they really can come back which we are seeing measles coming back and that can have not only an impact on hospitalizations and deaths but also with we can see economic burden in our communities.”

Louisiana faces challenges in addressing health disparities among low-income communities and minority Black populations, in which a lack of vaccinations will increase these disparities. Smith pointed out if a parent has a child with measles in the hospital, it can lead to higher medical expenses and force the parent to take time off work, leading to lost income and an increased burden to the family.

“There’s so many things that we need to think about before coming with decisions like stopping mass vaccination campaign promoting vaccines for diseases that can be preventable,” Smith stated. “We’re going to see a rise in the healthcare system. Hospitalizations, as I said in the beginning, that’s going to cause people coming to emergency rooms and talking about people who in rural, urban areas whose access to medical care is limited.”

Smith pointed out that certain individuals may be unable to receive a vaccine due to health issues or allergies to specific vaccine components, and must depend on others for protection through herd immunity. Smith noted that herd immunity requires a specific percentage of the population to be vaccinated.

Smith recommends that individuals consult their healthcare providers and parents consult their children’s pediatrician regarding vaccines and side effects, and suggests referencing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website and the Health Department for additional vaccine information.

“If they [Health department] cannot talk about it, I recommend looking for healthcare providers because healthcare providers — they still promote vaccines and campaign making sure people make the right choice for their own health and their kids’ health. Kids, they cannot make their own health choices, so they depend on parents,” Smith stated. “We [LSUH] have amazing physicians who can provide great feedback about vaccines and how they work. The Louisiana Department of Health maybe now stopping the media campaigns and promoting vaccines. However, we have pharmacies — people there who can answer some questions but I always say, ‘Look for your healthcare provider like pediatricians, primary care physicians, family doctors.’ There are very well equipped to speak to your community to how to protect their loved ones.”

Smith pointed out that vaccines are still accessible, but the Louisiana Department of Health has just ended its promotion of individual vaccinations.

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One of the most respected and successful coaches in Louisiana sports history, Alton “Red” Franklin died Sunday morning, according to a family post on Facebook.

A Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame member, Franklin coached the Haynesville Golden Tornado to 11 LHSAA state championships and four runner-up campaigns during his storied 35-year career in Claiborne Parish.

“The Franklin family suffered a great earthly loss early this morning as coach Alton “Red” Franklin left his earthly home and transitioned to his heavenly home,” Jeff Franklin posted. “I’m quite sure there has already been great dancing as he entered the pearly gates and walked down the streets of gold to meet his Lord and Savior and all those that went on before him.”

Franklin posted a 366-76-8 overall record at Haynesville and was named district Coach of the Year 23 times. In a 7-season stretch from 1990-96, his football teams were 96-4 and among the most feared in the state.

SPECIAL MOMENT: Haynesville’s Franklin shares an emotional moment

“Coach Franklin’s legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of our community and the history of Haynesville High School’s football program,” the Town of Haynesville posted in a release. “Our hearts ache alongside the family during this time of deep sorrow, and we extend our heartfelt condolences and support.”

A Haynesville native, Franklin played one season at the University of Alabama before transferring to finish his collegiate career at Louisiana College, now Louisiana Christian University. He was inducted into the LCA Hall of Fame in 1992, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association and Louisiana High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1991.

“Coach Franklin’s influence went beyond the football field, serving as a mentor, a role model and a pillar of our community,” a Haynesville spokesperson said. “His legacy of leadership, integrity, and excellence will continue to inspire us for years to come.”

After taking over the Tors’ program in 1966, his teams were state champions in 1970, 1971, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2000. He closed out his career in Haynesville with 33 consecutive winning seasons and 15 straight district titles.

He coached eight undefeated teams and 21 of his 35 teams advanced to the state playoffs.

Funeral services for Franklin are pending per the family.

Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.