J.E. "Spanky" Broussard

J.E. "Spanky" Broussard (February 7, 1941 – October 24, 2015) Longtime thoroughbred horse trainer, J.E. "Spanky" Broussard, peacefully passed away on Saturday, October 24th. Survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Florence Mae, four children, Lorie Neece (Harold), Neal Broussard (Dee Dee), Joey Broussard (Cindy) and Brady Broussard, his twelve grandchildren, Ashley Ebanks Zuchowski (Scott), Ronnie Curtis Ebanks II, Tyler Neece, Neal Broussard Jr., Beckie Broussard, Garrett Broussard, Ava Broussard, Karter Broussard, Charlotte Mae Broussard, Belle Broussard, Aiden Broussard, Gabriel Joseph Broussard, his great grand-daughter, Adelaide Mae Zuchowski, and his sister, Billie Wayne Broussard. He was preceded in death by granddaughter, Brandi Broussard. Spanky was known for his quick wit and sense of humor. He was a formidable opponent during any conversation, not afraid to match wits with anyone who dared enter his tack room in Barn 6 of the New Orleans Fair Grounds, a location he occupied from 1965 until retiring in 2012. Over the years, a multitude of veterinarians, jockeys, agents, track officials, feed men, tack men, and fellow horsemen enjoyed stopping by to hear what Spanky thought of the latest topic of the day, politics and the New Orleans Saints being two of his favorite subjects. The two things Spanky truly cherished and cared about, most of all, were his family and his horses. Nobody cared for horses better than Spanky, as he surrounded his barn with people who had the same philosophy he had, "Take good care of your horses, run them where they belong, and they will run well." Spanky had a one-liner for any occasion, when referring to running horses, "The best hop is a big drop," or when speaking to someone who may have not used good judgment, "Use your head for more than a hat rack." He had many employees who worked with him for decades, namely Rodney Batiste, Martin Brown, Earlist Greene, Ivory Jones, Dudley Melancon, Angel Robelledo, Antonio Salinas, and sidekick/foreman, Roberto Sanchez. These people were true "horsemen," a moniker he valued. He often expressed remorse that there was a "dearth of horsemanship" in the sport of horse racing. When referring to hiring good help, he would say, "You get more flies with honey than vinegar. Help can go to the barn next door and make more money, so treat them well." Spanky got his start when he was a kid during the 1940's in his native town of Abbeville, LA. The Vermillion Parish Clerk of Court at the time, Polycarp Broussard (no relation), had a farm with thoroughbred horses and allowed Spanky to ply his profession in his early years. At the racetrack, Spanky worked under the tutelage of the great horsemen of the 1940's, '50's, and '60's, such as Marion Van Berg, Tennessee Wright and Dewey Smith. Spanky enlisted some of the greatest riders to sit on a horse, Jimmy Nichols, Earlie Fires, Donald Brumfield, Harry Lee Patin, Ray Sibille, Ronald Ardoin, Angelo Trosclair, Calvin Borel, Bruce Poyadou, Kenneth Bourque, Mark Guidry, Perry Compton, Donnie Pettinger, Randall Meier, Pat Day, and Craig Perret, just to mention a few. He had much success with regular riders in Fires, Trosclair, Borel, and Poyadou. He wasn't big on giving jockeys instructions before a race, saying, "A bad jock can't listen; a good one won't." Spanky had much success for many longtime owners, such as Bob Cournoyer, JT Brady, Everett Lowrance, Chuck Clugston, Dennis Kortkamp, J. Melton Garrett, Bob and Terry Segura, Joe Ladnier, and Richard Rudolph. Many of the horses he trained were often homebred, and often he won races with offspring of mares he trained. He prided himself by saying, "I never trained a horse that cost more than $100,000." Some of the stakes winners Spanky trained included, Tudor Tambourine, Book of Kings, Autobot, How I Wish, Exquisite Mistress, Irish Swap, Bayou Bidder, Lismore Lass, Mirielle, and Royal Express. Tudor Tambourine won the 1977 New Orleans Handicap and is buried in the infield of the Fair Grounds. Multiple graded stakes winner, Irish Swap, won the Cornhusker Handicap, Washington Park Handicap and Hawthorne Gold Cup in 1992. In addition to training racehorses, Spanky appreciated the 38-year relationship he had with Bobby Maxwell and Nicole Pieratt of Sallee Horse Vans, proudly serving as the local agent in New Orleans. Although he had much success in his career as a horse trainer (inducted into the New Orleans Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame in 2004, multiple graded stakes winning trainer, won more than 85 stakes during his career spanning 6 decades, 29th on the list of All Time Leading Trainers at Arlington Park), Spanky considered his family as his most precious success of all. There was never a time when he didn't have one of his children, grandchildren and now great-grandchild walking around his house. Although he displayed a tough exterior, Spanky was an extremely jovial, generous, kind, and giving person. The evening before he won the New Orleans Handicap, he gave a homeless man outside a convenience store $10. Later he quipped God rewarded him for that act of generosity with the victory in the New Orleans Handicap. Another of his one-liners was, "God doesn't turn his back." He was not a particularly outspoken person when it came to his Catholic faith, but he was a faithful servant of God and regularly attended Mass no matter where his profession brought him. Although life at the racetrack was an extremely transient lifestyle, Spanky made sure his family had a good and honest upbringing and provided all of the tools his family needed to succeed in life. After 120 moves, he said he lost track counting the number of times he and his beloved Florence Mae had moved during their 50+ years together. Another Spanky-ism was, "We replace the President of the United States every four years, you can be replaced, as well" when encouraging you to do the best possible job you could do. For these and many other life lessons, and all of the joy and love he provided, his entire family will be eternally grateful. Spanky may be gone, but he will never be forgotten by those who loved him and knew him well. We have to believe that he is up there trying to convince God that he is right! Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 6500 Kawanee Ave, Metairie, LA 70003 on Monday, November 2, 2015, from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm, with the Funeral Mass immediately following. Interment will be in the Garden Crypts Mausoleum in Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4900 Airline Dr., Metairie, LA. The online guestbook is available at www.gardenofmemoriesmetairie.com.