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Written By Erick Mitchell, BloodHorse.com

Hall of Fame jockey and Erath native Randy Romero’s decades-long battle with severe health issues ended around midnight Aug. 28 when the Louisiana native died, according to his brother Gerald Romero. He was 61.

Romero bravely tackled a series of health issues going back to 1983, when a near-fatal sauna explosion at Oaklawn Park burned 60% of his body. While receiving blood transfusions during skin graph operations, he received blood tainted with hepatitis C. The blood transfusions saved his life, Romero said in an interview, but the hepatitis severely damaged his liver.
He continued to face a barrage of other illnesses, including a stomach tumor discovered in 2015 while he was being screened as a candidate for a liver and/or kidney transplant. More stomach cancer was found last year, according to Gerald Romero.
“He is the toughest man I’ve ever seen in my life,” Gerald Romero said. “Believe me, for all he’s been through, he’s in a better place.”
Romero was the leading rider at 10 tracks on 21 separate occasions. From 1985-89 alone, his mounts earned more than $35 million. For those five years, he ranked among the top 14 money-winning jockeys. In two of those years, he ranked eighth, and he was sixth in another. He retired with 4,294 victories and earnings of over $75 million. He was inducted to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2010.
Romero began riding in 1973, and was soon nicknamed the “Ragin’ Cajun.” Fellow Hall of Fame rider Eddie Delahoussaye, who grew up in New Iberia, La., about a 10-minute drive from Erath, remembered Romero’s extraordinary zeal to win races.
“When he was younger, he got himself in a lot of trouble. He wanted to win so badly, he would try to thread the needle and sometimes it didn’t work,” Delahoussaye recalled. “As he got older, he realized it wasn’t working, but he was as courageous a rider as I have ever seen. Nothing stopped him. A lot of jockeys go through that, but Randy was exceptional. He was gamer than most.”
A big turning point in Romero’s career came in the mid-1980s when he decided to move his tack from the Southeast and Midwest circuits to New York. While riding at Churchill Downs and Keeneland, he rode a few races for then-up-and-coming trainer Shug McGaughey. The trainer was heading to New York in 1985 to start training full time for Ogden Phipps, and Romero asked McGaughey if he would help him out if he also made the move. McGaughey agreed.
“He went to Florida with us that winter, and we did really well down there. It all grew from there,” McGaughey said.
In 1986, Romero became the regular rider for a Private Account filly named Personal Ensign. Together they won 10 graded stakes (eight of them grade 1) and produced one of the most memorable Breeders’ Cup World Championship performances in the 1988 Distaff (G1), where Personal Ensign ran down Winning Colors with a heart-pounding stretch drive to win by an impossible nose and preserve her undefeated record.
“He was a great rider. An unusual style, but horses really ran for him,” McGaughey said. “He could ride anything—a sprinter, long on the dirt, long in the grass—it didn’t matter. He had been riding since he was kid, and he knew how to get them to run.”

Personal Ensign was named champion older mare in 1988. Romero also rode multiple champion Go For Wand, who won seven grade 1 races before she tragically broke down in the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). Both Personal Ensign and Go For Wand also are enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Romero’s other top mounts included Crème Fraiche, Risen Star, Polish Navy, Banshee Breeze, Housebuster, Hansel, Seeking the Gold, Skip Trial, Yankee Affair, and Java Gold.

For all of Romero’s success, the physical price he paid was exorbitant.
He returned to racing 14 months after he was severely burned at Oaklawn. As he was restarting his career, he rode in a Quarter Horse trial at Delta Downs and broke his femur when he had to jump off a mount heading for the outside fence. Then in the spill with Go For Wand, he broke eight ribs and fractured a bone in his shoulder.
In 1991, a collision during a turf race at Gulfstream Park put him on the ground with such force he broke his jaw and an elbow. Doctors put screws in his elbow to speed the healing, and Romero went back to riding, using medication and dimethyl sulfoxide every day to manage the pain. Later, Romero said the heavy use of DMSO damaged his kidneys.
By 1999, Romero had to give up riding because the pain from his elbow had become worse than what he suffered from his burns, Romero told writer and former jockey Eddie Donnally in 2016. He was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 1993 and by 2007 had developed renal disease that cost him one of his kidneys. Romero underwent regular dialysis for almost 18 years, according to his brother. The jockey hoped to receive either a liver and/or kidney transplant, but time and failing health kept stealing his opportunities.
Through the years of pain, the waiting, and frequent frustration, Romero never lost his faith or his positive attitude, said Delahoussaye, who stayed in contact with Romero to the end.
“He loved life, and he didn’t give up,” Delahoussaye said. “He is the toughest human being I’ve ever met, and the nicest. For what he was going through, you would have never known it if you first met him. He never complained and was always positive.”

In an article for BloodHorse following his Hall of Fame induction, Romero wrote that he felt truly blessed despite his hardships.

“Opportunities came my way, and I didn’t ever take them for granted. I was really very blessed, and I was very much aware of that throughout my career,” Romero wrote. “Even though my career had ups and downs and starts and stops, it was all worth it. There were times when I was so hurt that I didn’t want to get up in the morning; I didn’t want to go to therapy; I didn’t want to go on. It was hard. But I made myself do it because I had this need to get back in the competition and because I had to get back around the horses. What was it that got me through the hard times? The help of the good people around me, determination, and a love for the game.”

According to Sheriff Mike Couvillon, the Vermilion Municipal and Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force made the following arrests for narcotics related offenses within the parish.
On Aug. 21, agents were conducting criminal patrol inside the city limits after receiving information from the Chief of Police into suspected illegal narcotic activity. Agents observed the vehicle described and observed it commit a traffic violation.
Upon initiating a traffic stop the vehicle, driven by Adam Mouton, 33, fled from agents cutting through a yard and committing several traffic violations. Agents knew Mouton to have outstanding warrants and pursued him for a short distance where he abandoned the vehicle and ran on foot. Agents apprehended Mouton a short distance later and he was arrested.
While agents were engaged with Mouton, the passenger, identified as Tracey Mouton, 42, attempted to drive the vehicle away from the scene before other agents arrived. Agents were able to take Tracey Mouton into custody on her own active warrant. A search of the vehicle revealed suspected Methamphetamine.
Both subjects were arrested and transported to the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center to be booked. Adam Mouton was charged with Possession of Schedule II, (Methamphetamine), and Resisting an Officer. Tracey Mouton was charged with Possession of Schedule II, (Methamphetamine), and Obstruction of Justice. Holds were placed on both Moutons for Crowley Police Department. Adam Mouton was also detained by the Department of Corrections Probation and Parole Division.
On Aug. 20, Agents assisted the Vermilion Parish Criminal Investigations Division with a search warrant regarding stolen property. Upon execution, narcotics were located and Jenna Duck, 31, of Maurice, was arrested and charged with Possession of Schedule I, (Marijuana), Possession of Schedule II, (Methamphetamine), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Aug. 1, Alan Smith, 45, of Abbeville, was arrested for Possession of Schedule II, (Methamphetamine).
On July 30, Agents were conducting criminal patrol inside the city limits of Abbeville and observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation. Upon making contact with the driver Clarence Stewart Jr., 36, who immediately attempted to discard narcotics. Stewart was arrested and upon arrest, Stewart was found to be in possession of more suspected narcotics. Stewart was subsequently charged with Possession of Schedule I, (Synthetic Marijuana), Possession of Schedule I, (MDMA), Possession of Schedule IV, (Xanax), Possession of Legend Drug and Possession of a CDS in the Presence of a Juvenile.
Sheriff Couvillon would like to thank the Mayors, and their council, of Abbeville, Gueydan, and Erath, along with their Chiefs of Police, for their support of the Vermilion Municipal and Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force. Sheriff Couvillon also applauds the concerned citizens of Vermilion Parish for their awareness and assistance in helping the Task Force in fighting the war on illegal drugs. He  encourages all citizens with information in regards to illegal drug activities to contact the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office or the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit at 337-740-4501 or E-mail the Task Force anonymously at taskforce@vpso.net and your e-mail will be held in the “strictest of confidence” and replied to in a very timely manner.
More information on reporting drug activities can be seen on our Web Site at www.vpso.net. Click on Narcotics and fill out the TURN IN A PUSHER information.

(Darryl Richardelle is an 18-year veteran high school football official here in Louisiana, freelance writer, and occasional contributor to the Abbeville Meridional.)
The 2019 high school football season will feature rules changes noticeable to fans. A 40-second play clock and redefined requirements for a legal scrimmage formation are among the most significant.

40-second Play Clock
Like college football and the NFL, offenses will now have 40 seconds to snap the ball. When the ball becomes dead following a scrimmage play (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th down), 40 seconds will be placed onto the play clock (even when a first down is attained by the offense). The offense will have to snap the ball prior to the expiration of this time or face a 5-yard, delay of game penalty.
25 seconds will still be placed onto the play clock for the following situations:
• Following a change of possession
• Before extra points
• Before the first play of a quarter or overtime series
• Charged & officials’ timeouts
• Stoppage of the play clock for any reason
This change was made to gain consistency in dead ball intervals throughout high school football.

Legal Scrimmage Formations

Legal scrimmage formations will no longer require seven players on the line of scrimmage. Legal scrimmage formations may now consist of a minimum of five players on the line, provided there are no more than four in the backfield.
5+4=9. Isn’t football played with eleven players on each side?
Here’s an explanation:
If an offensive team has eleven players on the field, then yes, the old rule is basically still in effect. To avoid having more than four in the backfield, there must still be seven on the line of scrimmage.
Here’s where the new rule kicks in. If an offensive team, for some reason, ends up with fewer than eleven on the field, they will not be penalized for an illegal formation provided there are four or fewer players in the backfield. In the past, if a team lined up with six up front and four in the back, it would be a penalty for not having seven on the line of scrimmage. Beginning this year, that will no longer be a penalty.
Another rule change which will be less noticeable to fans is that it is no longer legal to trip the ball carrier with the lower leg or foot. This change was made in order to reduce the number of lower leg and foot injuries.
Also, by state association adoption, the use of video review will be allowed for postseason contests. Details for this rule change are still being worked out, but test runs will be made at various sites around Louisiana during jamborees.
All rules for high school football are administered by the National Federation of State High School Associations, the governing body of interscholastic athletics throughout the United States.

April 8, 1917 ~ August 27, 2019

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 30, 2019 at St. James Church in Esther, honoring the life of Lillian Bernard LeBlanc, 102, who died Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at her residence. She will be laid to rest at Esther Community Cemetery with Father Donald Bernard officiating the services.
Her hobbies included gardening, cooking, dancing, and spending time with her family. 
Though she was a good cook and excellent baker, her blackberry tarts, orange cake and chicken stew will most fondly be remembered by all who tasted them as some of the best they ever had. Lillian loved cats, especially her beloved cat, Tee Minnie.
She is survived by her son, Elwood "Bubba" Perry; sister, Irene Bernard Osburn; sister-in-law, Edna Choate Bernard; grandchildren, Randal James Landry, Vickie Landry Rylee and her husband Burl, Darlene Landry Humble and her husband Ricky, Michael Craig Landry, Charles Mitchell Landry and his wife Stephanie, Stuart Perry and his wife Bobbie, and Mitsy Perry Bush and her husband Benny; great grandchildren, Tiffany Landry Bouillion and her husband Bart, Crystal Jones Mallet and her husband Heath, Nicolas Craig Landry, Ryan Jamison Landry, Meghan Landry Plummer and her husband Joshua, Danielle Humble St. Marie and her husband Jason, Courtney Humble Denson and her husband Donovan, Ethan Humble, Charles Hayden Landry and his wife Taylor, Sarah Landry, Josh Perry, Jenna Perry, and Kathryn M. Tranchina; step-great grandchildren, Kolbie Bush and C.T. Bush; great-great grandchildren, Evan Bouillion, Noah Bouillion, Lauren Bouillion, Samuel Mallet, Carter Mallet, Edith Landry, Silas Landry, Logan Soto, Kylie Denson, Emma Denson, Nora Denson, Ezra Humble, and Seraphina Humble.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Adolph and Olive Broussard Bernard; sister, Lillie Mae Bernard Choate; brothers, Herbert Bernard, Maurice Bernard, Marshall Bernard and Edmond Bernard; daughter and son-in-law, Verna Perry Landry and Rodney J. Landry; first husband, Wilton J. Perry; and second husband, Aristile LeBlanc.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Thursday, August 29, 2019 from 12:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Friday, August 30, 2019 from 8:00 AM until 10:30 AM when the procession will depart for the church.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.