Quarter Horse trainer Leon Bard was a force in the Texas Horse industry well before pari-mutuel racing was passed in Texas. As the oldest of seven kids, he rode horses in his youth, competed in cutting horse and rodeo. He became an exercise rider and jockey before beginning his training career. His travels took him to Oklahoma, Arkansas, throughout Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico and then to California. He broke his arm, his collar bone and injured his back, but never gave up or became discouraged. Each of his three children, Kevin, Caryl and Shelly traveled with him in the early years. They recognized the passion Bard had for his profession, citing that even a  quadruple bypass in 2019 couldn’t keep him down.
 
Bard was well supported by many owners and breeders, including Gary Hartstack, Tommy Arhopolus, Mary Lynne Thompson and Jerry Windham.  He saddled 2,275 Quarter Horses since 1993, with purses of $5.9 million. His top earner was Zip First ($552,356), winner of the 2002 Ruidoso Futurity (G1). He won a record five editions of the TQHA Sale Futurity(RG1), beginning with Silver Gol in 2015 as well as  Grey Daze (2014), Cartels Pop (2015), Just Another Natural (2017) and Dak (2018). SF Hot Pass had an exceptional record at the classic distance of  440-yards, including a victory in the 2019 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1). Bard also won the 2017 Sam Houston Futurity(G2) with This Is An Eagle ($302,206).
 
Bard was a mentor to countless people in the Quarter Horse industry and had to be smiling in heaven at the record-breaking achievement in 2023 by jockey Francisco Calderon. The Texas rider was just starting out when Bard began naming him on his horses. Calderon broke the single year earnings record of $5.8 million set by G. R. Carter in 2008 when he completed his 2023 season with earnings of $7.3 million.
 
Bard died on January 5, 2022, at the age of 75 in Wheelock, Texas, following a courageous battle with cancer. Sam Houston Race Park honors Bard each year with the running of the Leon Bard Memorial Stakes during their annual Quarter Horse season.