![Silvio Mattacchione holding one of his champions!]()
Silvio Mattacchione holding one of his champions!
Corneel Horemans was a game-keeper in Schoten, Belgium; his name is not well known to most modern racing pigeon enthusiasts. Obviously when I say this I am including myself in this category. Now this fact is not hard to understand, given that if Corneel had lived he would now be almost 140 years old. The major Belgian racing pigeon publications of the time ranked Corneel Horemans with the immortal Wegge as the greatest of that era. During the 30 and 40’s the Horemans, were officially acknowledged as the finest all round racing pigeons in Belgium. Though he is long gone the genetic line that he cultivated seems to be with us still, to greater or lesser degrees in lofts in Belgium, Taiwan, China, Mexico, the USA and yes even in Canada. Leading pigeon journals of the time (1914-1944) when speaking of Horemans went as far as to say, and actually did say that:
“With the Wegges the Horemans are the best pigeons that ever existed.”
Some history and key dates are in order to help understand this statement. The founder/creator of the racing pigeon was one Mr. Ulens. In 1866 Mr. Ulens, sold all of his racing pigeons but four that would end at the home of Mr. Salmans. In 1883 Mr. Salmans sold all of his pigeons (Ulens) to Mr. Vekemans .Some time in either 1884/5/6 Mr. Karl Wegge acquired all of the pigeons of Mr. Vekemans. In 1890 Karl Wegge puts on his very first major auction. In 1897 Mr. Wegge undertakes his second and last major auction, breaking all previous sales records. Without a doubt these “Wegge” pigeons were the most famous pigeons of the time. Van der Espt, Van de Velde, Bricoux, etc., all made use of the bloodline of Wegge. Given this history one can now better understand the true significance of the statement made above by the most respected racing pigeon journals of the day! The Horemans were in fact Wegge/Vekemans/Salmans/Ulens or rather they were the pigeons of Ulens that were passed down to Vekemans and then down to Salmans and then to Wegge who dispersed them more widely then to Mr. Somers and finally from Somers to Horemans.
The Horemans pigeons were subsequently cultivated extensively by fanciers of the caliber of Hector Desmet, Valeer Docker, George De Jaegher, Van Spitael and a host of others including the Cattrysse Brothers who added to the strength of their line by adding the line of Hector Desmet as did Charles Vander Espt.
Many in Belgium had an opportunity to acquire stock directly from Horemans during his long career as well as at a public auction held on January 11th 1948 and a final disposal of the remaining Horemans stock by his son Louis in 1967.
![Pic 1]()
Stefan Mertens once wrote that Ludo Claessens was alone at the top a Picasso or a Mozart of a fancier!
“A Picasso, if you want to call him that, or a Mozart in the pigeon sport. His career as a fancier seems like a fairy tale in which a prince sees everything he touches change to gold.”~ Stefan Mertens reference http://www.siegelpigeons.com/news/news-ludo.html
No one doubts that Ludo Claessens was a champion but most do not know that by his own admission his very best pigeon line, the one he referred to as “De Voskes” was based on an old red Horemans cock from 1969.
“DE VOSKES”
And then we come to what Ludo calls his best pigeon line-“De Voskes,” the red pigeons. That color goes back to an old red Horemans pigeon (B69-6582499). That pigeon was bought in 1975 through Gaston Cruysweegs. Gaston paid 1000 Belgian francs for that cock which was sitting among 400 other pigeons. “The old red cock was a very nice bird,” remembered Ludo. “It took a long time before I could buy that pigeon from Gaston Cruysweegs. Ludo put the red cock in the breeding loft and another miracle occurred. The famous red family was born.
“Red Arrow” — 1st national Orleans 5445 pigeons, 3rd Reims 2774 pigeons, 6th Nijvel 3363 pigeons, and9th Chateauroux 1777 pigeons – is the 9th generation of red pigeons coming from the old Horemans. In that chain of nine generations, we want to spotlight some birds. “Rooie Orleans” (1st Orleans 2610, 1st St. Quentin 384 (fastest pigeon of 20,000 birds). A son of the “Rooie Orleans” was paired up with one of the daughters of the “F194,” namely “Klein 54.” Then here came “Vos 28″ (8664528/86) who won 3rd Limoges 1640 and 4th Compeigne 1209. What is more important is that Ludo paired him up to a nest sister of the 1st national Orleans 1987, which was inbred to the “Fokstier.” In “Vox 28″ there was also a little blood of the “Fokstier.” So a new top pair was born. In 1990, they launched “Voske 54″ into the world.” ~Stefan Mertens reference: http://www.siegelpigeons.com/news/news-ludo.html
It is part of the historical record that Corneel and his brother Jozef flew in partnership in Ranst and it was here, in the little town of Ranst that the foundation of the Horemans strain was put into place. The Horemans strain was based upon the Wegges and the Pittevils through Mr. Somers the Chairman of the local racing pigeon club in Ranst. Within a short period the Horemans brothers were at the top having won two years in a row the first prize from Dax and two years in a row also 1st prize from Chateauroux as well as 200 gold francs. By 1906 the brothers sold the majority of their birds in Ranst at public auction for the princely sum of 4000 francs which needless to say was a very great amount of money. Not all of the birds were sold at the time as the brothers kept a few youngsters and floated a few eggs and with these they established a loft in Schoten. Their performances continued unabated on a regular basis. Horemans infused the long distance performance blood of Desirant and after the end of the 1st world war they had an incredible string of successes at all distances. They soon arranged to exchange a pair of Horemans youngsters with Vincent Marien of Antwerp and a careful blending of the Marien youngsters with the Horemans bloodstock brought even greater success. By 1921 Corneel Horemans started his own loft based on late breds from the Horemans Brothers loft. Corneels success was again immediate.
Corneel Horemans focused mostly on inbreeding his colony as it was exceptionally important, he felt, to maintain the family as pure as possible. Given the length of time that Corneel continued with the inbreeding program it’s easy to refer to the Horemans as a pure line. Naturally those acquiring these inbred specimens and crossing into their own lines achieved almost instantaneous success. The Horemans performed at all distances and could continue to excel in old bird racing well into their seventh year.
![Pic 2]()
Unfortunately the German military confiscated the Horemans pigeons during WW2 and eventually, after the war, allowed Corneel to choose 20 birds and it was with these that Corneel Horemans continued. True to form he immediately began to win again. The key seems to be that apart from the Vincent Marien line the only other introduction into the Horemans was the “REVE” of Hector Desmet and the “Reve” was a cross of the Desmet blood with that of Horemans himself. Horemans had an intuition for breeding and he resisted the urge to bring a variety of other lines into his own strain. The Horemans pigeons played a major role in the success of Hector Desmet. Jules Gallez wrote the following on Jan 1st 1960 in “De Belgische Duinensport” about Hector and his exceptional “Wittepen”:
“Here we can see the performances of the “Wittepen” a pigeon that gave Hector Desmet a reputation that made him world famous. It will be a long while before a pigeon with an equal reputation, will be offered for sale. The “wittepen” was not only a good flyer, but also a good stock cock that gave first class youngsters with every hen to which he was mated. Hatched in 1952, he flew in 1959 with as much glory in 1959, finishing at the top of the prizes from Marseille and Barcelona. Not only did Hector Desmet make a small fortune flying him, but the “Wittepen” was the bird which truly brought him everlasting fame.”
Reference The History of the Belgian Strains by Jules Gallez page111
It was written by Gallez in his History of the Belgian strains that shortly before the death of Hector Desmet he was visited by the Chief Editor Piet DeWeerd with this one request:
“My last request is that this pigeon comes in the hands of a good pigeon fancier who knows a good bird when he sees one-one who can breed some good youngsters from him.” (He was sold to Jos Kempeneers of Nieuwerkerken where he has been the sire and grandsire of exceptional pigeons).
Given the fact that Piet DeWeerd was present just before the death of Hector Desmet his observations below are even more important to really understand the value that Piet and Hector placed on these Horemans pigeons!
![Pic 3]()
Ok so why this fascination with an old dead guy and his racing pigeons almost 140 years after he was born? Well the reality is that I had never given any thought to Horemans nor his line of pigeons one way or another. I did not know anything about him or them; I did not know anyone who had any that is until the spring of 2014.
It was only then after speaking with Guido Madrusan that I was informed that his 2008 Empire Classic equal 1st winner was in fact a Horemans from Carl Loizzi’s hen “2733” and a Horemans cock a descendant of Carl’s “2900” cock. So who the heck are Carl Loizzi and the bigger question is, why have I never really heard anything about these Horemans and finally since we, as fanciers, all begin from some other fancier’s previous breeding efforts, where did Carl Loizzi get them?
![Pic 4]()
What is the origin of this family? What role, if any, did the Lorenz family of California play in Carl’s family of birds? Finally would it be correct to assert that this is an American family of racing pigeons? You will agree all very good questions and we will try and address them all. We have dealt with some Horemans history and we will soon need to deal with some Loizzi history but in order to do so we must look into the Lorenz family history as well.
The patriarch of the Lorenz family, who initially raced pigeons in Germany, was Leo Lorenz, the father of the famous Pete and Ed Lorenz of Southern California. Leo had migrated to Southern California in 1952, from Germany, in pursuit of a better life for his family. In the 1950’s many Europeans left their homelands seeking opportunities in North America that were not then available within their own war torn nations. My own parents and my brothers and I all left Italy during that same time period seeking greater opportunities in Canada. Leo Lorenz had a love of racing pigeons and restarted racing in 1955. Racing for the Lorenz clan was a family undertaking. Leo was an active member of the powerful FVC (The San Fernando Valley Club) and by the late 1960’s both his sons, Pete and Ed, joined this same club and it was not long before the Lorenz name became locally prominent on a regular basis. Ed Lorenz was quoted as follows:
“We always raced as a close family unit”
Reference: Racing Pigeon Facts International page 148 volume 3 issue 28 June 1986.
The FVC was not just another run of the mill racing pigeon club. These were very serious and well healed fanciers; one would not be exaggerating to say that the majority of the members were “professional” full time fanciers. These men committed to win! I am making an assumption with my comment in the following sentence, that may or may not be totally accurate in every instance and for every member but generally I have a sense that it is more accurate than not. They (FVC club members) were governed, to greater or lesser degree, by a philosophy that might be expressed as follows “2nd place was the 1st of the losers”. They didn’t just race, this was war, no holds barred and every advantage possible was sought. In order to win you needed an arsenal that required, total dedication, insight, the will to prepare, time, money, location and finally and most important exceptional racing pigeons without which you would not stand a chance come race day. Ed Lorenz was quoted by Ralph Forbes in 1986 as follows:
“Most fanciers in the San Fernando Valley gear their whole lives towards the pigeons…as an example, in my club, the FVC Club, there are 60 members and probably only six have full time jobs. Their time is spent trying to win pigeon races. To win six or seven thousand points on a weekend is no big deal anymore.”- Ed Lorenz Racing Pigeon Facts International Volume 3 issue 28 June 1986 page 151
It is not an exaggeration to say that FVC during the decades of the seventies, eighties and nineties was one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful professional club in the USA. Weekly the members of the FVC raced for some very serious monetary rewards. To this day FVC remains a powerful organization.
![Pic 6]()
While recently skimming an old copy of Ralph Forbes “Racing Pigeon Facts International” volume 3 issue 32 Feb/March 1987 I noticed a short article on Pete Lorenz under the section entitled American scene. As can be seen Pete was already internationally recognized for his success and the quality of his birds already in the 1980s’.
Pete Lorenz was an amicable and easy going individual loved breeding and racing but the birds needed to adopt themselves to his lifestyle and management and not the other way around. He believed in letting the birds do their own thing. This was very important given that Pete would often find himself working day and night and often required to spend a couple of days away from his home. Ralph Forbes in his 1987 article stated:
“In my own travels, certainly one of the most striking examples I have seen of having pigeons suited to an abnormal management system, is that of Pete Lorenz of Sepulveda, California. Pete’s timetable is what most fanciers would consider a “nightmare”. He often worked 24 hours or more at a stretch-can find himself miles from home when most of us are exercising, feeding and watering our birds. Most of us, however, do not race up to the standards of Pete Lorenz.”~ Ralph Vernon Forbes, Pigeon Facts International, page 274 Volume 3 Issue 32 Feb/March 1987
There was clearly more to Pete’s story than just letting the birds do their own thing! One needs to seriously look at his bird’s genetics to appreciate what was really at work here. Bill Richardson described the genesis of these Lorenz pigeons as follows:
“This story took a rather unique twist in the early 1970’s, when Ed’s Brother Pete, made friends with a Belgian coworker. As this friendship grew, Pete eventually mentioned to his friend that he raced pigeons, and, to Pete’s surprise, his friend knew quite a bit about them. It seems that while Pete’s friend was growing up in Belgium, he had a neighbor that was reputed to be one of the better fanciers in the Belgian sport. As Pete’s friend often visited Belgium, he offered to talk with the neighbor and see if he could bring back some eggs for Pete to foster under pumper pairs. Therefore, for two year’s running and under the condition of anonymity, Pete received eggs from a well- known but unidentified loft in Europe. The only information that came with these eggs was that this unnamed fancier owned a “Horemans based” family.
Unfortunately, only four of these transferred eggs ever hatched, but even so, they had an immediate impact on Pete’s loft. Shortly thereafter, Pete raised a couple of youngsters for Ed to try on the race team, and when they started beating the Stassarts on a weekly basis, Ed quickly realized their value. Soon, much of the FVC membership was looking for faster pigeons.”~ Bill Richardson -Reference: The Book on the Modern Day Horemans by Charlie Barbiere, Red Bank, NJ.
So Pete brought in the eggs, through his Belgian co-worker in 1974 and 1975.Pete told Ralph Forbes that it was a novelty in 1976 to breed from them, that first year some did reasonably well and others did not. When he started breeding off of that 1st generation bred in his loft they really began to hit as did the youngsters bred from the originals. Pete consistently inbred in order to secure future stock availability. He maintained four inbred lines in his loft and crossed between these lines for performance.
So how did he do? Well according to Forbes 1987 issue wherein he recounts Pete’s wins at the time, here is what he says:
“Competing against 60 lofts how does the following appeal to you: 2nd-125,1st-150,2nd-200,3rd-250,13th-300, 1st-275,16th-400,6th-475,2nd-200,1st-500,1st-300 and 1st Snowbird Futurity”` ~ Ralph Vernon Forbes, Pigeon Facts International, page 274 Volume 3 Issue 32 Feb/March 1987
Some interesting observations by Pete regarding his Horemans at the time:
“The dark hen’s inbred offspring always produce well. The dark white-flights don’t as a rule produce well when mated with the other imported lines. They cross better with the domestic California pigeons. My blue white-flight line crosses well with the red birds I have”… The type of pigeon that does best for me …has ample and soft muscle. I think the harder muscled pigeon takes more work. I can- not work my pigeons much so I want a soft muscled bird.”~ Pete Lorenz Pigeon Facts International, page 277 Volume 3 Issue 32 Feb/March 1987.
As I already mentioned being a tight family Pete shared his new Horemans with Leo his father and Ed his brother. His success did not go unnoticed and Pete was offered thousands, at the time, for his breeders and consistently refused to sell.
![Pic 7]()
The gifted Horemans from Pete to Ed wasted no time in demonstrating their quality. Pete’s Horemans worked out well for Ed who advised Ralph Forbes that they had added speed to his then existing line, but more than that the reality was that in 1976 they were beating his old Stassart line every week so much so that the Horemans really became his (and the families) secret weapon and it was not easily shared with others. The Horemans superiority coupled with his acknowledged handling abilities were, in my opinion, a big part of the reason that Ed was generally referred to as “Mr. Snowbird”
Bill Richardson knew Ed Lorenz well and purchased a number directly from Ed. Here is how he described the Horemans that were cultivated by Ed from the original birds shared with him by Pete.
“There are so many things that I can say about these pigeons! They are on the smaller side and they have an excellent strength to weight ratio, they have super vitality, they love to fly, and they inbreed extremely well. They have had tremendous success from 100 to 500 miles, and because they mature quickly, they do especially well at young bird distances of 300 and 400 miles as evidenced by the fact that they won the 400 Snowbird Futurity in 2000 and 2001 against some of the best pigeons this Country has to offer.” – Bill Richardson
Reference: The Book on the Modern Day Horemans by Charlie Barbiere, Red Bank, NJ.
Let me prefix my comments by saying that I have never met or spoken to either Ed or his late brother Pete however I suspect that, personality wise, they were quite different from each other in many ways. Let us say that Ed was more reserved, Pete was easier going, more amicable. Ed was not generally one to volunteer information. It would take time to get to know him and I suspect that most people never really got know him at all. Ed was a Champion flier already in the eighties and was featured in Racing Pigeon Facts International in 1986 and many alleged him to have a “bag of secrets”. His local competitors called him “King of the Valley” others “The Quiet Man” and Ralph Forbes referred to him as the “Sonny Crocket of the Sporting world”. 2nd Big All American in 1977 and by 1984 he was 1st Middle All American, won six of 12 old bird races in 1985 along with five 1st Combines out of 10 races plus winning 4 of 9 young bird races against 60 members in the FVC club. From 1982 through 1986 he won the Young Bird Futurity twice and won 3rd the other two years. He has been so consistently successful at the Snowbird Classic that he is often referred to as Mr. Snow or Mr. Snowbird which is, I believe, a well-deserved accolade.
![Pic 8]()
Into this hotbed of racing comes one Carl Loizzi, a New Yorker born in the Bronx who moved to Southern California in 1979. Like many other young people, blessed with an actor’s really good looks, he was committed to making it big in Hollywood. But unlike most actors this young man was also fascinated by both fancy and racing pigeons .Also like so many other would be actors a day job was essential so Carl had started a car sales lot. In fact it was through the cars that in late 1982 he, quite by chance and through the cars he met Marty Ladin, a legendary California racing pigeon personality. As luck would have it they really hit it off and “Marty sponsored the kid” into the Fernando Valley Racing Pigeon Club (FVC).Truth be told Marty became Carl’s mentor and Carl became, at age 30 the youngest member of the FVC. The membership of the time read like a “Who is Who” of the American racing pigeon fraternity including Ed Lorenz, Pete Lorenz, Marty Ladin, Art Hees, Danny Hinds, Chris Kowalick, Rocky Lambet to mention but a few. Carl quickly learned that these guys, though great friends during weekdays, became mortal enemies on weekends:
“I quickly learned they were friends during the week and enemies on the weekend. So it was kill or be killed” ~ Carl Loizzi
It was very clear to Carl that in these circumstances good pigeons were not enough, you needed great pigeons and in 1983 Pete and Ed Lorenz were the winningest fanciers. The Lorenz brothers befriended Carl and in that year Leo Lorenz passed away just as Carl was starting and Carl purchased six of the Lorenz Horemans at Leo’s disposal sale. At the time Carl was delighted to get the best and here is how he put it:
“What was a Hormans? Who cared! They were mostly a pretty slate color which I liked being a fancy pigeon guy in my youth. They won races, which was a bonus.” ~Carl Loizzi
Within three years Carl was the FVC President. Between 1983 and 1989 Carl was raising three children and opened and closed three car lots and a repair station. By 1989 Chris Kowalick decided to move back to Poland and Carl was fortunate enough to purchase 9 direct Horemans that Chris had purchased from Pete. These included “Super 301” 1989 SCV 301, a tri colored smokey blue bar hen, a true foundation hen that had won a 250 mile race before Carl got it. “Super 301” bred the 3rd place at the Detroit AU Convention, 4th place Snowbird Classic and 3rd place San Diego Triple Crown in just two short years. He also purchased 1989 SVC 317 a blue check cock both perfect specimens and these birds carried the original genes from the four eggs Pete brought in from Belgium.
![Pic 9]()
By 1994 Carl found the perfect cross for “Super 301” when mated to 1991 FVC 7472 (bred by Ahmed Ismail) she bred 1994 FVC 1121 BB Hen.1121 was a super pigeon who won 12,000 in the San Diego Triple Crown Classic. In 1995 Carl took the first four positions in the Asia Classic Race with one out of area bird and three Horemans that he bred. When put to stock 1121 had multiple winners as well as breeders. By 1996 “Super 301” when mated to the Ismail cock bred 1994 USA 20077 a full brother to 1121and 678.These birds looked the same, handled the same and all were down from “Super 301”.In 1995 “Super 301” was already responsible for the winners of over 40,000.Carl followed a strict line breeding and outcrossing program. By 1999 Carl purchased 6 youngsters from Ron Freed these were Van Loon origin down from Dave Hunsickers “60” line. When mated to Carl’s Horemans magic happened and the hybrid vigor was exceptional. This was an exceptional cross that proved consistent. By 2002 the young birds exploded to the top of the sheet. That year Carl bred four of the Five Champion Birds of the Combine.
- 2002 FVC 614 BD Cock AU Hall of Fame, 1st Digest Ace National Sprint Bird Champion Division 2
- 2002 FVC 667 Slate Check Hen ( from a daughter of Super 301) AU Hall of Fame Winner and Digest Winner
- 2002 FVC 3878 BCC Cock Digest Award Winner
- 2002 FVC 3866 Four time top twenty
These results racing against Ed, Pete, Chris Kowalick and their Horemans as well as all of the other professionals in the FVC.
In 2003 Pete Lorenz passed away unexpectedly and a group of 6 friends (that included Carl Loizzi and Bruno Lascurain) arranged to purchase the entire loft and split them by draw thus receiving 35 birds each.
In 2003 Carl Loizzi finished the season with 2nd Combine Champion Loft with five Horemans doing all of the damage. By 2004 Carl formed a partnership with roger Sikora that has successfully raced since that time as Loizzi/Sikora. The Horemans continued their dominance throughout 2004 young birds winning 7 of the top ten birds of the year awards including Champion loft, master Flyer Championship and Prize Percentage Champion. By 2006 Carl was First Champion Loft including five of the six Champion birds in the combine.2007 was the very best flying year ever for the partners with First FVC Champion Loft, First Average Speed, First Greater Valley Combine Champion Loft and First Champion Bird of the year. And 2007 FVC 52 BB Cock was the best young bird ever flown finishing 5 times in the top twenty in the Combine and was the number one bird in the USA winning AU Hall of Fame Division 2 ( his grand Dam Super 301).Just a note to explain that these wins were against thousands of birds in the federation. That same year 2007 saw them win 1st and 2nd at the 350 with nest-mate brothers topping the Combine by 33 seconds. That same year “61” and “1796” were both AU Hall of Fame winners. In 2008 the partnership won Old Bird 500 mile station over 2.5 minutes ahead as well as the AU Presidents Cup Award for 2007 young birds and 2008 old birds. Well I could go on year after year but I think the point has been made.
![Pic 10]()
Pictured herein is the checker hen 2006 FVC 2733 was bred by Carl Loizzi that is the dam to Guido Madrusan’ s 2008 equal 1st Empire Classic winner. She is a direct daughter of Carl’s champion “686”.I had the opportunity to handle this incredible Foundation hen in June of 2014,apple bodied balanced, soft supple muscles and a powerful yet buoyant frame.
Incredibly over 30 years from the 1977 date the gene pool in Carl’s Loft holds fast as evidenced in 2009 at the Sierra Ranch Classic as two Loizzi Horemans were in the original 8 bird drop.2010 young birds Loizzi was 1st Champion Loft, 1st UPR Champion, 1st Master Flyer, 2012 young birds again 1st Average Speed Overall Champion, 2nd Champion Loft. 3rd Master Flyer and four of the top ten Champion birds.2013 was no different with 1st Champion Loft, 1st Overall Average Speed Champion and on and on. By luck of the draw Carl purchased 1998 FVC 2900 Red Cock after Pete’s untimely death. “2900” goes back to all of the original Horemans that were hatched out in 1974 and 1975.
In 2006 Carl wanted some top fancy pigeons and that desire set the stage for Guido Madrusan’ s 2008 Empire Classic Equal 1st win. Carl traded 4 line bred Horemans for 4 top fancy pigeons from Guido. Madrusan received AU 2006 FVC 2782, AU 2006 FVC 2733, AU 2006 FVC 2792 and AU 2005 FVC 464 and has never looked back and moves from strength to strength in his Club, Combine and One Loft Racing.
![Pic 11]()
For 31 years Carl Loizzi has maintained, cultivated and improved upon the “Lorenz Horemans Family” of racing pigeons. He has cultivated a family of pigeons that is smart and beautiful, hard- working birds that deliver the goods on race day. Carl has achieved what few ever do. These Loizzi Horemans that have their origins with the Lorenz Family can rightly be referred to as an American Family of pigeons. A small to medium sized bird with short forearms, with the wing to cover the back when opened, tight vents, strong frame, supple muscle and a real fighting spirit, a well-balanced, apple bodied buoyant pigeon and most important of all a “keen homing instinct”.
![678]()
Carl Loizzi has an intuition for breeding and he has done a marvelous job for over 30 years of perpetuating and advancing his Loizzi line of Horemans racing pigeons through line-breeding and a judicious outcrossing. He has centered his breeding program on the maternal line through “Super 301”, “1121”, “678”, “1187” and “667” and “686” may in fact be the finest Horemans sire he has ever raised.
There are a number of world class fanciers who will always be special to Carl, these include Marty Ladin, the late Pete Lorenz and Ed Lorenz who is both a mentor and a brother to Carl, many wonderful memories over the years many of these with Ed Lorenz and at Carl’s loft in California.
![Pic 13]()
Figure 6 Carl’s Loft in California
Carl’s Loft pictured above houses a very unique group of racing pigeons. Though in the past, few birds have ever been sold by Carl Loizzi .I can personally attest to the fact that very, very few people in this world strive diligently to develop and maintain a family of pigeons for over 30 years. Most just do not have the vision or the stock sense to do so, long term, successfully. Carl Loizzi is one of those rare people that have been gifted to recognize quality and perpetuate and enhance said quality. It is a rare gift and I would respectfully suggest that it may be time to pass on some of this genetic material to other dedicated fanciers so that the work begun by the “Lorenz Family” and so faithfully cultivated and advanced by Carl Loizzi can be enjoyed by others around the world.
![Snowbird]()
These Loizzi Horemans are very special indeed. As is evidenced by the following Loizzi/Sikora Young Bird Championship Results:
2013-1st Champion Loft FVC, 1st Overall Average Speed FVC
2012-1St Overall Average Speed Champion FVC,2nd Champion Loft FVC,3rd Mater Flyer Champion FVC, 4 of the top 10 Champion Birds FVC
2010-1st Champion Loft FVC, 1st Master Flyer Champion FVC, 1st UPR Champion FVC
2009- 2nd Champion Bird FVC
2008- Presidents Cup Award Winner
2007-1st Champion Loft FVC,1st Champion Loft Greater Valley Combine,1st Overall Average Speed Champion FVC,1st Champion Bird of the Year,3 Hall of Fame Winners Bred.
2006-1st Champion Loft FVC, 5 0f 6 Champion Birds in the Combine.
2004-1st Champion Loft FVC, 1st Master Flyer FVC, 1st Prize Percentage FVC,1st Champion Bird FVC,7 of the 10 top Champion Birds FVC
2003-2nd Combine Champion Loft
2002-1st Prize Percentage Champion FVC,1st Digest Sprint Champion Loft Division 2,1st Hall of Fame Sprint Champion Division 2, 5 Hall of Fame and Digest Award Winning Birds, 4 of the 5 Best Birds in the Combine.
![Pic 16]()
Figure 8 2011 Snowbird classic Winners reference http://www.fvcsnowbird.com/.
© 2014 By Silvio Mattacchione BA MA
![icon2]()
