OTTBwestern History: Fol’s Native

Many legendary horses have taken their first wobbly-kneed steps in the great state of Texas. In 1976, a dark bay colt named Fol’s Native learned to use his long legs on Lester Goodson’s ranch in Montgomery County. His dam was Long Chance, a mare by the Irish import Old Fols. His sire was Heisanative, a winner of six races including three stakes. Goodson was famous for breeding and raising champion Quarter Horses. Fol’s Native was by the same sire as Native Parr, the dam of AQHA Hall of Fame racehorse Refrigerator, and out of the same mare as Six Fols, but he was entirely Thoroughbred.

Fol’s Native was owned by Tony Fenack Jr. and trained by Joe Richards. As a two-year-old he won five races including the Sunland Fall Thoroughbred Futurity. He won that race by 1 and ½ lengths in stakes record time. He was faster than the track record at the quarter, half, and five furlongs. At three, he won the Memorial Day Handicap by three lengths and the Aspen Stakes by more than two lengths. He was also second in the Peter Hurd Handicap. In total, Fol’s Native made ten starts, won eight races, and earned over $39,000 on the track.

Fol’s Native began his stud career at Wright Ranches in Boone, Colorado. His first foals hit the ground in 1981. Among his first crop was Fols Gold, a colt out of Scooper Gal. Fols Gold won eight races including the $1.1 million Black Gold Futurity at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Fols Gold undoubtedly bolstered the reputation of Fol’s Native as a sire. He continued to sire stakes winners including Fols Rocket, Fols Roan Teena, Snafols, and Fols Audition. Fols Audition won thirteen races including the Black Gold Futurity, Black Gold Derby, Bill Cody Stakes, and the Grade 3 C. E. Willhite Memorial Derby. Fol’s Native also sired barrel racing money earners Magic Rocket Bar and Fols Classy Snazzy. Fols Classy Snazzy was trained by Dena Kirkpatrick and went to the National Finals Rodeo in 2000 with Marlene McRae. They won a round and finished 6^th in the world.

In total, his get earned over $150,000 in the barrel pen and his grandget earned even more. His daughter Miss Fair Lady produced Rare Bar, the 1995 World Champion Running Aged Stallion. Rare Bar is the sire of Hesa Rare Bar, Rare Bugs Alive, Ole Rare Hope, Rarely Fired, Gonna Get Some Money, and countless others. Fol’s Native also sired the dam of Reds Western Native. Reds Western Native won the Houston Livestock Show in 2003 and earned a ROM in barrel racing. He sired Pocohantus Native, On the Money Native, Superman on the Money, and many more. Fol’s Native also sired Fols Debbie, a race-winning mare who produced Fols Dream of Cash, Whistle at the Babes, and Lady Perks. Lady Perks was also trained by Dena Kirkpatrick and won the title of Canadian Champion Barrel Horse under Rayel Robinson Little.

His offspring were said to be athletic, willing, and even tempered. Had his life and stud career not been cut short, Fol’s Native may have become one of the greatest racing and barrel racing sires. His half brother Six Fols carried the torch by siring Marthas Six Moons, the third all-time leading barrel horse sire. Direct descendants of Fol’s Native include CS Flashlight, Fols Fancy Jet, Aim Ta Fame, Firewater Hooch, One Famous Man, and many others. Game Boy EK, the recent world record setter on a standard pattern, has Fol’s Native twice in his fourth generation. Although his true potential as a sire was never realized, Fol’s Native has remained influential nearly three decades after his death. He is a truly prolific western Thoroughbred.