Jetalong was foaled on May 14th, 1962. He was bred in Illinois by Freeman Keyes, a Chicago advertising executive. His sire, Jet Colonel, was also bred and raced by Keyes. Jet Colonel was by graded stakes winner Jet Pilot and out of Queen of May, by Challenger II. He won thirteen races including the Hutcheson Stakes and Pelleteri Handicap. Vanadia, the dam of Jetalong, was a race-winning mare by multiple stakes winner Pet Bully and out of Fashionable, by Jamestown. She produced three Thoroughbred colts for Keyes – Lightning Orphan, Jetvan and Jetalong. Lightning Orphan won the Florida Juvenile Championship Stakes and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and earned $168,339 during his racing career. Jetvan made over one hundred starts on the track. Jetalong became a successful sire of Quarter Horses and Paints.
In 1964, Jetalong broke his maiden at Keeneland. He ran the second fastest five furlongs in the track’s history while carrying more weight than the track record holder, Ridan, who was the 1961 Champion Two-Year-Old Colt. He was a fast and classy juvenile. As a three-year-old, Jetalong failed to win a race. He won one start at age four and two starts at age five. He also set a new track record for 3 ½ furlongs at Seminole Downs in Casselberry, Florida. During his six-year-old season, Jetalong accomplished something few Thoroughbreds ever have. While running against Quarter Horse company at La Mesa Park and Albuquerque Downs, Jetalong earned an official AAA rating and Register of Merit from the American Quarter Horse Association. In one exciting race, he finished a closing second to World Record setter Bull Rastus. In total, Jetalong made 32 starts, won five races, and earned $11,996, the equivalent of about $105,000 today.
In 1969, Jetalong’s first foals arrived. They were out of mares that he had covered while he was in race training in Oklahoma. Thoroughbred race winners from his first foal crop included Ginger’s Jet, Miss Crispy, Jet Son and Strawline. Armstrong’s Jag, a Quarter Horse gelding that earned AQHA performance points, was also among his first foal crop. Jetalong retired sound from racing and moved to Art Schulz’s farm where he became the first AAA Thoroughbred to stand in Florida. His beautiful conformation and excellent disposition attracted breeders of Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Paints and Appaloosas. He was soon siring more winners on the track and in the arena.
Carrara Blue, a filly by Jetalong and out of Blue Marble, by Cararra Marble, was his best Thoroughbred starter. She won twelve races and placed second in the Stinger Handicap and third in the Damsels Handicap. Carrara Blue earned a total of $89,071 on the track. Taw Nee Jet, a gelding by Jetalong and out of Vanny Tag, by Vanny Leo, was his best Quarter Horse starter. He won nine races and earned $13,389 on the track. Other top Quarter Horse starters by Jetalong included Jetalong Charge, Pink Dink, Shugs Jet, Rustic Jet, Jingo Jetalong, Goldy’s Jet and Bolero Jet. In total, his Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse offspring won 137 races and earned $322,133 on the track.
Jetalong’s foals really shined in the show pen. In 1974, Man In Command, a sorrel stallion by Jetalong and out of Dollar’s Reed, by Dollar Dodger, was the AQHA World Champion Yearling Stallion. He later won the 1976 World Champion Three-Year-Old Stallion and 1977 AQHA Champion titles. Man In Command earned superior awards in halter and western pleasure and 235.0 points in five events. He went on the sire dozens of foals including Deluxe Command, a Superior Halter Stallion; First In Command, a Superior Western Pleasure Stallion; Justa Fantasy, an AQHA World Champion Three-Year-Old Mare; Lady Nichole, an APHA National Champion Halter Mare; and Tee Em Command, the 1981 AQHA World Champion Junior Calf Roping Horse.
Millun Dollar Man, a full brother to Man In Command, was Jetalong’s second World Champion. In 1977, he was the World Champion Junior Western Pleasure Stallion. Millun Dollar Man was also the 1983 High Point Western Riding Stallion. He earned superior awards in western pleasure and western riding and 200.5 halter and performance points. Millun Dollar Man went on to sire several Quarter Horses including Inhert, the dam of AQHA Champion Millun Moxie Man. Other AQHA Champions by Jetalong included Brother Dee Jet and Sir Money Maker. Additional halter and performance point-earners included Laurie’s Jet, Miss Sippi Jet, Jets Star, Senora Jet, Joe’s Jet, Alongcame Jet, Jetsox, Chicajet, Sweet Ga Straw, Research Jet, Ms Jetalong Patsy, Command Flight, Executive Jet and Whisper Along. In total, his 134 Quarter Horse foals earned 1,012.5 points in the arena.
Jetalong also sired Jetalito, the 1979 APHA National Champion Two-Year-Old Halter Stallion. Jetalito earned 63.0 halter points, as well as points in hunter under saddle, reining and western pleasure. He was the 1985 and 1986 World Champion Get of Sire. His 313 offspring earned 4,076.0 points in halter and 7,487.0 points in performance events. Jetalito was a lifetime leading sire of APHA champions. His full brother, Whisper Jet, also sired a handful of APHA halter and performance horses. Jetalong’s other paint progeny included Jet Jive, Jets Plain Souix and Smoothn Easy.
Unfortunately, Jetalong passed away in 1976. He was only fourteen years old. Many of his sons, including Frankies Babe, Missie’s Jet, Radiant Prince, So Long Jet and The Cowboy, continued to sire Quarter Horses, Paints and Appaloosas. Notably, his son Mr Jet Magic, sired Pin a Rose On Me, the dam of several great barrel horses including five-time NFR qualifier Speed Money and AQHA World Champion Designer Red. Jetalong also influenced barrel racing bloodlines through his daughters. Krimps Magic Jet, a sorrel mare by Krimps Go Getum and out of Some Jet Magic, by Jetalong, earned a superior award in barrel racing and placed third at the 1992 AQHA World Show. In total, his daughters produced 205 Quarter Horse foals that earned 591.5 points in the arena. Their top performers included Poka Dottie, A Spanish Streaker, Ms Eternal Playgirl, JJ Whispers, Obsessions, Precisions Choice, Time to Strut, He Can Strut, Outrageous Passion, Quincys Money Pit and The Last Chicalet.
It is incredible that Jetalong was able to influence so many western disciplines in such a short time at stud. Had he lived longer, he may have been among the all-time greatest Thoroughbred sires of performance horses. Descendants of Jetalong are still winning on the track and in the arena today.
Sources: Equineline, American Quarter Horse Association, Equibase, All Breed Database
The Western Thoroughbred 
I remember Jetalong. Art Schultz was married to my aunt, and we loved visiting their farm and petting Jetalong.
Nice to read his history.
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