Wee Folk was foaled on March 31st, 1961. He was bred by J. Rukin Jelks, the founder of Rillito Downs in Tucson, Arizona. Old Pueblo, the sire of Wee Folk, was by Windy City II and out of Shadows Fall, by Ariel. He won ten races, including the California Breeders’ Trail Stakes, Del Mar Futurity, Debonair Stakes, San Vicente Handicap and California Breeders’ Champion Stakes. Old Pueblo sired many Quarter Horses including stakes winners Miss Pajamas, Pueblo High and Shawnee Hoo and performance ROM-earners Apache Pueblo, Pueblos Payday and Sunday Times. His Thoroughbred sons Chinle, Fashion Center, Oldie, Page, Sporting Tiger, Unojo, Windy Pueblo and Winged Pueblo also sired Quarter Horses, Paints and Appaloosas.
Moneen, the dam of Wee Folk, was bred in California by Edwards M. Goemans. She was by Curragh King and out of Fairy Glade, by Bois Roussel. Moneen made thirteen starts and was a winner. She produced six foals for Jelks including race winners Sara Moneen, Windcutter, King’s Shadow and Mountain Morn. She was later sold to Florida and produced seven more race winners – Bunny Dory, Swift William, Fleeting Fairy, You’re So Good, Moolahs Image, Lil Bit O Soul and Kaseen. Glory Be Good, a full sister to Wee Folk, produced Rubarb Jones, a graded stakes winning Quarter Horse. Wee Folk was Moneen’s most prolific son.
As a two-year-old, Wee Folk won three races including the 1963 Westchester Stakes at Hollywood Park. He also placed third in the Haggin Stakes. At age three, Wee Folk made seven starts and won one race. He retired with a record of thirteen starts, four wins, two seconds, one third, and $26,375 in earnings, which is the equivalent of about $260,000 today.
Upon his retirement from racing, Wee Folk was syndicated. His syndicate owners included Clyde Bailey, Jack Rubel, J. B. Chambers and Bud Warren. He stood at Warren’s ranch in Perry, Oklahoma. His first foal crop arrived in 1966. Racing ROM-earner Killarney and performance ROM-earner Folklore were among his first foals.
In 1970, Miss Ooo Wee, Wee Folk’s best Quarter Horse starter was foaled. Miss Ooo Wee was out of Centennial Miss, a daughter of Moolah Bux. She won the 1972 Kentucky Futurity and the 1974 Peninsula stakes. She earned a Superior Race Horse award in 1973. In total, Miss Ooo Wee made 26 starts, won 11 races, and earned $196,269 on the track. Other Quarter Horse stakes winners by Wee Folk included Fairweather Folks and Beebee Bar. Wee Dream and Wee Streaker also earned Superior Race Horse awards. Pore Folks and Wee Chargette set new track records.
Three Fifty Flash, a bay gelding by Wee Folk and out Sudden Sadie, by Jet Deck, qualified twice for the AQHA World Show in team roping and earned a performance register of merit. Wee Pete, a gray stallion by Wee Folk and out of Petes Chick, by Agenda Chick, earned a racing register of merit and went on to qualify for the AQHA World Show in hunter hack, working hunter and jumping. He earned performance ROMs in the Open, Amateur, and Youth divisions. In total, Wee Pete earned 188.5 points in the arena. Other performance ROM-earners by Wee Folk included Sheer Lace and Wind of Chance. He also sired performance point-earners Lady’s Bequest, Ifweeda, Folk General, Venture Folks, Leo Dial Folk and Soul Folks. Wee Miss Ooo, a chestnut mare by Wee Folk and out of Surfer Sadie, by Tonto Bars Hank, earned 13.0 halter points.
In total, Wee Folk sired 367 registered Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse foals in 18 foal crops. They included 111 race winners, 106 ROM-earners, three stakes winners, three Superior Race Award earners and one All Around winner. They earned $853,096 on the track and 413.5 points in the arena.
Folk Dancer, a sorrel stallion by Wee Folk and out of Rosita Breeze, by Jet Deck, stood at Jerry and Shirley Olson’s ranch in Selby, South Dakota. Thanks to their outstanding breeding program, he became the most successful son of Wee Folk at stud. Folk Dancer sired racing and performance horses. His daughters also produced good horses when they entered the broodmare band at the Olson ranch. Wee Folk’s other Quarter Horse sons Champs Wee Folk, Go Folks Go, Jettin Folks, Logans Mr Majestic, Oui Oui Lewie, Rocket Folks, Wee Double Folk, Wee Rocket and Wee Sompin Tuff also sired Quarter Horses, Paints and Appaloosas. Wee Nip, a Paint stallion by Wee Folk and out of Little Nippy, by Lawman, sired a handful of Paint runners.
While most sons of Wee Folk were average sires, his daughters were exceptional producers. His best producing daughter was bred by NCHA Hall of Fame inductee Spencer Harden. Harden took his mare Rey’s Dixie, the 1963 AQHA World Champion Junior Cutting Horse, to Wee Folk to add refinement and quickness to his cutting program. The resulting foal, Wee Darlin, won the 1975 NCHA Non-Pro Cutting Futurity. Wee Darlin went on to produce several great cutting horses. Her highest money earner, Wee Quixote, was a sorrel gelding by Doc Quixote. Wee Quixote placed sixth at the 1983 NCHA Non-Pro Cutting Futurity and second at the 1985 NCHA Non-Pro Classic. In total, Wee Quixote earned $126,095 in the National Cutting Horse Association. Wee Darlin also produced NCHA money earners Wee Doc, Darlin Quixote, Jenny Darlin and Bob Acre Blond. Her descendants are still competing in cutting today.
Wee Darlin was not the only daughter of Wee Folk that produced cutting horses. Wee Mavoureen, a gray mare by Wee Folk and out of Widgeon, by Rain Cloud, also produced NCHA money earners Miss Diamond Socks and Gray Jr. Other performance ROM-earners out of Wee Folk mares included Zippo Doo, Paydays Song, Guyline Jet View, Shapely Miss 000, Justin Jet Black, Image Like This and Zips Wee Star. His daughters also produced many good racehorses. Wee Sompin Special, a sorrel mare by Wee Folk and out of Sompin Certain, by Jet Deck, produced stakes winners Lavishing and Sompinlikaglass. She also produced Sompin to Remember, the 1995 West Southwest High Point Three Year Old Colt, and Call in the Cash, a successful sire of racehorses and barrel horses.
In total, daughters of Wee Folk produced 541 Quarter Horse foals. They included 132 ROM-earners, 107 race winners, nine stakes winners, two Superior Race Award earners, two all-around winners and one regional champion. In total, his grandget earned $1,109,868 on the track and 620.0 points in the arena. They also earned $321,845 in the NCHA.
Wee Folk’s last foals were born in 1984. His descendants are still competing in cutting, barrel racing, roping, jumping and racing today!
Sources: Equineline, Equibase, AQHA, All Breed Database, The Quarter Horse Journal
The Western Thoroughbred 