Scott’s Poppy was foaled on April 28th, 1973. He was bred by John Kell Houssels Sr. in California. Scott’s Poppy was by Doc Scott J., an unraced son of black-type stakes winner Mr. Busher. Oriental Poppy, the dam of Scott’s Poppy, was by the 1955 Horse of the Year Nashua. Oriental Poppy was out of Annaly which made her a half-sister to Master Hand, a leading Thoroughbred sire of Quarter Horses. Oriental Poppy produced nine Thoroughbred foals including race winners Nevada Poppy, Windy Poppy, Magic Poppy, Oriental Doctor and Acupuncture. She also produced two Quarter Horse foals by Rocket Wrangler – Qualique and Cranberry Road. Scott’s Poppy was her most successful son at stud.
Scott’s Poppy raced for his breeder under trainer George Adams. He matured early. At just 23 months old, he equaled the World Record for 4 ½ furlongs in 0.50.4 seconds. He won three races in his two-year-old season. As an older horse, Scott’s Poppy continued to demonstrate his incredible speed. During a 6-furlong handicap, he equaled the World Record for 5 furlongs of 0.55.4 seconds. He also placed second in the Arizona Downs Sprint Championship and third in the Phoenix Gold Cup. He continued racing until age five. He retired from racing with a record of 22 starts, five wins, four seconds, two thirds, and $24,921 in earnings, which is the equivalent of about $120,000 today.
Scott’s Poppy was purchased by Herb and Ginger Graham to stand at Graham Farms in Gardendale, Texas. His first foals were born in 1980. His best Quarter Horse starter, Oh Poppy, was among his second crop of foals. Oh Poppy was bred by the Red River Stock Farm in Oklahoma. He was out of Ohsosweet, a stakes placed mare by Three Oh’s. As a two-year-old, Oh Poppy placed second in the Western Montana Fair Futurity and the Sport O Speed Futurity. He also placed third in the Pot O’gold Futurity and the Coer D’alene Spring Futurity. At three, Oh Poppy won the Western Montana Fair Derby. He later earned a Superior Race Horse Award. His final race record was 37 starts, six wins, twelve seconds, eight thirds, and $31,116 in earnings.
As a stallion, Oh Poppy stood at the Beierbach Ranch in Saskatchewan, Canada. He was said to be an incredibly well-built horse. He sired foals with speed and athleticism. His best starter, Oh Dynamite Kid, won four stakes races and earned $38,488 on the track. Oh Poppy also sired money earning barrel horses Rapid Poppy, Movin and Poppin, Miss Brisk Poppy and Red Roan Gold Dust. William and Donna Beierbach kept some of his daughters to incorporate into their breeding program at 1Y Quarter Horses. When crossed to the Beierbach’s keystone stallion, Ninety Nine Goldmine, daughters of Oh Poppy produced barrel racing money earners Ninety Nine Proof, Special Gold Copy and This Poppys Mine.
Aside from Oh Poppy, Scott’s Poppy also sired track record setters Chart Buster and Poppy Express. Other Quarter Horse stakes contenders by Scott’s Poppy included Gatlinburg, Doctor Sinn, Cedrico, Mr American Poppy, Dark Poppy and Poppy Bear. His best Thoroughbred starters were Scott’s Ruler, Oriental Brass and Miss Poppy Time. In total, Scott’s Poppy sired 292 registered Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse foals in eleven foal crops. They included 71 race winners, 67 ROM-earners, fifteen stakes finalists, three Superior Race Award earners and one stakes winner.
His offspring also performed well in the arena. Kissaway, a sorrel mare by Scott’s Poppy and out of Surprise Package, by Go Dick Go, earned a Racing ROM and a Performance ROM. She placed third in Junior Barrel Racing at the 1987 AQHA World Show. She also earned a Superior Barrel Racing award. Other performance point earners by Scott’s Poppy included Painted Memories, Majestic Poppy, Doctor Ace, Poppy’s Pay and Poppy Scott.
His sons Legacy of a Legend and Pony Express sired a handful of Quarter Horses and Paints. Notably, Tonto Bars Indian, a sorrel Paint gelding by Poppy Express, competed in team roping at the 1999 APHA World Show.
Quarter Horse daughters of Scott’s Poppy produced 219 foals. They included 76 starters, 45 ROM-earners, 40 race winners, five stakes winners, and three Superior Race Award earners with earnings of $734,662 on the track. Judes Mighty Dude, the best starter out of a Scott’s Poppy mare, won 28 races, including the Gr. 3 Lone Star Park Distance Championship and the Gr. 3 Remington Distance Handicap, and earned $205,381 on the track. Other stakes winners out of his daughters included Dark Strawbaby, Maripi, Poponpassem and Sortofa Lady.
Scott’s Poppy was the damsire of eight performance horses that earned 116.5 points in the arena. Fly With Her, a sorrel mare by Scott’s Poppy, produced his best performing grandget – Boons Golden Sunkiss and Lost River Poppy. Both horses qualified for the Team Penning World Show and earned Performance Register of Merits in the Open and Amateur divisions. Lost River Poppy also qualified for the Ranch Sorting World Show. Other performance point earners out of Scott’s Poppy mares included Rockin Memories, Blare Flarey Kitten and Bugs is Alive. Blue Hot Hand, a sorrel mare by Hand Off Boy and out of Bluebonnet Te, by Scott’s Poppy, did not earn any AQHA points, but she had professional rodeo earnings in tie-down roping. She also earned money in barrel racing.
Scott’s Poppy’s last foals were born in 1990. His descendants are still competing in racing, barrel racing, roping and team penning.
Sources: Equineline, Equibase, American Quarter Horse Association, 1 Y Quarter Horses, All Breed Database
The Western Thoroughbred 