Firm Ground was foaled in 1952. He was by Middleground, the second Kentucky Derby winner bred and owned by the King Ranch. Middleground was by Bold Venture and out of Verguenza, by Chicaro. He was trained by Max Hirsch and ridden by apprentice jockey Bill Boland. After Middleground won the Derby, he placed second in… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Firm Ground
R. Smith was foaled on January 19th, 1971. He was bred by C. E. Nicholas in Dillion, Montana. R. Smith was by Seasonal, an unraced son of British champion, Windy City II. Windy City II was the sire of Restless Wind, a multiple stakes winner, and Old Pueblo, a sire of Quarter Horse stakes winners.… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: R. Smith
Duck Dance was foaled on January 31st, 1967. He was bred by Jack Dreyfus and foaled on his storied Hobeau Farm near Ocala, Florida. Duck Dance was by Water Prince, a race-winning son of Beau Gar, the foundation stallion of the Dreyfus breeding program. Beau Gar sired many good runners including stakes winners Handsome Boy,… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Duck Dance
In 1958, Mrs. Anson Bigelow purchased a gray son of Native Dancer for $50,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She later named the colt Mito, which she said meant “happy” in a language of the Pacific Islands as a nod to his grandsire, Polynesian. Bigelow and trainer George P. Odom had campaigned Mito’s half-brother,… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Mito
“I never pictured a horse that could look that good,” said Sid Vail to Ed Ellinger for Western Horseman. “If there was ever a perfect horse, he was it. I couldn’t fault him anywhere.” Three Bars was foaled on April 10th, 1940. He was by Percentage, a chestnut stallion by black-type stakes winner Midway and… Continue reading Three Bars: The Greatest Sire of Quarter Horses
Red was foaled on April 4th, 1994. He was bred by Thomas W. Bachman at Pegasus Ranch in Petaluma, California. Red was by Siyah Kalem, a graded stakes placed chestnut stallion by Mr. Prospector and out of Lady Graustark, by Graustark. Siyah Kalem sired stakes winners Both Ways, J J Wantsthefront and Taurus Forus. Satan’s… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Red
Fame We Will might be one of the most accomplished Thoroughbreds to ever compete in stock horse events. The elegant bay from the bluegrass region of Kentucky competed in western pleasure, reining and cutting at events across California. This is his story. Fame We Will was foaled on April 17th, 1959. He was bred by… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Fame We Will
Pondariel was foaled in 1936. He was by Ariel, winner of the Youthful Stakes and Saratoga Special. Ariel sired earners of over $3 million on the track, including Piggin String, a Thoroughbred that became a two-time AQRA Champion Quarter Running Stallion. Pond Lily, the dam of Pondariel, was a stakes placed mare by Ultimus, a… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Pondariel
Disco Jerry was foaled on May 18th, 1978. He was bred by Marion D. Kirkland and Anatole Bourque in Louisiana. Disco Jerry was by Never Dance, a gray stallion by the 1962 Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, Never Bend. Never Dance sired a limited number of foals. His highest earner was Lava, winner of the 1982 Capital… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Disco Jerry
Champsville was foaled on March 17th, 1967. He was bred by the co-star of the sitcom “I Love Lucy,” Desi Arnaz, and his second wife Edith Mack Hirsch, on their Thoroughbred farm in Corona, California. Champsville was by Nashville, a multiple stakes winner and sire of the AQHA Hall of Fame Inductee, Azure Te. General… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Champsville
The Western Thoroughbred 