Vandy was foaled in 1943. He was bred by C. L. Brown in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Vandy was by Going Light, an unraced son of multiple stakes winner Sweeping Light. His dam, Jean Ann Blair, was by Joe Blair, a famous son of Bonnie Joe. Joe Blair was a stakes-placed sprinter. In 1915, he lost… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Vandy
Moonsplash was foaled on May 9th, 1968. He was bred by John W. Greathouse and Ben F. Roach in Kentucky. Moonsplash was by Boldnesian, a bay son of leading sire Bold Ruler. Boldnesian won four races, including the 1966 Santa Anita Derby. His racing career was cut short due to bone chips in his knee… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Moonsplash
Maroon was foaled at the Alcorn Ranch in 1949. She was by Echuca Ladd, a chestnut Thoroughbred stallion bred by Cliff Armstrong in Seagraves, Texas. He was by Goalduring and out of Echuca, by Gay World. Echuca Ladd stood at the A. D. Jones Estate near Roswell. A stable sergeant at New Mexico Military Institute… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Maroon
Feature Film was foaled in 1941. She was bred by Wiley Brothers in Midway, Kentucky. Feature Film was by Okapi, a multiple stakes winning son of Eternal. Okapi was owned by Isabel Cleves Dodge Sloane, the heiress of the Dodge Brothers Motor Company. Mrs. Sloane said that Okapi was her favorite horse. She said that… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Feature Film
Trippy Dip was a resilient sprinter and exceptional broodmare. The fact that she produced three AQHA Racing Champions is made more impressive by the fact that all her breeding decisions were made by women. Her sixteen AQHA registered foals were bred by Virginia E. "Ginger" Hyland and Abigail K. Kawananakoa. The contributions of this Thoroughbred… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Trippy Dip
It's ironic how the Thoroughbred is often overlooked in rodeo history. The speed and grit that the breed famously possess is exactly what the sport demands. And although they’ve been largely forgotten or ignored, these horses have been competitive on the barrel pattern for generations. One of the greatest Thoroughbreds to ever run down the… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Cariboo Chief
What Luck was foaled on April 24th, 1967. He was bred by Ogden Phipps and Wheatley Stable and foaled at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky. What Luck was by Bold Ruler, the 1957 Horse of the Year. Bold Ruler made 33 starts and won 23 races. His major wins were in the Wood Memorial Stakes,… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: What Luck
Hempen was foaled on March 24th, 1962. He was bred by John and Phyllis Valpredo in Bakersfield, California. Hempen was by Indian Hemp, a chestnut son of leading sire Nasrullah. Indian Hemp was a stakes winner in England and North America. He won the 1951 Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and 1953 Yerba Buena… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Hempen
First Ambassador was foaled on March 29th, 1974. He was bred by Farnsworth Farm near Ocala, Florida. First Ambassador was by Diplomat Way, a son of Hall of Fame inductee Nashua. Diplomat Way won fourteen races, including the 1967 Blue Grass Stakes. He also set a new track record in the Chicago Handicap at Hawthorne.… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred: First Ambassador
Bull Bar was foaled on April 16th, 1954, in Arizona. He was bred by AQHA Hall of Fame member Melville H. Haskell. Bull Bar was by Spotted Bull, a Kentucky-bred stallion that made nineteen starts and won four races on official Thoroughbred tracks. Spotted Bull was purchased by Dink Parker and Ed Echols and brought… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Bull Bar
The Western Thoroughbred 