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
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
Lovely Manners was foaled in 1924. He was bred by Phil Thompson Chinn at Himyar Stud in Lexington, Kentucky. Lovely Manners was by Sweep, one of the most successful sons of the 1896 Kentucky Derby winner Ben Brush. Sweep won the 1910 Belmont Stakes. He was named U.S. Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and Champion Three-Year-Old Colt.… Continue reading The Western Thorougbred History: Lovely Manners
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
Ariel Ace was foaled in 1943. He was bred by Walter J. Salmon, Sr. at Mereworth Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Ariel Ace was by Ariel, a son of Eternal, the 1918 Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Colt. Adana, the dam of Ariel, was a stakes-placed daughter of Mannie Himyar, a full-sister to the legendary speedster Domino. Ariel won… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Ariel Ace
Barjo’s Bay was foaled on April 20th, 1970. He was bred by Clifford E. Stewart in Arkansas. His sire, Thermos, was by Kentucky Pride, a son of Bull Lea. Thermos sired 371 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse foals that earned over $1.7 million on the track. His most successful Quarter Horse starter, Miss Thermolark, was the… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Barjo’s Bay
During his era, Peter McCue was the fastest racehorse and the best sire of Quarter Horses. But did you know that he was registered as a Thoroughbred with The Jockey Club? As with many short horses that were born before the formation of the American Quarter Horse Association, his pedigree was uncertain. Peter McCue's pedigree… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Peter McCue
The Western Thoroughbred 