Killoqua was foaled on February 11th, 1959. He was bred by American businessman Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney at his farm near Lexington, Kentucky. Killoqua is a word from the indigenous Lushootseed language of the Pacific Northwest. It means deep, peaceful lake. Killoqua was by Mount Marcy, a son of leading sire Mahmoud. Mount Marcy won 17… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Killoqua
Bold Ego was foaled March 2nd, 1978. He was bred by J. D. Barton in Anthony, New Mexico. Bold Ego was by Bold Tactics, a multiple stakes placed son of Bold Ruler. Bold Tactics set a new track record for 6 furlongs at Hawthorne Park. Many of his foals possessed his same blistering speed. Bold… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Bold Ego
Fleet Kirsh was foaled on May 13th, 1966. He was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Bickenbaugh in California. Fleet Kirsch was by Fleet Nasrullah, one of the fastest sons of Nasrullah. Fleet Nasrullah won eleven races, including the Westchester Stakes, Lakes and Flowers Handicap and San Pasqual Handicap. Fleet Nasrullah also set new… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Fleet Kirsch
Noble Kingdom was foaled in 1970. He was bred by Mrs. Mary Robertson in Oklahoma. Noble Kingdom was by Three Kingdoms, an unraced son of Princequillo. Three Kings sired stakes winners Pura U. P. R. and King Hoss in the United States. He was later exported to South America. Three Kings was the damsire of… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred: Noble Kingdom
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
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
Bloody Blade was foaled on March 13th, 1975. He was bred by Barr Inman in Colorado. Bloody Blade was by Blade, a son of Bold Ruler. Blade won four races and placed second in the 1969 Delaware Valley Handicap and third in the 1970 Phoenix Handicap. He stood at Nuckols Farm where he sired Thoroughbred… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Bloody Blade
The Western Thoroughbred 