The American Saddlebred: 6/5/16 Golden Firefly BHF and Princess Irene, a closer look

Golden Firefly had a post back in 2013, but she is such a fabulous mare that she deserves another look. Foaled in 1911, she was bred by the Kelley Brothers of Bowling Green, Kentucky and owned most of her life by John Crozer of Upland, PA. Mr. Crozer also owned Kathryn Haines at one time, and was the breeder of Kate Haines and her daughter Kate Peavine, Spoonbill and Abie's Irish Rose. The man had some nice horses!

Golden Firefly was a flashy chestnut mare with liberal white markings. She was a crowd favorite and a regular winner. In 1916, her trainer Sterling Nicoll rode and drove her to the RWGC in both the 5 Gaited and Fine Harness stakes at the World's Championship. It took two horses, Richlieu King, a two time Stallion stake winner and Lady Beautiful, a five time WGC in Fine Harness, to beat her.
And once her show ring days were over, this great mare went on to make even greater contributions to the American Saddlebred breed.
A check of her pedigree shows three of her grandparents tracing directly to Denmark FS. Her sire, Guided by Love, was another brightly marked horse. He also sired stallions Kentucky Moonshine, Green Valley Fox, Love Chief and My Own Love. His daughter Marjorie Beebe was 2nd dam of Judy O'Lee BHF. Princess Irene only produced one registered foal, but that turned out to be Golden Firefly. Other than that, little was known about Princess Irene, but that's going to change right now. She was bred by W. R. Allen of Smiths Grove, Kentucky and registered by Scott Isbell of Bowling Green, Kentucky. The towns were just down the road from each other. And it just so happens that a home in Bowling Green Kentucky contained a painting of a saddlebred mare and a copy of the application to register her. The sorrel mare with stripe and left front leg, white to the elbow, was none other than Princess Irene. Her owner, which could have been Scott Isbell, or later the Kelley Brothers, liked this mare enough to have a portrait painted. The long time homeowner had no connection with Princess Irene, and it's unknown what the mare's connection was with previous owners of the home. It is just good fortune that her paperwork stayed with her painting, and with her very distinctive markings, there is no doubt of her identity.

a portrait of Princess Irene

GOLDEN FIREFLY . M, SADDLEBRED, 1911

Golden Firefly BHF	Guided By Love	King Lee Rose	Montrose

			Daughter of Mambrino Le Grand Jr

		Maud Cullen	My Own

			Marr

	Princess Irene	Kentucky Diamond	Chester Dare

			Fannie

		Patsy	Mark Time

			Old Kate

Now for a look at some of Golden Firefly's offspring and what they've produced.

Rex Firefly, f. 1921, sired by Rex Peavine.

Rex Firefly sired:
         King Coe who sired Penny Co Ed BHF, A Sheer Delight BHF, Cora Sutton
         Sensation Rex who sired Vanity's Sensation, Golden Sensation, Mighty Sensation, Grassview Sensation and Wonderland Sensation.
          Sparkling Firefly

King Coe

A Sheer Delight BHF produced Longview Supreme

Longview Supreme

Penny Co Ed produced Penny Stonewall

Cora Sutton produced WGC Cora's Time

Coe's Heir

Sensation Rex

Vanity's Sensation

Wonderland Sensation

Golden Sensation

Grassview Sensation

Mighty Sensation

Flashing Peavine BHF, f. 1923. sired by Rex Peavine
Flashing Peavine produced American Jane and Flashing American.

Princess Firefly, f. 1928, sired by Bourbon King