It took nearly 3 years to sort, catalog, identify, scan, label and research all the pictures from Dr. Elrod's collection. Most were horses that he raised, owned or showed. Many were labeled with some information on the back of the photo. However, many weren't labeled, or had information that didn't jive with the picture. This frustrating and fascinating project eventually whittled it's way down to this group of unidentified photos. Some were Dr. Elrod on an unknown horse, some were another rider on a horse that had nothing to do with Ottawa Creek Farm. Some had no clues at all. So why look at a bunch of unidentified photos? For one thing, many were fabulous horses and well known riders. What was the connection to Dr. Elrod and why were they in his possession? Others were interesting for catching a moment in time. And just perhaps, someone will recognize the horse or rider and be able to solve the mystery.
So here are the photos, and all the available clues.
This photo was labeled on the back side, "Daneshall's Easter Parade, dam of My My."
Yes, it's a really nice horse, but it's not My My's dam. It's a gelding.
Here is the original unretouched photo from The American Saddlebred Museum.
They have a collection of Jay McClaskey's photos. This one is from 1947, but
the horse isn't identified. Frank Bradshaw is the rider, and he was also the trainer
of Daneshall's Easter Parade as well as My-My. No one has been able to solve this one.
Here is the real picture of Frank Bradshaw and Daneshall's Easter Parade.
They are very similar, and the location, lighting, riding suit, and background are identical.
Dr. Elrod and the Bradshaw's were friends, so that is probably why he had the top photo.
The label on the back wasn't Dr. Elrod's handwriting, but why would someone mislabel it?
1941 is all we have to go on.
"Lafitte" was the only identification on the back of this picture.
Dr. Elrod owned the stallion Jean Lafitte from 1948 through his death in 1951.
He had 3 seasons of foal crops siring 33 colts for Dr. Elrod.
This isn't CH Lafitte's Gay Scandel or Lafitte's Sweetheart, but
there are 21 other colts with the "Lafitte's" prefix to choose from.
This lovely 3 year old filly was pictured in 1944.
Note the 4 rail fence in the background. Dr. Elrod always had 4 rail fencing.
The photo from 1944 has 15 year old Bob Elrod riding a nice gray horse.
Dr. Elrod bought Grey Mac in 1939 and had many grays sired by him over the years.
Probably another Grey Mac offspring.
Dr. Elrod aboard an unidentified horse.
Here's another mystery horse with Dr. Elrod's friend Garland Bradshaw up.
It is a Kenneth Trapp photo, probably from the 1950's or 1960's judging from the
clothing and roached tail. It's a nice horse, but there are no clues to it's identification.
*update, well we figured out one anyway. This is Garland Bradshaw
riding Ottawa's Denmark. Check the previous post for another picture of this horse.
His barn name was Pinky.
Yet another unknown horse with no identification on the photo.
The rider looks like Chester Caldwell, and Dr. Elrod had business dealings
with him from the 1930's thru the 1950's. This photo appears to be from the 1930's.
This high headed and handsome horse was not photographed at Ottawa Creek,
so the groom, horse and location are all unknown. It makes you wonder
why Dr. Elrod kept this photo. Was it a horse he had sold? Was he sending one
of his mares to breed to the stallion? Was it a prospect he considered?
Here is another horse at the same time and location. Both photos were taken in November 1960.
Dr. Elrod aboard a gaited horse in 1942. No other clues.
Dr. Elrod driving a fine harness horse in the 1960's.
Dutch Morris was the photographer.
Dr. Elrod riding a 3 gaited horse at the Ft. Wayne show in the 1960's.
Here's another one with very few clues. It's a nice gaited horse and a
talented rider. The shorter coat looks like the 1940's, but Dutch Morris
was the photographer and that may push this photo into the decade of the 1950's.
Hope you enjoyed these mysteries. Maybe one or two will be recognized!
Be sure to look back at the last four posts for more photos of Dr. Elrod and his
Ottawa Creek Farm horses that were labeled and identified.
*The rider is Claude Alexander, who was a trainer for Dr. Elrod.
The horse and date are still a mystery*
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