Thursday, December 28, 2023

12/27/23 Triple Terrific: CH, WGC & BHF

Everyone would love to own a Saddlebred that earned its CHampion status, those winners that have accumulated a minimum of 15 points during their show career. That's definitely a sign of being a consistent contender in the show ring.  A few elite of the breed can attain the pinnacle, which is being crowned World's Grand Champion in one of the three divisions, Five Gaited, Three Gaited or Fine Harness.  Of course, any of these totally talented equines can be a stallion, gelding or mare, but when it comes to the mares, there is yet another titled they can achieve.  After their show career is over, a few of these gifted girls go on to become gestational giants that enter the Broodmare Hall of Fame.  

Over the course of the past hundred plus years, less than twenty mares have been awarded all three titles, CHampion, World's Grand Champion and Broodmare Hall of Fame.  This grand and glorious group include mares in all three divisions, so here they are along with the year they triumphed and a few of their offspring. Mares generally enter the BHF based on the show records of their offspring, but many also had offspring who became breed builders in their own right.

Five Gaited Winners

WGC CH Edna May
Edna May, foaled in 1903, was sired by Rex Peavine out of Lee Wood by Peavine 85.
She won her Five Gaited WGC in 1903.
She was the dam of:
  • WGC CH Edna May's King, sire of both Anacacho Shamrock and Anacacho Denmark.
WGC CH Belle Le Rose BHF
Belle Le Rose, foaled in 1927 was sired by American Born out of Anita Auburn by Auburn Rose
She won her Five Gaited WGC in 1933 & 1934.
She was the dam of:
  • Sister Belle who produced Saucy Eve (2nd dam of WGC CH Sky Watch) & WCC Belle LaFitte
  • WCC Rita Le Rose BHF who produced Starheart Peavine, Rita's Star and WC CH Starheart's Black Magic
WGC CH Daneshall's Easter Parade BHF
Daneshall's Easter Parade foaled in 1939, sired by Masked Marvel out of Magnolia's Peavine by Peavine's Highland Choice.
She won the Five Gaited World's Grand Championship in 1947 when she defeated a young Wing Commander.  In 1948 Wing Commander won his first of six straight WGC titles. 
She produced:
  • WGC CH My My who was the only other horse besides Wing Commander to win six Five Gaited WGC titles.
  • Daneshall's Starlette, a full sister to My My, produced WCC CH Seymour's Southern Heir
WGC CH Dream Waltz BHF
Dream Waltz, foaled in 1950, was sired by CH Anacacho Shamrock out of Flirtation Walk BHF by CH King's Genius, making Dream Waltz a full sister to WGC CH Wing Commander.
She won her WGC title in 1956
She was the dam of:
  • Supreme Spirit, sire of CH Lady Cameron, WC CH Sensational Spirit
  • Dream Waltz Supreme, dam of Dream a Dream BHF
  • Dream Awhile, dam of CH Star Waltz
WGC CH Plainview's Julia BHF
Plainview's Julia was foaled in 1952, sired by Genius of Kentucky X Sweetheart of Plainview BHF by American Liberty.
She won her WGC titles in 1959 and 1960, and was also RWGC in 1961 and 1962 to Denmark's Daydream.
She was the dam of:
  • Plainview's Commander and Pride of Plainview, both sired by WGC CH Wing Commander
WGC CH Garland's Dream BHF
Garland's Dream foaled in 1991 and was sired by WCC Harlem Globetrotter and out of WC Rose Garland GTR by Longview's Supreme.
She was Five Gaited WGC in 1998 and 1999.
She produced:
  • WCC CH Foxgrape's Dauntless
  • WCC Undulata's Dream Team
  • WGC CH Don O'Neill

Three Gaited Winners

WGC CH Miss America BHF
Miss America, foaled in 1929, was originally registered as Kalarama Spotlight.  She was sired by American Born out of Mary Dall by Rex Monroe.
Her WGC title was in 1935 in the under 15.2 division.  This was one of two years that they crowned two WGC's, the over and under 15.2 divisions.  Her Co-Winner was Fiery Crags. 
She produced:
  • Yekcohs who sired Lofty Elaine, the 2nd dam of WCC CH Caramac
  • WC Stars and Bars
WGC CH Moreland Maid BHF
Moreland Maid was born in 1932 and sired by American Born.  Her dam was Youth's Charm by Ben Sory.  
She won her WGC title in 1937.
Her offspring included:
  • WCC CH Lovely Maid who produced only one foal, but he was Buck and Wing.
  • Maid of Orleans, dam of Grand View's Matinee Idol and grand dam of Buddy, Best Ever Saddlebred.  
WGC CH America Beautiful BHF
America Beautiful foaled in 1932.  She was sired by Desert Song and out of Judy O'Grady by Beau Monarch.  
She earned more titles than any other Three Gaited mare listed here, winning her WGC's in 1940, 1941, 1943 and 1944.  There was no KSF show held in 1942 due to World War II.  
She was also a prolific producer:
  • Duchess of Grandview BHF who produced WC Sabra Supreme and WC CH The Supreme Duchess
  • Grand View's Majorette BHF, the dam of WGC Sultan's Santana
  • CH Americus Denmark, he sired WC CH Yankee Robinson
WGC CH Emerald Future BHF
Emerald Future foaled in 1942.  Her sire was Anderson Rex and her dam was Emily Lane by Ky. Moonshine.
She won her WGC in 1955.
She was the dam of:
  • WGC CH Tashi Ling, a four time WGC in Fine Harness
WGC CH Oak Hill's Dear One BHF
Oak Hill's Dear One foaled in 1967.  Her sire was Denmark's Bourbon Genius and her dam was Hallmark Fanciful by Hallmark Ace. 
She won two WGC titles in 1973 and 1974.
Her offspring included:
  • RWCC Dearest One
  • WC Oh Dear!
  • Oak Hill's Dear Sir, the sire of Master Class, who sired RWGC Miss Meredith Grey
WGC CH Hollywood Excellence BHF
Hollywood Excellence foaled in 1990.  Sired by Attache's Born Believer, she was out of Hollywood Nights by Wild Chance.
She won three WGC titles, starting with 1997 and 1998, then entering the new millenium by winning in 2000.
She benefitted from new technology had colts arrive even before her show career was over.
  • WC CH Glinda the Good
  • WC CH Hollywood Agent

WGC CH An Heir About Her BHF
An Heir About Her was foaled in 1999.  She was by WC Supreme Heir X Sweet Illusion WF BHF by RWGC Preferred Property.
She was WGC in 2002, 2003 & 2004.
Some of her foals were:
  • WC CH Pola Negri who was dam of RWGC Snowpine's Pola Vortex
  • WC Undulata's Heir Apparent, sire of WCC CH Forever Heavenly
WGC CH Our Charming Lady BHF
Our Charming Lady foaled in 2001 and was by WCC Santana's Charm out of WCC My Bugatti who was sired by Local Hero
Our Charming Lady was crowned WGC in 2008 and 2009
She is our youngest entry into this elite group of mares, but she has had the most foals with 23
  • WC CH Sedgefield's Mirror Image

Fine Harness Winners

WGC CH Meadow Vanity BHF
Vanity was shown simply as Vanity.  She foaled in 1935 and was sired by Meadow Majesty.  Her dam
was Live Wire Beauty by White Cloud.  
She had the most WGC titles of all these mares including 1938, 1939, 1941, 1943 and 1944.  There was no Kentucky State Fair held in 1942 or she may have tied WGC Wing Commander with six titles.
Her best known offspring was:
  • Vanity's Sensation of Crebilly.  He sired WGC Lover's Sensation and WGC Melody's Winged Sensation.  He was grandsire to Buddy, Best Ever Saddlebred.

WGC CH Kate Shriver BHF
Kate Shriver foaled in 1945.  Her sire was Anacacho Denmark and out of Reverie's Desdemona BHF by CH King's Genius
She won her two titles in 1949 and 1950.
Her foals included:
  • WC CH Printer's Ink
  • RWGC CH Rob Shriver
  • WGC CH Will Shriver.  He sired WCC CH Caramac, RWGC Callaway's Mr. Republican, WC  Callaway's Blue Norther and WGC CH Callaway's New Look
WGC CH Supreme Airs BHF
Supreme Airs foaled in 1961 and was sired by that king of broodmares, Stonewall Supreme, out of Crebilly's Plumb Beautiful BHF by Beau Fortune.
She earned her WGC title in 1972.
Among her breed building offspring were:
  • Putting On Airs BHF, dam of WCC Harlem Globetrotter and WC CH Yorkshire Pudding BHF
  • WC Supreme Heir, sire of WGC An Heir About Her (see above), RWGC CH The Edge, WGC CH One For The Road, WGC CH Callaway's Copyright (a six time WGC!)
  • WGC CH Foxfire's Prophet, sire of WC CH Bahia and WC CH Cary's Moonraker BHF
WGC CH La La Success BHF
La La Success foaled in 1973 and was sired by Stonewall's Main Event out of Senorita Surprise by RWGC Broadland's Kilarney.
She was crowned WGC in both 1979 and 1980.
Her foals included:
  • WGC CH Radiant Success
  • WC Tra La La, the dam of RWGC CH Glenview's Excelalante! (notice the lala in his name)

Did you notice how many WGC's and RWGC's these wonderful mares produced? It will be interesting to see who might become the next member of this very exclusive club of Triple Terrific Mares!

The more modern mares definitely have a leg up on being Triple Terrific thanks to the updates in technology in modern breeding.  Several of these mares had multiple colts born in a given year, and actually produced colts prior to ending their show career through the use of surrogates.  However, nothing can take away from the outstanding achievements of these mares in the show ring, and their wonderful contributions to the breed through the next generation they produced. All of these mares won the Saddlebred Trifecta!
 
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Tuesday, December 12, 2023

The Mare Years, 1954 through 1969

 Most recently, mares have been all but shut out of the winner's circle in the Five Gaited World's Championship class.  However, there was a stretch of time when mares dominated that class.  After WGC CH Wing Commander's record setting six straight years as the winner, the mares of the 1950's and 1960's' were in command.   Even the Reserve WGC's in that time period were often mares.  They came in all shapes and sizes, from blonde to brown, petite to powerful, and animated to ethereal.  

                     WGC                                                             RWGC

  • 1954   Lady Carrigan                                    Stonewall's Duke of Dixie  G
  • 1955 Lady Carrigan                                      Socko   G
  • 1956  Dream Waltz                                       Gallant Guy O'Goshen   S
  • 1957  Lady Carrigan                                     Garrymore   G
  • 1958  Lady Carrigan                                     Enchanted Hour   M
  • 1959 Plainview's Julia                                  Afire   G
  • 1960  Plainview's Julia                                 Glamorous Lucretia   M
  • 1961  Denmark's Daydream                         Plainview's Julia   M
  • 1962  Denmark's Daydream                         Plainview's Julia   M
  • 1963  My My                                                Broadland's Captain Denmark   S
  • 1964  My My                                                Star of the Show   M
  • 1965 My My                                                 Contract's Beau Le Rose  G
  • 1966 My My                                                  Star of the Show   M
  • 1967 My My                                                  Star of the Show   M
  • 1968  My My                                                 Glory Kalarama   G
  • 1969  Valerie Emerald                                   Hayfield's Bold Knight  S
Here are the nine noted  mares from that 15 year period and a little bit about them.
WGC CH Lady Carrigan, foaled in 1948, Society Rex X CH Mountain Raven BHF
Garland Bradshaw's little brown mare won the WGC title four times.  Lady Carrigan only
produced one foal, Raven Wing, whose sire was WGC CH Wing Commander.  Raven Wing 
was very prolific, producing 11 foals including CH Carrigan's Gift who was the dam of 
Mia Carrissima, dam of 4 time WGC Wild Carrisima. 

WGC CH Dream Waltz BHF, foaled 1950, RWC Anacacho Shamrock X Flirtation Walk BHF
This full sister to WGC CH Wing Commander interrupted Lady Carrigan's win streak in 1956.
After her show career ended, Dream Waltz became a stellar broodmare and made it to
the Broodmare Hall of Fame.  Among others, she produced breeding stallions Waltz King and
Supreme Spirit.  Her daughter Dream Awhile produced CH Star Waltz, and her daughter 
Dream Waltz Supreme was dam of Dream A Dream BHF, and 2nd dam of a trio of BHF mares, 
Man What A Dream, A Daydream Believer, and I Am The Dream.

WGC CH Plainview's Julia BHF foaled in 1952, sired by Genius of Kentucky
and out of Sweetheart of Plainview BHF.  She was perhaps the most consistent of all
these mares in terms of success in the showroom and as a producer.  Bred and owned her entire lifetime by RC Tway of Plainview Farm, she won her first World's Champion title in the 3 year old Five Gaited division.  The following year, she won the Junior title, and in 1959 and 1960, she was crowned World's Grand Champion.  She fell short in 1961 and 1962 to WGC Denmark's Daydream.  After her show days were over, she produced 8 foals including the Wing Commander son's Pride of Plainview and Plainview's  Comander.
WGC CH Denmark's Daydream was known simply as Daydream, a name which 
suited her well. Foaled in 1953, she was by the top sire Anacacho Denmark and out of 
a King's Genius daughter.  True to her bloodlines, she was noted for her beauty, but she had
the stamina and power to campaign at half a dozen or more top shows each year.  She produced
one colt, a gelding, prior to her career as a show mare and unfortunately passed away shortly
after her WGC title in 1962.  It's hard to say what would have happened if she had been
alive to face the challenge of My My in 1963.

WGC CH My My was foaled in 1957, daughter of Beau Fortune and
her World's Grand Champion dam, CH Daneshall's Easter Parade.  Both these mares
were shown to their wins by Frank Bradshaw.  My My was known for her powerful
performances which were somewhat unpredictable as a youngster, but became sheer
brilliance as she matured.  In the 6 years while she was the reigning WGC, she took on all 
challengers in more than fifty classes and defeated them all.  She was lost to the Saddlebred 
world less than a month after earning her sixth title, and without ever producing a colt. 

WGC CH Valerie Emerald was sired by WGC Wing Commander and
out of a Beau Fortune mare.  Bred, trained and shown by Frank Bradshaw, she
won her title in 1969, having previously won a World's Championship as a Ladies 
Five Gaited Champion for Valerie Knowlton, daughter of Valerie Emerald's owners.  
She is yet another winning mare that never produced an offspring.

RWGC Enchanted Hour foaled in 1950 and may have inherited her
good looks from her breathtaking sire, Conowingo, or perhaps from her dam 
Gorgeous Huldy BHF.  Although she never won the WGC title, she was reserve to 
Lady Carrigan in 1958 for her owner Jean McLean Davis.  After her show career was complete, '
she produced CH My Starlight Hour who in turn produced RWC CH The Talk of the Town,
 who sired CH WGC Breaking News.  

RWGC CH Glamorous Lucretia was sired by CH Anacacho Shamrock
and out of a daughter of Royal Kalarama.  Foaled in 1954, she was a 
consistent performer, earning third place in the WGC championship
class in 1959 and 1961.  Her best performance came in 1960 when she was
Reserve World's Grand Champion to WGC Plainview's Julia.

RWGC CH Star of the Show was bred to be a winner,
sired by CH Anacacho Shamrock and out of WC My Show Boat.  
She was bred by Dodge Stables and was a part of the 1959 foal crop. 
She was a three time Reserve to WGC My My at the Kentucky State Fair.
Tragically, she was another mare who died during the height of her career, 
and before she could produce any colts.  She passed in the fall of 1967, 
just a year before My My was lost, and only five years after
the passing of Daydream.

So who broke the mare stronghold on the WGC crown?  None other than WGC CH Yorktown, son
of WGC CH Wing Commander whose final title win in 1953 marked the beginning of mare dominance.

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Sunday, September 24, 2023

9/20/23 My My's Grand Championship wins

 Everyone knows that My My won the Five Gaited Grand Championship at Louisville a total of six times, but what about her competition?  Did they push her to her limit?  Were they winners in their own right?  Who were they?  Some vintage horse show programs shed light on those questions.  

 

My My and Frank Bradshaw

In her 1962 outing to the World's Champion Horse Show, My My did not emerge the victor.  She was bested in both the Mare Stake and Championship by Denmark's Daydream, the WGC in 1961 and 1962, and Plainview's Julia, the WGC in 1959 and 1960.  My My placed fourth in the Championship since the winner of the Stallion Stake, Broadland's Captain Denmark, also beat her out.  That would be the last time My My tasted defeat at the World's Championship Horse Show. My My went on to beat both Plainview's Julia and Broadland's Captain Denmark.  She never had another opportunity to show against Daydream due to that mare's untimely death in early 1963.  

Here are the results from the 1963 show

  1. WGC  My My, Frank Bradshaw rider, Daneshall Stables owner
  2. RWGC Captain Denmark, Garland Bradshaw rider, Jolie Richardson owner  
  3. Plainview's Julia  Kenny Walker up for Plainview Farms
  4. The Lancer,  Earl Teater up for Dodge Stables
  5. Justan Accident,  Jim B. Robertson riding for owner Doris Dunn
  6. Fort Knox,  Lee Roby up for Greenhill Stables
  7. John Henry, Harry Spotts showing or owner Windemere Farms
  8. Take to the Hills, Bill Wise up for Susan Hirth McClure       
This time around, My My turned the tables on both Broadland's Captain Denmark and the former WGC Plainview's Julia.  Her first WGC title was earned in 1963 and My My became the one to beat from that point forward.  
*****  
1964 had these results
  1. WGC My My,   Frank Bradshaw rider for new owner Jolie Richardson
  2. RWGC Star of the Show,  Earl Teater up for Dodge Stables
  3. My Genius Dare (shown as King's Quality)  Marion Brown up
  4. Queen of Fashion  JR Ragsdale riding for owner Roger Dean
  5. Legal Tender, Helen Crabtree up for owner Harold Stuart
  6. 21 Guns, Lee Roby riding for Mrs. JR Sharp
  7. Lady O'Rourke owned by Odee Farm Stables
  8. First in Command,  Art Simmons rider for owner W C Madlener
It was another successful year for My My, who was under new ownership.  Potentially her biggest rival, Broadland's Captain Denmark, was lost in a fire just a couple months prior to Louisville.  His heart broken owner, Jolie Richardson, bought My My soon after his loss and owned My My for the rest of her life.  However, we'll never know if that powerful stallion could have bested My My in 1964.
*****
1965 some new and old faces
  1. WGC My My   Frank Bradshaw rider for new owner Jolie Richardson
  2. RWGC Contract's Beau Le Rose, shown as The Contender, Tom Moore up for Knolland Farm
  3. Star of the Show   Earl Teater up for Dodge Stables
  4. The Lancer   Owen Hailey showing for Warren Atkinson
  5. Queen of Fashion  JR Ragsdale riding for owner Roger Dean Chevrolet
  6. Really Mine, Don Harris up for James Hendry
  7. Princess Julia, Jim B Robertson up for owner Suzie Traylor
  8. Sparkling Choice,  Ed Teater showing for Dodge Stables
The spectacular gelding The Contender made his bid to become WGC, but fell just short.  Dodge Stables had two entries in 1965, and Star of the Show made a very consistent show for 3rd place.  She was a former RWGC in 1964, and she made her presence known with her distinctive four socks and large snip plus a whole lot of talent.
*****
1966 Four in a row for My My
  1. WGC My My   Frank Bradshaw rider for owner Jolie Richardson
  2. RWGC Star of the Show,  Earl Teater up for Dodge Stables
  3. White Tie (shown as Hallelujah)  Tom Moore up for Knolland Farm
  4. Lily Merrill     Sam Brannon showing for owner John Hutcheson
  5. Holiday's Best Wishes  Paul Fagan up, Costello's Holiday Farm owner
  6. Carbon Copy   JR Ragsdale up for Snyder Enterprises
  7. Benedictine,  owner Sugar Hardin
  8. The Lancer, owner M/M David Reynolds
My My won her 4th WGC title, with Star of the Show back in her previous position as RWGC.  Several other mares in the line up would have careers as top Amateur horses including Lily Merrill who was later shown by Marion Bit Hutcheson of Happy Valley Farm, Holiday's Best Wishes who was later shown by Jenny Dulworth, and Benedictine who partnered with Sugar Hardin.
*****
1967  My My becomes the all time mare winner, breaking Lady Carrigan's record of 4 wins
  1. WGC My My   Frank Bradshaw rider for owner Jolie Richardson
  2. RWGC Star of the Show,  Earl Teater up for Dodge Stables
  3. Anacacho Top Hat, shown as Rebel Heir, Chat Nichols riding for Diane Sweeney
  4. Belle Destiny, Lee Roby up for Chatsworth Farm/Joan Robinson Hill
  5. Glory Kalarama,  Billy Cox showing for owner Joanne Gauntt
  6. Holiday's Best Wishes    Ed Teater up for owner Jenny Dulworth
  7. Super Command, shown as Little Wing, Thad Williams up for M/M Honeycutt
  8. Our King of the Hill, Joe Parker up for Joseph Parker
Would this be the year My My was pushed to her limit?  We know she ended up victorious, but there were some reports that RWGC Star of the Show made a great show and potentially out showed My My.  In a close class, it's a very difficult task to unseat the reigning champion.
*****
1968  My My ties Wing Commander's record of 6 WGC wins
  1. WGC My My   Frank Bradshaw rider for owner Jolie Richardson
  2. RWGC Glory Kalarama,  Billy Cox showing for owner Joanne Gauntt
  3. Giddy Up Go   Don Harris showing for M/M R. Lane Grigsby
  4. Anacacho Chapel Bell, Tom Moore showing for Knolland Farm
  5. Lily Merrill, Sam Brannon for owner John Hutcheson of Happy Valley Farm
  6. Hayfield's Bold Knight,  Fritz Jordan showing for Hayfield Farm
  7. Eye Catcher  Jack Nevitt for Stone Gate Farm
  8. Hetherington Colonel   Floyd Sullivan showing for TH Carruthers III
The year 1968 would be the last win for My My.  She was challenged by a couple of great geldings, Glory Kalarama, and Giddy Up Go.  My programs belonged to Dr. Elrod, who had previously judged at Louisville on three occasions.  He had Giddy Up Go marked as his choice for reserve, but he had chosen My My as the winner.  At the time, no one knew that My My would be lost to illness just a couple of months later.  
*****

Here are some of  My My's rivals during her win streak beginning with the four horses who were Reserve World's Champions.

Contract's Beau Le Rose was shown as The Contender.
This picture displays his power and Tom Moore's complete control.
Star of the Show was reserve on three occasions.
She was the entry of Dodge Stables and shown by Earl Teater.
Broadland's Captain Denmark and Garland Bradshaw defeated My My in 1962.
Could he have done it again?
Glory Kalarama was reserve in My My's last championship.

These horses also showed against My My in her Championship appearances.
21 Guns
This gelding greatest claim to fame was that he was the only offspring of WGC Denmark's Daydream

Belle Destiny
Benedictine
Mr. Emerald was shown as Take to the Hills
Giddy Up Go
White Tie was shown as Hallelujah
Hayfield's Bold Knight
Holiday's Best Wishes
Justan Accidet
My Genius Dare was shown as King's Quality
He was also shown in 3 Gaited & Fine Harness

Lady O'Rourke
Legal Tender
Lily Merrill
My My and Anacacho Chapel Bell going head to head
Plainview's Julia
She was one of three horses to defeat My My in 1962.
Princess Julia
Anacacho Top Hat was shown as Rebel Heir
Sparkling Choice was another entry for Dodge Stables

Super Command was sometimes shown as Little Wing

The Lancer
Wing's Fair Lady

In 1969 My My was gone so there was no clear cut favorite.  There were a total of 18 entries in the Five Gaited Championship Stake and Valerie Emerald emerged as the winner.  

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