8/22/14 It’s hard to believe The American Saddlebred blog has been
up and running for over a year and a half.
Today’s episode marks the 100
th post, so it has to be
special. Broodmares are my soft spot,
Buddy (Best Saddlebred Ever) was my inspiration, and so why not do a post on
one of his dams? There has already been
a post on Buddy’s BHF’s, so this is going in depth on his 5
th dam,
Nancy Thurman (BHF). And she even shows up twice in his pedigree. When I looked her
up, it turns out she foaled in 1914, 100 years ago. Perfect!
Nancy Thurman foaled 5/19/14. Her breeder R F Paull of Columbia KY sold her
soon after birth to L Ray Thurman of Kalarama Farms, the owner of her sire Rex
Monroe. She was broken to saddle by Joe
Walker, a longtime trainer, groom and care taker at Kalarama. Nancy was a great show mare, showing both
under saddle and in harness and was the winner of over 100 blue ribbons. Nancy Thurman had a major dislike of autos,
which followed her through her life. She
had once been hit by a car and the harness was ripped off her. After that, she would jog between rows of
cars if she was on her way to the show ring, but if she couldn’t get into the
ring, she lunged and reared in fright.
Nancy Thurman was retired to the broodmare ranks in
1921. Joe Walker was told to ride her to
the farm where Rex Peavine stood. It was
a mere 65 mile ride to the Hockaday Farm in Silver Creek, Kentucky. The mare never tired and was always ready to
go. As she rode into the yard, a group
of dogs came off the porch to greet the approaching mare. She began to strut and snort and Mr. Hockaday
announced that he thought Nancy Thurman would have Rex Peavine’s best
colt. He proved correct because the
following spring of 1922, Nancy Thurman foaled Kalarama Rex.
Nancy Thurman was rebred to Rex Peavine in 1922 and was in
foal. However, she was loaded onto a
truck for the first time in her life.
She went berserk, and ended up jumping out of the truck. Her resulting injuries caused her to lose her
foal. She was bred to Rex Peavine again
and had Easter Gift, a full sister to Kalarama Rex, in 1924. She was described as pretty, but there is
no mention of a show record. She was Buddy’s
4th dam.
Her 1925 filly, Glow Worm, was sired by Jean Val Jean, but
died as a 2 year old. Her 1926 filly was
Magic Peavine, sired by her son, Kalarama Rex.
There was no foal in 1927, but her 1928 foal was Nancy Monroe by her own
sire, Rex Monroe. In 1928 she caught a
break and was bred to non-family. She
produced the Racketeer by American Born in 1929. She then skipped a year and in 1931 produced
Royal Genius by CH King’s Genius. In
1932, another King’s Genius colt arrived, Pirate Gold. 1933 brought Kalarama Champion by American
Born, then she skipped 1934. In 1935,
another American Born son, Kalarama Master arrived. Gay Soubrette, a bay filly by Gay Bandit was
born in 1936 and her last filly arrived in 1938, Nancy Beau sired by Beau Peavine. Nancy was 24 at this time, and had been blind
for a number of years. Although they
would put bells on her foals to help her locate them, if they were still or
asleep, Nancy Thurman could become frantic.
Once Nancy Thurman’s broodmare days were over, they put a
companion mare in with her. She was high
strung and the very things that made her a great show mare made her a pain in
the rump to deal with. If left alone she
would worry herself, and if she had a companion too close by, she tried to back
up and kick it. The Thurman's didn't have
any picture of Nancy Thurman, but due to her spectacular babies, they thought
they should try to get a picture. Try as they
might, she wouldn't stand still long enough to have a decent photo taken. This drawing is by the noted artist Helen
Hayse. Nancy Thurman remained in good
health, but continued to be difficult to manage, so at age 27, she was
euthanized.
Rex McDonald, her grandsire
Rex Monroe, her sire
NANCY THURMAN (BHF)
[PHOTO]
Registration #: 12444
Color: BAY
SMALL STAR, RIGHT HIND CORONET,
WHITE
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Owner:
L. R. THURMAN
SPRINGFIELD, KY
Breeder:
R. F. PAULL
COLUMBIA, KY
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Nancy Thurman (BHF)
BAY M
5/19/1914
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Rex Monroe
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Rex McDonald
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Rex Denmark
by Crigler’s Denmark
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Lucy Mack (BHF)
by Black Squirrel
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Lena M
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Herzogg by Gaines’ Denmark
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Lou by Sumpter Denmark
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Lula Chief
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Montgomery Chief
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Bourbon Chief by Harrison Chief
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Annie C. (BHF) by Wilson’s King
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Elsie Owsley
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Red Squirrel by Black Squirrel
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Lula Carden by Artist 75
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Here is a chronological listing of Nancy Thurman’s
offspring. Each subsequent generation is
indented and marked with *, **, *** and ****.
1922
Kalarama Rex
by Rex Peavine, Reserve WGC Fine Harness 1929
Kalarama Rex
Kalarama Rex sired many good horses and will have his own
post soon. If he had been Nancy
Thurman’s only foal, she would still be famous.
He sired, among others, Meadow Majesty, Red Kalarama, Kalarama King,
Noble Kalarama, Society Rex, Kalarama Colonel, Royal Rex Sea, Nellie Pigeon, Kalarama Heiress, and Kalarama
Command.
1924
Easter Gift by Rex Peavine (Buddy's 4th dam)
*Easter Sport, f. 1934 by King's Sport X Easter Gift (Buddy's 3rd dam)
** Easter Promenade, f. 1946 by Kalarama Colonel x Easter Sport (Buddy's 2nd dam)
** Colonel Sport, f. 1942 by Kalarama Colonel x Easter Sport
Colonel Sport He was a WC and RWC as a 3 year old at the KSF in 1945.
Nancy Thurman appeared twice on Colonel Sport's registration papers, as dam of his
grandsire Kalarama Rex and also as his 3rd dam.
*** RWGC CH Garrymore, f.1949 by Colonel Sport x American Maytime
Garrymore He was a Reserve World's Grand Champion 5Gaited horse in 1957.
He won the gelding stake 3 times.
***Parading Princess BHF, f. 1947 by Colonel Sport X CH Parading Promise
****Leslie Lane's Grand Slam, f.1963 by Starheart Stonewall x
Parading Princess BHF
Leslie Lane's Grand Slam He was Reserve World's Champion in 1975 Stallion Stake
****Parading Stonewall, f.1960 by Starheart Stonewall X
Parading Princess BHF
Parading Stonewall He won the 3 gaited 3 year old class at Louisville in 1963
* Easter's Genius, f. 1939 by CH King's Genius X Easter Gift
Easter's Genius He stood in Illinois and sired colts over a 20 year period
1925 Glow Worm by Jean Val Jean, died young
1926 Magic Peavine by Kalarama Rex, gelding
1928
Nancy
Monroe by Rex Monroe
*Paloel Rex f. 1932 by American Born X Nancy Monroe
Paloel Rex He looks like the typical 1930's style 3 gaited horse.
1929 The Racketeer by American Born, gelding, 3rd 2yo Fine Harness KSF
1931 Royal Genius by CH King's Genius, geldng
1932
Pirate Gold by King’s Genius. Reserve World's 5G Stallion stake in 1936
Pirate Gold He was owned by Clifford Mooers who also owned his sire King's Genius
1933
Kalarama Champion by American Born, 3rd 2yo Fine Harness KSF 1935
*Lady Jane Hytone f.1948 by Kalarama Champion X Hallie Hytone
Lady Jane Hytone
**Patent Leather Stonewall f. 1962 by Pat Stonewall X Lady Jane Hytone
Patent Leather Stonewall won 2 yr old Fine Harness stake at KSF in 1964 with Tom Moore
1935
Kalarama Master by American Born, 6th weanling stake at 1935 KSF.
*Kansadle Master f .1939 by Kalarama Master X Kenney's Dare
Kansadle Master He also sired colts over a 20 year period
1936
Gay Soubrette by
Gay Bandit
Gay Soubrette
*Ridgefields' Soubrette f. 1950 by CH Ridgefields' Genius x Gay Soubrette
Ridgefields' Soubrette she won the 2yo Fine Harness Futurity at KSF in 1952
**Ridgefield Heir f. 1962 by Genius Bourbon King X Ridgefields' Soubrette
Ridgefield Heir He sired many of the Cedar Creek colts
*Knight's Gay Lady f. 1944 Gallant Knight x Gay Soubrette
