The American Saddlebred: March 2017

Saturday, March 18, 2017

3/19/17 Grand View Farm's Dispersal Sale

The last post was about Grand View Farm of New City, NY. A few days after posting, some new info emerged, so here is a followup report. After the death of Grand View Farm's owner, Frank Kupfer in 1962, the horses had to be sold off. The dispersal sale was advertised in the April 1963 issue of Saddle and Bridle, and a few results were listed in the June 1963 issue. Of course, the major attraction was the head stallion, 15 year old Golden Thunderbolt. The three elite broodmares that Kupfer purchased in the 1950's (interestingly, upon the death of their previous owners) were gone. WGC America Beautiful BHF had her last foal in 1956 at the age of 24, WGC Moreland Maid BHF had her last foal in 1953 at the age of 21 and WGC Nellie Pidgeon had her last foal in 1960 at the age of 22. That being said, there were still plenty of good broodmares and prospects. Twelve horses were listed as show horses. Here is a recap.

Golden Thunderbolt

Golden Thunderbolt, the brightly colored son of Anacacho Denmark and Reverie's Desdemona BHF, became the property of Edward Beahm of Trenton, New Jersey. He owned Lady Bird Farm and intended on breeding Golden Thunderbolt. Plans must have changed, because just a year and a half later, he sold to Dorthea Denton of New Hampshire. Golden Thunderbolt continued to sire colts until 1971.

Grand View's Matinee Idol

Grand View's Matinee Idol, a son of Golden Thunderbolt and Maid or Orleans, 2nd dam Moreland Maid, went to Edith Van Cleave. Miss Van Cleave had been an actress, and later a talent agent. She was credited with discovering Marlon Brando and also represented Grace Kelly. Miss Van Cleve was in her late 60's at the time she purchased Matinee Idol, and she stood him on the east coast until 1968 when she leased him to Dr. Robert Elrod in Ohio. He sired some nice colts while at Ottawa Creek Farm, including Buddy, Best Ever Saddlebred. In 1972, Matinee Idol was either sold or leased to O.U. Mutz in Indiana where he sired a couple more foal crops. Matinee Idol is buried on Mr. Mutz' farm.

Alloway's Tam O Shanter

Perhaps the best colt sired by Grand View's Matinee Idol,

he was bred by my husband.

Of the six broodmares, 20 year old Maid of Orleans sold with her weanling filly Thunderbolt's Genius Lady to Parkside Stables. She was Maid of Orleans last foal, but she went on to produce five babies of her own. Broodmare Piper Laurie also sold to Parkside Stables with her weanling. Piper Laurie had no more colts. Broodmare Grandview's Roxy Anne was a full sister to both Matinee Idol and Thunderbolt's Genius Lady. She produced three more colts over the years. Denmark's Wild Flower, a former show mare turned broodmare, sold to Ruxer Farms. She produced 3 fillies by Valley View Supreme which were all kept as broodmares by Ruxer Farms. Rockland Princess, a broodmare sired by Golden Thunderbolt was purchased by Louis Mallet along with her weanling filly Rockland's Rita. The final broodmare was another Golden Thunderbolt daughter, Grand View's Highland Lady. She produced four more colts in the next four years.

Denmark's Wild Flower

sold as a broodmare to Ruxer Farms

Prospects included yearlings and 2 year olds.
Grand View's Maid of Honor out of Maid of Orleans was bred as a 3 year old and went on to produce 9 colts. The youngsters out of Grand View's Highland Lady, Grand View's Gay Blade and Colonel Glenn faded into oblivion, as did Piper Laurie's 2 year old Grandview's Frankie. Rockland Idol, out of Rockland Princess was purchased by the Rotherberger's of Cotswold Farm. He went on to sire a few colts. Grandview's Golden Roxy and Golden Debbie, daughters of Grand View's Roxy Anne, sold to Sam Forgotson, the owner of America's Denmark.

Of the show horses, most faded from any records I could find. Grand View's Golden Dream,sold to Dr. Gangemi of Doylestown, PA. August Moon sold to the Walter Toblers of Franklin Lake, NJ. However, two full sisters, the last two daughters of WGC America Beautiful hit the jackpot. Grand View's Majorette, listed as a walk trot show mare but already the dam of a 4 year old, sold to Ruxer Farms. She was immediately bred and produced 11 more colts. She ended up a Hall of Fame Broodmare, as did her sister Duchess of Grandview. She was also listed as a walk trot show mare, but again was purchased by the Ruxer's and put into their broodmare band. She produced 12 colts in her lifetime and was also BHF.

Sultan's Santana

out of Grand View's Majorette BHF

Attache's Thunderbolt

out of Sweet Sharon Supreme, a daughter of Grand View's Majorette BHF

CH The Supreme Duchess

out of Duchess of Grandview BHF

Shown as High Voltage, this bay gelding son of Golden Thunderbolt

was out of Song of Freedom. She had four bay colts by Golden Thunderbolt

and this is narrowed down to Rockland Prince, Grand View's Thunderbird

or Grand View's Victory Song.

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Friday, March 3, 2017

3/3/17 Grand View Farm and it's descendants

About 30 miles upstream on the Hudson River from New York City is the small town of New City New York. From the late 1940's through the early 1960's, it was also home to Grand View Farm, a great saddlebred nursery. Over the years, and across the geography of the United States, there have been a number of farms by the name of Grand View. Adding to the confusion, horses from this farm were registered with both the prefix Grand View's and Grandview's. But make no mistake, this Grand View was owned by Frank Kupfer, and make no mistake about it, Frank Kupfer set out to establish a dynasty.

Beginning with the purchase of Man of Destiny in 1948, the Grand View horses started to trickle into the registration books. Man of Destiny was by Proctor's Red Light and was a winner of the 5 Gaited stallion stake in 1940, as well as being Reserve World's Champion that same year. He was owned by Grand View Farms until 1953, and his best offspring, CH Belle Destiny owned by Joan Robinson, was foaled after he had been sold. Evidently, he was sold to make way for the new stallion that Kupfer had purchased as a 3 year old in 1951. Golden Thunderbolt, by Anacacho Denmark out of Reverie's Desdemona, was a full brother to this famous family of siblings which included Kate Shriver, Clarma, Oman's Desdemona Denmark, and Ridgefields Denmark.

Meanwhile, Frank Kupfer was acquiring broodmares. One of the first was Song of Freedom by Society Rex. Sun Princess, bred by Cleo George who owned her sire Sun Beau, was out of Anacacho Princess BHF. That made her a full sister to sires Beau Gallant and Beau Fortune. Another mare purchased at a later time was WC Denmark Wild Flower by Anacacho Denmark. It was in 1950 that Frank Kupfer bought three mares that would really make a difference.

In the late 30's to early 40's, there were three 3 Gaited mares that were known to everyone in Saddlebred Land. They were Moreland Maid, the WGC 3 Gaited champion in 1937, CH America Beautiful, the WGC 3 gaited Champion in 1940, 1941, 1943 and 1944, and Nellie Pidgeon, the WGC 3 Gaited Champion in 1947. Moreland Maid and America Beautiful were owned in the early 1940's by Mrs. L. Victor Weil, who was also the owner of WGC Fine Harness Champion Vanity. Mrs. Weil was breeding Moreland Maid by the early 40's, but still campaigning America Beautiful and Vanity, right up until her death in July of 1945. At that time, Oscar Smith of Carolanne Farm purchased all the equipment and horses owned by Mrs. Weil's Fair City Stable. Mr. Smith, of Smith Douglass Fertilizer, showed America Beautiful as his personal mount. He died in 1950 and Frank Kupfer purchased the two mares as well as Nellie Pidgeon. Kupfer also bought the oldest daughter of Moreland Maid, 3 gaited show mare Maid of Orleans by King's Genius.

Listed below are the offspring produced through Mr. Kupfer's efforts. He died in 1962, so once again it was necessary that Golden Thunderbolt and some of the younger mares were sold off.