10/22/17 Dr. Robert Elrod Sr and Ottawa Creek Farm part 3

Ottawa Creek Farm circa 1970
Note the original central barn.  The wings were added in the 1930's.

A view inside the barn

During the 1930’s and 40’s there were numerous horse shows in the tri state area of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana to attend on a weekly basis.  Many no longer exist, but Ottawa Creek Farm would take its show string out several times a month during show season.  The 50’s and 60’s continued at a somewhat lesser pace, but Dr. Elrod still showed regularly.  By the 1970’s, Dr. Elrod was winding down as a showman, however, in 1972 he showed one of his home bred horses.  Ottawa’s Miss Vanity was a Junior 5 gaited mare that year.  In September, they showed together at Detroit in the old Coliseum at the Michigan State Fairgrounds.  Miss Vanity  was the only horse in the class, but she put on a flawless performance with her 75 year old rider guiding her every step of the way.  He was not a flamboyant horseman, he showed the horse, not himself.  After that show, Doc turned over the reins to Bob Jr & later his grandson Brad. 

Dr. Elrod aboard Ottawa's Miss Vanity.
She was a 4 year old in 1972 at Detroit.

Ottawa's Miss Vanity on her way to winning the Jr. 5 Gaited class.

Ottawa's Miss Vanity with Robert Elrod Jr, still winning a few years later

Ottawa's Miss Vanity and Bob Elrod

Ottawa's Miss Vanity and Brad Elrod.

Ottawa's Miss Vanity and Brad Elrod at Northville Michigan in 1975.

An early proponent of pleasure horses, one of his sales mottos was “ For show or pleasure, a horse you’ll treasure”.  He organized trail rides along the Maumee River as far back as the 1930's, and in 1971 went along with a group to Traverse City, Michigan for a trail ride.  He felt every horse could be useful, even if it wasn’t a show horse. 

 
Traverse City Michigan trail ride, Dr. Elrod is on the far right

He sold horses to such saddlebred icons Mrs. L. Victor Weil, Oscar Smith of Carolanne Farm, JL Younghusband of Valley View Farm, Dr. Geraldine Meanor, Ambassador Albert Silvera, and Frank Connor among others.  He also sold horses to a lot of first time buyers, including many teenagers.  Dr. Elrod introduced the American Saddlebred to numerous people in the Toledo, Ohio area.  In particular, he encouraged young people and in many cases made it possible for them own a horse.  

The American Playboy was purchased as a yearling in 1966
from Dr. EC Moore's Harmony Farms dispersal. 
Dr. Elrod sold Playboy to Laurie Lamb in 1970.  Laurie showed Playboy
extensively and owned him for the rest of his life. 

Dr. Elrod also gave discounted rates to young breeders who bred to his stallions.
This mare was bred by a teenager and ended up Michigan's 3 gaited champion.
Alloway's Bonnie Lassie was sired by Bellaire's Anacacho King

The same teenager raised this colt sired by Grand View's Matinee Idol.
Alloway's Tam O'Shanter was shown as Big News.

Dr. Elrod faithfully attended horse sales and was a regular at Tattersalls.  In 1981, he bought a yearling at Jim B. Robertson’s sale.  In The Money was the last horse he ever bought, and at the time, he was just shy of turning 85 years old.  Trained by Derek Repp, this horse was sold 4 years later at a tidy profit.  A name change took place, and In The Money became none other than Dom Perignon.  Doc Elrod still knew how to pick horses!

 
In The Money as a 2 year old in long lines with Derek Repp

In The Money making his first show.

In The Money became CH Dom Perignon

Dr. Elrod loved going to horse shows and sales.  He attended Louisville and Lexington for years.  In 1979 at Louisville, his friend Garland Bradshaw told him to watch for the 2 year old his grandson was showing.  In came Mitchell Clark showing none other than Sky Watch, and they left the ring as a World’s Champion.   Dr. Elrod had box seats at Lexington for many years, and was looking forward to the 1997 Jr. League show when he passed away in June, just a month before the show. 

Dr. Elrod was the oldest living graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine at the time of his death.  He had retired from practicing medicine at age 78.  After he turned 100, he said he had reached another milestone, so his family told him if he lived to the year 2000, he could live in three different centuries.  This was probably the only goal he didn’t attain, but his lifetime was chock full of achievements, both personal and professional.  Dr. Elrod was a man of great motivation and success.  When asked by his grandchildren what word best described his ability to reach his goals, he said it was "perseverance."  He had that in spades.  

Bob Elrod, Brad Elrod and Dr. Robert Elrod Sr.

To sum it up, Dr. Robert Elrod lived for 100 years. He was a physician for 75 of those years, and he actively practiced medicine for 53 years. It's hard to know at what age he sold his first horse, but the last horse he sold was at age 88.  His first show came at age 6, his last one as a participant was at age 75, and the last show he attended was at age 99!  

Here are some of the horses from Ottawa Creek Farms in the 1970's

Ottawa's Matinee Girl in 1974 as a 4 year old

Grand View's Matinee Idol X Lafitte's Gifted Lady by Jean Lafitte
Her dam was born at OCF in 1952, raised 11 colts and lived to age 21 at the farm.

After showing for OCF and becoming a broodmare, Matinee Girl, AKA Blondie,

was sold to Leslie Lane Farm in Midland Michigan in 1981. 

She was the dam of the stallion The Kentucky Count, and 2nd dam of

CH Another Asset and CH Assets & Attitude.

Ottawa's Wing
Society Buck X Ottawa's Matinee Girl
His barn name was Dagwood, Woody for short.
After Dr. Elrod quit leasing Grand View's Matinee Idol in the early 70's,
he sent his mares out to be bred to other stallions.  

Ottawa's Slick Chick in 1974 as a 2 year old, she was a

full sister to Matinee Girl.  She was later owned by  Edward R. Bennett

and Virginia Hedden. 

Ottawa's Diamond Jim at Detroit in the early 1970's. 

Grand View's Matinee Idol X Vanity's Virginia

which made him a half brother to Ottawa's Miss Vanity

and a full brother to Buddy, Best Saddlebred Ever.

After her show career was over, Miss Vanity traveled to Lakeview Farms

in Washington Pennsylvania in 1981. 

She was bred to Penny's Superior Stonewall, who was the son

of World's Grand Champion Superior Odds shown here, who was also

owned by Lakeview Farms.

  

In 1982 Miss Vanity produced Ottawa's Charmer.

She was one of the last colts bred by Dr. Elrod.

Ottawa's Charmer

Penny's Superior Stonewall X Ottawa's Miss Vanity by Bellaire's Anacacho King. 

Dr. Elrod and Ottawa's Charmer in 1985 at his other barn

at his home in Toledo.  Charm sold in 1985 to Anissa Baker

who owned her for the rest of her life, which was her late 20's!

Charm was the very last horse sold by Dr. Elrod. 

Man O'Dare has the distinction of being the very last horse at Ottawa Creek Farm.

Purchased by Bob Elrod in Lexington Kentucky, this handsome horse

was out of the grand mare Vanity's Belle, making him a half brother to

the World's Champion and World's Grand Champion sire, Santana's Charm.

He lived to age 29 and was laid to rest at Ottawa Creek Farm.

I have enjoyed writing this series like none before it.  The first time I saw Dr. Elrod was at the Detroit horse show in 1972, then a year later a friend took me to his farm to look at horses.  I was a full time college student with a part time job; translation: no money.  After showing me some horses, and to make conversation, he asked me what my father did.  I explained my mom was a widow.  Instead of writing me off, Dr. Elrod made me a deal on the best horse I ever had.  He let me make payments and also let me board my horse down at his other barn with my girlfriends for free.  He encouraged my interest in bloodlines and all things Saddlebred, so you could say he's responsible for this blog.  In hindsight, after pouring through his horse records journal, and seeing prices on other horses, I know he cut me a deal on Buddy so I could afford him.  

Buddy, Best Saddlebred Ever

Grandview's Matinee Idol X Vanity's Virginia

He had 17 Hall of Farm Broodmares in his 5 generation pedigree.

Dr. Elrod spent a great deal of time jogging horses, and if you were lucky, you got to ride along in his Houghton high wheel jog cart.  One of my favorite memories was sitting in the jog cart with Dr. Elrod behind Ottawa's Miss Vanity.  We drove down Sylvania Metamora and talked horses and bloodlines.  He mentioned that Miss Vanity was the only offspring of Vanity's Virginia that drove.  All the others were too hard on his jog carts.   That road is crazy busy these days, but back then, it was an incredibly peaceful experience.  

My husband said if he needed to talk to Dr. Elrod, he'd hop in the cart with him and off they would go, east on Sylvania-Metamora, then right on Kilburn for a half mile and then loop back.  The 3 mile jog didn't take long.  There would be another horse ready for him when he got back.  

Dave Bedell, who was in the service with Bob Elrod, and bought several horses from Dr. Elrod also told me a jog cart story.  One 4th of July morning, Dave & Dr. Elrod were jogging his current fine harness champion down the shoulder of the road.  This mare was exceedingly pretty but sometimes failed to exhibit enough show horse ways.  As they jogged along,  a bunch of kids drove by and threw a sizable  string of firecrackers under her feet.  Dave was driving and had the reins to steady himself, but poor Doc was left without a thing to hold onto and nearly went out over the back of the cart.  He "cussed out" the kids under his breath; but after regaining his composure, he looked over the side at the mare and, horseman to the end, exclaimed, "Wow!  It really made a horse out of her, didn't it?"

He was indeed, a horseman to the end.   I sincerely hope you enjoyed this series on a fantastic horseman.

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A few last random notes, which are not horse related.  Dr. Elrod and I exchanged Christmas cards for many years.  Although he spent most of his last decade in Florida, when he was in town, we would feed his sweet tooth with a plate of cookies.  My husband learned a lot about working horses from Dr. Elrod and although not 100% accurate, Doc took credit for introducing us.  He gave my son a Tonka truck 35 years ago that my grandsons are still playing with.  Bob Elrod sold us one of Dr. Elrod's high wheel jog carts, so I can reminisce back on my ride with Miss Vanity.  My sincere desire is that more people will learn about Dr. Elrod, and those that knew him will get a smile after reading this series.  Thanks to Bob Elrod for all his great stories, and Brad Elrod for sharing these photos with me. 

10/6/17 Dr. Robert Elrod Sr and Ottawa Creek Farm part 2

This post will continue the story of Dr. Robert Elrod and his Ottawa Creek Farm, a breeding establishment and show barn located near Toledo Ohio from 1929 through 1985.  Many wonderful horses were raised and trained there, including Ottawa's Empress.  Although not bred by Dr. Elrod, she was a favorite of the whole family and shown by Dr. Elrod, Mrs. Elrod and son Bob during the late 1940's and into 1950.  She begins this week's post covering the 1950's and 1960's.

Purchased in 1947 for $5000 as a 5 year old mare, she was at that time called Wait For Me.  Her original name, Dazzling Queen, gave reference to her breeding, being sired by Dazzling McDonald.  Dr. Elrod renamed her Ottawa's Empress, which stuck with her the remainder of her life.  She was shown extensively in fine harness by both Dr. & Mrs. Elrod, as well as their son Bob. She was apparently the last horse shown by Martha Elrod, who became ill.  Bob Elrod stated without hesitation that she was his favorite of all the horses they had throughout the years.  Ottawa's Empress was well-mannered and could always be counted on to give a good show, but sometimes she went a step above.  According to one eyewitness, in the Championship at the Ohio State Fair, she was making her usual excellent show and, it seemed she was well on the way to winning it; but just as they were reversing across the ring, a fireworks display started up at the fairgrounds and on the first BOOM, some of the horses jumped off their feet and became a bit unruly; but not the Empress!  She just became twice the horse she had been   She was breathtaking.  Another horseman who knew Ottawa's Empress said he thought she and Doc Elrod beat Garland Bradshaw and Kate Shriver when they showed against one another.  At Lexington in 1950, Kate Shriver won the championship, Ottawa's Empress was reserve champion and 3rd that day went to 2 time WGC Regal Aire. It must have been on one of those days when she went "a step above."  However, as with all the horses at the farm, even the Empress was for sale.   That day came on August 30, 1950 when Ottawa's Empress sold to J. Brooks for $12,000.  The sale took place in a hotel room during a show, and it was transacted in cash.  According to Bob, they were hiding bills everywhere.  That was a lot of money for the times, and it wasn't your typical method of payment.

Ottawa's Empress under saddle with Dr. Elrod

Ottawa's Empress in harness with Mrs. Elrod

Dr. Elrod would eventually purchase Ottawa's Empress' dam and re-breed her to Dazzling McDonald, but he never succeeded in raising another colt of her caliber.  Ottawa's Empress continued to show for a few more years and then became a broodmare for Brookmont Farm.  Her second foal, CH Double Indemnity, ended up as a Reserve Word's Champion (RWC) when he placed 2nd in the stallion/gelding Fine Harness Stake at Louisville.  He earned his CHampion status. 

Dr. Elrod, although an amateur, was a highly qualified and sought after judge.   He judged Louisville three times in 1954, 1957 and 1960, as well as Pin Oak, Lexington, and the Missouri State Fair.  Other shows he judged included Miami & Tampa FL, Los Angeles, Harrodsburg KY, Lancaster &  Harrisburg PA, Ft Wayne & Auburn IN, Springfield MA, Greenbrier WV, Nashville TN and South Africa.   His last show as a judge was River Ridge in 1974.  In his role as horse show judge, he traveled throughout the country and interacted with many other trainers and breeders.  Dr Elrod had numerous friends in the saddle horse industry and routinely purchased horses from, or sold to many well-known horsemen including  Chester Caldwell, Garland Bradshaw,  Frank Bradshaw,  George Gwinn, Howard Dickey, Mark Dickey and Eli Long.

Nashville Tennessee Horse Show judges in 1954
Dick Duncan, Dr. Elrod, Bill Cunningham

His knowledge of bloodlines was nothing short of phenomenal, and it was apparent he had his preferences for the bloodlines of San Juan, Chester Dare, and Lee Rose McDonald.  As time went on, Anacacho Denmark stallion lines gained favor.  He loved the discussion of pedigrees and would enthusiastically share his opinions and stories of great horses. Dr. Elrod fostered the interest in saddlebred bloodlines with many people over the years and was happy to share his knowledge.  

Although Dr. Elrod was an accomplished horseman, his occupation demanded much of his time and he often employed a trainer.  Over the years they included Marvin Wood, Earl Combs, JR Ragsdale, Claude Alexander, Bill Robinson & Neil Leitner.  At other times, he would work his own horses with utmost competency and great results.  He also mentored young people who had an interest in horses and taught them how to green break, gait, and finish horses. 

His son Bob Elrod said Dr. Elrod never required much sleep, and it’s apparent in his work routine.  He would get up early and go to the farm to work horses, and then go see patients and have a full day of work.  Then it was back to the farm to spend more time with the horses.  A friend said, “He wasted no time.”  Sometimes horse shows entered the equation and it was still the same, show a horse, return to the hospital and see patients, back to the farm and work horses. 

Dr. Elrod had hoped his son would follow his footsteps into the medical profession.  After one year at Vanderbilt, Bob Jr decided it wasn’t for him.  He came home to train horses for his Dad.  This went well for a while until he was drafted into the Army in 1950.  After coming back from the service, he attended The Ohio State University and became a veterinarian. 

Robert Elrod Jr was in the US Army from 1950 to 1952

The early 1950’s were a difficult time for Dr. Elrod.  His stallion, Jean LaFitte, died just 3 short years after his purchase from Spindletop Farm.   His wife Martha, who shared his passion for horses, passed away at age 46 just a few days after Christmas in 1951.  Grey Mac, his main breeding stallion for 13 years and a horse he had shown widely, died on November 7, 1952.  Things slowed down for a time, and he gave away a number of his broodmares to Eli Long in 1953. Among these horses were Korena Juan and Lady Middleton.   Soon however, he acquired a new stallion and it was back to the breeding, training and showing of horses.   In fact, Dr. Elrod always had a stallion or two in residence at OCF.  Over the years, they included Grey Mac,  Dr. McChord, Jean LaFitte,  Gay Kalarama, Mercer’s Copper King, Clear Creek Prince,  Bellaire’s Anacacho King, and Grand View’s Matinee Idol.  

Jean Lafitte was purchased from Spindletop Farms sale in 1948 at age 12.
He was sired by Jean Valentino by Jean Val Jean out of Lillian Monroe by Rex Monroe
He was a Reserve World's Champion as a yearling for his breeder, HB Thornton
under his original name of Valrodare.

Here are pictures of some of Dr.Elrod's horses from the 1950's through the 1960's.  At the end of this time period, Dr. Elrod was in his early 70's, but still showing horses.  He was also still active in his career as a physician.  

Ottawa's Gold Glamour sold as a 2 year  old in 1950 to

area car dealer Cliff Dunn.

Ottawa's Mastermind was sired by Grey Mac

and out of the mare Korena Juan by San Juan

Ottawa's Perfection was registered as Sugah Valley Rose.

Sugah Valley was a breeding farm in operation during the 1940's and 1950's.

Ottawa's Supreme Command winning a 3 gaited class with Dr. Elrod

Jean Lafitte X Whyworry Chieftess by Chief of Longview

This portrait of Ottawa's Supreme Command was painted in 1956.

Ottawa's Sweetheart was a full sister to Ottawa's Mastermind.

Grey Mac X Korena Juan by San Juan. She was purchased in 1953

and is shown here by her new owner Mrs. McConnell. 

Ottawa's Elegant Lady at the Grosse Pointe Michigan show in 1959.

Sired by Grey Mac out of Independence Girl by San Juan,

she was the second to last colt sired by Grey Mac. 

CH Lafitte's Gay Scandal was sired by Jean Lafitte and out of Lady Middleton.  

He's pictured here with his owner Judy Kaufmann and eventually earned CH status.

Lafitte's Gay Scandal was a home-raised, home trained three-gaited gelding.  Dr. Elrod felt the horse had a lot of potential but he despaired of ever getting it out of him so he sent him to Chester Caldwell and Mark Dickey who were in business together at the time.  After working him for some time Mark called Doc and told him that, in their opinion, he just wasn't going to make the big time they had all hoped for, so he was sold for $3000 in 1955.  He ended up in the hands of Art Simmons, who then sold the horse to Judy Kaufman.   Evidently Mr. Simmons was able to turn the key on this horse which showed with great success at the big shows around the country.  One day, Doc opened his mail to find a Hamilton Electric Watch (an expensive and very new thing at the time) from Mark and Chester as a mea culpa in judging Lafitte's Gay Scandal

Lafitte's Sweetheart was a full sister to Lafitte's Gay Scandal.

She's shown here by Dr. Elrod at Bloomfield Hills in Michigan.

Presenting the ribbon is Honey Craven.  This mare sold to

JL Younghusband of Valley View Farm for $10000 in 1959.

Mighty Prince was purchased from Cliff Dunn in 1952 and

resold in 1953 at a profit.

Star So Rare, a grandson of King's Genius is shown by Bill Curran.

He was purchased in 1950 for $235 and resold in 1955 for $3500 to Cliff Dunn. 

Vztop Realization was shown as Ottawa's Realization.

He was sired by Nawbeek's Highland King out of a Gallant Knight mare.

Vztop Realization and Dr. Elrod at Bloomfield Hills MI in 1952.

He sold to Joan Jacobs of Beverly Hills CA in 1953. 

and now the decade of the  1960's

Ottawa's Denmark at Ft. Wayne IN in 1964 with Dr. Elrod.

He was sired by Clear Creek Prince and out of a mare by Jean Lafitte,

2nd dam by Grey Mac and 3rd dam was a horse Dr. Elrod purchased in 1931.

This horse was sold to Dr. Geraldine Meanor in 1969.

Ottawa's Summer Song was sold to Dave Bedell in 1962.

Sired by Mercer's Copper King, she was a half brother to Ottawa's Denmark.

Both were out of Lafitte's Delightful Miss. 

Summer Song was a two time Amateur Five-Gaited Champion of Michigan for Dave Bedell.

Dave purchased several other horses from Dr. Elrod including Ottawa's Fancy Style,

shown as Wheel of Fortune (Grey Mac X Lady Stonewall by Stonewall King)

and The Ohioan which was a 5 time Amateur 3-Gaited Champion of Michigan.

The Ohioan showed as Grandwood Grenadier, but he was unregistered

Ottawa's Fancy Style showed as Wheel of Fortune

Grand View's Matinee Idol in front of the barn.

Golden Thunderbolt X Maid of Orleans by King's Genius

Grand View's Matinee Idol

He was the last stallion to stand at Ottawa Creek Farm.

Ottawa's Liberty Born shown by Dr. Elrod in 1964 at Ft. Wayne.

Sired by Mercer's Copper King, his dam was by Grey Mac and his 2nd dam was Korena Juan.

My Floradora was purchased from Mrs. JR Sharp's dispersal sale in 1965.

The Red Rambler X Ridgefield's Flora BHF by Ace O'Goshen.

She was sold, repurchased and then resold.

Yes, always at a profit.

Society Born was sired by Society Rex.

Stonewall's Genius Sparkle aka Stoney

He is shown here in the late 1960's with Dr. Elrod.

Dr. Elrod aboard an unidentified horse at Ft Wayne Indiana

Coming up next time will be the final installment in the life of this remarkable horseman.

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