The last post looked at Bourbon King, who is on the sire line of the majority of modern Saddlebreds. W. Jefferson Harris had written a book in 1934 regaling the exploits, virtues, and impact of Bourbon King. So why didn't he write a book about Rex Peavine, the other influential sire of the day? After looking at the impact that Rex Peavine had on the breed, he certainly deserved to have a book written about him. In a flat out comparison of show horses, Rex Peavine produced far more World's Grand Champions and Reserve Grand Champions than Bourbon King and several times more Broodmare Hall of Fame daughters. Perhaps the reason that Rex Peavine didn't get his own book is that many of his stars of the show ring came about a decade before Jeff Harris developed his statistical sire rating, timing which benefitted rival Bourbon King. Jeff Harrs died before he was able to write more volumes, which he surely intended to do. So let's take a look at Rex Peavine and all he has done for the American Saddlebred breed.
Rex Peavine
Rex McDonald and Daisy 2D, sire & dam of Rex Peavine
Bred by Dr. W.L. Hockaday of Silver Creek Kentucky, Rex Peavine was sired by Rex McDonald and out of Daisy 2d who was sired by Peavine 85, and foaled in 1899, just a year before Bourbon King. He changed ownership only once, when Dr. Hockaday passed away and he was transferred to his son James Hockaday, so he remained under the same family's ownership his entire life. Although Rex Peavine did not have the extensive show record as his rival Bourbon King, he too was crowned World's Grand Champion 5 gaited horse in 1903 when he was just a 4 year old. He was used as a breeding horse early on, and his stud fee was as high as $200 in his later years, which was quite a sum in the 1920's. His book was always full, even at that price. Like Bourbon King, Rex Peavine sired great horses when crossed with mares that were sired by Chester Dare, Highland Denmark, Peavine 85 and Rex Monroe. Rex Peavine also crossed well with mares sired by Bourbon King and his full brother Montgomery Chief. Bourbon King was described a horse with great speed at the rack and trot, and beauty which he passed to his offspring. Rex Peavine on the other hand, was somewhat coarse, but sired colts that were better than himself in that respect. He possessed great motion well into his old age which he also passed to his offspring, but most of them never rivaled his ability to do, and none of his sons surpassed him as a sire.
Rex Peavine began his career at stud at an early age, and was 26 when he died in 1925. Here are his offspring that were WGC or RWGC. WGC CH Edna May (BHF) was the 5Gaited WGC in 1909. That same year, Golden Glow was WGC in Fine Harness. In 1911, Diana of the Lea was 3 Gaited WGC and Jack Straw was RWGC 5 Gaited. 1912 again found multiple winners, with Jacqueline WGC in Fine Harness and Rexola (shown as the great Hazel Dawn) was 5 Gaited WGC, which she repeated in 1913. Lady Beautiful was Fine Harness WGC in 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920 and 1921. Liberty Girl was WGC in the 5 Gaited division in 1919 and her full sister Liberty Princess was RWGC in the same division in 1925. One of his best sons, Mass of Gold, was 5 Gaited WGC in 1920, 1921, and 1923. Another great son, Dark Rex, also a gelding, was 5 Gaited RWGC in 1926, WGC in 1927 and 3 Gaited WGC in 1928. Finally, his stallion son Kalarama Rex was RWGC in Fine Harness in 1929. Bourbon King may have produced more winners at Louisville when counting his in-hand weanlings and yearlings, but he didn't compare to Rex Peavine as a sire of WGC's and RWGC's.
While Bourbon King had 2 daughters in the Broodmare Hall of Fame, Rex Peavine sired 7 BHF daughters. Notable daughters included Clay Willis, the 2nd dam of Veiled Prophet, Easter Gift, a full sister to Kalarama Rex, 2nd dam of Colonel Sport and 4th dam of Buddy, Best Ever Saddlebred. Lelia Rex was the dam of RWGC siblings Joanna Jones and Rex Lee Bourbon, Rexie Madison was dam of Ware's Sensation BHF. Sweet Kitty Bellairs was the dam of Queen of Cloverdale and Galli Curci produced Captain King. Rex Peavine's BHF daughters were WGC CH Edna May,the dam of WGC Edna May's King, Fanny Fern, the dam of Astral Peavine, Flashing Peavine, the dam of RWGC Flashing American, Gloriann the dam of the great Stonewall King, Kate Peavine, the dam of RWGC Sweet Lavender and American Maytime (who produced WGC Garrymore), Peavine's Pearl, the dam of Captain Couragous and Mountain Peavine, and Spririt of Kentucky who was the dam of Reverie's Desdemona BHF and Genius of Kentucky.
Rex Peavine sired great show horses, and fabulous daughters to be sure, but he also sired many well known breeding sons. Many of them made lasting contributions, although like most stallion lines, the majority have died out when it comes to being on the top side. Here is a recap of 28 of Rex Peavine's top sons from youngest to oldest. The most influential are bolded, or at least in my opinion.
- Rex Peavine's Dare, 1925, out of a daughter of Kentucky Choice. He sired My Baby, a line bred Rex Peavine mare who was owned by my mentor, Dr Elrod. She produced the wonderful mare Lafitte's Gifted Lady. Google Lafitte's Gifted Lady to learn more from a previous post.
- Moreland Peavine, 1924, out of a Highland Denmark daughter. He sired Luise Rainer and RWC Sally Carneal.
- Shanty Pernell, 1923 out of Lura Chess by Chester Dare. He sired WC CH Royal Irish.
- Oklahoma Peavine, 1923, out of Margaret O'Neil by Kentucky Highland. He sired WGC A Sensation and her full sister WC Love Affair BHF, and RWGC CH My Golden Dawn BHF.
- Dare Peavine, 1923, out of the great producer Maxine Spencer by Col. Dare Major. He sold to California in the mid 1920's.
- Kalarama Rex, 1922, out of Nancy Thurman BHF by Rex Monroe. One of Rex Peavine's greatest sons, he sired CH Belle of Boyle BHF, RWGC CH Blue Hawaii, WGC Nellie Pidgeon BHF, WGC Allen Adair, and breeding sons Society Rex, WGC Noble Kalaram and Royal Kalarama.
- Mercer Rex, 1921, out of Edith Gatley BHF by Kentucky Choice. He sired CH Mahogany Finish and Corinna Cook BHF.
- Rex Steptoe, 1921 out of a daughter of General Custer. He sired Queen Steptoe, the 2nd dam of the beautiful WGC CH Denmark's Daydream.
- Rex Firefly, 1921, out of Golden Firefly BHF. He sired Sensation Rex (sire of Vanity's Sensation) and Sparkling Firefly who sired Sparkling Waters
- Maid's Rex 1918, out of a Highland Denmark daughter. This beautiful black son of Rex Peavine sired Rex Lee Lewis, the sire of Conowingo.
- Liberty Loan, 1917 out of a daughter of Highland Denmark. He also sold to California and was used at stud there.
- Selworthy 1914 out of a Highland Denmark daughter. He sired Glad-I Mere King.
- San Vicente 1913 out of Undine by Chester Dare. Out of less than a dozen colts, he sired the noted sire San Juan and Jane Black BHF, the dam of Anacacho Denmark.
- Young Rex Peavine 1913 out of a daughter of Lynn Boyd. His only offspring was Pansy Lee BHF, the dam of RWC The Invasion
- Anglo Rex 1913, out of a Chester Dare daughter. He sired Anglo Peavine.
- King Vine 1911, out of Bourbon Belle by Bourbon King. He sired Spelling Bee BHF, the dam of Flirtation Walk BHF.
- Richmond Choice 1910, out of a King Richard daughter. He sired Mamie Peavine BHF, the dam of Stonewall Supreme.
- Solitaire 1910 out of Lady Preston by Preston WGC, making him a full brother to WGC Diana O the Lea. He sire WC I No.
- Whizzim 1910 out of a daughter of King Richard. Out of only 3 colts, he sired WGC Peavine's Dream.
- Bugger Boo 1909 out of Lady Dare by Chester Dare. He sired WGC Lulworth Victor and RWC Bugger Boo Rose.
- Dr. Hockaday 1909 out of Bessie Shearer by Lynn Boyd, making him a full brother to Young Rex Peavine and Rexall Prince.
- Jean Val Jean 1908 out of Pattie Stone by King Richard. He sired RWGC Beau Peavine and RWC Lucky Jean. Both sons were excellent breeding stallions.
- Rexall Prince 1908 out of Bessie Shearer by Lynn Boyd. He died at a young age, but sired RWGC Dawn and Sibyl Burns, the dam of Grey Mac.
- Star Peavine 1907 out of a Chester Dare daughter. He only sired 2 registered colts, but one was Princess of Melbourne, the dam of Peavine's Pearl BHF.
- All Peavine 1906 out of Lucy Wells by Peavine 85. He sired RWC Powell Peaviine, Out To Be King, and Miss Frisco Gaines. Google her for more info in another post.
- Chester Peavine 1905 out of Miss Madison BHF by Chester Dare. He sired Princess Eugenia BHF, dam of the breed builder, CH King's Genius
- Jack Twigg 1903 out of Gladys Twigg by Chester Dare. He sired WGC Maydan and Silver Flash.
- Red Rex 1903 out of a Kentucky Chief daughter. He sired the top ranked breeding stallion Peavine's Highland Chief.
Rex Peavine certainly had notable breeding sons and many sired WGC's and BHF mares. However, with only a few exceptions, they didn't sire many breeding stallions. Two of Rex Peavine's best sons were geldings, Mass of Gold and Dark Rex. Rex Peavine never sired any super star breeding sons as did his contemporary, Bourbon King. Rex Peavine's major contributions started sinking to the bottom side of the pedigree almost immediately. His daughters were his super stars, and kept Rex Peavine on the pedigrees of winners for many years. Without Rex Peavine's daughters, Bourbon King's success wouldn't have been nearly as powerful. Without Rex Peavine's daughters, Saddlebreds wouldn't be as we know them today. Rex Peavine proved the power of the bottom line.
Here are Rex Peavine's show ring stars
Thank you for all of the time and research put into this blog!!! I love seeing all of the horses that are behind the saddlebreds of today, especially since I am new to the breed.
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