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
- WGC My My, Frank Bradshaw rider, Daneshall Stables owner
- RWGC Captain Denmark, Garland Bradshaw rider, Jolie Richardson owner
- Plainview's Julia Kenny Walker up for Plainview Farms
- The Lancer, Earl Teater up for Dodge Stables
- Justan Accident, Jim B. Robertson riding for owner Doris Dunn
- Fort Knox, Lee Roby up for Greenhill Stables
- John Henry, Harry Spotts showing or owner Windemere Farms
- Take to the Hills, Bill Wise up for Susan Hirth McClure
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1964 had these results
- WGC My My, Frank Bradshaw rider for new owner Jolie Richardson
- RWGC Star of the Show, Earl Teater up for Dodge Stables
- My Genius Dare (shown as King's Quality) Marion Brown up
- Queen of Fashion JR Ragsdale riding for owner Roger Dean
- Legal Tender, Helen Crabtree up for owner Harold Stuart
- 21 Guns, Lee Roby riding for Mrs. JR Sharp
- Lady O'Rourke owned by Odee Farm Stables
- 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.
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1965 some new and old faces
- WGC My My Frank Bradshaw rider for new owner Jolie Richardson
- RWGC Contract's Beau Le Rose, shown as The Contender, Tom Moore up for Knolland Farm
- Star of the Show Earl Teater up for Dodge Stables
- The Lancer Owen Hailey showing for Warren Atkinson
- Queen of Fashion JR Ragsdale riding for owner Roger Dean Chevrolet
- Really Mine, Don Harris up for James Hendry
- Princess Julia, Jim B Robertson up for owner Suzie Traylor
- 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.
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1966 Four in a row for My My
- WGC My My Frank Bradshaw rider for owner Jolie Richardson
- RWGC Star of the Show, Earl Teater up for Dodge Stables
- White Tie (shown as Hallelujah) Tom Moore up for Knolland Farm
- Lily Merrill Sam Brannon showing for owner John Hutcheson
- Holiday's Best Wishes Paul Fagan up, Costello's Holiday Farm owner
- Carbon Copy JR Ragsdale up for Snyder Enterprises
- Benedictine, owner Sugar Hardin
- 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.
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1967 My My becomes the all time mare winner, breaking Lady Carrigan's record of 4 wins
- WGC My My Frank Bradshaw rider for owner Jolie Richardson
- RWGC Star of the Show, Earl Teater up for Dodge Stables
- Anacacho Top Hat, shown as Rebel Heir, Chat Nichols riding for Diane Sweeney
- Belle Destiny, Lee Roby up for Chatsworth Farm/Joan Robinson Hill
- Glory Kalarama, Billy Cox showing for owner Joanne Gauntt
- Holiday's Best Wishes Ed Teater up for owner Jenny Dulworth
- Super Command, shown as Little Wing, Thad Williams up for M/M Honeycutt
- 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.
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1968 My My ties Wing Commander's record of 6 WGC wins
- WGC My My Frank Bradshaw rider for owner Jolie Richardson
- RWGC Glory Kalarama, Billy Cox showing for owner Joanne Gauntt
- Giddy Up Go Don Harris showing for M/M R. Lane Grigsby
- Anacacho Chapel Bell, Tom Moore showing for Knolland Farm
- Lily Merrill, Sam Brannon for owner John Hutcheson of Happy Valley Farm
- Hayfield's Bold Knight, Fritz Jordan showing for Hayfield Farm
- Eye Catcher Jack Nevitt for Stone Gate Farm
- 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.
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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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