Our savior Eohippus

08/24/2026

🐴 Halla is remembered for one round in Stockholm in 1956, when her rider could barely sit on her and she took him round anyway.

She was born on 16 May 1945 in Darmstadt, out of a French trotter mare. Not a bloodline anyone would have picked for Olympic show jumping. But she and Hans Günter Winkler became one of the great partnerships the sport has produced.

At the 1956 Games, held in Stockholm, she took off early at a fence mid-round and Winkler tore a groin muscle. He was in real pain. He rode the jump-off anyway, in agony, and what happened next is why people still talk about her. She effectively carried him round, finding her own strides, holding her line, doing the work of two. They took individual gold, and team gold with it.

She added another team gold in Rome in 1960. Across her career she won 125 competitions with Winkler. She died in 1979, aged 34.

Most sporting legends are stories about a rider's skill. This one is about a mare who noticed something had gone wrong and finished the job herself.

Have you ever felt a horse quietly take over when you could not?

08/20/2026

This stallion advertisement from the December 1969 issue of The Quarter Horse Journal shows two great stallions that were owned by Bud Warren and stood at his ranch in Perry, Oklahoma - Croton Oil and Sugar Bars.

Croton Oil was foaled in 1955. He was out of Randle’s Lady, a daughter of the Thoroughbred stallion Doc Horn. Croton Oil made five starts and won one race. He earned a Racing Register of Merit and was rated AA. Croton Oil went on to sire 373 AQHA registered foals. He was a leading sire of AQHA Champions. Envoy, Hornswoggle, Montleon, Rinski, Utopian and Wallaby were some of his most noteworthy sons.

Doc Horn, the damsire of Croton Oil, was foaled in 1921. He was by Flying Squirrel and out of Debutante, by McGee. Doc Horn won seven races and was stakes placed. He was owned by Dr. F. E. Girard and stood in Lafayette, Louisiana. Doc Horn only sired 9 AQHA recognized foals, but was renowned for his ability to sire sprinters. Doc Horn sired Nora, the dam of Blob Jr; Daisy P, the dam of Ceaser Bars; and Della P, the dam of Lightning Bar. Doc Horn literally put the “Doc” in Doc Bar.

Sugar Bars was foaled in 1951. He was bred by George Wood in El Paso, Texas. Sugar Bars was by the Thoroughbred stallion Three Bars and out of Fronterra Sugar, by Rey 39.

Sugar Bars made 30 starts and won 7 races. He earned an AAA rating and a Racing Register of Merit. Bud Warren bought Sugar Bars to breed to his Leo mares. He sired 867 AQHA registered foals. His notable offspring included Sugar Leda, Jays Sugar Bars, Nice N Sweet, Mr. Sugar Boy, Otoe, Cabin Bar, Gofar Bar, Bar Pistol and Sugar Line. Sugar Bars passed away in 1972. He was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1994.

Three Bars, the sire of Sugar Bars, was a Thoroughbred stallion foaled in 1940. He was by Percentage and out of Myrtle Dee, by Luke McLuke. Three Bars was the all-time greatest sire of Quarter Horses. In his 24 years at stud, he sired 575 registered Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse foals. They included 356 race winners, 354 ROM-earners, 66 stakes winners, 38 Superior Race Award earners, 29 AQHA Champions, 17 Racing Champions and 2 Racing World Champions. His offspring earned $3,612,991 on the track and 2,129.0 points in the arena. Three Bars was inducted into the into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1989.

07/06/2026

He stood just fifteen-two hands high,
too small, they said, for dreams to fly.
Too stocky, too stout, too “American-bred,”
“Europe will eat him alive,” they said.
But Battleship carried a royal flame,
born of Man o’ War, a king by name.
From his sire he took not just speed,
but heart, and fire, and an iron creed.
In 1938, he crossed the sea,
no crown on his brow, no grand decree
just sturdy legs, a fearless stare,
and a will to prove he belonged out there.
🇬🇧 At Aintree they smirked, they shook their heads:
“The Grand National? He’ll end up in shreds.
Four miles of turf, thirty fences to clear,
where giants falter and vanish from here.”

The horn blew sharp the race began.
He leapt the first like a warrior’s plan,
the second with grace, the third with might,
each jump a battle, each stride a fight.

Horses stumbled, champions fell,
but Battleship pressed through mud and hell.
Rain in his mane, sweat on his skin,
he would not break, he would not give in.

And then , the final stretch appeared,
two horses close, the crowd roared, cheered.
Battleship surged, his spirit aflame,
as if the finish itself called his name.

Zebra boards flashed, hooves struck the ground,
and silence fell without a sound.
The photo told what hearts now knew:
🏆 Battleship — champion, through and through.
First American-born, American-owned,
to conquer Aintree, to stand alone.
Once “the American pony” to their eye,
now a legend, too great to deny.

That day,
the little horse who shouldn’t have been
became the horse they’ll never forget.

07/03/2026

This is an undated photo of Beldame taken by Charlie Cook. It came from the Estate of Walter S. Vosburgh.

She was bred by August Belmont at his famous Nursery Stud.

This is the same farm that would produce Man o’ War and other champions.

She was by Octagon, the winner of the 1897 Brooklyn Derby, out of Bella Donna by Hermit, the winner of the 1867 Derby Stakes.

Beldame was a half sister:

to Don Enrique: the winner of the 1907 Preakness.

Beldame had two constant companions: her pet bunny and a roan pony who accompanied her everywhere.

Beldame made 31 starts with 17 wins 6 seconds 4 thirds earning $102,570.

At two in 1903, she won: the Great Filly Stakes over Ocean Tide, the winner of the 1903 Astoria Stakes, and Mineola; and the Vernal Stakes over Monsoon and Tepee.

Beldame was second in the Clover Stakes to Contentious and ahead of Mordelia.

She finished third in the Matron Stakes behind Armenian and For Luck.

Beldame finished fourth in the Nursery Handicap.

While she showed some flashes of brilliance as a two year old in winning the 1903 Great Filly Stakes and the Vernal Stakes, Beldame was inconsistent at best. And so much so that August Belmont leased her to his friend and business associate, Newton Bennington, and trainer, Fred Burlew.

For them she would prove to be a magnificent runner.

At four in 1904, Beldame won: the Saratoga Cup over Africander, the winner of the 1903 Belmont Stakes, and Dazzling; the September Stakes over Graziallo, the winner of the 1904 Sheepshead Bay Stakes, and Ort Wells, the winner of the 1904 Brighton Derby; the Dolphin Stakes over Ormondes Right, the winner of the 1905 Carter Handicap, and Aurumaster, the winner of the 1904 Reaper Stakes; the First Special over Caughnawaga, the winner of the 1994 Saratoga Cup, and Stalwart, the winner of the 1903 Champagne Stakes; the Mermaid Stakes by seven lengths over Little Em and Possession, the winner of the 1903 Distaff Stakes; the Second Special by five lengths over Broomstick, the winner of the 1904 Travers Stakes, and McChesney, the winner of the 1902 Chicago Stakes; the Ladies Handicap over Audience, the winner of the 1904 Kentucky Oaks, and Dazzling; the Carter Handicap over Dazzling and Wotan; the Gazelle Stakes by ten lengths over Graceful, the winner of the 1904 Sea Gull Stakes, and Little Em; and the Alabama Stakes by six lengths over Dimple, the winner of the 1904 Vestal Stakes, and Ishlana, the winner of the 1903 Fashion Stakes.

She was second in the Test Handicap to Hermis and ahead of Dainty, the winner of the 1904 Oriental Handicap.

Beldame finished third in the Metropolitan Handicap behind Irish Lad and Toboggan.

Her three year old season in 1904 showcased her incredible talent.

She won 12 of her 14 starts that year.

Beldame sprinted. Beldame stayed. She humiliated her female rivals, then whipped very good colts.

She gave weight to all comers and then defeated the best handicappers.

Against fillies, she won the Gazelle Stakes by over ten lengths practically pulling her jockey out of the saddle that day. She won the Alabama Stakes in a hand gallop.

She then took on the top handicappers in the Saratoga Cup. At the end of the race, she prevailed by over six lengths and was being pulled up at the finish.

In her wake were: Africander, the previous year’s Belmont Stakes winner; The Picket, the winner of the 1903 American Derby; and Major Daingerfield, the winner of the 1902 Lawrence Realization Stakes.

In her next races, the aptly named the First and Second Specials, she would again defeat important colts like: Delhi, the winner of the 1904 Belmont Stakes; Broomstick, the winner of the 1904 Travers Stakes; Caughnawaga, the winner of the 1905 Saratoga Cup; and Irish Lad, the winner of the 1903 Brooklyn Handicap.

The racing charts state: “Beldame won all the way under a pull, maintaining a wide lead over her rivals.”

Beldame was named: the 1904 Horse of the Year; the 1904 Champion Three Year Old Filly; and the 1904 Champion Handicap Mare.

With nothing left to prove, she was retired for the season.

At four in 1905, Beldame won: the Standard Stakes over Cairngorm, the winner of the 1905 Preakness Stakes, and Major Daingerfield, the winner of the 1902 Brooklyn Derby; and the Suburban Handicap over Proper, the winner of the 1905 Long Island Handicap.

She was second: in the Advance Stakes to Agile and ahead of Graziallo; in the Brighton Mile to Ort Wells and ahead of Delhi, the winner of the 1904 Belmont Stakes; and in the Saratoga Cup to Caughnawaga and ahead of Cairingorm.

Beldame finished third: the Brighton Handicap behind Artful and Ort Wells; and in the Saratoga Handicap behind Caughnawaga and Waterlight, the winner of the 1905 Dolphin Stakes.

She finished: fifth in the Delaware Handicap; and ninth in the Metropolitan Handicap.

Her four year old season in 1905 was a letdown given the dominance she showed the year before.

Her best race was the Suburban Handicap where she became only the second filly to win following Imp in 1899. Unlike Imp, who was getting weight concessions from a number of her rivals, Beldame carried the top weight of 123.

When she retired, she became the third filly in American racing to win over $100,000.

Sadly she produced little of consequence. Her best was Belvale, the second dam of On the Aisle, was second in the 1950 Woodstock Plate.

Beldame and Artful were the first two fillies to be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1956.

But like Regret later on, Beldame is best remembered for her exploits on the turf.

The Grade 1 Beldame Stakes is named in her honor and immortalizes a three year old season that few have ever equaled.

05/29/2026

05/10/2026

Magnolia Bar was foaled in 1959. He was bred by Lester Goodson Estate in Texas. Magnolia Bar was by the Thoroughbred stallion Three Bars and out of Lassie’s Dream, by Bull’s Eye. He won four races, including the 1962 Inaugural Handicap at Los Alamitos. He later earned 25.0 halter points, 20.0 performance points, and an AQHA Champion designation.

Magnolia Bar was owned by Louis M. Pearce, Jr. and Chas. S. Coates. He is pictured here as a three-year-old before he entered his first season at stud at the Coates Ranch in Chappell Hill, Texas. He sired 597 AQHA foals. Magnolia Pay, Roxana Bar, Kidnap Bar, Barefoot Bar, Diamond Jiggs, Magnolia Rocket and Oh Magnolia were some of his noteworthy offspring.

Three Bars, the sire of Magnolia Bar, was a Thoroughbred foaled in 1940. He was by Percentage and out of Myrtle Dee, by Luke McLuke. Three Bars was a stakes winner and probably the all-time greatest sire of Quarter Horses. In his 24 years at stud, he sired 575 registered Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse foals. They included 356 race winners, 354 ROM-earners, 66 stakes winners, 38 Superior Race Award earners, 29 AQHA Champions, 17 Racing Champions and 2 Racing World Champions. His offspring earned $3,612,991 on the track and 2,129.0 points in the arena. Three Bars was inducted into the into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1989.

05/04/2026

What an amazing thing to witness!!
I didn’t get to watch Secretariat or Seabiscuit race, but I’ve heard about it my whole life.
What Golden Tempo, Jose Ortiz and Cherie DeVaux were able to accomplish feels just as super historic!
It was so cool to see-
Two brothers who dreamed of being jockeys and then finished 1st and 2nd (holding hands in the photo)..:
And then to also see the first female trainer win the Kentucky Derby-
You couldn’t have scripted a better race.
It was emotional and inspiring.
There’s a million things cool about this, but it’s awesome to see a competitor who never thinks they are out of the game.
To see Jose & Golden Tempo run dead last for 3/4 of the track, and see that competitive spirit to still believe they could win, is awesome!!

04/27/2026

As the story goes, Two Eyed Jack was born while his breeder was enmeshed in a poker game. After going to check his mare and finding the new foal, horseman Herman Mass returned to the poker table to find a two-eyed jack in his hand. 🤠

Although Herman gave the stallion his memorable name, it was Nebraska horseman Howard Pitzer who gave him his legacy. Howard purchased him – in pieces, he says, because the horse cost so much – and knew he had a winner. “Jack” earned his open AQHA Champion title in 1964. Aside from his own success in the show pen, the stallion earned even more respect in the breeding barn. He sired the first AQHA Superhorse, Vickie Lee Pine, in 1978, and he has sired 119 open AQHA Champions, making him by far the leading sire in that category still today.
Both Howard and his famous stallion were inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1996. Read more about them in the March-April issue of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭. Read the free version here 🐴 https://www.aqha.com/read-a-sample-issue

Tickets are now available – with an early-bird discount – for the 2026 American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Induction & Reunion Celebration, September 11-12 in Amarillo. Purchase tickets before July 1, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a two-night stay at the Embassy Suites during the Celebration weekend. View the details in the comments! ⬇️