;r&M&AlqA{S TTUFF *AUTr}llqRtTy srN-ce 'r89,a. A state with unlimlted potential By Al.lNE LANG inJFe 198? Bii:edersr Cup Sprini ind, of ing factions-in terms of both numbers tle 12 stakes he won, seven were graded. Ah, the magnificent thomughbred. and prominence. The most recent census The various owners of Groovyts first Arguably, no other breed of con- horse of The Jockey Club indicated there were juveniles, which start this year, are hop- jures up more vivid images elegance of 2,592 Texas thoroughbred foals produced ing for similar success. and opulence: images of the sleek ani- in 1990, placing the state fourth behind Marshall Robinson, who with his wife, mals themselves, and the often urbane Kentucky, California and Florida. That Mickey, bred Groovy on the couple's Fort iifestyles of the peole who influence the same year there were also 673 known Worth ranch, explained industry. People why they whose stereotypical thoroughbred stallions, ranking Texas switched their breeding specialiy fmm trappingsof everyday life might include second only to California. And the Texas quarter horses tn thoroughbreds in 1981, high tea served in heirloom silver, sum- firoroughbred Breeders' Association es- with the purchase a broodmare mers Saratoga, pillared of al a in or stately timates there are 6,000 thoroughbred Keeneland sale. Back then, the future mansions surrounded of bymlling acres of mares and 10,000 "general-use" p-ari-mutuel wagering Texas (which, lush bluegrass. in thoroughbreds currently in Texas. though finally approved in 198?, has Providing a striking contrast to those Earlier in the century, the 829,000- bee-n stow to produce any major-league perceptions is the rugged state of Texas, acie King Ranch also mide a name for racing) looked uncertain,yet the Ro6in- where the leisure-time activity of choice itseE in the annals of thoroughbred sons were willing to take the gamble. breeding, when its homebred Assault "When Mickey and I visited Kentucky won the 1946 Triple Crown and subse- 10 years ago, we just fell in love with the TEXAS quent Horse ofthe Yearhonors. A son of whole thoroughbred industry in gen- Bold Venture out of the Equipoise mare, eral;" Bobinson recalled. "It wasthe ove- Igual, Assault's six-year career win- rall atmosphere in Lexington, I guess: may well be attending the nearest chig- nings totaled $67 4,720, which even today the oeople, their sincerityr and the way ger fest, armadillo race or rattlesnake- ranks fifth among lifetime Texas-bred they handle their horses. There's a feel- sacking contest, and where boots worn earners. ing of romance associated with the with business suits, five-alarrn chili, and Another King Ranch-bred thoroughbred woild, and we wanted to the legend of LBJ are sources of state thorough- bred, Stymie, experience some of that." pride. An uninformed outsider would was the 1945 recipient of an Eclipse Award for leading older male. And so the Robinsons likely doubt the presence of anything so brought a little In six years of racing, Stymie started seemingly un-Texas-like as a thorough- an bit of that special Kentucky flavor back bred. astonishing 131 times, with 35 wins, 33 to Texas, launching a thoroughbred seconds and 28 thirds. The son of Eques- breeding operation that eventually prro- Indeed, the hearty and versatile quar- trian's earaings of $918,485 have re- duced not only Groovy, but giahed ter horse has reigned supreme in the tained his No.2 standing on the list of stakes winner My Prince Charming and Inne Star State for the past century. lifetirne Texas-bred winners. stakes horses Kentucky Jazz, l)ancitus Texas has held the No. I spot in quarter and Commanders Dusty. To be sure, Heading that list-and only horse population for decades, with more the other they've been luekier than most, but Texas-bred Rob- than 17,000 quarter horse foals regis- in history to receive an inson said he thinks the anticipated tered in 1991. It is home to the American Eclipse Award-is 198? sprint champion (Norcliffe-Tinnitus, boom of Texas' pari-mutuel tracks over Quarter Horse Association and also the Groovy by Restless the next decade or so will greatly in- Wind). Groovy became the first Texas- famous King Ranch, which bred the first .af.ter crease the chances of other Texas breed- registerdd American quarter horse in bred millionaire earning ers contributing to the nationwide roster the 1940's and went on to contributre $1,346,956 during a career that included of thoroughbred racing stars. significantly to the foundation of today's wins in the Grade I Vosburgh Stakes, flourishing Texas quarter horse in- Grade II Tom Fool Stakes (twice) and "Thoroughbred people in Kentucky, dustry. the Grade II Forego Handieap. He set New York, Florida-they're all talking So it may oome as a surprise to many new six-furlong track records at Bel- about Texas these days," Robinson said. that the thoroughbred, too, is a longtime mont and Finger Lakes, finished second "There's an air of quality in thorough- of the Year and top thoroughbrpd biecl progiam, and the potential for bred breeding that we all strive hard to money-earRer of all time ($6,6?9,242). high-quality racing to develop in Texas, achieve. These days you can even see a Alysheba now stands at Will Farish's we think that bodes well for the industry visible difference in the atmosphere at Kentucky farm. as a whole. Texas thoroughbred functions, as com- is bound Newcomers to the Texas thoroughbred "Texas to take off, and we'd pared to five or six years ago. More so- llke to be a nart of thal" phisticatlon, reflected only in industry continue to pour in from other not Another transplant from a major rac- personal style bub in breeding practices states, anticipating the thriving breed- ing state is breeder Jim Cottrell, a resi- and even in the way we're all caring for ing activity to be spawned from Class I dent of California for nearly 30 years our horses. racing in the state's major urban areas. Veterinarian Kenneth Quirk left a before moving to Texas in 1980. Cottrell, "We don't want to lose those character- flourishing Iouisiana-based praetice (in who entered the thoroughbred world in istics that make Texas unique, though," which he was associated with Eclipse 1976 with a yearling purchase at Del Robinson added. "Texans' warmth and Award-winning owner and breeder Mar, has bred two graded stakes win- friendliness will be a great asset to the John Franks) three years ago to take ners during the past six years. His Grade thoroughbred industry in our nation." oyer the reins at Summers Mill Farm in II Ohio Derby winner, Jim's Orbit, won Texas has eerbainly not been without two-year racing career central , Texas. A commercial breeding $600,?20 in a its luminaries in the thoroughbred and sales preparation facility which cur-- (which included a win in the 198? Grade world. Among those are former Texas rentJy houses more than 100 thorough- III Kentucky Derby Trial) before suc- GovernorJohn Connally and oil magnate breds, Summers Mill offers the servi-ces eumbing to a severe case of colic in 1989. Nelson Bunker Hunt, who were both ac- of some of Texas'top sires, including Top The Cottrell-bred Darby's Daughter, tive in the Texas thoroughbred market Avenger, Explosive Wagon and fripl-e before meeting with respective financial Sec. winner of the Grade II Miss Grillir'" Stakes troubles. "We think, as many people do, that in 1988, earned more than Hunt has also numbered among the Texas is racing's last frontier in this $435,000. Cottrell has also bred and/or owned handful of prominent Texans with the @untry," said the circum- numetous other stakes horses, in Quirk of his own foresight to operate farms in both Texas stanees which prompted him and his name and in partnership. The and Kentucky: Texan Will Farish regu- wife, Linda, also a veterinarian, to pull former cosmetics company executive and his wife, Gloria, operate the 110-acre El larly plays host to the Queen of England up stakes and move to Texas. "Theie's at his Lane's End Farm outside Lexing- been a substantial interest in thorough- Bancho Cottrell in Cleburne, Texas. ton, and to President George Bush at his breds in Texas for a number of yeirs, Even when the prospect of pari-mutuel Huisache.Farm near Houston. and that's indicated by the faci ttrai passage during the early 1980's looked many farms Renowned horseman Johnny T. L. and operations in Lexing- dim, Cottrell said, "Just the thought of Jones maintains Walmac International ton have significant Texas involvemenl. how great the future of Texas racing in Kentucky and Two Creek Ranch in "The horse is a big part of Texas, herit- could be is what has kept us here. I had the Houston area. Another owner of an a_ge, ald Texans seem to enjoy anything cnouqh vision to see that Tbxas that is associated Tex-as,"-Quir[ expansive thoroughbred farm in each with thomughbreds could a"fa.rtastic continued. think racing going-to lppqme state is Texan Mike Rutherford. The "I is be market.'Ih earlier ybiii, met a prime example I'd numer- Clarence Scharbauer family of Midland of thatlnterest. Obvi- ous Texas owners racing ouslyTexas their horses at has also helped put Texas thoroughbreds has a ways to go in thorough- tracks all over this bred breeding country, and I knew on the map.