Rex McDonald was an American Saddlebred stallion. He was only beaten three times in his show career and had an influential career as a sire.
| Rex McDonald | |
|---|---|
| Breed | American Saddlebred |
| Discipline | Five-gaited |
| Sire | Rex Denmark |
| Dam | Lucy Mack |
| Maternal grandsire | Black Squirrel |
| Foaled | May 30, 1890 |
| Died | November 13, 1913 (aged 23) |
| Breeder | Joe McDonald |
| Trainer | Billy Davis Tom Bass |
Life edit
Rex McDonald was foaled on May 30, 1890, in Callaway County, Missouri.[1][2] He was sired by Rex Denmark and out of Lucy Mack. He was a black stallion standing 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm) high and was bred by Joe McDonald.[1] After breeding Rex McDonald, Joe McDonald became ill and began selling his horses. Rex McDonald was sold to R. T. Freeman as a yearling for $105, alongside his dam. In 1894 he was sold to John Hughes of Kentucky for $3,050. He was sold several more times and at one point during his breeding career was owned by a group of businessmen.[1] Rex McDonald died November 13, 1913, and was buried in the fairgrounds at Mexico, Missouri,[3] although the body was later moved to Tom Bass's property and still later reburied at the American Saddlebred Museum in Mexico, where it remains.[4][5]
Career edit
Rex McDonald was a five-gaited horse who was initially trained by Billy Davis.[3] Later on he was trained and shown by Tom Bass, a notable horse trainer born a slave, who trained horses for Theodore Roosevelt and Bill Cody.[6] In 1893 Rex McDonald was shown for the first time at the St. Louis National Horse Show and won a championship.[7] At the time, there was a strong rivalry between Kentucky and Missouri about which state produced the best Saddlebreds, and Rex McDonald was a star for the Missourians. Ironically, he was later sold to a Kentucky owner.[3] He was only beaten three times in his career.[2] At one show, he beat his own sire, Rex Denmark. He was finally retired to stud because few people were willing to show against him.[1]
Offspring edit
Rex McDonald sired over 200 colts that were registered with the American Saddlebred Horse Association.[1] One of his colts was a pacer and was harness raced.[8]
Sire line tree edit
- Rex McDonald[9][10][11]
Pedigree edit
| Sire Rex Denmark |
Crigler's Denmark | Lail's Denmark Chief | Gaines' Denmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Kitty | |||
| Bettie Crosby | Ed Hawkins | ||
| Queen | |||
| Daughter of Star of the West | Star of the West | Flying Cloud | |
| Gray Fanny | |||
| Daughter of Mohawk | Mohawk | ||
| Copperbottom mare | |||
| Dam Lucy Mack |
Black Squirrel | Black Eagle | King William |
| Kitty Richards | |||
| Mollie | Giltners Brown Highlander | ||
| Betty | |||
| Star | Old Star Davis | Boston | |
| Unknown | |||
| Mollie | Vermont Morgan | ||
| Unknown |
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "Rex McDonald". Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ a b Millard, James Kemper (2007). Kentucky's Saddlebred Heritage. ISBN 9780738544403. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ a b c "REX McDONALD, ANOTHER BLACK BEAUTY - Champion Saddlebred Stallion MO". Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ Erwin, Vicki Berger (2010). Mexico. ISBN 9780738584485. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ Chas. l. Cook, Jr (4 March 2015). Historical Memories of American Saddlebred Visionaries. ISBN 9781935538097. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ "The Nevada Daily Mail - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ Harris, Moira C. (2006). America's Horses. ISBN 9781592288939. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ "The Saddle and Show Horse Chronicle". 1917. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ Gaines' Denmark sons and grandsons #2
- ^ WORLD’S GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP FIVE-GAITED STAKE
- ^ Rex McDonald Offspring
- ^ Independence Chief Offspring
- ^ Easter Cloud - The first in history to hold the title!
- ^ Rex Peavine - world wide fame as a Saddlebred stallion
- ^ Rex Peavine Offspring
- ^ Heritage Horses
- ^ Mercer Rex Offspring
- ^ Society Rex Offspring
- ^ Kalarama Colonel Offspring
- ^ "Rex Mcdonald Saddlebred".