Rex McDonald explained

Horsename:Rex McDonald
Discipline:Five-gaited
Sire:Rex Denmark
Dam:Lucy Mack
Damsire:Black Squirrel
Foaled:May 30, 1890
Breeder:Joe McDonald
Trainer:Billy Davis
Tom Bass

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.

Life

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 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

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

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

Pedigree

Pedigree of Rex McDonald[20]
Sire
Rex Denmark
Crigler's DenmarkLail's Denmark ChiefGaines' Denmark
Brown Kitty
Bettie CrosbyEd Hawkins
Queen
Daughter of Star of the WestStar of the WestFlying Cloud
Gray Fanny
Daughter of MohawkMohawk
Copperbottom mare
Dam
Lucy Mack
Black Squirrel Black EagleKing William
Kitty Richards
MollieGiltners Brown Highlander
Betty
StarOld Star DavisBoston
Unknown
MollieVermont Morgan
Unknown

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rex McDonald. 8 April 2016.
  2. Book: Kentucky's Saddlebred Heritage. 9780738544403. 8 April 2016. Millard. James Kemper. 2007.
  3. Web site: REX McDONALD, ANOTHER BLACK BEAUTY - Champion Saddlebred Stallion MO. 8 April 2016.
  4. Book: Mexico. 9780738584485. 8 April 2016. Erwin. Vicki Berger. 2010.
  5. Book: Historical Memories of American Saddlebred Visionaries. 9781935538097. 8 April 2016. Chas. l. Cook. Jr. 4 March 2015.
  6. Web site: The Nevada Daily Mail - Google News Archive Search. 8 April 2016.
  7. Book: America's Horses. 9781592288939. 8 April 2016. Harris. Moira C.. 2006.
  8. Web site: The Saddle and Show Horse Chronicle. 1917. 8 April 2016.
  9. https://www.pressreader.com/usa/equus/20230403/281998971700204 Gaines' Denmark sons and grandsons #2
  10. https://wchorseshow.s3.amazonaws.com/2019/05/Past-WCHS-Championship-Winners.pdf WORLD’S GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP FIVE-GAITED STAKE
  11. https://sporthorse-data.com/offspring?horse_id=10440718 Rex McDonald Offspring
  12. https://sporthorse-data.com/offspring?horse_id=10782427 Independence Chief Offspring
  13. https://www.artbycrane.com/americansaddlebredhorses/eastercloud.html Easter Cloud - The first in history to hold the title!
  14. https://www.artbycrane.com/americansaddlebredhorses/rexpeavine.html Rex Peavine - world wide fame as a Saddlebred stallion
  15. https://sporthorse-data.com/offspring?horse_id=10410160 Rex Peavine Offspring
  16. https://www.saddlebred.com/american-saddlebred/history-1/heritage-horses Heritage Horses
  17. https://sporthorse-data.com/offspring?horse_id=10902810 Mercer Rex Offspring
  18. https://sporthorse-data.com/offspring?horse_id=10440767 Society Rex Offspring
  19. https://sporthorse-data.com/offspring?horse_id=10440693 Kalarama Colonel Offspring
  20. Web site: Rex Mcdonald Saddlebred.