History of Paint Racing
2008: Paint racing proved to have another exciting year full of continued
growth, new records, top performers and major news coverage during 2008. The
racing program saw 573 Paint Horses start in 668 APHA- recognized races across
18 states, competing for more than $5 million.
Got Country Grip
Paint Racing received an extreme amount of media coverage in 2008 due to a
few impressive Paints on the track. Got Country Grip quickly became a household
name when he tied the North American all-breed record of consecutive wins after
remaining undefeated in 16 lifetime races. Unfortunately, two other Paint Horses
stopped his streak short of setting the world record at 17 races. However, in
the process news stories about Got Country Grip and Paint racing hit the AP
newswire and were picked up by news agencies such as ESPN, Yahoo, NBC,
Bloodhorse, and more.
Presentation at 16th straight win to tie the North
American all-breed record of consecutive wins.
This past year was Got Country Grip’s fourth year dominating the track. In
the course of 2008, the 2003 Solid Paint-Bred tied the modern day North American
record on the track for all breeds as he won his 16th consecutive race. On the
way to victory, Grip’s name was seen worldwide as his story was picked up by
news organizations including the Associated Press, USA Today, ESPN, NBC, Fox and
many others. Watch one of the video clips here.
The gelding, owned by Jimmy Maddux of Weatherford, Texas, was named World
Champion Solid Paint-Bred for the fourth consecutive year, thus setting an
additional new record. On his way to re-writing the record books, Grip earned
$287,028—making him the highest money-earning paint racehorse in history.
Reaching the $3 million sire mark is a rare accomplishment in just about every
equine discipline. Paint racing saw two stand-out sires—Texas Hero, owned by
Buddy Albin of Denton, Texas, and Judys Lineage, owned by father and son Henry
and Chuck Bowlan, respectively, of Tecumseh, Oklahoma—achieve this distinction.
Also finishing 2008 on a high note was SM Country Snowman. The 2005
loudly-colored overo Paint earned his second World Champion Regular Registry
title in as many years. Included in his many accolades, SM Country Snowman,
owned by Rafter SM Ranch of Wagoner, Oklahoma, became the highest earning
3-year-old Paint racehorse of all time, and the only to break the $250,000 mark.
With his lifetime earnings at $250,861 at the year’s end, the stallion’s impact
on Paint racing has only begun as he will stand at stud in 2009.
SM Country Snowman
2009: Paint racing experienced some surprising and exciting moments in
2009, with record-breaking race purses, race results and stallion earnings. The
racing program saw 540 Paint Horses start in 535 APHA-recognized races across 17
states, competing for more than $4.7 million in purse money.
Continuing his domination of the Paint racing scene, Got Country Grip
showed he still has what it takes as an older horse on the track, winning his
20th race and being named World Champion Solid Paint-Bred for a record fifth
year. A talented 3-year-old gelding, PF Chief Runnin Bear, was named World
Champion Regular Registry after a stellar performance in the top derbies of the
year, including the Graham Derby and Speedhorse Derby.
PF Chief Runnin Bear
2009 was a year to break many records, with Chicks Lacerta breaking the
track record in the Dash For Colors Stakes at Will Rogers Downs with a time of
:15.60 seconds on April 4. In May, the running of the Grade 1 Graham Paint and
Appaloosa Futurity at Remington Park featured the largest purse in the history
of Paint racing at over $200,000. I Kick earned $104,120 for the win. The win by
I Kick also set into motion another record for her sire,
Judys Lineage. Judys Lineage, who had already made headlines for topping $3
million in offspring earnings, but when I Kick crossed the finish line first in
the Graham, it kicked his offspring earnings into a whole new category of over
$4 million, the first and only Paint sire to accomplish this milestone.
Judys Lineage
An exciting night of firsts would also occur in November at the trials for
the Grade 1 Lone Star Park Paint and Appaloosa Futurity, when two track records
were made. The first trial was won by Judys Rocket To Cash, running a :17.59 and
beating the previous track record held by Got Country Grip. However, in the
third trial of the night, Cutrock beat Judys Rocket To Cash’s time by running
the 350-yard length in :17.53. In the finals, Cutrock beat his own record by
winning the finals to the futurity in a time of :17.31 seconds.
Snow Me The Paddick, double-registered APHA/AQHA, won every 870 distance
race that the Paints offered, including securing a bid in the AQHA Distance
Challenge Championship after running second in his regional race. Although he
wasn’t able to compete in the Championship race, he represented us well
throughout the year. Read more about the history of racing