Leo (1940–1967) was one of the most influential

Quarter Horse The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less; some have been clocked at ...

sires in the early years of the American Quarter Horse Association (or AQHA).

Life

Leo was foaled in 1940.Close and Simmons ''Legends: Outstanding Quarter Horse Stallions and Mares'' pp. 157–165 He was a double grandson of Joe Reed P-3, as both his sire and dam were by Joe Reed P-3.Leo Pedigree at All Breed Pedigree
retrieved on June 22, 2007 He was registered with the AQHA as number 1335, a

sorrel Sorrel (''Rumex acetosa''), also called common sorrel or garden sorrel, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Polygonaceae. Other names for sorrel include spinach dock and narrow-leaved dock ('dock' being a common name for the genus '' ...

stallion bred by J. W. House of

Cameron, Texas Cameron is a city in Milam County, Texas, United States. Its population was 5,306 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Milam County. Geography Cameron is located at (30.854544, –96.978716). It is situated at the junction of U.S. High ...

and owned by E. M. Salinas of

Eagle Pass, Texas Eagle Pass is a city in and the county seat of Maverick County in the U.S. state of Texas. Its population was 28,130 as of the 2020 census. Eagle Pass borders the city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, which is to the southwest and across t ...

.AQHA ''Official Stud Book and Registry Combined 1–5'' p. 122

Racing career

Leo raced in the early years of the American Quarter Racing Association, being rated with an A

speed rating In everyday use and in kinematics, the speed (commonly referred to as ''v'') of an object is the magnitude of the change of its position over time or the magnitude of the change of its position per unit of time; it is thus a scalar quanti ...

and earning a Race Register of Merit in 1944. However, his exact racing record isn't available.Wagoner ''Quarter Racing Digest'' pp. 631–635 He raced mainly at Pawhuska, Oklahoma in the ownership of John W. Tillman. Leo set a track record at Pawhuska, running 300 yards in 16.0 seconds. He is claimed to have won 20 out of 22

match race A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head. In sailboat racing it is differentiated from a fleet race, which almost always involves three or more competitors competing against each other, and team racing where teams consi ...

s.Nye ''Complete Book of the Quarter Horse'' pp. 399–408 Tillman told

Nelson Nye Nelson Coral Nye (1907–1997) was an American writer, editor, and reviewer of Western fiction, and wrote non-fiction books on quarter horses. Besides Nelson C. Nye he also wrote fiction using the pseudonyms Clem Colt and Drake C. Denver. He wrote ...

that "He always had a wonderful disposition, is easily handled, was a perfect gate horse, and had the heart and ability to come from behind and outrun good horses." Tillman sold Leo to Gene Moore of

Fairfax, Oklahoma Fairfax is a town in Osage County, Oklahoma, United States. The Osage Nation reservation is coterminous with the county. The population was 1,380 at the 2010 census, down 11.3 percent from the figure of 1,555 recorded in 2000. It is notable as t ...

, who stood him at stud for a number of years. In 1946 Leo had a trailer accident that nearly cut off both hind legs, he recovered enough to race, but never as well as before. In 1947, Leo ended up in the hands of Bud Warren( of Perry, Oklahoma), who retired him to full-time stud duties.Nye ''Great Moments in Quarter Racing'' pp. 66–69 He died in 1967.

Breeding record

Leo was the sire of many outstanding horses, including

Miss Meyers Miss Meyers (1949 – March 1963) was an American Quarter Horse racehorse and broodmare, the 1953 World Champion Quarter Running Horse. She won $28,725 () as well as 17 races. As a broodmare, she produced, or was the mother of, the ...

, Palleo Pete, Robin Reed, Hygro Leo, Holey Sox, Leo Tag, Leolita, Okie Leo, and Tiger Leo.Pitzer ''Most Influential Quarter Horse Sires'' pp. 68–69 He sired twenty-four horses that earned an AQHA Championship, and 211 Race Register of Merits. One of his foals, Leo Maudie, earned the highest showing and racing honor the AQHA has when he earned an AQHA Supreme Championship in 1971.Mattson ''Real American Quarter Horse'' pp. 26–27 He was an outstanding sire of broodmares, many of his daughters going to on produce racehorses as well as show horses. Leo's daughter Leota W was the 1947 Co-Champion Quarter Running Two-Year-Old Filly. Leola, another daughter, was the first Quarter horse to win three futurities, winning the Oklahoma, Colorado and Wyoming Futurities. His son, Palleo Pete, was the 1954 Champion Quarter Running Stallion.

Honors

Leo was inducted into the

AQHA Hall of Fame The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum was created by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), based in Amarillo, Texas. Ground breaking construction of the Hall of Fame Museum began in 1989. The distinction is earned by people and ...

in 1989.

Pedigree

Notes

References

*
All Breed Pedigree Database Pedigree of Leo
' retrieved on June 22, 2007
AQHA Hall of Fame
accessed on September 1, 2017 * * * * * * *

External links

Leo at Foundation Horses

Leo at Quarter Horse Directory

Leo at Quarter Horse Legends

{{authority control 1940 racehorse births 1967 racehorse deaths American Quarter Horse racehorses American Quarter Horse sires AQHA Hall of Fame (horses)