Three Bars
Encyclopedia
A famous sire
of Quarter Horse
s, Three Bars was actually a registered Thoroughbred
racehorse before going on to become a member of the American Quarter Horse Association
's (or AQHA) American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame
.
, owned by Sidney H. Vail, who paid $10,000 for him in 1945. Eventually, his leg problems cleared up enough for him to race and show great early speed. He won the Speed Handicap in 1946 at Hipodromo de Tijuana, Tijuana
, Mexico; which was a three-fourths of a mile, $4,000 ungraded stakes race for three year olds or older. The winning time was 1:10 and a fifth. Vail leased him to Walter Merrick, an early breeder of racing Quarter Horses, for a few years, but also stood him in Arizona and California
. Three Bars died in March, 1968 in Oklahoma
on Walter Merrick's ranch.
s earned more than $3 million on the racetrack. Among his famous offspring were Mr. Bar None, Gay Bar King, Sugar Bars
, Lightning Bar
, Tonto Bars Gill, St. Bar, Steel Bars, and Bar Money. Others include Triple Chick, Alamitos Bar, Bar Depth, Royal Bar, Josie's Bar, and Galobar. His grandson Doc Bar
became one of the most influential sires of cutting horses ever known. Another grandson, Tonto Bars Hank, sired all around horses. Jewel's Leo Bars (Freckles), an outstanding cutting horse and sire of cutting horses, was another grandson of Three Bars (TB). Impressive
, a triple descendant of Three Bars, became the most prepotent sire of Quarter Horse halter
horses from the 1970s through the 1990s. His offspring Rocket Bar (TB), Sugar Bars, Lena's Bar (TB), Lightning Bar
and Zippo Pat Bars
were all inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. Of his grandget, Doc Bar, Zippo Pine Bar
, Easy Jet
, Kaweah Bar
, Zan Parr Bar
, and The Invester
were inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame. Four of his sons were AQHA Supereme Champions - Kid Meyers, Bar Money, Fairbars, and Goldseeker Bars.
Sire
Sire may refer to:* Father, the counterpart of a dam, particularly in animal breeding. See also stallion* James W. Sire, author on worldviews* Sire Records, a record label* Sire Advertising, an advertising agency...
of Quarter Horse
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
s, Three Bars was actually a registered Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse before going on to become a member of the American Quarter Horse Association
American Quarter Horse Association
The American Quarter Horse Association , based in Amarillo, Texas, is an international organization dedicated to the preservation, improvement and record-keeping of the American Quarter Horse. The association sanctions many competitive events and maintains the official registry...
's (or AQHA) American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame
American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame
The American Quarter Horse Association has created a Hall of Fame in Amarillo, Texas to honor both people and horses who contributed to the growth of the American Quarter Horse. Any one may nominate either people or horses to be considered. Nominations from the membership are due by October 1. They...
.
Life
Foaled April 8, 1940, Three Bars was sired by Percentage and out of Myrtle Dee. After a promising showing in race training, he developed leg problems and never raced well before he was six years old. By that time, he was in ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, owned by Sidney H. Vail, who paid $10,000 for him in 1945. Eventually, his leg problems cleared up enough for him to race and show great early speed. He won the Speed Handicap in 1946 at Hipodromo de Tijuana, Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, Mexico; which was a three-fourths of a mile, $4,000 ungraded stakes race for three year olds or older. The winning time was 1:10 and a fifth. Vail leased him to Walter Merrick, an early breeder of racing Quarter Horses, for a few years, but also stood him in Arizona and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Three Bars died in March, 1968 in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
on Walter Merrick's ranch.
Sire Record
Three Bars was the sire of 29 AQHA Champions, 4 AQHA Supreme Champions, 317 Racing Register of Merit earners, and his foalFoal
A foal is an equine, particularly a horse, that is one year old or younger. More specific terms are colt for a male foal and filly for a female foal, but these terms are used until the horse is age three or four. When the foal is nursing from its dam , it may also be called a suckling...
s earned more than $3 million on the racetrack. Among his famous offspring were Mr. Bar None, Gay Bar King, Sugar Bars
Sugar Bars
Sugar Bars was a Quarter Horse racehorse and stallion who sired many Quarter horse race and show horses.-Life:Sugar Bars, a sorrel stallion, foaled in 1951 in El Paso, Texas. He was registered as number 42,606 with the American Quarter Horse Association . His breeder was George E...
, Lightning Bar
Lightning Bar
Lightning Bar was an American Quarter Horse who raced and subsequently became a breeding stallion. He was bred by his lifelong owner Art Pollard of Sonoita, Arizona, and was the offspring of Three Bars, a Thoroughbred, and Della P, a Quarter Horse mare from Louisiana, then noted for the breeding...
, Tonto Bars Gill, St. Bar, Steel Bars, and Bar Money. Others include Triple Chick, Alamitos Bar, Bar Depth, Royal Bar, Josie's Bar, and Galobar. His grandson Doc Bar
Doc Bar
Doc Bar was a Quarter Horse stallion that was bred to be a racehorse, became an outstanding halter horse, and in his sire career revolutionized the cutting horse industry.-Life:...
became one of the most influential sires of cutting horses ever known. Another grandson, Tonto Bars Hank, sired all around horses. Jewel's Leo Bars (Freckles), an outstanding cutting horse and sire of cutting horses, was another grandson of Three Bars (TB). Impressive
Impressive (horse)
Impressive was born an Appendix American Quarter Horse, however earned his full AQHA registration in 1971. He was the 1974 World Champion Open Aged halter stallion, the first such World Champion in his breed, despite carrying only 48 halter points in total. He is famous for his highly successful...
, a triple descendant of Three Bars, became the most prepotent sire of Quarter Horse halter
Halter (horse show)
"Halter" is a term used to describe a type of horse show class where horses are shown "in hand," meaning that they are led, not ridden, and are judged on their conformation and suitability as breeding stock...
horses from the 1970s through the 1990s. His offspring Rocket Bar (TB), Sugar Bars, Lena's Bar (TB), Lightning Bar
Lightning Bar
Lightning Bar was an American Quarter Horse who raced and subsequently became a breeding stallion. He was bred by his lifelong owner Art Pollard of Sonoita, Arizona, and was the offspring of Three Bars, a Thoroughbred, and Della P, a Quarter Horse mare from Louisiana, then noted for the breeding...
and Zippo Pat Bars
Zippo Pat Bars
Zippo Pat Bars was a Quarter horse racehorse and showhorse who became an influential sire in the breed.-Life:Zippo Pat Bars was a son of the Thoroughbred stallion Three Bars out of a daughter of Leo named Leo Pat. He was a 1964 sorrel stallion bred by Paul Curtner...
were all inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. Of his grandget, Doc Bar, Zippo Pine Bar
Zippo Pine Bar
Zippo Pine Bar is the leading Western Pleasure sire of Quarter Horses.-Life:Zippo Pine Bar was a 1969 sorrel son of Zippo Pat Bars out of Dollie Pine, a daughter of Poco Pine. Poco Pine was a son of Poco Bueno...
, Easy Jet
Easy Jet
Easy Jet was an American Quarter Horse foaled, or born, in 1967, and was one of only two horses to have been a member of the American Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame as well as being an offspring of members...
, Kaweah Bar
Kaweah Bar
Known as the Palomino Express, Kaweah Bar racked up impressive stats on the Quarter Horse racetracks.-Life:Kaweah Bar was the son of Alamitos Bar and out of Angie Miss. Alamitos Bar was a son of Three Bars...
, Zan Parr Bar
Zan Parr Bar
Zan Parr Bar was a Quarter horse stallion who excelled at halter and at calf roping, as well as being a famous sire of show horses. He was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Association's Hall of Fame in 2010.-Early life:...
, and The Invester
The Invester
The Invester was a Quarter Horse stallion who excelled at halter and at western pleasure, as well as being a famous sire of western pleasure horses.-Life:...
were inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame. Four of his sons were AQHA Supereme Champions - Kid Meyers, Bar Money, Fairbars, and Goldseeker Bars.
Pedigree
Further reading
- Groves, Lesli Krause "Three Bars" Quarter Horse Journal May 1996
- McKnight, James "A Year to Remember" Quarter Racing Journal May 1995
- Thornton, Larry "The Working Lines: Three Bars" Southern Horseman November 1990