(1-5-23) The history of the development of the racing quarter horse features a thoroughbred stallion that was bred in Mexico. He would have a long-lasting impact on American quarter horse racing

His story takes a couple of interesting twist and turns in his racing career and later as a stud.

Beduino was bred in Mexico in 1968 by Justo F. Fernandez Sr., and is by Romany Royal (Great Britain) by Grey Sovereign and out of Jo-Ann-Cat.

His bloodline on the sire side is very heavy with European influence.

‘Beduino‘ started his three year (from 1970 to 1972) Thoroughbred racing career in Mexico winning his first two races at short distances, he ran in 11 Thoroughbred races and won four, including a second place finish in the 1971 Clasico Windsor Stakes

‘Beduino‘ won a $100,000 winner-take-all match race in 1974 at Mexico City against Champion Quarter Racing Gelding Come Six. Other match races would take place in order to show quarter horse owners the possibility of breeding to him…it worked.

In 1974, ‘Beduino‘ began standing at stud at the Vessels Stallion Farm when Frank Vessels, Jr. bought half of ‘Beduino‘ from Justo Fernandez after an exhibition race at Los Alamitos Race Course. In late 1985, Vessels’ widow, Mildred, bought the remaining interest in ‘Beduino‘.

‘Beduino‘ sired 19 foal crops and a total 722 registered Quarter Horse foals, which included 603 race starters, 436 winners, 80 stakes-placed horses and 40 stakes winners, whose cumulative earnings totaled $13,099,594. This placed him third on the leading money-earning sires list of Quarter racehorses and as the leading Thoroughbred represented at one time. 

His racing champion offspring included Brigand Silk, Chingaderos, and Indigo Illusion, Tolltac and Strawberry Silk and fellow 2007 Hall of Fame member Chicks Beduino.

‘Beduino‘ was put down May 13, 1991, at Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, California, due to infirmities of old age. He was 23 years old.

‘Beduino‘ was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2008.

His offspring are still an active part of quarter horse racing…

FDD Dynasty

One of the top quarter horse stallions (5th in earnings by a sire for 2022) in America stands at the Bob Moore Farm in Norman, Oklahoma….his book is full for 2023.

You will notice that his bloodline includes ‘Beduino‘ on the mare side, a tribute to his impact on quarter horse racing. You will find he still appears in many top top quarter horse stallions.

Thanks to owners and breeders like Justo F. Fernandez Sr., Frank Vessels, Jr. and Mildred Vessels this part of quarter horse history happened. At the time of the birth of ‘Beduino‘ and until his death racing history was made. Those who made those choices, most likely faced ‘nay sayers’ from both those in quarter horse and thoroughbred racing individuals.

The story is told in 1974…

Frank ‘Scoop’ Vessels III recalled in a posting… Beduino, The Mystery Horse From Mexico –

“My dad (Frank Vessels Jr.) told me that this Mexican man kept bugging him to come see his horse. You know, we’ve always had all kinds of horses and the last thing my dad wanted to see was another horse.

“But, the man kept bugging him and finally my dad gave in.”

“When he came back to Los Alamitos from Mexico City, my dad said to me – and he was very excited – ‘Scoop, I just saw the best looking horse I’ve ever laid eyes on.’

“And, you know he’s seen a lot of great looking horses.”

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Thanks to AQHA for portions of this story

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