28 July , 1962
Sir MacAlvanni , Southern Champion Stallion , Achieved 106 Blue Ribbons In 108 Shows
A number of precious old clippings have come into our possession — gifts from Mrs . W . \ V . Gill , Belfast , Tenn . The Voice will print them from time to tittle .
( Reprinted from Miss Margaret Lindslev Warden ’ s column in the Nashville Tennessean , 1939 .)
Sir MacAlvanni — Music Lover
Ever wonder about the private lile of a show champion . What does he or she do beside stand in the stall carefully wrapped and prepared for the next show ?
Sir MacAlvanni . champion Walking Stallion of the South , maintains a fresh approach to an exacting career by cultivating hobbies . His favorites are thinking Coca Colas and listening to music . Fortunately , his owners , Mr . and Mrs . John H . Amos of Franklin , share his enthusiasm for both .
" One morning ," said Mrs . Amos , " he was grazing in the front lawn when the radio struck up a march . He pulled his groom , Charlie , all over the yard trying to get close to thai music .” Mr . Amos believes that Sir Mac ’ s musical taste is due to his associating thaL sound with the show ’ ring , for he straightens up and looks grainier when he hears it . Anyway he is definitely music conscious .
The Coca Cola habit is an old one . His former trainer , Tommy Pike , introduced him to it in Mississippi and he drains the bottle with dreamy-eyed satisfaction .
Amos bought Sir MacAlvanni from Clyde Westbrook of Cleveland , Miss ., four days after the black beauty lopped ( at S2,450 ) the Murray Farm sale at Lewisburg , May 25th . The price was $ 2,500 , one of the highest of the breed .
Although the season was about over more than 20 mares , including threegaited ones from Ohio and Kentucky , were sent to the champion ’ s new ’ courL . While only seven years old , he is rated a successful sire . His son , Tommy Tell , has won 19 blues in 21 shows and sold for S2,000 .
108 Shows , 106 Blues
Sir Mac ' s own record is 108 shows . 106 blues . His two defeats w ’ ere by Lynnie Gray , the State Fair Walking Champion of 1938 . and by Lillie White , champion at Baton Rouge , 1939 . Sir Mac himself w ’ as champion at Baton Rouge . 1937 , and Champion Walking Stallion of the Tennessee State Fair , 1936 and 193S .
He is the only stallion to defeat the great Harvest Moon . Most of his shows have been in Mississippi , that other great “ Walking ” state , when owmed by Clyde Westbrook and previously by Rabun Jones of Leland , Miss .
Preceding Jones in ownership were Martin Goodrich of Nashville , Fred Walker of Shelbyville , and his breeder , Leonard Walker of Wartrace . At present Mr . and Mrs . Amos have no definite plans for show ’ ing the champion .
Sir Mac ' s pedigree ( Giovanni-Walker ’ s Leatha by Lynche ’ s King , ( etc .) has probably been memorized by the experts and the fine points of his conformation likewise , for he is a true “ black beauty .”
Amos Breeds Winners
Although Amos has been in the Walking Horse game only a few years and maintains only about six mares , he bred the filly which was State Fair champion w ’ eanling of 1937 and second prize yearling of 1938 and has nominated her full sister ( by Walker ’ s Allen-Mattie Lou ) for w ’ eanling honors this year .
However , Sir Mac is the pet of the place , for he has personality as well as pedigree and prizes .
( End article . The follow ’ ing information is obtained from the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders ’ Association Register . This register currently includes horse registrations extending through Volume 9 , that includes registrations through 475520 . This volume is dated 1948 .
Sir MacAlvanni was originally named Jones ’ Sir MacAlvanni , When registered he w ’ as property of Clyde E . Westbrook , Cleveland , Miss . He is described as a “ black horse , near hind sock , star , mixed tail ; foaled 1932 ; bred by Leonard Walker , Wartrace , Tenn .
His sire is listed as Giovanni 370291 : his dam , Walker ’ s Leatha 360090 .
Giovanni ’ s Background
On page 144 of this same Volume I the registration of Giovanni is shown as follows :
Giovanni ( 4704 A . S . R .— American
Saddle Registry ) ; property to Tom Brown , Columbia , Tenn . Black horse , all coronets ; foaled June , 1910 ; bred by William Wade , Versailles , Ky .
Giovanni ' s sire was Dandy Jim If ( 1531 A . S . R .); by McDonald Chief F-31 ( a foundation deceased sire in the TWH Register )
Giovanni ' s dam was Francesca ( 6949 A . S . R .), by Joel ( 447 A . S . R .) ; 2d dam Mabel , by Happy Time ( 443 A . S . R .) ; 3d dam by Jeff Denmark ( 704 A . S . R .) On Page 81 of Volume 1 the registration of Walker ’ s Leatha is listed as follow ’ s :
Walker ' s Leatha 360090 , property of Rabun Jones , Hollandale , Miss .; bay mare ; star ; foaled 1926 ; bred by Leonard AValker , Wartrace , Tenn .
Walker ’ s Leatha ’ s sire was Lynche ' s King , by Merry King 360121 ; Lynche ’ s King ' s dam by Star Dillard ; Lynche ’ s King ’ s 2d dam Pearl Scruggs , by Raleigh F-15 ( sired by Gardner ’ s Stonewall , ( by Stonewall Jackson F-51 ), out of a daughter of Stonew ’ all Jackson F-51 .
Walker ’ s Leatha ' s dam was Walker ’ s Cripp , by Hunter ’ s Allen F-10 ; 2d dam , Walker ’ s Carrie , by Roan Allen F-38 .
McDonald ’ s Chief F-31
McDonald ’ s Chief F-31 is shown on Page 31 in the same volume as having the follow ’ ing background .
( Bay horse ; off hind fool ; foaled 1896 ; bred by John T . Hughes , Muir . Ky .)
SIRE , Rex McDonald ( 833 A . S . R .), by Rex Denmark ( 840 A . S . R .) , by Crigler ' s Denmark , by Washington Denmark ( 64 A . S . R .) ; Rex Denmark ’ s dam , a daughter of Star of the West ; Rex McDonald ’ s dam Lucy Mack ( 2459 A . S . R .) by Black Squirrel ( 58 A . S . R .) . DAM , Lady McClelland , by Bourbon Chief ( 976 A . S . R .), by Harrison Chief ( 1606 A . S . R .), by Clark ’ s Chief ( 89 A . T . R .); Bourbon Chief ’ s dam Belle , by Lathan ’ s Denmark ( 69 A . S . R .) ; 2d dam a daughter of Monte , by Montrose ; 3d dam a daughter of Taylor ’ s saddle horse .
This priceless information is available only in the Breeders ’ Association Register . It is an intensely interesting study to trace back to their origins the great horses of the breed .