2 June , 1962
Searcy , Ark Farm Foals Win 4
World ' s Titles
Placing an emphasis on mares unsurpassed elsewhere at any modern Tennessee Walking Horse breeding place , the Porter Rodgers ’ Farm at Searcy , Ark ., can today point to two records unique in the history ol this breed that is more than a century ' old .
This 200-acre establishment 125 miles southwest ol Memphis , Tenn . has been the “ foaling ground ’’ for three stallions that won a toLal of four Grand Championships of the World at the Shelbvville National Celebration .
This same acreage has on its pastures at this moment four mares that have accounted for eight Championships of the World — seven of them by bearing foals and one by winning a title herself . This fact too is not equalled anywhere else in the history of this breed .
In the last two or three years yet another pronounced factor has been developed at Searcy by Dr . Porter Rodgers with the able assistance of Joe Webb , his manager-trainer .
‘ Perfection ’ Is Doctor ’ s Ideal
Standing at stud there is a homegrown World ’ s Champion which Dr . Rodgers regards as the “ ideal stallion of the breed ”— a horse that has reached a goal in genetics and personal performance the physician set for his operation more than two decades ago when he entered the Tennessee Walking Horse business .
He named that stallion " Rodgers ’ Perfection ." The horse won the Celebration Grand Championship of the World in 1959 as a 4-year-old with Joe Webb riding ; the stallion was immediately retired to stud and now has 3-year-old and 2-year-old progeny showing .
At this writing there is a Perfectionsired 2-vear-old regarded by many as among the most very ' promising young horses of the breed . He is named Perfection ’ s Carbon Copy — looks exactly like his daddy and rides like him according to Trainer Webb . Carbon Copy appears on the front of this magazine . Perfection appears on the back . Compare the two .
Within the last month Carbon Copy has become one of the most “ talked about " 2-year-old Tennessee Walking show horses in the nation . First he staged a brilliant showing in his class on the indoor track at the Little Rock Ark . Coliseum . He proved he had style and stamina on a hard track .
At that show , movie star-singer Pat Boone also rode Rodgers ’ Perfection on two exhibitions that brought down the house with a capacity crowd on the second run . Carbon Copy is owned by Dr . Rodgers and Howard Binns of Dallas , Tex .
Later at the Columbia , Tenn . Spring Jubilee , Carbon Copy won the 2-year-old stallion event on a rainswept , mud-plastered track where stamina was again eloquently proved . A three-horse workout observed by three prominent show judges climaxed this event that had the crowd in a frenzy . Carbon Copy proved himself under adverse , muddy track conditions he will seldom face in horse shows .
Dr . Rodgers and Joe Webb believe Rodgers ' Perfection will become a premier-all-time producing stallion of the breed . His 3-year-old Doctor ’ s Perfection is already establishing a notable show record . They are so impressed with Perfection ’ s colts that they plan to start within two years an annual auction sale of the “ cream of the crop ” Perfection colts — with probably 30 two-year-olds being sold .
Farm Built For Utility
The Porter Rodgers ’ Farm at Searcy is built for utility , having more than 100 stalls , several separate pastures , specialized areas for horses of various ages , daily inspection of more than 100 broodmares , a dedicated crew of some eight men who go about their business with energy and foresight .
There are two exercise tracks , one built exactly to Celebration standards and used especially to prepare entries for this annual event at Shelbyville . Most of the facilities have been built since Webb returned to the farm seven years ago from Quincy , Fla . where he worked four years on the J . T . Buck ! Farm with Trainer Carl Edwards . That was after graduation at Harding College at Searcy , an institution sponsored by the Church of Christ . Joe worked at the farm while attending college .
The totally distinctive record of the Porter Rodgers ’ Farm as a breeding establishment began in 1945 when Old Glory ' s Big Man , the 1950 World ’ s Grand Champion , was foaled ai Searcy by Nell Mayberry for her owner , Sam Mayberry of Harrisburg , Ark . The sire was Old Glory .
Second big step came in 1952 when Merry Walker — believed by many to be the greatest broodmare of modern times — foaled there Go Boy ’ s Shadow , sired by twice-champion Merry Go Boy . In 1955 Shadow won the World ' s Grand Championship and the junior championship at the same Celebration as a 3-year-old . He repeated in 1956 with Winston Wiser again riding .
Rodgers ’ Perfection was foaled by Merry Walker on May 6 , 1955 , sired by Midnight Mack IC .
Two “ Grand Champions ” In 3 Years
Perfection won the World ' s Grand Championship in 1959 as a 4-year-old . Thus Merry Walker dropped two grand champions within a period of three years — a record that may well last forever .
She also foaled other prominent show horses , including Sunday Bonnet , the World ' s Champion Mare in 1956-57 . Another foal by her was Sun ’ s Dark Lady .
Those three stallions represent four Rodgers Farm-born champions to win titles within the last 11 years , ( Shadow winning twice ) . In fact , the titles were earned within a period of nine years — something never done before by a single farm . It ’ s a creative achievement .
Not content with " foaling champions ," Dr . Rodgers has been carrying on a veritable campaign to assemble what has become recognized generally as the “ greatest band of broodmares " ever collected on a single farm — that is broodmares with proved show records . This reputation for the farm became current in national magazines several years ago .
“ Great Mothers ” Big Essential
Basis for Dr . Rodgers ’ broodmare project is simple . He says “ behind every great person is a great mother and it traces back . There is also usually a great grandmother . 1 believe the same thing applies to horses . Great foals are produced by great mares .”
On this belief he has staked much study in genetics , much study of show performance , and considerable money in payment to other breeders and horse-owners .
His four broodmares that personally account for eight championships of the world are :
Black Angel , the 1943 World ’ s Grand Champion in her own right , ( Continued on Page 3 )