A famous

sire Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French. The words "sire" an ...

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 or less; some have been clocked at speeds up to . ...

s, Three Bars (1940–1968) was a registered

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

before going on to become a member of the

American Quarter Horse Association The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), based in Amarillo, Texas, United States, is an international organization dedicated to the preservation, improvement and record-keeping of the American Quarter Horse. The association sanctions many ...

's (or AQHA)

American Quarter Horse 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.

Life

Foaled April 8, 1940, Three Bars was sired by Percentage and out of Myrtle Dee.Simmons ''Legends'' p. 55 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

Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...

, owned by Sidney H. Vail, who paid $10,000 for him in 1945.Nye ''The Complete Book of the Quarter Horse'' p. 409 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 is the most populous city of the Mexican state of Baja California, located on the northwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico. Tijuana is the municipal seat of the Tijuana Municipality, the hub of the Tijuana metropolitan area and the most popu ...

, Mexico; which was a three-fourths of a mile, $4,000 ungraded

stakes race The following is a glossary of North American horse racing. Additional glossaries at: *Glossary of Australian and New Zealand punting *Glossary of equestrian terms This is a basic glossary of equestrian terms that includes both technical term ...

for horses three years old or older. The winning time was 1:10 and a fifth.''The American Racing Manual: 1947'' p. 374 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 () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. Three Bars died in March, 1968 in

Oklahoma Oklahoma ( ; Choctaw language, Choctaw: , ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northea ...

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

foal A foal is an equine up to one year old; this term is used mainly for horses, but can be used for donkeys. More specific terms are colt (horse), colt for a male foal and filly for a female foal, and are used until the horse is three or four. Whe ...

s earned more than $3 million on the

racetrack A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also us ...

. Among his famous offspring were Mr. Bar None, Gay Bar King, Sugar Bars,

Lightning Bar Lightning Bar (1951–1960) 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 ...

, 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 (1956–1992) 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 Doc Bar was foaled in 1956,Close and Simmons, ''Leg ...

became one of the most influential sires of

cutting horse A cutting horse is a stock horse, typically an American Quarter Horse, bred and trained for cutting, a modern equestrian competition requiring a horse and rider to separate a single cow from a herd of cattle and prevent it from getting back to t ...

s 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 A halter or headcollar is headgear placed on animals used to lead or tie up livestock and, occasionally, other animals; it fits behind the ears (behind the poll), and around the muzzle. To handle the animal, usually a lead rope is attached. ...

horses from the 1970s through the 1990s.Pitzer ''The Most Influential Quarter Horse Sires'' p. 136-137 His offspring Rocket Bar (TB), Sugar Bars, Lena's Bar (TB),

and Zippo Pat Bars were all inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. Of his grandget,

, 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 Supreme Champions — Kid Meyers, Bar Money, Fairbars, and Goldseeker Bars.Mattson ''The Real American Quarter Horse'' p. 5,7,9,51

Pedigree

Notes

References

* '' The American Racing Manual 1947 Edition'' Lexington, Kentucky: Triangle Publications 1947 *
All Breed Pedigree Database Pedigree of Three Bars
' retrieved on July 5, 2007 * * Mattson, Paul ''The Real American Quarter Horse: Versatile Athletes who proved Supreme'' Wamego, Kansas:Premier Publishing 1991 * Nye, Nelson C. ''The Complete Book of the Quarter Horse: A Breeder's Guide and Turfman's Reference'' New York:A. S. Barnes 1964 * Pitzer, Andrea Laycock ''The Most Influential Quarter Horse Sires'' Tacoma, WA:Premier Pedigrees 1987 * Simmons, Diance C. ''Legends: Outstanding Quarter Horse Stallions and Mares'' Colorado Springs:Western Horseman 1993

External links