Page 92 - January 2017

Carolyn relaxes at T. Bill Stables, where she enjoys riding and visiting with friends and family.
CUTTING BACK
After Walt died in 2013, Carolyn knew she needed to decrease her work load, so she cut her broodmare band from their previous norm of
five or six down to two: Tresor 123 (Tres Seis- Barbs Beduino 123, Chicks Beduino) and Hot Cash 123. “It wasn’t a big herd in the first place,” Carolyn says. “I planned Tresor 123’s breeding
so that she could go to various stallions and she’s got Beduino in her. She was a good runner — she qualified for the Heritage Place Derby, and then I pulled her to breed her. She’s only had two colts: stakes placed Dynamite 123, by FDD Dynasty, who won the Black Gold 350 Futurity in 2015 with Clinton Crawford as trainer, and placed third in his All American Derby trial in 2016; and Fast N Furious 123, by Furyofthewind, who sold at last fall’s Heritage Place Sale.
Carolyn has pretty much resigned herself that Tough Dynasty 123, trained by C. “Sleepy” Gilbreath, who has trained her horses since Jack Brooks retired, will be her last runner.
“I figure at age 80, maybe I’d better run one more horse!” she says. “I have no idea whether he can run, but I hope he can. At least I’ll have the opportunity for one last hurrah of being able to visit with the trainers and do the things I’ve thoroughly enjoyed doing.
“I’ve been blessed that I can still do a lot of things,” she adds. “I want to do well and enjoy it in the present. I love everything I
do and I’m thankful for every day. And I’m thankful for all the people I’ve had contact with and learned from: the Jack Brookses, the Sleepy Gilbreaths, the Marty Powerses, Bob Moore Farms — Phillip Stewart has been
so good to me — those people have helped educate me and were patient and kind. They gave me encouragement to keep trying and I’m constantly learning.”
She appreciates not only the business associates who have helped her along her life’s journey, but also the family and friends who have stood beside her.
“When I really want to chill out,” she says, “we have acreage behind here where there’s a lake. I love to get on a horse and take one of my kids or a grandson or a friend and walk back through the pine trees and visit — to enjoy the land, the trees, the water and the horse, and whoever I’m with. That’s the ultimate pleasure.”
And for those who have rubbed elbows with Carolyn and Walter, the T. Bill connection will surely stand as one of their greatest pleasures.
“I figure at age 80, maybe I’d better run one more horse!”
90 SPEEDHORSE, January 2017
Courtesy of David Bay