Page 55 - March 2017

A DIRECT CONNECTION
by Larry Thornton
I wonder just how many times I have typed the name Vessels Stallion Farm while writing about the pedigrees of our racehorses? The contribution of the Vessels family, and their Vessels Stallion Farm, goes beyond description as no less than seven horses and two men
with ties to the farm have been inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame. The horses are Do Good, Beduino TB, Chicado V, Clabber,
Go Man Go, Ought To Go, and First Down Dash. The men are Frank Vessels Sr. and his grandson Frank “Scoop” Vessels III.
The Vessels’ story begins with Frank Vessels Sr. and his mission to develop his breeding farm in conjunction with his racetrack in the 1940’s. The efforts by Vessels and his family led to Los Alamitos Race Course, and the Vessels Stallion Farm left a great legacy in Quarter Horse racing through the pedigrees of our horses running today.
In the early years, Frank Vessels Sr. traveled the country buying horses that would form the foundation of the Vessels Stallion Farm. He even wanted to buy the great performance horse Poco Bueno as a yearling. When he failed in his attempt, Poco Bueno was sold to E. Paul Waggoner of the Waggoner Ranch for a record price of $5,700.
Vessels later bought Clabber, who earned his title as the first AQHA World Champion in 1940. Noted as the “Iron Horse,” Clabber could be worked on the ranch or in a roping arena and then be raced, all in the same week.
Frank “Scoop” Vessels III
Frank Vessels Sr. developed his breeding farm in conjunction with his racetrack, which later became Los Alamitos Race Course, in the 1940’s. He and his grandson Frank “Scoop” Vessels III, through their Vessels Stallion Farm, created an outstanding breeding legacy that has contributed immensely to many of the great racehorses of today.
SPEEDHORSE, March 2017 53
SPEEDLINES
Frank Vessels Sr.