Page 128 - January 2019

SPENCE KIDNEY
by John Moorehouse
“To be associated with Heritage Place and the Quar- ter Horse racing piece of the busi- ness is what I ap- preciate most.”
If you are ever in Oklahoma and looking for a home or a horse, Spence Kidney could be your man. Kidney serves as the current general manager for Heritage Place, which runs three of the biggest horse sales each year. That facility just celebrated a mile- stone this year, holding its 40th annual yearling and mixed sales in September and November, respectively. Kidney also works as a real estate agent.
Kidney has been part of the horse world long before he entered the real estate game. He started working for Henry and Linda Bowlan on a breed- ing farm as a teenager and stayed working for the Bowlans all through high school and his first two years at Oklahoma State University, where he gradu- ated in 1996 with a degree in animal science.
Kidney took a break from his dual jobs to pro- vide some insights about himself.
Q: Where were you born?
A: Shawnee, Oklahoma.
Q: What is your favorite thing about living where you live?
A: It is home.
Q: What is your favorite movie, and why?
A: Hands down, “Smokey and The Bandit.” It had nothing to do with racing or the horse business, but a timeless classic that still makes me laugh today. There will never be another Jackie Gleason.
Q: If you could vacation anywhere on the planet, where would it be & what would you do there?
A: Not sure where it would be, but I probably would be going to a horse sale.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of horse racing?
A: My kids’ activities have mostly been outside of the horse business. My son was active in sports and 4H before graduating and is now attending OSU, and my daughter is very busy with dance, 12 months of the year.
Q: What is the strangest personality quirk you have ever seen in a horse?
A: We had a mare come to the farm to foal and breed back. We were told she was raised an orphan and to be careful around her, she was unpredictable. What we figured out was just the opposite, she was very predictable in the fact that if you touched her chin she would squeal and paw you every time.
Q: If you were not in the horse racing busi- ness, what job would you like to have?
A: I don’t think I would envision anything other than what I do now. Fortunately, I am allowed to be involved with a segment of the horse industry I truly love. The sale business is what I know and love. To be associated with Heritage Place and the Quarter Horse racing piece of the business is what I appreciate most.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote and, if so, what is it?
A: Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from poor judgment.
Q: If you could sit down and visit with any- one, past or present, who would it be?
A: I wish had been around to work with two gentle- men in our industry, the first being Mr. Bob Moore and the second is Col. Bill Tackett. Unfortunately, I did not have the pleasure of knowing or working with them, but I admire the experiences my colleagues and others in our business have shared about both of these gentlemen.
Q: What’s one thing you don’t like about Quarter Horse racing?
A: It is unfortunate the amount of time and resources that medication issues consume. No different than anyone else that appreciates our sport, I would like to see this topic continue to find common ground throughout the country, with a level playing field so that our industry will continue to grow and thrive.
Q: What’s one thing you like about Quarter Horse racing?
A: Our people. They are the best!
John Moorehouse
124 SPEEDHORSE, January 2019
THE LIGHTER SIDE