Page 103 - Speedhorse May 2019

“Tony B Deck is one of the best Quarter Horses Around” Welch says
Owners Mr. & Mrs. Anthony A. Buford, trainer Joe Welch, Tony B Deck and Tony B Deck won his last race in the World’s Championship Classic at Ruidoso Downs jockey Larry Byers after winning the Sunland Spring Derby on Jan. 1, 1971. on Aug. 29, 1971.
This year, he has Canestep, a fine three
year old by Watch Your Step. Welch not only trains Canestep, but owns him. But, his biggest prize at the moment is Tony B Deck, owned by Anthony Buford of St. Louis. Tony B Deck fin- ished ahead of mighty Rocket Wrangler in the Sunland Futurity. Rocket Wrangler had won the All American Futurity with Tony B Deck third, a head behind. In the Sunland Futurity, Talented Lady was first, Tony B Deck second and Rocket Wrangler third.
Tony B Deck lived up to Welch’s expectations in the Sunland Park Spring Quarter Horse Derby on Jan. 31. The Jet Deck-Annie B Bar colt beat a powerful field in easy fashion. California invader Kipty’s Moose was second, a half-length behind. Tony B Deck raced the 400 yards in :19.79 and returned $4.40 to win. Larry Byers, veteran Southwest riding star, was aboard. After the race, Welch was asked if he’d like another crack at the All American Futurity. “Sure, I would,” he said, “and I’ve got another young horse coming up which we hope will do the job. He’s a half-brother to Tony B Deck. He just turned two.” The youth’s name, appropriately, is Tonys Rebel, out of Annie B Bar and by Connie Reb.
Welch’s day begins at 5:30 a.m. and ends somewhere around dark. On non-race days, that is. He takes a two or three hour break for lunch, usually lunching at his comfort- able home in Coronado Hills in El Paso. His wife, Louise, is a lively, hospitable lady who no doubt helps make Welch’s life happier. They have been married 25 years and have raised five children: their two sons (Jim, 31 and Mike, 24) and three daughters (Merle, 30; Jan, 29; Karen, 27; Sharon, 27). Karen and Sharon are twins. Jim is the son who married Raquel Welch. “They were sweet- hearts since they were in the ninth grade,”
the elder Welch recalls. “They remained sweethearts through high school in Los Angeles and eventually married. Raquel was always a beautiful girl. She got her start in show business by doing a weather report on a television station in Los Angeles. They broke up later. It was just one of those things.”
Welch’s philosophy of training is simple but effective. “I feed all my horses the same,” he says. “That includes Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. However, that’s about all I do the same. I treat each horse individually. Some need a lot of work, others don’t. Some are the nervous type, others aren’t. You can’t
make a flat statement and say that all horses should work out so much, or be treated a certain way.”
Welch presently has 12 head at Sunland Park. He’s got great hopes for some of the der- bies around the Southwest with Tony B Deck. “He’s one of the best Quarter Horses around,” Welch says. “You can bet he’ll do alright.”
Welch, incidentally, was once a deputy sheriff in New Mexico. It was only one of many colorful times in his life. But, he never brags about his accomplishments. Well, hardly ever.
“I make a darn good dry martini,” he claims.
Joe Welch with Cowboy, who Welch thought was the best bred pony horse in the business.
SPEEDHORSE, May 2019 101
LOOKING BACK - AN EXCERPT FROM MARCH 1971 ISSUE
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