Page 95 - Jan_2020

APPROACHING RETIREMENT
As Brad approached retirement from his sheet metal business, he and Robin pared down their operation to breeding two to three mares a year, keeping one or two to race.
In 2019, they ran 2-year-old Gentleman James, by Corona Cartel and out of Daring Diversion, by Strawfly Special, and 3-year- old Despite, by Apollitical Jess and also out of Daring Diversion. Gentleman James won $10,374 his freshman year, and Despite qualified for the Rocky Mountain Derby at Arapahoe Park in Denver, placing fifth in the blanket-finish final.
Back on the ranch, while Brad tends the cattle, the couple’s daughter-in-law, Dani, helps out on the ranch each day and Robin oversees and also runs herd on Cody and Dani’s two children, 5-year-old Carly and 10-month-old Cort.
Brad is also going into his third year on the AQHA Racing Committee, with whom he meets twice each year to review and make or change AQHA racing rules as needed. He also serves on a subcommittee working on breeders’ awards.
FAMILY TIME
These days, Brad and Robin spend time at horse sales, cattle sales and at home, and traveling when they can. “And with our grandkids,” Robin adds. “We have them here every day while Dani is working.”
They continue to breed to the best stallions they can, and send their running stock to Jose at Los Alamitos and John Hammes in Colorado.
The couple complements one another perfectly: While Brad loves raising the babies and seeing them off to the track, Robin’s passion is homework. “I think my favorite thing is picking the breedings and doing all the research on breedings and bloodlines,” she says. “I also
like going to the sales and seeing our horses looking good and selling well, and enjoying
the friends we’ve made in the business.”
“They’re incredibly invested in the business, both in terms of financial investment and also in terms of their participation and involvement,”
says Butch Wise. “You see them in Oklahoma at the sales, you see them in California at the sales, at the races, and we saw them at the National Finals [Rodeo] the other day. They’re involved in every aspect, whether
it be the racing or the breeding business. They know what good livestock is and they appreciate it, and we need a lot more people like them in the industry.”
Mac Murray concurs. “If we had more Brad and Robin Harts in the business, it’d be a real easy business to be in,” he says.
Above:StakeswinnerChaseThisCorona, shownwinningthe2006MarsBlackman StakesatYavapaiDowns.
Right: Multiple stakes winner Vandi Chick, shown winning the 2005 White Glove Delivery Futurity at Dixie Downs.
Below: Brad and Robin hart with grand- daughter Carly Jo Hart, daughter-in-law Dani and son Cody Hart.
The Harts also partnered on Chase This Corona and Vandi Chick
Vandi Chick
Chase This Corona