Page 117 - January 2018

A NATURAL PASSION
Bloodline research is Larry Thornton’s gift and legacy to the Quarter Horse industry.
by Diane Rice
Born in Minnesota, Larry Thornton was a city kid who loved horses and for whom bloodlines and pedigrees have always held a
fascination. “I wasn’t involved in the horse industry enough to develop my skills as a judge, but I wanted to be involved, so I ended up studying pedigrees,” he says.
“I’ve had an interest in bloodlines since I was young and have always pursued that,” Larry says. But his interest blossomed in 1984 when he contacted Peg Jaffe, who was Speedhorse’s editor at that time, to pitch an article on the King Ranch influence on Quarter Horse racing.
“Peg had a stipulation that if I was going to do that article, I’d have to interview B.F. Phillips Jr., who was the breeder of Dash For Cash and had a partnership with the King Ranch, using King Ranch mares. That’s how Dash For Cash came about. I was successful in getting that interview and shortly after that article came
out, I was asked to take over the “Speedlines” column from Ty Wyant and Walt Wiggins Jr.”
His fascination with bloodlines, especially as they pertain to a horse’s mind, has brought him writing and research opportunities that have continued to fuel his natural pedigree passion.
“Larry has been the best student of history
as it relates to pedigrees,” says Frank Merrill
of Norman, Oklahoma. “I don’t know anyone that delves deeper into and tries to make an explanation for excellence in performance in any of our disciplines: not just racing or cutting or reining. He’s a walking encyclopedia of history and how our breeding industry relates to the pedigrees that have been the more prolific producers and progenitors of excellence.”
Walt Wiggins Jr. adds, “I have a lot of respect for his work, particularly his “Working Lines” series. I enjoyed them a great deal because nobody ever tackled that side of the pedigree business in Quarter Horses; he made a huge contribution by doing those.”
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