Page 37 - January 2018

him in its book, The World’s Greatest Photographers. He also belonged to the Overseas Press Club, the American Society of Press Photographers and the Adventure Club of New York.
In 1959, Sports Illustrated assigned him to cover the first All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. “That’s how he and Gene Hensley, who owned Ruidoso at the time, became acquainted,” Walt Jr. says. Walt went to work as Ruidoso’s director of publicity, which in time grew to encompass several positions culminating in vice president.
“Walt was the one who initially promoted the All American Futurity,” says Scott Wells, to whom Walt Sr. opened up the world of professional journalism, and who now serves as president and general manager of Remington and Lone Star Parks. “When Gene Hensley and Carl Mercer invented the race, Walt promoted the heck out of it. They projected that the race would have a purse of $50,000, but it ended up having a $129,000 purse, which was unheard of at the time — even bigger than the Kentucky Derby.”
Walt Sr. also promoted the All American Sale when it came into being in 1962.
“Dad’s vision was a very professionally done, slick magazine that portrayed all aspects of the Quarter Horse racing business in a very professional way...”
In those days, one magazine existed to serve the Quarter Horse racing industry: Quarter Racing Record. “I think Dad felt like the industry was growing and there was room for another magazine,” Walt Jr. says. With Walt Sr.’s publishing and racing background, founding his own vision seemed a natural progression.
Quarter Racing World becomes Speedhorse
Walt Jr. says his father’s original idea was
to name the magazine Speedhorse, but when he was about to publish the first issue, he second- guessed his choice, fearing that people might not recognize it as a magazine about Quarter Horse racing. So he named the monthly publication Quarter Racing World.
“Not long after,” Walt Jr. says, “Dad started a smaller, more-frequent newspaper for race results and such as a companion to the magazine and named that Speedhorse. Then, with the January 1978 issue, he went with Speedhorse altogether.”
Walt Jr. says the magazine’s first “crew” consisted of just four staff members: Walt Sr., who wrote, photographed, ran and promoted the magazine; Reynolds Jones, who did all the pasteup and printing prep work; Ray Reed, who promoted the magazine and dug up human interest stories on the road; and Debbie Ross, their first receptionist, who was followed by Betty Baker, Walt’s former secretary at Ruidoso.
The inaugural issue, published in August 1969 from the original headquarters in Roswell, New Mexico, comprised 32 pages. Its cover featured Walt’s photograph of renowned horseman Walter Merrick with Easy Jet taken just weeks prior to Easy Jet winning the All American Futurity.
Issue number two’s cover, a pen-and-ink- sketch by Walt Sr.’s brother, Bill, an accomplished
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1969, featured photo of renowned horseman Walter Merrick with Easy Jet taken by
Walt Sr. just weeks prior to Easy Jet winning the All American Futurity.
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The second issue of Quarter Racing
World featured a pen and ink sketch of Doe Bowman created by Walt Sr.’s brother, accomplished artist Bill Wiggins.
“There were so many great early photos that were part of the magazine,” Walt Jr. says. “Dad provided very strong photos that told a wonderful story.
One memorable photo is of the late Jack McReynolds holding Go Man Go (left) and Double Bid (right).
Easy Jet, Walter Merrick and Jet Smooth
Harriett Peckham with her two favorite mares, Go Harriett and Go Together.
SPEEDHORSE, January 2018 35