Page 142 - Speedhorse October 2018

Judgement Call: Mel & Judy Hatley by Lyn Jank
Throughout the decade of the 1950s, Three Bars, with help from another Thoroughbred, Top Deck, continued to throw quality into running horses, and Quarter Horse racing gained popularity on a national level.
The 1960s marked the entry of “a new breed” in the industry – successful businessmen who appreciated good horses and saw an attractive correlation between high quality
and high dollars. The running horse world has always spun around horse trading, but after the new breed entered the business, the element of Buy and Sell assumed an even brighter glow.
Among the newcomers during the 60s
was a slow talking builder and land developer, Melvin E. Hatley. In 1965, he purchased A.B. Green’s breeding operation, Green Pastures, in Purcell, Oklahoma, and changed the named to Briarwood Farms.
What Mel really wanted in 1965 was a pleasure farm equipped with quality horses. Once he “put pencil to paper” and determined that Briarwood maintenance would cost, he forgot about pleasure only.
“Standing a stud that could help support the place seemed sensible,” Mel Hatley said. “I came into the business by ordering every publication pertaining to the racing industry I could find and read myself to sleep at night for about ninety days. I wasn’t afraid to go to experts like A.B. Green and Chief Johnson and ask for advice. Basically, that’s a good way to come into the business, whether it’s from the standpoint of farm management or racing or stallion or broodmare management, whatever – read everything you can get
your hands on and then go to people in the industry who’ve had successful experiences and spend some time with them.
“After I did that, I came to the conclusion that the prominent bloodlines in racing were Three Bars and Top Deck. Many fine stallions have come along since then, but I still think those two have made the greatest contributions to the industry so far.”
In 1966, Mel purchased a Three Bars son out of Chicado V, Triple Chick, from the Vessels Stallion Station in Los Alamitos, California.
“Triple Chick’s stud fee for the first two years at Briarwood was $750,” he said. “Then I raised it to $1,500. I think I went too high and slowed down his production. Triple Chick could bite you pretty good, but he was a good horse, and I liked him. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t sold him in 1969, but an attractive offer came along and I took it.
“Maybe the safest way to get into the horse business is to invest in good quality broodmares, because they don’t come along too often. Once
I learned how much broodmares contribute to this industry, I tried, and still try, to buy the
best mares I can afford. One of my first great mares was Decketta, an All American (1964 All American Futurity) winner. Later, I sold her to Bob and Sue Boniface, in California. Another fine mare I was fortunate enough to know and co-own with Bob Moore was Miss Olene. Decketta and Miss Olene are with Harriett Peckham and Sarah Henderson now, out in El Paso.”
A few other memorable distaffers who once banded at Briarwood Farms are Stella Moore, Monita, Josie’s Bar and Little Nippy.
In 1967, Mel arranged a sale at Briarwood in conjunction with his good friend Bob Moore. 74 individuals sold for an average of $8,300 a head, to topple the existing national average record at public auction.
December 1967, Mel acquired “the Top Deck blood I wanted.” The blood bank was Top Deck’s son out of Lightfoot Sis, Go Man Go, thrice World Champion Quarter Running Horse. Frank Vessels Jr. sold Mel his half interest in the legendary strawberry roan with permission of Bill and Harriett Peckham, who in turn leased their half interest in Go Man Go to Mel. Stallion management was transferred from Vessels to Mel at the same time.
“I was just so proud to be associated with such a horse. I remembered how Triple Chick’s production had slowed down when I raised his stud fee. Go Man Go had stood for $5,000 in California. I dropped to $3,500 in Oklahoma.”
October 17, 1969, Mel had another sale at Briarwood. The guest consignor was Grafton Moore, a Michigan horseman with equine operations headquartered in Durant, Oklahoma.
The action at Briarwood began with a luncheon of barbecued buffalo, then the sale continued without much fanfare until Hip No.
32 entered the sale ring. She was a four-year-old chestnut mare, AAAT and stakes winner, owned by Grafton Moore – Sea Nymph by Jackstraw TB out
140 SPEEDHORSE, October 2018
LOOKING BACK - AN EXCERPT FROM JUNE 1980 ISSUE