Page 96 - May 2018 Speedhorse

Ron Mason with Sea Dog TB (Turn-To-Sea Dream, Hyperion), one of the stallions that succeeded Oklahoma Star and Beggar Boy at the Cross J Ranch.
In 1944, Ron Mason bred one of his favorite mares, Sheridina, to Oklahoma Star Jr. Sheridina (Sheridan TB-Quarter Lady) traces on her bottom side to Old Red Buck and Man O War. War Star, shown here after winning at Centennial Park for owner Gomer Evans and trainer C.M. Kiser stables, set an unofficial world record of :15.6 for 300 yards at Pittman Park in Las Ve- gas during the heyday of the Cross J.
The dam of Precious Gold was Beggar’s May by Beggar’s Lad, he being by Beggar Boy out
of one of my little favorites, the imported Lad’s Run – she being the one I bred to Sheridan only to find out that Star had got to her first in a pasture romance, and so I got Star’s good son, Sizzler, instead of what I’d gone after.
“Now Beggar’s May, Precious Gold’s dam, was out of Honor Miss, full sister to Honor Deck, he being by Busy Deck out of Honor’s Delight.
“Precious Gold had a beautiful little filly for me in ’80. She was by Clandestino by Herberger by Vandale. I wouldn’t have sold her at any price, but we lost her while she was still a baby. I haven’t gotten over it and never will.
“Then I got two more Thoroughbreds, right out here in my backyard. They’ve got their quarters close to the house, and 25 acres to roam in. I take care of ‘em myself.
“The gelding’s a chestnut two year old, Mr. Bold Sugar by Leadoff Man by Bold Hitter
by Bold Ruler, out of Bunny Wife by the imported Flaneur II. Bold Sugar’s dam is Sea Sugar by Sea Dog.
“The other one’s a filly – three years old – she’s also by Leadoff Man. Her name is Cherokee Dolly, and she’s my baby. The horses in her bottom line go through all the years with me.”
Cherokee Dolly’s dam was King’s Doll by the Cross J stallion Fire King by War Jeep by War Admiral by Man ’O War. King’s Doll was out of Bay Doll by the Cross J stallion Don Peppino. Bay Doll’s dam was Beggar’s Doll by Beggar Boy out of Beautiful Doll.
Beautiful Doll was foaled in 1928, the same year that Ron Mason chose the land on which to found the Cross J. “Doll” was a multiple stakes winner on eastern tracks before Ron purchased her for breeding purposes. She was by Dodge
by Jim Gaffney by Golden Garter by Bend Or (echoes of Oklahoma Star), and out of Spices by Peter Quince by Commando by Domino.
“So, you can see that the three Thoroughbreds I’ve got are heavy with Beggar Boy and other Thoroughbred studs that mean a lot to me, not
to mention all those mares. Now Oklahoma Star blood is still close up in our family, too. My son- in-law (Jack C. ‘Perkins’ Faulkner, married to Ruth Ann Mason) has Nowata Frank, he being a son of Nowata Star by Oklahoma Star. Every time I go over there to see Frank, and he throws up his head, it’s like seeing ol’ Star all over again. Star had so much, I don’t think people appreciated his eyes, except the men who faced him up close.
“Star could fell a man with his eyes, if he wanted to.
“Sometimes I think about starting over. Say I turned young again and wanted to go back in the horse business. What would I do?
“I’d go out and try and buy back some of the blood I sold.”
94 SPEEDHORSE, May 2018
LOOKING BACK - AN EXCERPT FROM JULY 1981 ISSUE