Page 194 - Speedhorse December 2019

PAINT HORSE BULLETIN
Photo Courtesy APHA Gary Kilgore bred and raised 5-time APHA World Champion/10-time APHA Champion Got Country Grip.
A LASTING IMPACT
by Steve Wright, Vice-Chair,
APHA Racing Advisory Committee
Gary Kilgore, a man from Wyoming with vast experience in the world of Paint Horses, left a huge impact on the breed.
Among his legacy—and that of his partner, Linda Fox—was the foundation for one of Paint racing’s preeminent dam lines through Got A Grip and production of many notable APHA running Champions.
Born in Laramie, Wyoming, Gary grew up around cattle, sheep and horses. He started showing Paint Horses and guided his daughter to the honor of high-point youth in the nation at one time. He owned Soxalena Lano, the dam of Sockett—one of APHA’s notable sires of the 1980s and ’90s—and he made a big mark in the show ring with these lines.
Gary eventually moved from the show ring to the winner’s circle. His mark in the racing industry started with mares like Mystic Sky Moon and Got A Grip, and what a mark it made. Racing in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico in the day when Paints were paired with Quarter Horses, he eventually moved to Maud, Oklahoma, where he started a breeding and racing operation. He obtained other great broodmares, such as Audacious, Domestic Disturbance and Ms Painted Eyeopener, and raised other broodmare prospects, too.
His continued diligence in crossing lines and researching past pedigrees paid off. He bred and raised the great 5-time APHA Running World Champion Got Country Grip from these lines. Other star performers included Harry N Jerry, Girls Got Grip, Royal Grip, Biker Chick, SW Eye Candy and more.
I was introduced to Gary in 2004, and we created a friendship beyond words. I looked up to him, and he taught me how to look
at horses, the importance of the bloodlines and finding the right cross on my mares. He taught me that stakes mares produce stakes horses, and I continue that philosophy today. I was fortunate enough to obtain Audacious in foal to Dos Poruno (which resulted in
the foal Dodacious), with Biker Chick by
her side. I was then able to obtain Domestic Disturbance, Ms Painted Eyeopener and SW Eye Candy. His grace to allow me to go on with these mares and bloodlines has provided me the quality bloodlines that I have now; I would not be where I am today as a breeder without his support. Wright Farms carries his brand and proudly respects what he started many years ago.
Gary Kilgore and his partner in life, Linda Fox, are well known by all in the
Paint racing world. I respect both of them for what they started and allowed me to
take over. The Got A Grip bloodlines went to racehorse breeders and owners Jamie and Wendy Howard, and I know they feel the same about them as I do. Jamie and Wendy’s operation was formerly Running Colors Equine, Inc. Gary passed many years ago, but his legacy and impact on the Paint racing breed will never be forgotten. The sunburst will proudly remain Wright Farms’ brand along with the bloodlines from the mares
we have until it, too, is passed down to our next generation.
MR. WRIGHT WAS ALSO ABLE TO OBTAIN...
Dodacious, shown winning his April 10 trial to the 2010 PSBA Derby at Remington Park.
Domestic Disturbance, shown winning her A pril 30 trial to the 2004 PSBA Futurity at Remington Park.
“He taught me that stakes mares produce stakes horses, and I continue that philosophy today.”
190 SPEEDHORSE December 2019