Page 158 - Speedhorse, December 2018

The Winter of Johnny Dial
continuing to the King Ranch, they took Black Annie to the farm of John Dial in Goliad, Texas. In late spring of 1948, most of the foals were
already on the ground, except Black Annie’s. This was probably the only time in her life when she came in behind the others. July 1, Annie produced her Depth Charge son, a brown foal with a short hind sock. He was named after the man whose legend in the horse business was based on integrity and keen sight, John Dial.
The legend of Johnny Dial, the horse, began February, 1950, in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Elmer Hepler relates, “He was barely nineteen months old, undersized and looked like nothing but a little hairball. But, my brother wanted to try him out and entered him in the Carlsbad Futurity. I felt so bad when I saw Johnny Dial in the gate. Besides looking like a hairball, he looked like he planned on laying down and going to sleep any minute. He even yawed.”
That day in Carlsbad was the first opportunity racing fans had to watch The Getaway. Most people missed it. They
were looking over “hairball’s” head at other contenders, one in particular – the good filly, Hy Dale, mistress of 400 yards. Came the break. Johnny Dial leapt and wasn’t there anymore. Hy Dale, then and always, gave nothing but more
by Lyn Jank
SPRING
Charles E. Hepler and his brother, Elmer,
of Pinon, New Mexico, were old hands at hauling mares to the King Ranch down in Texas. In 1947, they went south as usual. They were hauling “our Black Annie.” By Rodney
by Old D.J., and out of Betsy, and Old D.J. granddaughter, Black Annie was beautiful, but she walked like a plow horse. That didn’t matter. In her day, the Louisiana mare had stepped in to run thirty times and had never lost.
On the way south, Charlie and Elmer got to thinking about this brown horse in Goliad, Texas. He was a Thoroughbred called Depth Charge, King Ranch-bred. His sire was Bold Venture, a Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner. Depth Charge’s half brother, Assault by Bold Venture, was a Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year in 1946. Depth Charge’s dam, Quickly, had also produced Count Fleet, another Triple Crown winner. Depth Charge himself was a sprinter and had made a fine showing on the track. Now Robert J. Kleberg of the King Ranch had entrusted the brown horse to the man who had sold him his first Thoroughbreds, Mr. John Dial.
Charlie and Elmer thought about Depth Charge for a while longer. Then, instead of
than her best. Hairball still had her by a head at the wire. The sun had gone up in New Mexico that morning over a colt that was at best a comical figure at first glance. It went down over the marked horse, Johnny Dial.
Johnny Dial made his first official start seven months later in Albuquerque, in the running
of the New Mexico Futurity. In the tradition
of his mom, he walked into the gate like a
plow horse. Elmer Hepler still swears today
that, “A kid could lead him to the gate. But, it took the bravest and the best to hang onto him when he went out of it.” And Johnny broke in Albuquerque, came down with a rapid force that shook the vision of those who watched. He won his race by a length that day.
Since King James I turned horse racing into a sport in England in the early 1600s, men have sighed and women have cried for their favorite race horses, whether they own the horses by signatures on paper or by the feeling that rides in their middles like a hard apple core, a feeling that says Win or Lose, He Is Better Than The Rest. If the athlete on the run out there happens to have unshakable habits, presents unvarying action time after time, then his behavior turns him into a personality, and an idol is born. Johnny Dial was one. 1950 through 1953 he
156 SPEEDHORSE, December 2018
1952 World Champion Johnny Dial at age 22. circa 1970 by Walt Wiggins, Quarter Racing World
LOOKING BACK - AN EXCERPT FROM JANUARY 1978 ISSUE