28 July, 1962
Sir MacAlvanni, Southern Champion Stallion, Achieved 106 Blue Ribbons In 108 Shows
A number of precious old clippings have come into our possession— gifts from Mrs. W. \ V. Gill, Belfast, Tenn. The Voice will print them from time to tittle.
( Reprinted from Miss Margaret Lindslev Warden’ s column in the Nashville Tennessean, 1939.)
Sir MacAlvanni— Music Lover
Ever wonder about the private lile of a show champion. What does he or she do beside stand in the stall carefully wrapped and prepared for the next show?
Sir MacAlvanni. champion Walking Stallion of the South, maintains a fresh approach to an exacting career by cultivating hobbies. His favorites are thinking Coca Colas and listening to music. Fortunately, his owners, Mr. and Mrs. John H. Amos of Franklin, share his enthusiasm for both.
" One morning," said Mrs. Amos, " he was grazing in the front lawn when the radio struck up a march. He pulled his groom, Charlie, all over the yard trying to get close to thai music.” Mr. Amos believes that Sir Mac’ s musical taste is due to his associating thaL sound with the show’ ring, for he straightens up and looks grainier when he hears it. Anyway he is definitely music conscious.
The Coca Cola habit is an old one. His former trainer, Tommy Pike, introduced him to it in Mississippi and he drains the bottle with dreamy-eyed satisfaction.
Amos bought Sir MacAlvanni from Clyde Westbrook of Cleveland, Miss., four days after the black beauty lopped( at S2,450) the Murray Farm sale at Lewisburg, May 25th. The price was $ 2,500, one of the highest of the breed.
Although the season was about over more than 20 mares, including threegaited ones from Ohio and Kentucky, were sent to the champion’ s new’ courL. While only seven years old, he is rated a successful sire. His son, Tommy Tell, has won 19 blues in 21 shows and sold for S2,000.
108 Shows, 106 Blues
Sir Mac ' s own record is 108 shows. 106 blues. His two defeats w’ ere by Lynnie Gray, the State Fair Walking Champion of 1938. and by Lillie White, champion at Baton Rouge, 1939. Sir Mac himself w’ as champion at Baton Rouge. 1937, and Champion Walking Stallion of the Tennessee State Fair, 1936 and 193S.
He is the only stallion to defeat the great Harvest Moon. Most of his shows have been in Mississippi, that other great“ Walking” state, when owmed by Clyde Westbrook and previously by Rabun Jones of Leland, Miss.
Preceding Jones in ownership were Martin Goodrich of Nashville, Fred Walker of Shelbyville, and his breeder, Leonard Walker of Wartrace. At present Mr. and Mrs. Amos have no definite plans for show’ ing the champion.
Sir Mac ' s pedigree( Giovanni-Walker’ s Leatha by Lynche’ s King,( etc.) has probably been memorized by the experts and the fine points of his conformation likewise, for he is a true“ black beauty.”
Amos Breeds Winners
Although Amos has been in the Walking Horse game only a few years and maintains only about six mares, he bred the filly which was State Fair champion w’ eanling of 1937 and second prize yearling of 1938 and has nominated her full sister( by Walker’ s Allen-Mattie Lou) for w’ eanling honors this year.
However, Sir Mac is the pet of the place, for he has personality as well as pedigree and prizes.
( End article. The follow’ ing information is obtained from the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ Association Register. This register currently includes horse registrations extending through Volume 9, that includes registrations through 475520. This volume is dated 1948.
Sir MacAlvanni was originally named Jones’ Sir MacAlvanni, When registered he w’ as property of Clyde E. Westbrook, Cleveland, Miss. He is described as a“ black horse, near hind sock, star, mixed tail; foaled 1932; bred by Leonard Walker, Wartrace, Tenn.
His sire is listed as Giovanni 370291: his dam, Walker’ s Leatha 360090.
Giovanni’ s Background
On page 144 of this same Volume I the registration of Giovanni is shown as follows:
Giovanni( 4704 A. S. R.— American
Saddle Registry); property to Tom Brown, Columbia, Tenn. Black horse, all coronets; foaled June, 1910; bred by William Wade, Versailles, Ky.
Giovanni ' s sire was Dandy Jim If( 1531 A. S. R.); by McDonald Chief F-31( a foundation deceased sire in the TWH Register)
Giovanni ' s dam was Francesca( 6949 A. S. R.), by Joel( 447 A. S. R.); 2d dam Mabel, by Happy Time( 443 A. S. R.); 3d dam by Jeff Denmark( 704 A. S. R.) On Page 81 of Volume 1 the registration of Walker’ s Leatha is listed as follow’ s:
Walker ' s Leatha 360090, property of Rabun Jones, Hollandale, Miss.; bay mare; star; foaled 1926; bred by Leonard AValker, Wartrace, Tenn.
Walker’ s Leatha’ s sire was Lynche ' s King, by Merry King 360121; Lynche’ s King ' s dam by Star Dillard; Lynche’ s King’ s 2d dam Pearl Scruggs, by Raleigh F-15( sired by Gardner’ s Stonewall,( by Stonewall Jackson F-51), out of a daughter of Stonew’ all Jackson F-51.
Walker’ s Leatha ' s dam was Walker’ s Cripp, by Hunter’ s Allen F-10; 2d dam, Walker’ s Carrie, by Roan Allen F-38.
McDonald’ s Chief F-31
McDonald’ s Chief F-31 is shown on Page 31 in the same volume as having the follow’ ing background.
( Bay horse; off hind fool; foaled 1896; bred by John T. Hughes, Muir. Ky.)
SIRE, Rex McDonald( 833 A. S. R.), by Rex Denmark( 840 A. S. R.), by Crigler ' s Denmark, by Washington Denmark( 64 A. S. R.); Rex Denmark’ s dam, a daughter of Star of the West; Rex McDonald’ s dam Lucy Mack( 2459 A. S. R.) by Black Squirrel( 58 A. S. R.). DAM, Lady McClelland, by Bourbon Chief( 976 A. S. R.), by Harrison Chief( 1606 A. S. R.), by Clark’ s Chief( 89 A. T. R.); Bourbon Chief’ s dam Belle, by Lathan’ s Denmark( 69 A. S. R.); 2d dam a daughter of Monte, by Montrose; 3d dam a daughter of Taylor’ s saddle horse.
This priceless information is available only in the Breeders’ Association Register. It is an intensely interesting study to trace back to their origins the great horses of the breed.