2 June, 1962
Searcy, Ark Farm Foals Win 4
World ' s Titles
Placing an emphasis on mares unsurpassed elsewhere at any modern Tennessee Walking Horse breeding place, the Porter Rodgers’ Farm at Searcy, Ark., can today point to two records unique in the history ol this breed that is more than a century ' old.
This 200-acre establishment 125 miles southwest ol Memphis, Tenn. has been the“ foaling ground’’ for three stallions that won a toLal of four Grand Championships of the World at the Shelbvville National Celebration.
This same acreage has on its pastures at this moment four mares that have accounted for eight Championships of the World— seven of them by bearing foals and one by winning a title herself. This fact too is not equalled anywhere else in the history of this breed.
In the last two or three years yet another pronounced factor has been developed at Searcy by Dr. Porter Rodgers with the able assistance of Joe Webb, his manager-trainer.
‘ Perfection’ Is Doctor’ s Ideal
Standing at stud there is a homegrown World’ s Champion which Dr. Rodgers regards as the“ ideal stallion of the breed”— a horse that has reached a goal in genetics and personal performance the physician set for his operation more than two decades ago when he entered the Tennessee Walking Horse business.
He named that stallion " Rodgers’ Perfection." The horse won the Celebration Grand Championship of the World in 1959 as a 4-year-old with Joe Webb riding; the stallion was immediately retired to stud and now has 3-year-old and 2-year-old progeny showing.
At this writing there is a Perfectionsired 2-vear-old regarded by many as among the most very ' promising young horses of the breed. He is named Perfection’ s Carbon Copy— looks exactly like his daddy and rides like him according to Trainer Webb. Carbon Copy appears on the front of this magazine. Perfection appears on the back. Compare the two.
Within the last month Carbon Copy has become one of the most“ talked about " 2-year-old Tennessee Walking show horses in the nation. First he staged a brilliant showing in his class on the indoor track at the Little Rock Ark. Coliseum. He proved he had style and stamina on a hard track.
At that show, movie star-singer Pat Boone also rode Rodgers’ Perfection on two exhibitions that brought down the house with a capacity crowd on the second run. Carbon Copy is owned by Dr. Rodgers and Howard Binns of Dallas, Tex.
Later at the Columbia, Tenn. Spring Jubilee, Carbon Copy won the 2-year-old stallion event on a rainswept, mud-plastered track where stamina was again eloquently proved. A three-horse workout observed by three prominent show judges climaxed this event that had the crowd in a frenzy. Carbon Copy proved himself under adverse, muddy track conditions he will seldom face in horse shows.
Dr. Rodgers and Joe Webb believe Rodgers ' Perfection will become a premier-all-time producing stallion of the breed. His 3-year-old Doctor’ s Perfection is already establishing a notable show record. They are so impressed with Perfection’ s colts that they plan to start within two years an annual auction sale of the“ cream of the crop” Perfection colts— with probably 30 two-year-olds being sold.
Farm Built For Utility
The Porter Rodgers’ Farm at Searcy is built for utility, having more than 100 stalls, several separate pastures, specialized areas for horses of various ages, daily inspection of more than 100 broodmares, a dedicated crew of some eight men who go about their business with energy and foresight.
There are two exercise tracks, one built exactly to Celebration standards and used especially to prepare entries for this annual event at Shelbyville. Most of the facilities have been built since Webb returned to the farm seven years ago from Quincy, Fla. where he worked four years on the J. T. Buck! Farm with Trainer Carl Edwards. That was after graduation at Harding College at Searcy, an institution sponsored by the Church of Christ. Joe worked at the farm while attending college.
The totally distinctive record of the Porter Rodgers’ Farm as a breeding establishment began in 1945 when Old Glory ' s Big Man, the 1950 World’ s Grand Champion, was foaled ai Searcy by Nell Mayberry for her owner, Sam Mayberry of Harrisburg, Ark. The sire was Old Glory.
Second big step came in 1952 when Merry Walker— believed by many to be the greatest broodmare of modern times— foaled there Go Boy’ s Shadow, sired by twice-champion Merry Go Boy. In 1955 Shadow won the World ' s Grand Championship and the junior championship at the same Celebration as a 3-year-old. He repeated in 1956 with Winston Wiser again riding.
Rodgers’ Perfection was foaled by Merry Walker on May 6, 1955, sired by Midnight Mack IC.
Two“ Grand Champions” In 3 Years
Perfection won the World ' s Grand Championship in 1959 as a 4-year-old. Thus Merry Walker dropped two grand champions within a period of three years— a record that may well last forever.
She also foaled other prominent show horses, including Sunday Bonnet, the World ' s Champion Mare in 1956-57. Another foal by her was Sun’ s Dark Lady.
Those three stallions represent four Rodgers Farm-born champions to win titles within the last 11 years,( Shadow winning twice). In fact, the titles were earned within a period of nine years— something never done before by a single farm. It’ s a creative achievement.
Not content with " foaling champions," Dr. Rodgers has been carrying on a veritable campaign to assemble what has become recognized generally as the“ greatest band of broodmares " ever collected on a single farm— that is broodmares with proved show records. This reputation for the farm became current in national magazines several years ago.
“ Great Mothers” Big Essential
Basis for Dr. Rodgers’ broodmare project is simple. He says“ behind every great person is a great mother and it traces back. There is also usually a great grandmother. 1 believe the same thing applies to horses. Great foals are produced by great mares.”
On this belief he has staked much study in genetics, much study of show performance, and considerable money in payment to other breeders and horse-owners.
His four broodmares that personally account for eight championships of the world are:
Black Angel, the 1943 World’ s Grand Champion in her own right,( Continued on Page 3)