Corona Chick photo by Sally Harrison
Corona Chick, 24, champion Quarter Horse runner and leading dam of earners of more than $3.6 million, died of natural causes on June 26, at the Blanco, Tex. ranch of her owner, Julianna Hawn-Holt. It was at Hawn-Holt Cross Triangle Ranch that Corona Chick carried and delivered 12 of her 14 race performers (from a total of 16 foals), under the care of ranch manager Bennie Greathouse.

Bred and raced in California by Robert Etchandy, Corona Chick, by Chicks Beduino, won four major stakes at two and the title of 1991 champion 2-year-old; in 1992 she was named AQHA champion 3-year-old filly. During her two-year race career, Corona Chick earned $591,326, with 15 wins from 18 starts.

In 1997, she garnered the title of AQHA Broodmare of the Year. Her top money earner, All American Futurity winner Corona Cash, with a career total of $1,542,880, was AQHA champion 2-year-old and 2-year-old filly in 1997, as well as champion 3-year-old and 3-year-old filly in 1998.

Corona Cartel, Corona Chick’s 1994 foal by Holland Ease, won $557,142 as a graded stakes winner and is ranked as Quarter racing’s all-time leading living sire, with the earners of more than $40 million and a 2013 stud fee of $35,000.

As a Quarter Horse broodmare, Corona Chick stands alone as the natural dam of 14 runners with average earnings of $258,870 and the dam of 14 foals sold at public auction as yearlings for an average of $371,700.