“First foals are the best,” I remember hearing from an oldtime horsemen, years ago. I’d almost forgotten the adage until my curiosity was sparked by an article that I wrote on May 5 called Triple Crown Genes. It was about the offspring of dams of the three NCHA Triple Crown champions. Two of the three champions were first foals, so I wondered about the birth order of other outstanding performers.

Using National Cutting Horse Association Futurity open champions as a gauge, I found that 34 percent of the 44 champions were first foals (I did not include Rey Jay’s Pete because his dam was an unregistered Thoroughbred and records are unavailable).  In addition, seven champions were second foals.

Altogether, 50 percent of NCHA Futurity open champions were either first or second foals, and their dams have produced a total of 528 foals (12 average).

There are some other surprising facts buried in the pedigrees of these 44 champions that I will share with you in upcoming articles, so keep reading and send me your thoughts on these findings. I also plan to share readers’ imput on these findings.

Here are the first-born champions, along with the years of their Futurity wins, and the names and their dams:

• Chickasha Glo (1963) – Chickasha Ann
• Miss Ginger Dee (1964) – Ginger Berg
• Doc O’Lena (1970) – Poco Lena
• Colonel Freckles (1975) – Christy Jay
• Docs Diablo (1979) – Poco Christa
• Colonel Lil (1981) – Two Rocks Lil
• Smart Little Lena (1982) – Smart Peppy
• Docs Okie Quixote (1983) – Jimmette Too
• The Gemnist (1985) – Miss Fancy Zan
• Smart Date (1987) – Trip Date Bar
• Bobs Smokin Joe (1993) – Taris Smokin Maria
• CD Olena (1994) – CD Chica San Badger
• Royal Fletch (2000) – Royal Blue Dually
• San Tule Freckles (2001) – San Tule Lu
• Spots Hot (2004) – Sweet Shorty Lena

Second foals:

• Dry Doc (1971) – Poco Lena
• Lenaette (1975) – Bar Socks Babe
• Lynx Melody (1978) – Trona
• Mis Royal Mahogany (1980) – Royal Mahogany
• Doc Per (1984) – Nettie Buck
• Some Kinda Memories (1997) – Some Kinda Playgirl
• Oh Cay Felix (2006) – Oh Cay Shorty