This Week in Horse History - January 11th Through January 17th

January 12, 1998 - Zippo Pine Bar, a hugely influential Quarter Horse sire, was euthanized on January 12, 1998 after suffering a stroke. Zippo was bought as a yearling in 1969 for $1,000 and went on to become a top Western pleasure horse. He had a tremendous career as a stallion, siring 1,636 registered foals. Among his foals are 14 World Champions and 29 Reserve World Champions. Zippo was the leading Western pleasure sire from 1986 through 1994. Zippo was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2000.


Information and photo courtesy of: Zippo Pine Bar

January 14, 1932 - Jockey Eddie Arcaro won his first race on January 14, 1932 on Eagle Bird at the Aqua Caliente track in Tijuana. Arcaro was born on February 19, 1936. A premature baby, he weighed only three pounds at birth and would mature to be five feet, two inches tall. Arcaro went on to win the Kentucky Derby multiple times, including his 1941 win on Whirlaway and in 1948 on Citation. During his career Arcaro attained celebrity-like status, even publishing an autobiography titled I Ride To Win in 1951. He retired in 1962 at the age of 46 and died of liver cancer on November 14, 1997.


Information courtesy of: Eddie Arcaro
Photo courtesy of: Keno Racing

January 17, 1973 – Forego, a highly successful racehorse who earned almost two million dollars during his racing career, made his racing debut today at Hialeah. Forego stood 17.1 hands high and was gelded when he was three due to his unruly behavior. He was retired in 1978 and was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1979. Forego is ranked as number eight on the Racing Hall of Fame's list of the top 100 racehorses of the 20th century.

Information from: Kentucky Horse Park and Forego : Race Horse
Photo courtesy of: Forego Three-Time Horse of the Year