The feature event on Saturday night at Los Alamitos honors one of the most famous Quarter Horses of all-time: Mr Jet Moore. Sired by Jet Deck, Mr Jet Moore became a legend on a cool evening at Los Alamitos in 1972 when he defeated a great field of Quarter Horse to win the first ever running of the Champion of Champions. Mr Jet Moore’s rivals on that night included the unforgettable champions Charger Bar and Kaweah Bar plus future Champion of Champions winner Don Guerro. Mr Jet Moore would be named that year’s AQHA World Champions and retired after his Champion of Champions victory.
For his career, Mr Jet Moore won 21 of 28 career starts while earnings $341,407. He finished out of the top three only twice during his entire career. Bred by the great Bob Moore, Mr Jet Moore also won the Kansas Futurity, Rainbow Derby, Vandy’s Flash Handicap, Go Man Go Handicap and Pomona Championship plus four other stakes races.
Mr Jet Moore’s breeding career was cut short, but his daughters went to influence Bob Moore’s broodmare band for years. One of Bob's best-loved homebreds was Prissy Gold Digger, a 1975 daughter of Easy Jet and out of Broom Straw by Jackstraw (TB). From 1977 through 1979, running from Oklahoma to Ruidoso and Los Alamitos, “Prissy” broke three track records, finished in the money in 19 of 29 races, won five stakes, set a top speed index of 106 and earned $299,589, as well as a Superior race horse award. Prissy went on to produce 18 foals and 17 starters that earned just under $1 million.
As for Bob Moore, he was honored by the AQHA with a 50 year Legacy Breeder Award in 2013. Originally from Wichita, Kansas, Bob's involvement in Quarter Horses began as a racing enthusiast in the 1950s; he began his breeding program in the early 1960s. Focusing on acquiring mares from proven families, his early purchases included multiple racing champion Vanetta Dee (out of Garrett's Miss Pawhuska) and Dyna Van (a half-sister to racing champion Dynago Miss), both by Vandy.
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