Beduino

Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2008

“Big, pretty and powerful, Beduino was like ‘The Black Stallion’ in gray.”

Bred in Mexico by Justo Fernandez Avila, the 1968 stallion was by Romany Royal by Grey Sovereign and out of Jo-Ann-Cat.

Beduino started his racing career in Mexico, running in Thoroughbred competitions. After winning his first two races at short distances, he ran in 11 Thoroughbred races and won four. In every one of his races, though, Beduino was in first place at the first turn, but his great speed and momentum would carry him to the outside and the other horses would pass him. Beduino was a sprinter, but was not allowed to enter official Quarter Horse races. His owner knew that if he could win some match races against Quarter Horses, breeders would seek the big Thoroughbred as a sire of speed horses.

Beduino won a $100,000 winner-take-all match race in 1974 at Mexico City against Champion Quarter Racing Gelding Come Six. It was a hard race, with Beduino coming behind for the win.

In 1974, Beduino began standing at stud at the Vessels Stallion Farm when Frank Vessels, Jr. bought half of Beduino from Justo Fernandez after an exhibition race at Los Alamitos Race Course. In late 1985, Vessels’ widow, Mildred, bought the remaining interest in Beduino. “I can tell you, the second half cost a lot more than the first half,” she said in an interview. During his lifetime, he sired 19 foal crops to total 722 registered Quarter Horse foals, which included 603 race starters, 436 winners, 80 stakes-placed horses and 40 stakes winners, whose cumulative earnings totaled $13,099,594. This placed him third on the leading money-earning sires list of Quarter racehorses and as the leading Thoroughbred represented at one time.

His racing champion offspring include Brigand Silk, Chingaderos, and Indigo Illusion, as well as millionaire champions Tolltac and Strawberry Silk.

Beduino was put down May 13, 1991 at Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, California, due to infirmities of old age. He was 23 years old.

Beduino was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2008.