04/04/2024
The Story of a Horse
Every horse story we can tell in our modern age begins at a time other than the one we know firsthand. Horses start way before the story in our age. But some stories are worth telling, as many have impacted the lives and arenas of today, so they have been the beginning of an era.
Let's weave this together.
In late 1981, two friends began telling me about a two-year-old filly that was a potential star. Perry Ferguson, who was in California, had seen her in Florida, and Mike Weinstein had purchased her. Mike invited me to see her with the idea of showing her at the 1982 Nationals. I did not make the trip for various reasons, and Mike committed to having Ray LaCroix show her, which was a good idea. Indeed, at that moment, I probably would not have been able to win with her; the politics were not right. Kajora was the mare, Ray showed her to the National Championship, and the future was to bear witness to a colossal future.
Kajora had several foals over the following years, with average results. Mike Weinstein's business, Aries Arabians, was transitioning, and some horses, including Kajora, could be purchased. I was doing a lot of work with Aries and spending time in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. One day, an exciting call came in; a man calling himself Paul Garwood was looking for great horses. I took on the project of picking out horses for him, and one of the headliners was Kajora. Over the following months, we finalized the horses to be purchased, and I made plans to go to London to conclude the purchase. By this time, Paul Garwood was using his real name, Paolo Gucci.
Shortly after Scottsdale in 1988, I flew to London, where I checked into the agreed hotel, The Dorchester (his suggestion), and prepared for the much-anticipated closing. I rang his number, and his secretary, Linda Garwood (remember Paul Garwood), informed me that Mr. Gucci had urgent business in Sweden and would return as soon as possible. I should stay close as he would call. I did not have a cell phone then, so the only option was to stay in the room and await his call. Staying at the Dorchester presented a massive challenge as I needed to hock my car (not really) to stay at such a luxurious hotel. Out of concern for missing Paulo's call, I remained in the room, ordering room service. I learned to love Dover Sole, one of the more expensive items. I needed this deal to happen.
When his call finally came, I took the train to West Sussex and was met at the station by a gregarious, wiry little man who enthusiastically shook my hand and welcomed me. Off we went to his estate. It was spectacular. The home, the grounds, the art—Paulo was a master at putting things together. In the "Purple Room," he delighted in showing me a painting that had to be smuggled out of Italy using a fake floor in a semi-trailer. I met his then-wife Linda, an Englishwoman with an outrageous sense of humor. Almost everything she said was witty and funny. I had a great time with them; The Gucci's purchased Kajora and other horses, Mike Weinstein came in for the closing, and we were off and running into some exhilarating, turbulent, and, ultimately, tragic times. But before the calamity hit, there were extraordinary moments, and many World and National Champions were to be won.
A new decade: the '90s were here. The tragic times happened and have been well documented elsewhere, but for the sake of this story, I will leave out the details. Suffice it to say that the Gucci horses had to be sold, and Kajora was among them. There were so many beautiful horses, many purchased through me and many through others. Eileen Verdiek joined me in Georgia, where I had a farm and was living. The New York court system handled the sale of the herd, 114 horses in total. Paulo had purchased a farm outside of New York City and located many of his horses there; that is how our legal system was involved. Eileen and I had become involved with a new rising stud farm in Doha, Qatar, called Al Shaqab. Managed by Shk Hamad Bin Ali Al Thani for HRH, The Emir, Shk Hamad, was on a mission to fast forward the breeding program of Al Shaqab. Our goal was for AL Shaqab to purchase the Gucci herd. Time was not on our side as the courts had a deadline, which was only days away. We had to solve the purchase another way; there were other players, and we wanted the horses. Enter Gene and Fran Haskin, long-time friends and clients of mine. Gene was always game for a deal; we purchased the entire herd through him. Kajora was headed to Atlanta.
Back to the rest of the story.
In 1989, I relocated from Scottsdale to Atlanta. I had recently married Ann, and we both had families in Atlanta. Scottsdale was depressed, and it felt better to be in an area where we had family and a fresh start. Cindi Murch, a lifelong horsewoman and friend, ran a farm outside of Atlanta where I could relocate my horses. Once there, both Cindi and I aggressively took on growing the business. Many people called and requested a visit. One call came from Florida breeders Les and Lois St Clair; they had a c**t they wanted me to show at the US Nationals in the Futurity. We agreed on a date and headed south to see Anaza Bey Shah. He was beautiful, and I decided to show him, but that day's star was the c**t in the front paddock, Anaza El Farid. The St Clairs agreed I could have him in training once we had finished the season with Anaza Bey Shah.
Anaza El Farid arrived, and we prepared him for the upcoming shows. Farid was exotic, well-made, and had a dynamite pedigree. It was apparent that big things were going to happen with this stallion. At the Egyptian Event in Lexington, a syndicate I was part of would buy Farid. Anaza El Farid was staying in Atlanta.
The Gucci herd was now in Atlanta. Anaza El Farid was in Atlanta. Eileen and I worked tirelessly to sell the Gucci herd to repay Gene Haskin. Cell phones had become a part of everything. We could call and take calls anywhere, anytime. And we did. Having lunch in a Chinese restaurant one afternoon, I took a call from Shk Hamad Bin Ali Al Thani. He had the funding to buy six of the Gucci mares, Kajora being one of them. Celebrations ensued: decisions on breeding the mares were required, and the horses needed to go to Qatar quickly but needed to be in foal. Padrons Psyche was very popular and a top choice for Kajora. But I believed she should be bred to Anaza El Farid, and in the end, she was. Gazal Al Shaqab was the result.
At this time, I was showing a mare for Virgina Wood named NV Natasham. She had been very successful, which allowed for a good relationship between our farms. Virginia, known as Pidge, had another mare that we felt would be great for the AL Shaqab program: Little Liza Fame. Though not for sale, we finally agreed on the terms, and Little Liza Fame would head to Doha.
Later, Little Liza Fame would be bred to Gazal AL Shaqab, and the resulting foal was Marwan Al Shaqab.
Gazal and Marwan have impacted Arabian horse breeding regarding show results and the breeding stock they have produced that history will remember. Study the results over the last twenty years at any significant horse show, and you will undoubtedly see the names of Gazal and Marwan in a very high percentage of the winners.
As with any horse, both of these stallions were the product of the stars aligning to produce the incomparable greatness each possesses. None of this could have happened without dedicated breeders making decisions decades and even centuries ago. To have been a key player over the last thirty years has been a life-rewarding experience. But none of us can or should take full credit for any horse on this planet; far too many people, sacrifices, and luck had to precede each birth.
Love horses, be humble, resist trends. Onward!
