Joe Hancock (1926–1943) was an influential Quarter Horse sire in the early years of the American Quarter Horse Association (or AQHA).

Joe Hancock P-455
BreedQuarter Horse
SireJohn Wilkens
GrandsirePeter McCue
DamHancock mare
Maternal grandsirePercheron stud
SexStallion
Foaled1926
CountryUnited States
Colorbrown
BreederJohn Jackson Hancock
Owner6666 Ranch
Record
unraced officially
Earnings
unraced officially
Major wins
unraced
Awards
unraced and unshown
Honors
AQHA Hall of Fame

Life

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Joe Hancock was registered as number 455 in the American Quarter Horse Association (or AQHA).[1] He was foaled most probably in 1926, although the dates are somewhat hazy.[2] He was a brown stallion, registered as bred by an unknown breeder, but later research determined that his breeder was John Jackson Hancock.[1][2] His sire was a son of Peter McCue named John Wilkens and his dam was a half Percheron mare, although the AQHA's stud book gives his dam as "unknown."[1][2][3] John Wilkens was inbred to the Thoroughbred stallion Voltigeur, as well as being a descendant of the Thoroughbred Glencoe.[4] When he was registered, he was owned by the Tom L. Burnett Estate in Fort Worth, Texas, which later became the 6666 Ranch.[5]

Joe Hancock had a streak on his face and, when grown, stood 15.3 hands high. Unlike his sire, he had good feet.[3]

Racing career

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Joe Hancock raced in match races for a number of years, although no official records of these races exist. At one point, there were advertisements run in the Fort Worth Star Telegram and the Daily Oklahoman stating that "Joe Hancock is open to the world, from standing start to 38ths of a mile." There were no folks willing to match their horses against Joe Hancock.[3] All of Joe Hancock's racing took place before the formation of the AQHA in 1940.[2]

Breeding record

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By the time the AQHA was founded, Joe Hancock was busy siring ranch horses on the 6666 Ranch. He sired seven foals that earned their Race Register of Merit with the AQHA.[6] He also sired two foals that earned their Performance Register of Merit with the AQHA – Brown Joe Hancock and Red Man.[7]

Death and honors

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Joe Hancock died in 1943 and in 1992[8] he was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame.[8] In 2007 Western Horseman magazine chose Joe Hancock as number three on their list of top ten ranch horse bloodlines.[9]

Pedigree

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Barney Owens
Dan Tucker
Lady Bug
Peter McCue
Voltigeur (TB)
Nora M (TB)
Kitty Clyde (TB)
John Wilkens
Alarm (TB)
Wawekus (TB)
Maggie B B (TB)
Katie Wawekus (TB)
Voltigeur (TB)
Lucy Hitt (TB)
Miss Hitt (TB)
Joe Hancock
unknown
Percheron stallion
unknown
Hancock mare
unknown
Mundell mare
unknown

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c AQHA Official Stud Book and Registry Combined 1–5 p. 93
  2. ^ a b c d Close and Simmons (ed.) Legends: Outstanding Quarter Horse Stallions and Mares p. 88
  3. ^ a b c Beckman "Legends: Joe Hancock" Quarter Horse Journal pp. 36–37
  4. ^ Joe Hancock Pedigree at All Breed Pedigree retrieved on June 22, 2007
  5. ^ The 6666 Story retrieved September 1, 2017
  6. ^ Wagoner Quarter Racing Digest p. 553
  7. ^ Wagoner Quarter Horse Reference 1974 Edition p. 314
  8. ^ a b American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). "Joe Hancock". AQHA Hall of Fame. American Quarter Horse Association. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  9. ^ Denison and Hecox "Top Ten Ranch Horse Bloodlines" Western Horseman pp. 34–41

References

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  • All Breed Pedigree Database Pedigree of Joe Hancock retrieved on June 22, 2007
  • American Quarter Horse Foundation – Joe Hancock accessed on September 1, 2017
  • AQHA Hall of Fame accessed on September 1, 2017
  • American Quarter Horse Association (1961). Official Stud Book and Registry Combined Books 1-2-3-4-5. Amarillo, TX: American Quarter Horse Association.
  • Beckman, Bruce (April 1990). "Legends: Joe Hancock". Quarter Horse Journal.
  • Close, Pat; Simmons, Diane, eds. (1993). Legends: Outstanding Quarter Horse Stallions and Mares. Colorado Springs, CO: Western Horseman. ISBN 0-911647-26-0.
  • Denison, Jennifer; Hecox, Ross, eds. (October 2007). "The Top Ten Ranch Horse Bloodlines: Western Horseman ranks the top bloodlines used in today's working ranch remudas". Western Horseman: 34–41.
  • The 6666 Story retrieved July 4, 2007
  • Wagoner, Dan (1976). Quarter Racing Digest: 1940 to 1976. Grapevine, TX: Equine Research.
  • Wagoner, Dan (1974). Quarter Horse Reference 1974 Edition. Grapevine, TX: Equine Research.

Further reading

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  • Denhardt, Bob (February 1964). "Joe Hancock P-455". Quarter Horse Journal.
  • Hancock, Billie Jack (November 1994). "Joe Hancock's Dam: Unlikely and Unimportant?". Western Horseman.
  • Reynolds, Franklin (September 1957). "Franklin Reynolds Tells ... The Story of Joe Hancock". Quarter Horse Journal.
  • Staff (April 1949). "The Story of Joe Hancock". The Quarter Horse.
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