The narrative of Sid Vail and his famous horse, Three Bars, reads like a story book.
It’s a “rags to riches” saga whose last chapter has yet to be written. Records reveal that Three Bars sired his first
By Ed Ellinger written December, 1963
That was almost 20 years ago and Three Bars at the mature age of 23 is still a prepotent sire. Sid reports that his handsome stud settled 33 mares in the 1963 season. The fee is $10,000 per service and that adds up to a lot of hay in any man’s language.
Three Bars, a straight Thoroughbred, has crossed well on both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse mares. But his greatest claim to fame is the manner in which his get have dominated the field of Quarter running horses. A recent tabulation reveals he has sired 258 starters who have won over $1,800,000, which is more than double his nearest competitor.
In the 1957 running of the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Futurity, the first five horses to cross the finish line were own sons of Three Bars. In the 1962 Los Alamitos Futurity, ten horses were loaded into the starting gate to race for the largest single purse ever contested for in California – $207,750. Of the ten starters eight carried Three Bars bloodlines. Jet Deck, the winner, was by Moon Deck out of a Barred mare by Three Bars. The record is endless and the number of top horses sired by Three Bars gets longer each year. A partial list of Three Bars sons and daughters would include Alamitos Bar, Bardella, Tonto Bars Gill, Galobar, Triple Chick, Gold Bar, Miss Bar Leo, Miss Myrna Bar, Pokey Bar, Sugar Bars, Josie’s Bar, Barjo and Barred.
Now comes the flashback. The scene shifts to a small track in the middle west. The date is 1944 and a man named Mr. Stivers is examining a Thoroughbred named Three Bars. Stivers had recently acquired the young colt for $300, but at that moment he was wishing he hadn’t. The colt pulled up stiff in the hindquarters. Stivers decided to get rid of him on the spot and gave him away “free gratis.” Three Bars had bloodworms that could have been cured with one treatment, but that was 20 years ago and they didn’t know much about the many parasites that made life miserable for horses.
The horse changed hands several times after that and then became the property of Cal Kennedy,’ Toad Haggard, and Stan Snedigar who picked him up in a claiming race. The colt was running pretty good, but showed a tendency towards lameness so they decided to doctor his knees and ankles and give him a good rest.
While all this was going on a Texas cowboy named Sid Vail was buying a small cow outfit in Douglas, Arizona. Sid was about 30 at the time and had just recently acquired a beautiful darkhaired bride with the fascinating name of Mayola. Sid had knocked around some and had picked up that sure touch around horses and cattle. Things hadn’t been easy for Sid, but he was beginning to make out all right. He had started at the bottom as a $40 per month cowpoke, then broke out cow ponies in Hawaii before he started to ride steers and broncs on the rodeo circuit. He hunted lions and ran the pack trains for the government when they were making a survey of Yellowstone Park.
By the time the Vails had bought their outfit in Arizona; they had a few dollars saved, but whenever they got money ahead it was usually spent on a fast horse or two. In fact they had a few that could run a bit, but Sid was constantly on the lookout for the horse that could really do him some good.
Sid had been hearing about a young stud named Three Bars that had been burning up the track at the old Phoenix Fairgrounds. So he decided to go up and take a look as he had a couple of mares he wanted to breed:
That look marked a decisive turning point in the lives of the Sid Vails, because he sure liked what he saw.
Click page 2 to continue …
7 Comments
I had the privilege of owning a grandson of Three Bars during the mid seventies. Flit Bar Heels , by Bar Heels out of Miss King Flit. Magnificent horse that I wish was here today!
Great article
i had the privelege of gdtting to know Sid and Mayola a few years before he died, he was a 5th coison and looked so much like my Dad, Have been to His ranch i Ca where Sid died, and too Nakona Tx where Three bars is buried standing on his feet, in front of Sids home, the ori, house burned but the new owner built back in thd same place . The stable still stands , But Sid built a stable on too his house and his bed rome because peaple where steeling Three Bars and breeding there mares and would take weeks to find him. I would love to contack Sids nephews wife, Also the lady that now owns the ranch war very intrested in making a movie, would love it also, I think it should be .
Ray,
Hello and hope this finds you well.
Are we possibly related? Sid was my uncle and brother to my dad John. I last saw uncle Sid back in the early 60’s when we lived in Oakdale CA. My last word of him came from his brother David right after Sid died. At that time I thought I was the last of the Vail’s. It would be so cool to find out otherwise.
My mare BAR BEE CHIPS is out of BAR MONEY’S CHIP x BAY BEE MOORE. Such a phenomenal line !!! Full of WORLD RESERVE WORLD CHAMPIONS on both sides. Lines back to WIMPY P 1., who’s statue stands outside of AQHA to this very day!!
I’ve never been more proud to have owned a mare from the great history of the BAR MONEY LINE!!
I also had the privilege of owning Three Bars Doll, a grand daughter for 20 years until she passed with her head in my lap.. She was a rocket. I knew the 3 bars line was something special but had no idea the history! I really enjoyed this article. I miss my girl, she was something special.
I purchased “Babette Starlet” a 1975 granddaughter of Three Bars. 5 month old liver chestnut filly by Par Three out of Babe Starlet. She placed 1st & 2nd in every event shown. My kids grew up on her. She gave me 15 foals. Babette had to be put down at 27 years of age & she’s buried on my place. She was still beautiful. I have a 5 year old granddaughter and a 7 year old gelding from her daughter. They are spectacular horses. I love and treasure them always