Wing Commander (1943–1969) was an American Saddlebred show horse out of the mare Flirtation Walk and by the stallion Anacacho Shamrock. Wing Commander was a chestnut with four white socks and a thin white stripe that ran from his forehead all the way to his upper lip. He was trained to be a five-gaited horse, meaning he performed the walk, trot, canter, slow gait and rack. Through both sides of his pedigree, Wing Commander traced back to the highly influential Saddlebred stallions Rex McDonald and Bourbon King, who were themselves successful show horses. In 1948, the stallion won his first Five-Gaited World Grand Championship, a title he kept for a total of six years. In total he won 6 Five-Gaited World Grand Championships, and was the first of only two horses to accomplish this. In 1950 Life magazine featured Wing Commander as an example of a fine athlete and an American Idol. He was owned by Dodge Stables, and trained by Marvin Lane and ridden by Earl Teater. Wing Commander stood at stud at Castleton Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and died at the age of 26.
Life and career Wing Commander was foaled in 1943. He was a chestnut stallion with four white socks and a white star on his forehead. He was out of the mare Flirtation Walk and sired by the stallion Anacacho Shamrock. He was bred and owned by Dodge Stables, a part of Castleton Farm near Lexington, Kentucky which at the time was owned by Frances Dodge.Error Page | International Museum of the Horse His bloodlines traced back to Rex McDonald and Bourbon King, who appeared on both his sire and dam's side. Wing Commander was a five-gaited Saddlebred, meaning that in addition to the default walk, trot, and canter, he also performed a slow gait and rack. He was trained by the notable Saddlebred trainer Earl Teater and groomed by Gregory Pena. Wing Commander began his show career in 1946, as a three-year-old. He won every show he entered that year, but lost twice the next year, 1947, when he was shown against older horses. Both losses ended with him placing second. In 1948 Wing Commander and Teater won the first of six World's Grand Championships at the World's Championship Horse Show, part of the Kentucky State Fair. In addition to being shown under saddle, Wing Commander was trained to pull a fine harness cart, although he was not shown in harness.
Wing Commander died January 19, 1969.
Descendants
Following his show career, Wing Commander was retired to stud and was the leading Saddlebred sire from 1963 to 1968. Wing Commander was grandsire to Sky Watch, who won five World's Grand Championships,Error Page | Kentucky Horse Park and maternal grandsire to Imperator, who won four World's Grand Championships. The two horses were also known for their "duels" or shows where they competed against each other.
Wing CommanderThe Golden Cross Gets Top Vote...The Bourbon King Influence Found ThroughoutWing CommanderWING COMMANDER Rhythm Command Buck and Wing Longstreet Sunset Commander Wing Again Wing Rhythm Wingmaster Jubilee Commander My Own Master Danish Commander Callaways Johnny Gillen Will ShriverAnacacho Denmark, Anacacho Shamrock Continued Callaways New Look CaramacRemembering Another Callaway Hills’s Cornerstone Callaways Arbitrator Callaways Newscaster Designed Callaways Lil Abner Callaways Lloyd Stark Callaways Ricky Ricardo Undulatas NutcrackerThe People's Choice: Sire of the Year - Undulata's NutcrackerThe 14th Annual Breeders Report Callaways Mr Republican Callaways Blue NortherCallaway's Blue Norther Passes Away Callaways Forecaster Callaways Banner Headline The Showboat Callaways Gold RushCallaway Hills: Life After A Legend Wings Fleet Admiral Courageous Admiral Periaptor Top Spool Top of the Mark Superior Odds Nobles Command Rebel Command The New Look Wing Society Chief Of Greystone Flight Time Sky Watch Castle Bravo Super Command Wings Over Jordan Hi-Wing Mr Magic Man Center Ring Yorktown New YorkerCF First Night Out Repeats As #1 World’s Champion Sire Manhattan Supreme Catalyst Harlem Globetrotter Harlem TownAMERICAN SADDLEBRED WORLD LOSES CH HARLEM TOWN Im A New Yorker Quaker Town The Talk of the Town Breaking News Man On The Town King Dell Wing Commanders King Lucky Commander Wing Shot
Pedigree Pedigree of Wing CommanderSireAnacacho Shamrock Edna Mays King Bourbon King*Bourbon Chief* Annie C*Edna May Rex Peavine Lee WoodSally Cameron Highland Squirrel KingForest KingNellie PAl TadenaPrince ArthurManiaDamFlirtation Walk King's Genius Bourbon King* Bourbon Chief*Annie C*Princess Eugenia Chester Peavine Queen of Lincoln Spelling BeeKing VineRex PeavineBourbon BelleDaughter of Red Light IIRed Light IIDaughter of Happy Bell
Wing Commander is inbred 3S x 3D to the stallion Bourbon King, meaning that he appears third generation on the sire side of his pedigree and third generation on the dam side of his pedigree.
References