Rex McDonald

Life

Rex McDonald was foaled on May 30, 1890 in Callaway County, Missouri. He was sired by Rex Denmark and out of Lucy Mack. He was a black stallion standing 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm) high and was bred by Joe McDonald. After breeding Rex McDonald, Joe McDonald became ill and began selling his horses. Rex McDonald was sold to R. T. Freeman as a yearling for $105, alongside his dam. In 1894 he was sold to John Hughes of Kentucky for $3,050. He was sold several more times and at one point during his breeding career was owned by a group of businessmen. Rex McDonald died November 13, 1913, and was buried in the fairgrounds at Mexico, Missouri, although the body was later moved to Tom Bass's property and still later reburied at the American Saddlebred Museum in Mexico, where it remains.

Career

Rex McDonald was a five-gaited horse who was initially trained by Billy Davis. Later on he was trained and shown by Tom Bass, a notable horse trainer born a slave, who trained horses for Theodore Roosevelt and Bill Cody. In 1893 Rex McDonald was shown for the first time at the St. Louis National Horse Show and won a championship. At the time, there was a strong rivalry between Kentucky and Missouri about which state produced the best Saddlebreds, and Rex McDonald was a star for the Missourians. Ironically, he was later sold to a Kentucky owner. He was only beaten three times in his career. At one show, he beat his own sire, Rex Denmark. He was finally retired to stud because few people were willing to show against him.

Offspring

Rex McDonald sired over 200 colts that were registered with the American Saddlebred Horse Association. One of his colts was a pacer and was harness raced.