Welcome to a very special web page that can simply be summed up as "Tributes".

Be it good fortune or fate, some very special people and horses have touched our lives.

Doris Elizabeth Sundin-Sharp:

Wing It: A Racing Legend Comes Home

A great American maxim states that if you're unsure of a situation, you should trust your instincts and just wing it. Another that comes to mind is on a Wing and a Prayer. Not only do these great 'Americanism's' apply, but can truly sum up a feel for the Appaloosa World's, King of Race.

Foaled in 1987, in Nocona, Texas, Wing It was a product of ApHC Hall of Fame Inductee Bill Jones breeding program. The colt was sired by ApHC Hall of Fame race sire Bull Nunnelly, and out of Jockey Club registered mare Damascus Honey. Wing It was aptly named, as his life has been a wild ride that has led to glorious fame and, at times frightening peril. Like his breed history, it's been feast or famine, and as the Appaloosa has endured, so too has the bright sorrel colt. He has over the years gained legendary status among many racing professionals and fans in and outside of the breed.

Wing It during his glory days achieved the pinnacle of success, and to this day remains Appaloosa's undisputed King of Race. He has staked his claim to titles that include total monies earned, track speed records, and total races won; add to that a great style and character that are distinctly his own. These are but a few of the accolades that could emblazon the stall plaques at his door, titles that would merely hint to the world of the racing legend that stands within.

Out of the Gate

Wing It's owner/breeder/trainer Bill Jones was known to have said that the colt was too thin and lacked muscle, and didn't really expect much out of him. Wing It's first trainer, Henry 'Red' Smith, had even less of an opinion of the colt, and felt that Wing It was spindly and not much to look at.

In his yearling year, Wing It was gelded and sent to California with a group of other young prospects. It was hoped that the colt would be a fast sale; perhaps they could get their $5,000 asking price for him. Jones' reasoning at the time was that Wing It was his dam's first foal and that explained his overall lack of proper muscling. Not much faith was placed by either of these seasoned trainers in the colt's future as a successful race prospect. Many buyers interested in Bull Nunnelly offspring did look at the bargain basement colt, but most seemed to be in agreement with Jones & Smiths' assessment, and no one ever stepped up to buy him.

As Jones transferred more young race prospects from Texas to California, he began to work with Wing It in the hopes that once he started the colt, perhaps a buyer might be found. He began noticing that the more he worked with the colt, the more he seemed to gain 'balance.' With each succeeding workout the colt just got better and better.

On a warm summer day in July, 1989, trainer Red Smith, trailered Wing It along with a load of 6 other 2 year olds to Vallejo, California, where all 7 were slated to run 4 ½ furlongs (990 yards) in the Vallejo Futurity. The only thought behind bringing Wing It was that if he ran, they might be able to sell him.

When race day dawned, Wing It made his presence known to world as he rocketed out of the gates in the trials. Smith and Jones, both watching from the stands were awestruck as the colt blasted by the rest of field and handily closed on the finish line with a 5 length lead. Later, the colt repeated his performance in the finals, which left Smith and Jones slack jawed and utterly amazed. How, they reasoned, could they have missed this in the colt.

The Vallejo Futurity marked the beginning of a race career that spanned the next 6 years with a comeback as an eleven year old at Remington Park in Oklahoma City in 1998, where he finished in the money. This was to be Wing It's last official race.

The Back Stretch

During Wing It's brilliant career, he set track records that held for many years. In 1992, he won the Los Alamitos Handicap and became the first Appaloosa to ever win a mixed breed stakes race. It was also here that he defeated Griswold, the AQHA's 1991 Distance champion and world record holder, during the Bull Rastus Handicap. As Wing It blazed across the finish line, he laid claim to what would become one of many track records he would match or shatter during the span of his incredible career.

For Appaloosa race fans, he became 'the' horse to watch. After winning the Bull Rastus Handicap, his jockey, Steve Treasure, commented that Wing It was the fastest horse he'd ever ridden around a turn. Wing It was also known to be a kind and gentle horse, easy to be around in the barns and paddock, but on race day he did his job, and he did it with a notable style that attracted a throng of enthusiastic fans both in and out of the racing community.

Long time Wing It fan, Ed Burkhart, who has spent the past 23 years calling the races for Los Alamitos Race Course and Hollywood Park, remembers Wing It fondly. "Wing It was a very fast horse. He was versatile and could run the short or long race, a rare quality. He could come from behind, work out of the middle, or just run first from wire to wire. He had another gear in the turns, and was a master at 870 yards. Wing It put Appaloosas on the map and taught the AQHA respect."

During the race seasons of 1992 to 1994, Bill Jones sent Wing It back to Nocona, Texas to trainer Bob Gilbert. Under Gilbert's, direction and with jockey Steve Treasure in the saddle, Wing It burned up the tracks at the Handicaps and Stakes races. Running against some of the world's best Quarters Horses, Paints, and Thoroughbreds, Wing It made a name for himself that endures among race fans to this day.
According to Gilbert, the first day he had Jockey Steve Treasure breeze Wing It at 660 yards, he knew Wing It was a great runner. "Wing It had a great attribute that enabled him to use turns at speed to his advantage. Most race horses pull when they're running and the turn has to be negotiated at speed, but Wing It drives from behind, gets to the turn, and powers out of them; makes all the difference in a fast, close race."

When asked about the most outstanding races or memories, Gilbert readily admits that the day they raced Griswold, 'the AQHA's all time distance champion and Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee,' was an edge of your seat, Hail Mary run. The race took place in December, 1992 at the Los Alamitos Race Course in California. Out of the gates, the speed was blazing, and by the time the pack was heading down the long back stretch, Griswold was out front by a length and half, with Wing It running 4th. As they headed for the sharp turn, and with just 220 yards to the finish, Wing It powered into the turn and roared by the pack to cross the finish line by a length and a half. It was easy for him; he made it look like play. Wing It loved to race. You never had to take the whip to him, just kiss or cluck and he always had another gear he'd show you.

Wing It had built such a reputation for speed and endurance that a match race was becoming an inevitability. The idea to race Wing It against a Thoroughbred at a half mile was proposed by a noted Thoroughbred racing barn. Wing It's owners and handlers agreed to a match race at the Del Mar Race Course in California. It was mutually agreed that the race was to have a 100 thousand dollar purse and go the half mile distance (880 yards). With great hype and hoopla, the race was touted for several months. Just thirty days prior to the race date, the Thoroughbred promoters cancelled the meet saying they couldn't afford the loss to an Appaloosa, it would be reputation destroying!

After Wing It's retirement Bill Jones returned him to Nocona where he was turned out and spent several years with other retired racing veterans on a large tract of land until Bill Jones death in August of 1995.

Heading For Home

Wing It began to fade into obscurity. In 1998 Drew Wigley, another Nocona resident and long time fan of the Appaloosa speedster, recognized Wing It as he drove to work one day. Each day as he passed by, he found himself scanning the pasture for a sight of Wing It. The day dawned, he'd made the decision, and he drove off the highway and headed up the driveway to the Jones' ranch where he inquired of Jones's widow whether or not she'd be willing to part with Wing It. A deal was struck and Drew became Wing It's proud new owner.

Drew Wigley wished to maintain Wing It, just as Jones had, and hoped to provide a secure retirement until the end of his days. Fate had other plans for Drew and Wing It.

In 2004, an all new Appaloosa television series had started production and was beginning to be aired on cable and satellite networks. The programming included a slot entitled a Moment In Time, and featured some of the Appaloosa world's highest profile achievers. After discovering that Wing It was, by far, the greatest Appaloosa race horse to have ever thundered down a track, he was selected to be the star of episode 2. Drew was contacted and he provided current news and historical information. The city of Nocona, Texas, sponsored the segment in honor of their home town champ.

The episode no sooner completed the production process, when notification came that Wing It's owner and greatest fan, Drew Wigley, had passed away unexpectedly. The Wigley family had been unaware that their father owned a horse, let alone a great horse like Wing It. The family, being unfamiliar with horses and their care, quickly contacted Bob Gilbert and arranged to have Wing It moved back to his barn. It was also decided that Wing It should be recognized for the great horse he was, and petition was made to the Kentucky Horse Park. In the mean time, the family expressed their wishes that Wing It be donated to the Appaloosa Horse Club. As such, he would in reality, belong to all the members of the association.

Bob Gilbert cared for Wing It while awaiting word on the Horse Parks decision. Word arrived approximately two months after petitioning and the news was disappointing. The Horse Park commented that they were unable to place Wing It in the Hall of Champions as there wasn't a space available, perhaps at some future date they could reconsider him.

It was at this point that member Victoria Ennis of Kingston, Oklahoma, a noted Appaloosa breeder and owner of several Hall of Fame champions of her own, was contacted regarding Wing It's future prospects. As a resident of her ranch, Wing It would be just 135 miles from his original home. Victoria agreed to step up on Wing It's behalf and was willing to donate her funds, time, and energies to take care and control of Wing It for the members of the Appaloosa Horse Club, for the rest of his life.

Since Wing It's move to Kingston, Victoria is already the recipient of one great Wing It anecdote. It seems her vet, Dr. David Miller, worked on Bill Jones' horse years ago. He has been Victoria's vet for several years now, and out of habit, she had called Dr. Miller and requested that he stop by the Ranch on his rounds to vaccinate a new horse that had come in. Dr. Miller isn't one for small talk and speaks rarely, but on this occasion he made an exception. As Wing It was led from the barn Dr. Miller looked up at the horse as he exited his truck, and blurted out, "Why, that's Wing It"! The smiles broke out all over.

Victoria is certain that Wing It knows exactly who he is, and maintains great pride in his upright walk and regal stance. He's always alert to his surroundings, not spooky, he seems to survey his surrounds with great interest. He's also a bit spoiled. He's turned out each morning after he finishes his breakfast, and has 40 acres and many broodmares to visit. Each evening he's waiting at the gate for someone to take him back to the barn, put on his blanket, and turn him into his warm, bedded stall for the night. Wing It acts as if this treatment is his, by birthright. Who are we to argue with the champ?

Victoria would also like to mention that his owners, YOU, are most certainly welcome to come by for a visit anytime you're traveling through Kingston, Oklahoma, USA.

January, 2005, Kingston, Oklahoma. Wing It, home at last

Wing It:
Career stats & Highlights

In 1994 at the height of Wing It's career his western stock breed competitors were Paints and Quarter horses, additionally his stakes races also included Thoroughbreds, Arabians and several other breeds.

Up to and including 1994 the American Quarter Horse Association's all time leading money earner was Refrigerator, he boasted 32 starts, that broke down to 21 wins, 8 Place, and 2 shows. A total of 18 of his races were stakes races (mixed breed). Refrigerator's starts to win ratio was 66%.

During this same period, The American Paint Horse Association's all time leading money earner, Treasured, had started 20 times with 11 wins, 4 place, and 2 show. 10 of these races were stakes rated. His starts to win ratio was 55%

Wing It, during this same period posted 37 Starts, 26 Wins, 5 Place, 2 Show; 13 of his races were stakes wins. That translates to an across the board, unmatched feat by either the Quarters or Paints with a phenomenal ratio of 70% wins to starts!

• Wing It was, and remains today the Appaloosa breeds all-time leading money earner with career earnings of $301,241.93 that's nearly $40,000 ahead of the second place horse Blowing Easy, and double the earnings of the 3rd place horse, Regal Willie.
• 1989 Wing It won the World Wide Appaloosa Futurity Consolation; won the Oklahoma Frontier Futurity, at Blue Ribbon Downs, Sallisaw, Oklahoma racing 4½ furlongs. (Appaloosa distance is normally recognized to be approximately 3.95 furlongs or 870 yards).
• 1989: Wing It named Supreme Champion 2 year old
• 1989: Champion 2 year old Distance Gelding by the Appaloosa Horse Club Executive Race Committee.
• 1990, Wing It was the first horse to win the Golden State Incentive Award and won the $100,000 California Derby. Also claimed the Coast to Coast Stakes and the Capitol Derby, Fresno, California.
• 1990: Wing It named Horse of the Year and Champion 3 year old gelding;
• 1990: Supreme Champion 3 year old and older by the Appaloosa Horse Club Executive Race Committee.
• 1991: 3 starts, 2 wins, (1 Stakes), 1-second. Won the Pleasanton Handicap, Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton, California.
• 1992: Won the Los Alamitos Handicap, the first stakes race won by an Appaloosa in mixed breed race history. Defeated AQHA 1991 Distance Champion and world recorder holder, Griswold, at the Bull Rastus Handicap, a grade 2 race, on December 18, 1992, Los Alamitos; 870 yards run in 45:01, a new Appaloosa track record at Los Alamitos. This was his 2nd race against, and defeat of Quarter Horses at 870 yards;
• 1992: Won on August 23, 1992, the PAP Handicap Stakes, grade 3, run at Hollywood Park, against 4 Quarter Horses and 1 Thoroughbred, winning time of 45:07 , and achieving a speed index of 113. This was an AQHA graded stakes race and Wing It was the first Appaloosa to win an AQHA graded race.
• 1992: Won, at Hollywood Park, October 23, AQHA graded (3) stakes race, Pat Hyland Memorial Handicap, racing against 6 Quarter horses, he placed 2nd and set a track record with a time of 44:27 and SI of 132; the winning time, also a track record was 44:25 with a SI of 133.
• 1992 Wing It set an Appaloosa World Record time of 45:01 for 870 yards, running at Los Alamitos. That record stood at Los Alamitos Race Course for 9 years.
• 1992 Named Horse of the Year
• 1992 Champion 4 and Older Gelding;
• 1992 Supreme Champion 3 year old and older Appaloosa by the Appaloosa Horse Club Executive Race Committee
• 1993: 5 starts, 4 wins, 1 place, 3 stakes wins, set new track records for 4 ½ and 5 furlongs at Los Alamitos and Sacramento. Won the Bull Nunnelly Handicap, Los Alamitos, the Cowboy Hall of Fame Handicap, grade 1 stakes at Remington Park and the Pleasanton Handicap, a grade 1 stakes.
• 1993 Named Champion 4 years and Older Gelding by the Appaloosa Horse Club Executive Race Committee.
• 1994 6 starts, 4 wins, 1 place; won 2 stakes races; California Coast to Coast, grade I, September 5th. Pleasanton Handicap, grade 2, July 3rd, and placed 2nd in the Silver and Gold Invitational Handicap, October 2, grade I; won two allowance races at Los Alamitos, May 5th and June 5th.
• 1994: Named Horse of the Year
• 1994 Champion 4 years and older gelding
• 1994 Supreme Champion 3 year and older Appaloosa by the Appaloosa Horse Club Executive Race Committee.

Story researched and written by Patti Ansuini; with special thanks to Bob Lapp for his expertise and assistance with the historical statistical data.