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FORT WORTH, TEXAS— Got Country Grip again proved to be unbeatable on the track as he battled for victory during the $45,000 Speedhorse Sprint Derby at Fair Meadows racetrack in Tulsa, Okla. on July 28.

The 3-year-old gelding didn’t win this race with as much ease as his previous 11 wins. Got Country Grip cruised past the finish line after a rough start as another horse collided with him out of the starting gate, causing him to stumble and run sideways for a bit.

“That’s about as hard a hit as I’ve ever seen,” said owner Jimmy Maddux about the collision on the track. “We were lucky to recover from this deal. After the race we realized he ripped his shoe and a bit of his hoof off.”

The attention-grabbing 3-year-old fell behind in the race after the collision with Zoom N La Ree, but quickly gathered his senses and won by half a length.  He posted a time of 17.74 seconds.

Although the much-talked-about Paint didn’t produce a record-breaking run, he didn’t disappoint, as he increased his lifetime earnings to over $200,000 and proved his place among the best.

“It’s almost unheard of for a horse to win 12 straight races,” said Maddux.

The race world will have to wait and see what the future hold in store for the world’s fastest Paint. There had been discussion about a match race at Ruidoso Downs in Ruidoso N.M. against Quarter Horse world-record holder Planet Holland, but an agreement for the race was not reached.

“They offered us one, but we didn’t have enough time to get out there and get the horse acclimated to the change in altitude,” said trainer Brandon Parum. “We also need a little more time to make sure his hoof is completely healed.”

“Nothing is etched in stone,” said Maddux. “First we’re going to make sure he isn’t hurt or sore anywhere.”

If the team doesn’t find a place for him to race, the champion Paint may be turned out to live a life of leisure.

Maddux attributes his success as well as his horse’s to trainer Brandon Parum and jockey G.R. Carter, Jr.

“I’ve got one of the best jockeys…and what I think is one of the best trainers in the business,” said Maddux on the gelding’s success.

Following is a chronological breakdown of the gelding’s record-breaking career:

·      2005—set the record for single year Paint racing earnings for a 2-year-old.

·      April 30, 2006—broke the Paint Horse world record at 400 yards with a posted time of 19.55 seconds at the PSBA Stakes at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Okla.

·      May 24, 2006—ran a time of 17.26 seconds, setting a new world record for Paint Horses in 350 yards at the Oklahoma Horsemen’s Association Derby Trial at Fair Meadows Park in Tulsa, Okla.

·      June 9, 2006—broke the world record he previously set at 350 yards with a posted time of 17.23 seconds at Fair Meadows. He also set the Fair Meadows track record for all breeds.

·      July 28, 2006— ran in his last official race, holding a perfect race record.

More about Paint Racing

Horse racing has long been one of America’s favorite spectator sports. With the recent growth of the Paint Horse breed, Paints have become one of the hottest tickets in the horse racing industry.

Since 1966, when APHA officially recognized the sport, Paint racing has made great strides. In that inaugural year, 17 starters ran for $1,290 in just two states—Texas and Oklahoma.

In 2005, more than 600 starters competed in more than 800 APHA-recognized races for purses totaling more than $5.1 million.

A total of 18 states now feature Paint racing, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Paint Horses are also racing in Canada.

For more information on Paint Horse racing, contact APHA’s racing department at (817) 222-6444, e-mail [email protected] , or visit  paintracing.com.