SM Country Snowman storms past the competition
with record $150,000 in Paint earnings as a 2-year-old

FORT WORTH, Texas—SM Country Snowman recently became the first Paint racehorse to earn $150,000 during its 2-year-old year. The red roan
overo stallion has brought home $150,145 in earnings so far this season.

Sparky Mullins (right) celebrates witht G.R. Carter, Jr., and SM Country Snowman after a win at Remington Park. The record-setting stallion was named Remington Park Champion Paint Horse. Photo Courtesy Remington Park. Hirez JPEG (3.06 mb)

SM Country Snowman		Country Quick Dash		Royal Quick Dash		First Down Dash
						Harems Choice
				Country Zevi		Zevi
						That Country Charm
		Western Lineage		Judys Lineage		Special Lineage
						Judys Chick
				Western Swing		Super Swift
						Painted Little Bit

While setting the new record, the racing sensation joined an elite group of Paint racehorses earning more than $100,000 during their 2-year-old year. Only five other Paints have reached the milestone, with the first being Texas Wildcat ($107,495) in 2001. Since that time some of the biggest names in Paint racing—Linda Lajolla ($104,109), Calista Corona ($103,565), Got Country Grip ($146,454) and Rio Rojo Jess ($115,889)—have achieved the feat.

Along with amassing the highest earnings for a 2-year-old, SM Country
Snowman, owned by the Rafter SM Ranch of Wagoner, Okla., ran undefeated in seven starts. However, his winning streak came to a halt during the Speedhorse Futurity on July 27 when he finished just over a length behind Royal Quick Treasure. SM Country Snowman, sired by Country Quick Dash and out of Western Lineage, and Royal Quick Treasure, a 2-year-old filly by Royal Quick Flash and out of Countin Treasures, have been considered two of the top 2-year-olds racing this year, and met for the first time in the Speedhorse. Royal Quick Treasure has earned $72,776 so far this year.

SM Country Snowman win at Remington Park and was named Remington Park Champion Paint Horse. Photo Courtesy Remington Park. Hirez JPEG (1.14 mb)

While on his way to setting a new earnings record, the stallion who is trained by Sparky Mullins, owner of Rafter SM Ranch, and ridden by G.R. Carter, Jr., also set a new Paint racing 350-yard track record at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. SM Country Snowman beat the previous record set in 2005 by 14-time undefeated Got Country Grip by .019 seconds. He set the new record at 17.565 seconds, while earning his fastest speed index of 102.

Although the horse continues to win races and set new records while
increasing his bank roll, Mullins is most proud of all the honors his horse is receiving.

“It’s not about the money for me,” said Mullins. “It’s about the horse and what he can do. He ran one bad race this year. It wasn’t his fault, there were some mistakes from the start and it costs us, but he is a real good horse.”

Mullins owns several of the top horses racing on the Paint and Quarter Horse circuits today, including SM County Snowman’s sire, Country Quick Dash, who has sired 65 foals—including Got Country Grip— with 27 starters earning $640,464.

Country Quick Dash’s success as a sire is one of the main reasons Mullins decided to purchase his stand out 2-year-old.

“I bought him when he was nine days old,” said Mullins. “His dam had
produced a little bit, but my stallion tends to put a really good mind on his horses, and [SM Country Snowman] seemed to have that, along with perfect conformation as far as I was concerned. I guess I saw things in him his owner didn’t.”

If you haven’t had a chance to catch this loud-colored stallion blazing down the track, he will race in the Pot O’ Gold trials at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw, Okla., on October 13, and hopefully advance to the finals on October 20. Mullins plans to run SM Country Snowman as a 3-year-old then stand him at stud the following the year.

More about Paint Horse racing
Horse racing has long been one of America’s favorite spectator sports. With the recent growth of the Paint Horse breed, it’s no wonder that 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 major strides forward. In that inaugural year, 17 starters ran for $1,290 in just two states—Texas and Oklahoma. In 2006, more than 600 starters competed in more than 800 APHA-recognized races for record purses totaling more than $5.3 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 also race in Canada.

“The future is really bright for Paint racing,” said Lex Smurthwaite, APHA’s executive director. “Owners from other racing breeds are getting involved with Paints because of the strong and steady growth of our program. It is still relatively easy to get involved and be competitive.”