Comanche, TX is named after the Comanche Indians who dominated this part of Texas and into other surrounding states as well. The Comanche tribe were expert horsemen. So it is fitting, given the history of Comanche County and the city of Comanche that a plaque is displayed next to a horse sculpture representing the exceptional quarter horse Royal King.
In his prime, Royal King not only earned a reputation as a National Cutting Horse Association top winner in prize money, but he also earned a greater reputation and apparently more money though siring 590 registered foals. Some of these offspring of Royal King went on to be outstanding quarter horses, excelling in their cutting abilities.
The plaque honoring Royal King reads as follows:
"American Quarter Horse
Historical Marker
ROYAL KING
Royal King was 17 months old in 1944 when Earl Albin and Jack Whiteside of Comanche, Texas, bought the colt for $250 from breeder Felton Smathers of Llano, Texas. Royal King was by King P-234 and out of Rocket (later registered as Rocket Laning). Rocket traced to Yellow Jacket on both sides of her pedigree.
Albin and Whiteside took 2-year-old Royal King to a show in San Angelo on April 8, 1945, where he was approved for AQHA registry by Helen Michaelis. Someone at the show offered $15,000 for the King colt. Whiteside believed you could never go broke making money, and cajoled Albin to accept the offer. Instead, Albin wrote him a check for $7500 and kept Royal King.
Royal King learned to cut in a herd of goats, training under Bob Burton and later James Boucher. He had enough "cow" in him to excel in the sport with anyone in the saddle, and he was ridden by numerous cutters throughout his career. "Royal King was a horse you could put anyone on and win," said Albin's wife, Charlie Mae, in 1986. The stallion placed among the National Cutting Horse Association's top-10 annual earners four times in his career, and earned $24,003.
Even while he was competing, Royal King was continuing his sire's legacy by becoming a preeminent sire. In his first crop, 12 of 13 foals earned AQHA performance Registers of Merit. Ten of Royal King's foals competed at the first Quarter Horse show at the Texas State Fair in 1947.
His influence in cutting was most apparent in his cow-smart daughters, which included NCHA Hall of Fame and earner of more than $35,000 Miss Nancy Bailey, and Royal Smart, who produced multiple AQHA cutting world champion Royal Santana and Smart Peppy. Peppy was dam of NCHA Triple Crown winner Smart Little Lena. All in all, Royal King sired a total of 590 registered foals.
Royal King died in 1971. He was inducted into the American Quarterhorse Hall of Fame in 1997.
The American Quarter Horse Association, the world's largest equine breed registry, has its international headquarters in Amarillo, Texas. American Quarter Horses compete in horse shows around the world, and are in demand for racing, ranch work, rodeo, recreational riding, therapeutic riding and many other activities.
American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum
Amarillo, Texas
Dedicated April 2011 * * * AQHHMP #31"
Link to AQHA webpage about Royal King:
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