Rex McDonald

Rex McDonald was foaled on May 30, 1890, in Callaway County, Missouri.{{cite web|url=http://saddlebredhalloffame.org/rex-mcdonald-champion-saddlebred-stallion.php|title=Rex McDonald|publisher=|accessdate=8 April 2016}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4d3JhWUtyocC&q=rex+mcdonald+saddlebred&pg=PA47|title=Kentucky's Saddlebred Heritage|publisher=|isbn=9780738544403|accessdate=8 April 2016|last1=Millard|first1=James Kemper|year=2007}} He was sired by Rex Denmark and out of Lucy Mack. He was a black stallion standing {{hands|16}} 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.saddlebredhalloffame.org/rex-mcdonald-saddlebred-champion-stallion.php|title=REX McDONALD, ANOTHER BLACK BEAUTY - Champion Saddlebred Stallion MO|publisher=|accessdate=8 April 2016}} 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.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y8YewE3Mp3wC&q=rex+Mcdonald+Saddlebred&pg=PA46|title=Mexico|publisher=|isbn=9780738584485|accessdate=8 April 2016|last1=Erwin|first1=Vicki Berger|year=2010}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XK50CQAAQBAJ&q=rex+Mcdonald+Saddlebred&pg=PA20|title=Historical Memories of American Saddlebred Visionaries|publisher=|isbn=9781935538097|accessdate=8 April 2016|last1=Chas. l. Cook|first1=Jr|date=4 March 2015}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1908&dat=19870618&id=K2wfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LNUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5878,5743004&hl=en|title=The Nevada Daily Mail - Google News Archive Search|publisher=|accessdate=8 April 2016}} In 1893 Rex McDonald was shown for the first time at the St. Louis National Horse Show and won a championship.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-M-lPnkMRe8C&q=rex+Mcdonald+Saddlebred&pg=PA35|title=America's Horses|publisher=|isbn=9781592288939|accessdate=8 April 2016|last1=Harris|first1=Moira C.|year=2006}} 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.

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.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lE85AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA13-PR49|title=The Saddle and Show Horse Chronicle|year=1917|publisher=|accessdate=8 April 2016}}

{{tree list}}

• Rex McDonald[https://www.pressreader.com/usa/equus/20230403/281998971700204 Gaines' Denmark sons and grandsons #2][https://wchorseshow.s3.amazonaws.com/2019/05/Past-WCHS-Championship-Winners.pdf WORLD’S GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP FIVE-GAITED STAKE][https://sporthorse-data.com/offspring?horse_id=10440718 Rex McDonald Offspring]
• McDonald Chief
• Red McDonald
• Independence Chief[https://sporthorse-data.com/offspring?horse_id=10782427 Independence Chief Offspring]
• Chief Of Longview[http://ralonghistoricalsociety.org/horses.htm Famous Horses of Long Ago]
• Reveler
• Easter Cloud{{cn|date=June 2025}}
• Arletha's Easter Cloud
• Masked Marvel
• Jack Barrymore
• My McDonald
• Lee Rose McDonald
• Rex Blees
• Rex Peavine[https://sporthorse-data.com/offspring?horse_id=10410160 Rex Peavine Offspring]
• Rexall Price
• Jack Twigg
• Chester Peavine
• Jean Val Jean
• Bugger Boo
• Anglo Rex
• Anglo Peavine
• Doras Peavine
• Mass of Gold[https://www.saddlebred.com/american-saddlebred/history-1/heritage-horses Heritage Horses]
• Dark Rex
• Mercer Rex[https://sporthorse-data.com/offspring?horse_id=10902810 Mercer Rex Offspring]
• Gallant Knight
• Kalarama Rex
• Society Rex[https://sporthorse-data.com/offspring?horse_id=10440767 Society Rex Offspring]
• Society Yankee
• Secret Society
• Kalarama Colonel[https://sporthorse-data.com/offspring?horse_id=10440693 Kalarama Colonel Offspring]
• Delmars Colonel Valiant
• Oakland Peavine
• Oklahoma Peavine
• Moreland Peavine
• Star McDonald
• Rex Monroe

{{tree list/end}}

{{Reflist}}

Category:Individual American Saddlebreds

Category:1890 animal births