Throwback Thursday: The Petty Family and Leckey Quarter Horses

By: Brittany Bevis

For this week’s Throwback Thursday we dove into our archives from over a decade ago to uncover this candid photo from the AQHYA World Championship Show circa 1999-2001. Pictured in the snapshot is a trainer-client team that has stood the test of time, Leckey Quarter Horses and the Petty family.

Those with eagle eyes will note that the sign above the barn entryway in the background reads the Burnett Building. That’s because this shot was taken when the AQHYA World Show was still held in Fort Worth, Texas before it made the big move up to Oklahoma City, where it has remained to this day.

Another “I Spy” moment can be found by looking at the number listed on the baseball cap of the only gentleman in the photo. Wearing good ole’ #45 is a member of American stock car racing royalty, Kyle Petty, the son of Richard Petty and grandson of Lee Petty. Standing alongside his daughter, Montgomery Lee, is longtime horse trainer Jennifer Leckey and Petty’s wife, Pattie.

“[Montgomery Lee] Gummy still has a horse with us,” Leckey says. “She’s been with us now for about 14 years, at least. When she first came to us, she had a horse named These Eyes Adore You that she did the all-around events with. She also had a hunt seat horse named Cash In My Assets. Then, we purchased Mr. Magnolia Zip for her. She showed him for about five years and won Youth Western Pleasure at the World Show in 2001.”

“I very much remember that day, more so for what happened afterwards. She had misplaced her belt buckle, but she was sure someone had stolen it. It turned out it was just stuffed down into a bag, but it was the big drama of the day!”

Since then, Montgomery Lee has become the wife of country singer, Randy Montana, and a mother to their now two-year-old daughter Sullivan Mae. Leckey says there’s hope that the tiniest member of the Petty family could make her debut in the show pen in the not-so-distant future.

“Since she had her first baby, she hasn’t gotten to show very much,” Leckey says. “She’s working on being at home, being with her family, and enjoying her life. We would love to [do walk-trot]! It’s looking like Sullivan definitely has the horse bug. She’s just two years old, but she’s totally into going and seeing the horses. Gummy still has the mare she started out showing, These Eyes Adore You, and they visit her a couple of times a week.”

When it comes to the next generation of the Leckey family, it looks like the tables have turned as Jennifer and Mitch’s 13-year-old son Chase has been showing an interest in racing.

“What’s really interesting is that my son is just now getting into go-cart racing,” Leckey says. “Kyle called last week to give us heck. He said, ‘My daughter showed horses all her life and here you guys have horses and now your son wants to race!’ My son was just over the moon to hear from him. It sounds like Kyle may help him get a new race suit or a new helmet.”

As for Mr. Magnolia Zip, he will live out the remainder of his days serving as a therapy horse at Victory Junction in North Carolina, a camp for seriously ill children that was founded by the Petty family and actor Paul Newman. The Petty family established the camp in honor of their son Adam, who was killed in a tragic racing accident at the age of 19 during practice for the Busch 200 in 2000.

“Mr. Magnolia Zip will live out the rest of his life with the Petty family,” Leckey says. “We couldn’t ask for anything better.”

If you have a fun photo that would make for a great Throwback Thursday article, send it to b.bevis@equinechronicle.com.