King Ranch-Owned “Wimpy” Awarded AQHA’s First Registration Number After Winning at FWSS in 44′; Today, Another Stallion Takes Top Honors

FORT WORTH, TEXAS, January 22, 2019 – Horse show competition at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo has been one of the cornerstones of the event, particularly for American Quarter Horses. After all, the breed’s first registration number was issued to a stallion named Wimpy, owned by the King Ranch, after the sorrel took the win as the Grand Champion Stallion at the Show in 1944.

Now, another sorrel, whose own lineage traces strongly to King Ranch bloodlines, is making his own history. Royal Smart Fletch, by Royal Fletch and out of the Smart Little Lena daughter, Little Smart Ginger, has become the horse to watch in the show’s working cow horse or ranch horse versatility competition. This year, he took his sixth championship title at the Stock Show, snagging the win in the senior working cow horse under the hand of Boyd Rice.

For four consecutive years, the 9-year-old stallion, owned by Kit and Charlie Moncrief, themselves deeply entrenched in Stock Show affiliation with Charlie serving as the show’s Secretary and Kit on its board of directors, took home a championship title and has won six titles since 2014. As a five-year-old, the horse took the win in the inaugural AQHA Ranching Heritage Versatility Open and Rice, of Weatherford, would repeat the win in 2015, while his son Tarin, showed the horse to the reserve championship in the junior working cow horse.  With the arrival of 2016, the seven-year-old continued his winning streak in the Versatility, as well as taking the working cow horse. At eight, Royal Smart Fletch came into the arena in 2017 with a new rider, Ben Baldus of Bowie, who claimed the win for the fourth time in the Versatility.

By the end of 2018, Royal Smart Fletch had earned more than $83,000 and was being shown lightly, but in high-profile events like the World’s Greatest Horseman. He has become part of the Moncrief Ranch’s stallion line-up, alongside his sire, NCHA Futurity Champion Royal Fletch. Yet, he still makes an annual appearance at the Fort Worth Stock Show, much to the delight of his fans.

“He’s been a good horse all along,” said Boyd. “He tries to do what I ask of him. He gets a little excited in the show pen because he likes his job. He is very athletic and capable of competing in multiple events.  I appreciate Kit Moncrief letting me show him.”

Not only has he been a good horse for the Moncrief’s, he’s been a good horse for the Stock Show, as well, says Horse Show Manager Lauren Lovelace-Murray.

“The relationship between the Fort Worth Stock Show and AQHA has been a strong one for more than 50 years, and it continues to grow,” she said. “To see the quality of horses like Royal Smart Fletch continue to come and compete each year solidifies the quality of competition we try to produce each year.”

The 2019 Show is hosting more than 5,173 total entries in horse competition from across the nation competing for more than $300,000 in scholarships, cash and premiums, in addition to other awards.

Of the total 33,000 entries at the nation’s longest-running stock show, the horses exhibited during the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s equine competitions are among the best in the nation, with a special emphasis placed on youth contestants who compete for scholarships in the horse show, as well as through the Stock Show’s Equine I.Q. contest.

Take in the sights, sounds, and smells of exciting rodeo action, awesome food, shopping, livestock and equestrian competitions, carnival/midway entertainment and an experience you’ll always remember during 23 fun-filled days – January 18 through February 9 at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. It’s the kind of place where “Old School Cool” is fun, fashionable and hip for everyone. Get your tickets today and celebrate what makes Fort Worth the most awesome town in Texas. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.fwssr.com or call (817) 877-2420.