A famous sire of Quarter Horses, Three Bars (1940–1968) was a registered Thoroughbred racehorse before going on to become a member of the American Quarter Horse Association's (or AQHA) American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1989.
Life Foaled April 8, 1940, Three Bars was sired by Percentage and out of Myrtle Dee.Simmons Legends p. 55 After a promising showing in race training, he developed leg problems and never raced well before he was six years old. By that time, he was in Arizona, owned by Sidney H. Vail, who paid $10,000 for him in 1945.Nye The Complete Book of the Quarter Horse p. 409 Eventually, his leg problems cleared up enough for him to race and show great early speed. He won the Speed Handicap in 1946 at Hipodromo de Tijuana, Tijuana, Mexico; which was a three-fourths of a mile, $4,000 ungraded stakes race for horses three years old or older. The winning time was 1:10 and a fifth.The American Racing Manual: 1947 p. 374 Vail leased him to Walter Merrick, an early breeder of racing Quarter Horses, for a few years, but also stood him in Arizona and California. Three Bars died in March, 1968 in Oklahoma on Walter Merrick's ranch.
Sire Record
Three Bars was the sire of 29 AQHA Champions, 4 AQHA Supreme Champions, 317 Racing Register of Merit earners, and his foals earned more than $3 million on the racetrack. Among his famous offspring were Mr. Bar None, Gay Bar King, Sugar Bars, Lightning Bar, Tonto Bars Gill, St. Bar, Steel Bars, and Bar Money. Others include Triple Chick, Alamitos Bar, Bar Depth, Royal Bar, Josie's Bar, and Galobar. His grandson Doc Bar became one of the most influential sires of cutting horses ever known. Another grandson, Tonto Bars Hank, sired all around horses. Jewel's Leo Bars (Freckles), an outstanding cutting horse and sire of cutting horses, was another grandson of Three Bars (TB). Impressive, a triple descendant of Three Bars, became the most prepotent sire of Quarter Horse halter horses from the 1970s through the 1990s.Pitzer The Most Influential Quarter Horse Sires p. 136-137 His offspring Rocket Bar (TB), Sugar Bars, Lena's Bar (TB), Lightning Bar and Zippo Pat Bars were all inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. Of his grandget, Doc Bar, Zippo Pine Bar, Easy Jet, Kaweah Bar, Zan Parr Bar, and The Invester were inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame. Four of his sons were AQHA Supreme Champions — Kid Meyers, Bar Money, Fairbars, and Goldseeker Bars.Mattson The Real American Quarter Horse p. 5,7,9,51
Sire line tree
Three BarsSire Line: CamelBiography: HermitThree Bars: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1989.The Legendary Three Bars: A Sire That Influenced Modern Performance HorsesThe Story of Three BarsThe Three Bars (TB) BloodlineOQHA: Three Bars Barred Tonto Bars Grill Tonto Bars Hank Sonny Gill Gills Sonny Boy Gills Bay BoyMeet the Longest Lasting ProRodeo Barrel Horses of All TimeGills Bay Boy dies at Charmayne James’ ranch in New Mexico Rocket BarRocket Bar: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1992. Mr Tinky Bar Nug Rock Fire Rocket Sugar Rocket Rocket WranglerRocket Wrangler: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2010. Dash For CashDash For Cash: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1997.5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Dash For Cash Cash Rate Calyx First Down DashFirst Down Dash: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2011.The First Down Dash Story Home / Articles / The First Down Dash Story Cash Legacy Dashing Val Dash For Perks Takin On The Cash Some Dasher He Rocket Sugar BarsSugar Bars: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1994.OQHA: Sugar Bars Flit BarFlit Bar Flit Rose Robin Flit Bar Fire Water Flit Firecracker Fire Bar Pistol Sugar Leo Sugar VaqueroNCHA Horse Hall of Fame OtoeOtoe: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2018.OQHA: Otoe Capotoe Leotoe Bars Otoe's Boy Tee Cross Beeotoe Dr Medicine Man Flashy Otoe Otoe's Goldenrod Otoe's Wonder Toebars Hard To Beat Otoe Charge Yankee's Otoe Marshall Field Man Of Action Otoe's Marc Otoe's Omen Mr Big Stuff Shotoe Pacific Bars Gofar Bar Justice Bars Jewel's Leo Bars Jay Freckles Freckles PlayboyFreckles Playboy: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2013. Freckles Merada Colonel FrecklesColonel Freckles: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2004.From the Archives: Colonel Freckles Colonel Leo Bar Doc Jewel Bars Colonelfourfreckle Reveille Bar Colonel Flip Colonel Hotrodder Freckle Kid Freckles Top Brass Just Plain Colonel Nu CashNu CashIn the Past: Nu Cash Cols Little Pepper King Badger's Colonel Colonel Barrachone Master Jay Connie Reb Counterplay Jay's Sugar Bars Mr Sugar Boy Lightning BarLightning Bar: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2008. Cactus Comet Doc BarDoc Bar: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1993.Arizona Quarter Horse Association: Doc Bar Doc's Dee Bar Doc O'LenaDoc O'Lena: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1997. Lena's Peppy Doc Athena Montana Doc Tanquery Gin Shorty Lena Smart Little LenaSmart Little Lena: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2015.Smart Little Lena Sugar Olena Travelina CD O'Lena Mr Sun O'Lena Todaysmyluckyday Doc's Jack Frost Quick Draw Cline Sun FrostSun Frost: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2022.Sun Frost remembered for skill, grit and ‘the look’ Dry DocIn the Past: Born to be Great Dry Oil Dry Clean Doc's Lynx Doc N Willy Doc Egger Doc's HickoryIn The Blood: Third Edge and the Chickasha Legacy Hickory's King DuceHickorys King Duce Lived Two Lifetimes Of Memories High Brow Hickory Vyntage14 Years After Sire's Death, Doc's Hickory Son Competes at Snaffle Bit Futurity Doc's Mahogany Royal Mahogany Doc's Oak Doc's Prescription Handle Bar Doc Doc's Tomcat Genuine Doc Shining SparkShining Spark: He was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2024.Shining SparkThe influence of Shining Spark continues to dominate in all performance horse arenas.Shining Spark Leaves Widespread LegacyShining Spark is NRHA’s Newest Four Million Dollar SireEquiStat Lifetime Reined Cow Horse Statistics Pana Bar Lightning Rey Relampago Bar Bob's FollyMEMORIES OF JET DECK Steel BarsSteel Bars Aledo Bar Moon Bars Barflite Lucky Bar ImpressiveImpressive: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2022.OQHA: ImpressiveImpressive: A tale of triumph and tragedy The Graduate Mr Impressive Conclusive Mr ConclusionMr Conclusion: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2014. Impressive Dandy Zip To Impress Tardy Impressive Noble Tradition Noble TKOAustralian Quarter Horse Association: Hall of Fame: Noble TKO Royal Bar Mr Bar NoneMr Bar None: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2014.OQHA: Mr Bar None Mr Juniper Bar Win Or Lose Sonny Dee BarSonny Dee Bar: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2003. Red Sonny Dee Sonny Go Lucky Scotch Bar TimeScotch Bar Time: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2009.#ThrowbackThursday- Scotch Bar Time Lucky Machine Reynolds Rap Sonny Deluxe James Caan Sonny Go Royal Dirty Larry Bayou Bar Bar None Joe Mr Bar None Cactus The Bar None Quest Triple Chick Gay Bar King Mr Bar Gold Gold Finger Bar Shilabar Gold Nate ShilabarThe Hotshot EraThe Hotshot Story, with Tyrney Steinhoff SmallThe Outside Circle: Hot Shot’s gone, dues due, Summit of the Horse & 20X Showcase Alamitos Bar Kaweah BarKaweah Bar: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1998.The Palomino Express: The Story of Kaweah BarQ-Racing Blog: Yellow and Ornery Pokey Bar Bar Depth Bar Money Fairbars Goldseeker Bars Par Three Zan Parr BarZan Parr Bar: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2010 Reprise BarCarol Rose and Reprise BarNebraska Stallion Named Super Horse Zan Parr JackZan Parr Jack: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2020OQHA: Zan Parr Jack Zan Gold Jack Zans Diamond Sun Kid MeyersKid MeyersOQHA: Kid MeyersKid Meyers and the AQHA Supreme Champion Title Kid Saleen Pretty Kid Bar Buffalo Kid Mister Aabee Mr Kid Charge The Maple Kid Kids Delight Bar Pass Meyers Otoe Meyers St Bar The Ole ManThe Ole Man: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2018.OQHA: The Old ManThrowback: The Ole Man Sleepy's Man Make Me Sleepy Sleepy Clover DaleWhere Are They Now: Sleepy Clover DaleGoing Strong: Sleepy Clover Dale still showing at age 22 The Poka Man Ole Man Roan Ole Man Can Mr Horton Leos Rebel Lark Leos Ole Buck Ole Badge Man Jet Ole Mans Pistol Ole Gold Mine Ole Rocket Chicaro Ole Amadeus Knight Of Ole Ole Man B Healey Falls Ole Man Flyma Bars Ole Heart Throb The Ole Moon Ole Man West Whits Ole Man Zippo Pat BarsZippo Pat Bars: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2002. The InvesterThe Investor: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2004.OQHA: The Investor El Cicatriz Double Vested The Big Investment Bonafide The Appraiser The Stockbroker Impulsions A Sudden Impulse Investers Skip Vested PineLori Watkins Reflects on the Passing of Notable AQHA Sire, Vested Pine Zippo Pine BarZippo Pine Bar: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2000. Zippo Cash Bar Melody ZipperMelody Zipper Wins Quarter Horse Show All-Around Title Flashy Zipper Mr Zippo Pine Zippo Jack BarZippo Jack Bar Inducted into NSBA Hall of Fame Hes Just To SharpIn Loving Memory of AQHA World and Congress Champion He’s Just To Sharp (1988-2017)World and Congress Champion, Hes Just To Sharp, PassesWhere Are They Now? 27-Year Old World and Congress Champion, Hes Just To Sharp Im Crystal Clear Shine My ZipperA Tribute to A Legend: Shine My Zipper Passes at 25In Loving Memory of AQHA/APHA 28-Time World/Reserve Champion Shine My Zipper (1991-2016) Sudden InclinationStephanie Richardson and Kickin Axe In Levis Win 2013 AQHA World Show Amateur Horsemanship Jacks Are Lucky Too Too Sleepy To Zip Zippos Due Claw Zippos Mr Good BarZippos Mr Good Bar: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2019Our Sincerest Condolences Following the Passing of Zippos Mr Good Bar (1984-2016) A Good MachineA Good Machine: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2020. Zips Chocolate ChipZips Chocolate Chip: Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2017.The Passing of a Legend – Zips Chocolate ChipLegendary AQHA sire Zips Chocolate Chip passesRemembering Zips Chocolate ChipLegendary Sire Zips Chocolate Chip Passes at 30 Chips Hot Chocolate Chips Chocolate Star Chipariffic ChocoluaCongress and World Champion Sire Chocolua Passes One Red Hot Zip Skips Special Barb Chip N Pie Chipped In Chocolate Chocolate Leaguer Huntin For ChocolateRodrock Ranches’ Legendary Sire Huntin For Chocolate PassesHuntin For Chocolate Quickly Becoming Top Sire in Industry Zips Last Two Cents The Cookie BakerThe Cookie Baker: Zips Chocolate Chip gelding died in 2021. RA Undisputed Fiesta Fudge ZipabullSuperhorse Picked at Quarter Horse Finals Zippo LtdTrail Legend: Zippo LTDLegendary AQHA show horse Zippo LTD dies at the age of 30 in TexasBlast From the Past: Zippo LTD’s Cover From EC 2004 Dont Skip ZipRest In Peace Don’t Skip Zip (1990-2016)NSBA Announces 2022 Hall of Fame InducteesLeading Sire Dont Skip Zip Passes at Age 26 Dont Skip The Cash Dont Skip George Dont Dress Me Dont Skip My Charms How Bout This Cowboy Zippos SensationThe Life and Times of Zippos SensationZippos Sensation PassesAPHF Endowment Honors Zippos SensationAPHA’s #1 Leading Sire, Zippos Sensation Laid to Rest Brightly Zippo Mr Pondie Zip Zippo Pine Pat Bar Pat Chris Sport Bars Three Bars By Shawne
Pedigree
Three Bars is inbred 5D x 5D to the mare Sandfly, meaning that she appears fifth generation twice on the dam side of his pedigree.
Notes
References