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A Mdrfiortel to Old Idldyi^vjfe vithout a doubtHie greatest foplhg horse to ever chafie a calf, vlll be uhvelldd Irt Lovlngton, New Mexico this Week. .. vThe' Memorial, which will serve is a permanent marker for- Bally' I grave In the Jake McClure \rena In Lovington, will long re-mind rodeo fans of the horse that meant almost sure victory for the sowboys who were man enough, and fortunate enough, to ride him.A special ceremony, which will be attended by top rodeo hands throughout the country, will be held just prior to the opening per-formance of the first annual Lea County Sheriff's Posse Rodeo on Thursday, September 6, at 7:30 p. m«At the same time, the new Jake McClure Arena, named after one of the top rodeo hands in the nation, will also be dedicated.Old Baldy, a chestnut sorrel, who thrilled rodeo fans from New York to California, and who meant money in the levis of the cowboys who rode him, had a heart as big as his sturdy frame.He was on his way to becoming a champion rodeo horse as a lour-year old when In 1936 a trailer firc put him oul of commission for about eight months and left a scar, which later became his trademark, on his left foreleg and shoulder.Later, at the height of his career, Baidy suffered a heart attack which probably would have marked the end for a horse of Jess stamina and courage.But, Old Baldy, typical of the spirit he displayed In the 33 years his riders Won over 5300,000 in roping purses, recovered and lived another 10 years to retire gracefully in the pasture of his last owner, Troy Fort, near Lovington.Fort .purchased Baldy in 1946. and, by roping from his back in 1947, was the World’s Champion calf roper.The Lovington cowboy, who has always ranked with the best of them, went on to win thousands of more dollars with Old Baldy.In 1948, with Baldy being crippled for several months with a lame fool. Fort just barely missed his second consecutive World’s] Championship. But Ihc incompava-' blc pair, Fort and Old Baldy, came back to win the championship again in 1949.Fort gives Baldy credit for making him enough money to buy two ranches. 11 was in 1946, after Fort bought Baldy and had seen what he could do, that he went to a Fort Worth Bank and borrowed 540,000 to buy a ranch. •In less than two years time, Fort had won enough money to pay off the ranch and he later bought another ranch the same way.nil.n rntVtfC thuf Old Ral-igflin. despite the fact thawt EX shoulder and leg were sensitive' artf. 10 hud strong areas of t e fl tf e rr : hairless skin.But his eyesight was unimpalredT and eventually his scars dtsappefc# eel from his face and neck. The burn scar on his leg remained for the remainder of his life, and it was (his mark that made him easily recognizable everywhere.Ironically enough, it may have;.-been the fire that made Baldy- thrall • time great competitor he turtK ed out to be. '■ vFort, in recently discussing some of his experiences with Old BaldjV. said many horses that are on their'-way to becoming great roping-horses, such as Old Baldy was at. the time of the fire, are pushed too hard.After a few years on the rodeo circuit, where a horse is hauled In, a trailer from show to show, and,, ridden by many a cowboy, they suddenly start slowing down. •—With Old Baldy, however, •,t,b.e' eight months rest he received aS*a; result of the fire, proved to be Just what he needed.The scar- - legged sorrel caaE back stronger than ever. amj£ty3]JC the- arena know - how and a 'fighting heart, he was a champion KE years after many rodeo horseOE his age had already been turng£ out to pasture.By United Press International American LeagueNew York Minnesota Los Angeles Chicago Baltimore Detroit Cleveland Boston Kansas City WashingtonW. L. Pet. GB. 81 57 .587 . 77 61 .558 4* 76 61 .555 4# 70 67 .511 10*,a 70 68 .507 LL 68 67 .50*1 .11/2 66 73 .475,154 64 72 471 16 fil 76 .445 191a 5-1 85 .388 27VaSaturday's Results Boston 5 Minnesota 4 Baltimore 8 Cleveland 2 *Detroit 2 Chicago 1 Washington 3 Los Ang. 2, lilgfit Sunday’s Results Minnesota 5 Boston 2 New York 2 Kansas City 1 Los Angeles 4 Washington 2'JZ Baltimore 4 Cleveland 1, 1st • Baltimore 2 Cleveland 1, 2nd Chicago 10 Detroit 8 Mmwlav’s Probable Pitchers
Newspaper Details
Clovis News Journal
Clovis, New Mexico, US
Mon, Sep 03, 1962
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
David S.
NM, USA 26 Aug 2017
Other Publications Near Clovis, New Mexico
The Clovis News
The Eastern New Mexico News
Clovis Evening News Journal
Clovis News Tribune
Clovis New Mexico Evening News Journal
