DJ Bright Silk Train

DJ Bright Silk Train is a son of Gone To The Mountain and out of a linebred Maddon’s Bright Eyes mare. Sadly, he was injured before his career got started. But his ¾ brother, Gone To Be Bright, owned by Ashley Restivo of Texas, has had an impressive career. He started on the racetrack and has a speed index of 110. He’s an AQHA World Champion Halter Stallion, and a Pro Rodeo barrel horse. Ashley described him in a phone conversation as ‘a race horse that’s cowy’. She’s even dabbled in cutting and roping with him. 

Pics 1-3 GTTM

Pics 4-6 Gone To Be Bright

Video of GTTM setting 870-yd world record

“GONE TO THE MOUNTAIN”

Gone To The Mountain is considered the “Secretariat” of the Quarter Horse world and a record setting legend. He was born on a small farm in Texas and is proof that good things come in plain brown packages. He’s been setting records since he first stepped on the track. GTTM won or placed in 20 of 25 career starts and had a LTE of $458,831. He’s a seven-time stakes winner with a speed index of 115. He was AAA at six of the seven AQHA distances. Out of 11 races at 870 yards, GTTM won 10 of them and took 2nd place on the 11th. He set a 870-yard world record of :43.029 in 2009 and that achievement is still untouched 17 years later among Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds alike. He was also named champion distance horse that year. 

GTTM is one of only 12 stallions that with a get of 100 foals or less have won a million dollars. 46 out of his 68 foals are ROM earners. 

His breeder and owner, Clyde Woerner said, “He’s a fun horse. The best thing about him is his disposition; you’d think he was a 10-year-old gelding. Nothing bothers him. He’s just easy going. We’re very fortunate, for a couple of old retired people, to have a horse like that.” 

His jockey, Freddie Martinez, said, “I’ve had the privilege to ride many great horses in my career, and with over $23,000,000 in earnings, nearly 100 stake wins, and 9 grade 1 winners as a jockey, I’ve been blessed to sit on some of the best. That’s what makes this next statement carry so much weight: Gone To The Mountain is truly one of the greatest I’ve ever ridden.” 

GTTM is well known for setting records at the long distances but it’s interesting to note that almost half of his $458,831 was earned at 440 yards or less. This incredible combination of explosive speed like a Quarter Horse and the lasting endurance of a Thoroughbred truly makes Gone To The Mountain one of the most exceptional racehorses to ever run.

“MADDON’S BRIGHT EYES”

Maddon’s Bright Eyes was one of the greatest Quarter running horses to ever step on a track. She was a chromy bay with three stockings, a blaze, and a blue eye. A race that demonstrated her incredible speed and heart, took place in 1949 and it was the 440-yard New Mexico Quarter Horse Championship. Another horse slammed into her, “spinning her almost completely around. By the time she got straightened out, the field was 3 lengths away. Bright Eyes kicked in her afterburners, caught, and passed the field as if it were standing still. She was first to the wire by ¾ of a length, winning in the time of :22.2 and setting a record. 

As a 6-year-old, her racing career tragically ended when she broke so hard at the gates that she tore the muscle, tendon, and fractured the bone on a hind leg. Then she finished the race on three legs and still took second place. Before her injury retired her, Bright Eyes “went to the post 25 official times, winning 18 and finishing second 5 times. In seven of her eighteen victories, she set records, and in three of her nine defeats, she pressed the victors to record times. She was officially rated AAA at five of the seven official distances and had an unofficial AAA at a sixth.” Bright Eyes was named world champion Quarter running horse twice and world champion Quarter running mare three times. She went on to produce foals out of Three Bars and Leo.

Reference – Legends, Volume 3

*Pictured — Gone to the Mountain