Lucky Dog Productions hosted Breeder’s Challenge Qualifier #3, and contestants from all over the country battled it out in the Agricenter International Showplace Arena in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Memphis In May Lucky Dog Race/Breeder’s Challenge Qualifier pushed Lucky Dog Productions over the $10 million mark in cash payouts since their inception in 2009. Not only that, the race featured a dirty fast lineup of horses and jockeys, including arena-record breakers Dale Long and Slick Lane Ta Fame.
“Overall the show was exceptionally smooth,” shared producer Christy Lewis. “Our staff did an amazing job as always. The combination of the caliber of horses and the ground was yielding lots of fast times. Chase Lewis is our main tractor driver, and he’s been trying to change that arena record for a while now. It’s definitely rare company to be a 14.1 on the lasers in there! It’s always exciting to see records broken, and the level these horses and jockeys are on today is sure fun to watch.”
Alabama native Hailey Kilgore has been running down the alley in Memphis as long as she can remember, but this was her first time running 13-year-old mare Sophie Goldseeker in that arena. “Roany” has been in the family for several years, first owned by Kilgore’s sister-in-law, and purchased by Kilgore and her husband in December of 2023.
“She was very consistent all weekend. I wouldn’t say that has been hard for us to do in the past but I feel like I’ve slacked some at times; I don’t fault her for anything,” Kilgore said. “She was on her game, and I just tried to keep up with her. Before each run I pray to run her to my max potential so she can show her max, because I know she’s going to give me 1,000% every time. It can be a long approach to the first in that setup with a long alleyway, but she is one that you can send from wherever and she’s going to find the first.”
The pair posted a 14.445 on Friday to place third in the Open and earned $1,311. A 14.406 on Saturday placed fifth in a star-studded field on Saturday, earning $586 in the Open and another $1,163 for fourth place in the Alpha Dog High Stakes side-pot. The dynamic duo continued to shave time off on Sunday, moving up the leaderboard to win the Open and $987 with a time of 14.304.
“When I get on, she knows we’re at a race and what’s going on,” Kilgore said. “I try to keep her calm and easy outside; I actually warmed up behind the barns this weekend where it was quiet and peaceful because that was best for her. I have to say that she is very routine-friendly, she has her own routine and she likes to stay in it and not have it messed up. She’s very friendly and loves to be petted on; she is just her own little horse and doesn’t require a lot. I’ve ridden great horses before and there’s a difference in great and good, but she’s probably the most fun and most thrilling.”
Kilgore has been swinging a leg over barrel horses since the tender age of three.
“I started out on a pony, and have been riding my whole life. When I was little we went to playdays and saddle club shows and did all the events. Halter, pleasure, whatever I could get my pony in, I did!” she said with a laugh. “After we stopped those I just ran barrels, when I was about 9-10 years old. I had a gelding as teenager that I will say made me who I was as my maiden name; but this mare has made me who I am as my married name.”
Kilgore plans to continue to take things one run at a time with her talented mount, potentially heading west this fall with her husband and fellow barrel racer, Jacob, to hit some of the larger 3-day races and maybe some rodeos.
“We are kind of fly by the seat of our pants people; it’s just he and I,” she said. “We plan to just head out and see what happens!”
This article was originally published in the July 2024 issue of Barrel Horse News.
