Hall of Fame - Tejano's Pride

Original article written by Regina Moore posted 15 years 2 weeks ago

Where does one start with such a fabulous mare as TEJANO’S PRIDE? She has exerted tremendous influence on turf route bloodlines in SIM.

It’s difficult to find details of older SIM horses, over and above the raw race data. It’s no longer known who owned TEJANO’S PRIDE when she began racing in SIM. What is known is that she was a bay daughter of TEJANO (by CARO) -- MISS PILGRIM PRIDE, by PILGRIM. She started out racing on both dirt and turf. She picked up a lot of place money, but victory was elusive.

Ara Davies took ownership of TEJANO’S PRIDE early on, but recalls only having her for a few races. Davies’ memory of the mare is that she was “crappy”. The frustration from lack of a win, race after race, is understandable.

By Week 8 of Year 5, TEJANO’S PRIDE is on record as being owned by Brandy Carter, whom The Steward describes as “an old SIM legend”. At that point, TREJANO’S PRIDE had a record of 10-0-4-2 and earnings of $62,270. For Carter, the mare reeled off a series of graded stakes placings. Finally, in Week 11 of that year, the 13th start for TEJANO’S PRIDE proved to be a lucky number, as she scored a victory in the Grade 1 Matriarch Handicap at nine furlongs on turf.

In Year 6, TEJANO’S PRIDE won three of five starts, all Grade 1 stakes, from 8.5 furlongs to 11 furlongs on turf, including the Steward’s Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She received a Simmy for being the year’s Champion Female Turf Horse. Her final race record stood at 18-4-5-4 and earnings of $1,548,200.

Carter continued to own TEJANO’S PRIDE until midway through her breeding career. After Carter left SIM, the mare was sold to Brianna McKenzie, who bred the remainder of her foals.

In total, TEJANO’S PRIDE produced a dozen foals, which collectively earned $16,220,500 at the track.

Her most outstanding offspring is TEJANO CAUSEWAY, a colt by the STORM CAT stallion GIANT’S CAUSEWAY. This European Champion Three Year Old won nine of thirteen starts and placed in the other four. He earned over $4.5 million while racing three seasons. His victories include the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby, and Steward’s Cup Turf, all at 12 furlongs.

TEJANO CAUSEWAY was even more impressive in the breeding shed, for he sired seven runners that earned over $1 million. His get include Hall of Famer THE SCARLET NIGHT, also an outstanding racehorse and sire; South American Champion Three Year Old CAUSEFORLAUGHTER; and incredible Broodmare of the Year KISMET, the dam of stallions FEATURE ATTRACTION, ATLANTIS, FRAYED, and DESTINY. KISMET also produced the filly KIZZER (by CONDUIT), which won over $1 million during her racing career, and has herself produced African Champion Older Mare GATHER, plus Grade 1 stakes winning fillies KIZZ’S ACTION and KIZ FOR LUCK. KIZZER is still producing foals.

Another daughter of TEJANO CAUSEWAY is Grade 1 stakes winner CONFIRMATION, a filly that earned over $800,00 while racing. In the breeding shed, she produced South American Horse of the Year CONFIRM THY CROWN (by THREE OF CROWNS), who is already on his way to being a successful sire, with his oldest crop being 3yo in Year 24. CONFIRMATION also produced South American Champion Older Female CONFIRM (by CONDUIT), who herself produced Grade 1 stakes winner CARRIBEAN SEA.

BAHAMA MAMMA is a daughter of TEJANO CAUSEWAY that has produced two horses that have earned in excess of $1.4 million.

These are only highlights of TEJANO CAUSEWAY’s accomplishments. His last crop was born in Year 17 and he was euthanized after developing laminitis.


The other offspring by TEJANO’S PRIDE, in order of earnings on the track:

TEJANO DREAM – a colt by GOTHIC DREAM that won from 7 furlongs to 12 furlongs and earned over $3.6 million, while winning seven of eleven starts. Unfortunately, he died before standing at stud.

TEJANO TRIBUTE – a colt by CONDUIT that earned over $3.2 million while winning 14 of 19 starts. He won Simmys as South American Horse of the Year and South American Champion Older Male. His oldest foals are now six and include two mares that have won over $400,000. He’s currently standing in France for a $15,000 fee.

TEJANO FLAME – a colt by Loki Flame that raced only seven times with five wins and two seconds. It was enough for him to be named Australia’s Champion Three Year Old. Though his oldest foals are now nine, he’s had a limited number of mares. He is currently standing in Ohio for a $7500 fee.

TEJANO TORPEDO – A filly by GIANT’S CAUSEWAY that hit the million dark mark by winning eight of eleven starts. She produced three foals before her death, including stakes placed TEJANO TURBULANCE .

A TEJANO EFFORT – A filly by EFFORTLESS FORCUS that was a stakes winner and earned nearly $600,000. She produced six foals before her death, including two that earned over $300,000.

TEJANO SALUTE – A colt by SERENA SALUTE that was a multiple stakes winner and earned nearly $600,000. He died before having any offspring.

TEJANO SPIEL – A colt by SINGSPIEL that won two races, at a mile and 6.5 furlongs. He sired one foal before his death.

TEJANO TERRIFIC – A filly by KALANISI that won at a mile and had multiple stakes placings from 6 furlongs to 8.5 furlongs. She produced six foals, two of which are stakes-placed. One of those, ENGLISH CHANNEL, produced multiple stakes winner GOOD MEMORIES, an earner of more the $500,000.

TYPICAL TEJANO – A colt by MONTJEU that won twice and was multiple stakes-placed. He did not have any offspring.

TEJANO RADIANCE – A filly by NO TEARS HERE (a son of GIANT’S CAUSEWAY) that won three races in a brief career. She unfortunately did not have any offspring.

TEJANO TOLERANCE – A filly by NOTABLE DANCER that won three races and did not produce any foals.


TEJANO’S PRIDE is well deserving of being inducted into the SIM Hall of Fame. Though her racing career had a long, frustrating beginning, her outstanding descendants will see that her blood continues to flow in the veins of future SIM champions.

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