The Cajun-bred running horse has been an integral part of the development of the racing American Quarter Horse. We see this lineage represented through such greats as Go Man Go, Moon Deck, Flying Bob, Queenie, and many more. This line of horses has a rich history that began in Louisiana, when the Acadian settlers from early Canada were expelled from regions that now include Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, parts of Quebec, and parts of Maine in the USA. This migration occurred prior to the start of the French and Indian War in 1756.
When the Acadians arrived in Louisiana, they became part of a regional culture shaped by both French and Spanish influences. Today, the term “Cajun” encompasses many ethnic groups and represents a distinct culture of its own.
The Spanish were the first to introduce horses along the Gulf of Mexico, a region that stretches from what is today Florida, around to Mexico, and into the state of Quintana Roo, even extending to the coast of Cuba. This area includes the coastline of present-day Louisiana. By the time the Acadians arrived, horses—and horse racing—were already present. This marked the beginning of the Cajun-bred running horse.
One stallion frequently mentioned in my articles is Joe Reed P-3. This exceptional horse became a foundation sire in Volume I of the AQHA Stud Book, earning that distinction by being a top sire during the formative years of the American Quarter Horse Association. He was awarded the designation “P-3” in recognition of his foundational status.
The dam of Joe Reed P-3 was the Cajun-bred race mare Della Moore. Through her story, we will explore the history behind this line of horses that has contributed so much to the development of the American Quarter Horse. But first, let’s look at how Joe Reed was conceived—an event that introduces us to some of the key figures involved in the creation and legacy of the Cajun-bred running horse.
The life of Joe Reed has a particularly interesting beginning—one that introduces a theme we’ll see again. He was the result of an unplanned mating between the race mare Della Moore and the stallion Joe Blair. What makes this story especially intriguing is that there are several versions of how this mating actually occurred. These differing accounts likely stem from the consequences the people involved feared if the owner discovered who had truly allowed this great stallion and mare to breed.
One version of the story centers around a “crap game.” According to this account, Joe Blair and Della Moore were stabled next to each other at the racetrack in San Antonio, Texas. While the stable hands and jockeys were engrossed in a game of craps, they realized that Della Moore was in heat. This led to a commotion between the two horses. To calm things down, someone decided to put Joe Blair and Della Moore together—an act that ultimately resulted in the conception of Joe Reed.
The second version of the story involves a group of racehorse men who leased Della Moore for a match race against a horse named Danger Boy. As the story goes, Della Moore arrived ready to race, but she was in heat. Her condition made her difficult to handle, which frightened the supporters of Danger Boy and ultimately led to the race being called off. Frustrated by the cancellation, the men leasing Della Moore reportedly decided to breed her to Joe Blair. This event is said to have taken place at the Alonzo Peeler Ranch, with one of the eyewitnesses being Graves Peeler, the brother of Alonzo Peeler. The men involved then failed to inform Della Moore’s owner about the breeding, which ultimately resulted…
