Dash For Cash: The Frankel of Quarter Horses

During the 1970s, Dash For Cash emerged as an extraordinary quarter horse, excelling both on the racetrack and as a sire. His remarkable speed and numerous victories elevated the quarter horse racing scene in North America, drawing large crowds to the tracks and generating record-breaking betting activity. His offspring's successes further solidified his legacy as a cornerstone of the modern American quarter horse breed.

Out of 25 races, Dash For Cash triumphed in 21, finished second three times, and only recorded one loss. Over a three-year racing career from March 1975 to December 1977, he amassed an impressive $507,688 in earnings—an extraordinary sum for that era. Following his retirement, Dash For Cash sired an impressive 1,353 foals, 751 of whom emerged as winners, including 145 stakes winners and 16 world champions.

Pedigree and Early Life

Foaled on April 17, 1973, at the renowned Phillips Ranch in Frisco, Texas, Dash For Cash was the product of B.F. Phillips, a prominent breeder known for his commitment to enhancing the quarter horse breed using Thoroughbred mares from King Ranch. Among these mares was Find A Buyer, who Phillips deemed the perfect racehorse—tall, slender, and with a spirited temperament.

Dash For Cash was sired by Rocket Wrangler, described by Phillips as “an exceptionally sweet and well-constructed horse with a striking head.” Rocket Wrangler himself was a successful racehorse, winning 10 of 23 races, including the prestigious All American Futurity and Rainbow Futurity in 1970, and earning the title of AQHA Champion Two-Year-Old Stallion that same year. Upon seeing Dash For Cash in his stall, Phillips declared him the most remarkable colt ever born on his ranch. Trainer Charles William Cascio, affectionately known as Bubba, recognized the colt's exceptional running ability, prompting the decision to keep him intact.

Dash For Cash was a natural athlete who thrived on attention and competition, characterised by a powerful stride. However, his greatest asset was his intelligence; he was calm and composed throughout his races. Dash For Cash was flawless—unflinching at the starting gate and never stumbling or veering off course.

Racing Career

As a two-year-old in 1975, Dash For Cash competed in 10 races, winning eight and finishing second in one. He claimed three significant stakes that year: the Lubbock Downs Futurity (where he set a track record), the Sun Country Futurity, and the Jet Deck Handicap. His only finish out of the prize money occurred at the Sunland Park Fall Futurity, where he ended up sixth.

In his three-year-old season, Dash For Cash participated in 11 races, achieving victory in nine and coming second in two. He captured the Los Alamitos Derby and secured second place in both the Rainbow Derby and All American Derby, which are part of the Quarter Horse Triple Crown. After winning the prestigious Champion of Champions race, he was honoured as the AQHA Racing World Champion for 1976. 

Despite not being the favourite in the Champion of Champions — where he faced formidable competitors like the mare She's Precious and the strong Mito Wise Dancer — Dash For Cash shocked the crowd by clocking a stunning 21.17 seconds over the 440-yard distance at Los Alamitos, breaking the existing record of 21.5 seconds held by Jet Deck. The stunned audience erupted in applause as he crossed the finish line.

In 1977, Dash For Cash dominated his four races, securing victories in the Vessels Maturity trials, the Vessels Maturity, the Los Alamitos Championship, and a repeat win in the Champion of Champions. Unfortunately, by December, Dash For Cash was not in peak form—he was unwell, nervous, and fatigued—but he still managed to clinch victory, becoming the first horse to win the Champion of Champions twice in a row. For the second consecutive year, he was named World Champion by AQHA Racing, making him the first horse to achieve this distinction twice.

Sire Career

Following the conclusion of his racing days, Dash For Cash was relocated to the Four Sixes Ranch in Guthrie, Texas, where he would reign for many years as the premier sire of Quarter Horses in the nation. 

His progeny achieved remarkable success, with 145 offspring becoming Stakes winners, amassing over $40 million in earnings. Dash For Cash also established himself as a leading sire of broodmares, contributing to a total of $80.7 million in earnings from his descendants. 

Notable among these was the mare Dashingly, a granddaughter of Dash For Cash, trained by Bubba Cascio — who also trained the sire Rocket Wrangler. Dashingly triumphed in 18 races, earning $1.754 million during her career, and earning the title of World Champion in 1983.

Dash For Cash's legacy includes several world champions such as Dashs Dream, Cash Rate, First Down Dash, and Dash For Speed. His descendants have excelled not only on the racetrack but also in National Cutting Horse Association Western events, including Chuckwagon racing.

On May 20, 1996, Dash For Cash was put to rest at the age of 23 due to complications from Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM), which led to irreversible damage to his nervous system. 

In 1997, he was honoured with induction into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. A life-size bronze statue of Dash For Cash stands at the entrance of the Hall of Fame, beneath which lie the ashes of this remarkable stallion.