He's Puttin' on the Ritz

He's Puttin' on the Ritz (1991-2016) was a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion who won World Championships at the ages of two and three before winning his breed's World Grand Championship in 1996.

Life and career[]

He's Puttin' on the Ritz was foaled in 1991. He was a chestnut stallion sired by A Command Performance and out of Gen's Living Doll.^[1] His maternal grandsire was Pride's Generator. He was sold to William and Sandra Johnson, the owners of Waterfall Farms, as a two-year-old. He was initially trained by Billy Gray and his son Tim, and ridden by Tim Gray, won the Two-Year-Old World Championship in the 1993 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.^[2] The next year he won the Three-Year-Old World Championship and was named Horse of the Year. The following year, 1995, he was expected to enter the World Grand Championship. However, He's Puttin' on the Ritz suffered a foot injury and did not compete in the Celebration at all that year. Instead he was sent from Day's stable home to Waterfall Farms and bred for the first time; his trainer was also switched, from the Grays to Sammy Day.^[2] In 1996, He's Puttin' on the Ritz won the stallion class in the Celebration and entered the World Grand Championship, which he and Day won.^[1][2]

He's Puttin' on the Ritz retired from showing after his World Grand Championship win and stood at stud until 2014, when he was completely retired due to a tumor. He died in his paddock August 3, 2016.^[1][3]

References[]