Rex McDonald Champion of Champions

The world's champion saddle stallion. Rex McDonald lit up the horse world like the new streetlights lit up Mexico. His career brought significant status to the Missouri Saddle bred, and international recognition to his hometown, now called the "Saddle Horse Capital of the World". In his prime he defeated all the great horses of the day. After his death in 1913, his hide was stuffed and displayed in the lobby of the Ringo Hotel. The hotel burned in 1918, he was rescued by firefighters and taken by Tom Bass to his barn. Here he was given his own special niche to the right of the barn door; countless children stopped by to see and hear tales of his glory days. In the 1930's the hide, somewhat the worse for fire and passage of time, was removed from the barn and buried at the Mexico Fair Grounds. At the opening of each Fair, the audience stood in silent tribute as a wreath was placed on his grave near the inside quarter stretch. Later the fairgrounds was sold, and his remains were moved to Plunkett Park. That property was sold, he was moved across town to the grounds of the American Saddle Horse Museum. There a simple stone marker pays him tribute. More than a century after his birth the legendary black stallion is still remembered as the perfect embodiment of the American Saddle Horse. The Champion of Champion, Audrain County's Rex McDonald.