Tom Chauncey and 70 years of Arabian Horses

 Arabian Horse Show in Scottsdale celebrates 70 years. Tom Chauncey, 1995 Arizona Historymaker and one of the original Arabian Horse Association of Arizona members, would be proud to see this milestone. Show runs February 13-23, 2025.

www.historicalleague.org/historymakers/tom-chauncey: "Tom Chauncey established an international reputation for Arabian horse breeding, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, who raised horses for the White House."

http://www.scottsdaleshow.com/.../scottsdale-arabian...: "Since 1955 the Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show and Shopping Expo has set the pace in the Arabian horse world. The first show was held at the grounds of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel which was a beautiful setting for a horse show. The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show was a first class show from the very first day.

After the show's beginnings at the Arizona Biltmore, Ann McCormick bought 150 acres in Scottsdale and made it into the horse facility known as Paradise Park which served the needs of the show for many years.

Since that time, the show has been held at WestWorld in Scottsdale. It has grown from 50 horses to nearly 2000 horses bringing top owners, trainers and breeders from around the world competing for a chance at winning. A win at Scottsdale can mean big money in the breeding barns. In addition to exciting competitions, educational seminars, family-focused events, and an international cuisine court, the event features more than 250 vendor booths, offering everything from lavish jewelry, clothing and works of art."

Happy 100th Birthday South Mt Park

 Happy 100th Birthday, South Mountain Park & Preserve! Originally called Phoenix Mountain Park, it was formed in 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge sold its initial 13,000 acres to the city of Phoenix for $17,000. Arizona Historymaker Ben Avery is smiling down on this 100 year celebration. More about Ben Avery at www.HistoricalLeague.org/historymakers/Ben-Avery

Historymaker Tom Chauncey: The Annual Arabian Horse Show

 The Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show (Feb. 15-25, 2024; 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale) has set the pace in the Arabian horse world.

In 1954, Ed Tweed and 20 other breeders formed the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona. Tom Chauncey, Phoenix jeweler, turned broadcaster, turned rancher was a big part of that group and was honored as 1995 AZ Historymaker by the Historical League.

Tom Chauncey established an international reputation for Hereford cattle ranching and Arabian horse breeding, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, who raised horses for the White House.

He was introduced to Arabian horses by his second wife, Dorothy (Deedie) Wrigley Rich, a member of the Wrigley gum family of Chicago.

“McCormick Ranch, Gainey Ranch, Chauncey Ranch, and the Wrigleys, are common names in the Scottsdale Area, and most new residents do not recognize that these are tightly associated with the history of the Arabian horse,” said Gary McDonald, who – along with his wife Jennifer – owns McDonald Arabians of Scottsdale. “This town, possibly would not have existed, as it is today, without these roots.”

Fun fact: In 1969 Chauncey bought an Arabian horse, Naborr, with the singer Wayne Newton, paid the record sum of $150,000 and stabled it at Tom Chauncey Arabian Horse Center in Scottsdale.