Don Danilo

Don Danilo

(Rey Cometa x La Danesa)

Date of Birth: February 20, 1954
Place of Birth: Bolivar, Department of Antioquia
Gait: Trote, Trocha, Galope and Paso Fino
Color: Palomino
Breeder: Don Oscar Veléz
Colombian Registry Number: FC9

* Out of Contest – Colombian Legacy *

Sire: Rey Cometa, son of Cometa.
Mare: La Danesa, daughter of Lusitano (a horse used in Bullfights) and La Diana (a Paso Fino mare).

Don Danilo is the only horse that has been known for his ability to perform the four Colombian gaits: Trote, Trocha, Galope and Paso Fino; he was always already to perform the gait that his trainer gave orders to execute. In his time, his name was mentioned throughout all the Colombian horse world, both in Colombia and in the United States.

He was bred in “Los Farallones” farm, located in the town of Bolivar, Department of Antioquia, Colombia; by “Don Oscar Veléz”, a famous horse breeder, the 20th of February 1954. His first trainer was a man called Gonzalo Calad, who made the horse execute the Trote and Galope gait. But then, it became to be trained by the famous and recognized “Maestro Alfredo Gallego”, who started the horse in the Trocha gait. At age of four, Don Danilo was presented in his first exposition in the city of Medellín, Colombia, there he was declarated Grand Champion. Since this moment, Don Danilo had won all the rewards and prizes that the Colombian Horse Associations could give to a horse for its qualities; in this way, he was declared “Out of Contest” in the year 1965 in the Exposition of Bogota.

Don Danilo was sold and bought a few times by different people and finally he was bought by “Don Luis Peña Duque” during Armenia’s Exposition for $120 Colombian pesos of this time, which was a considerable price. He took the horse to his farm in the city of Girardot, where he treated him as a real king. Adolfo Gomez, who was considered one of the best Colombian trainers, became to be his new fortunate trainer.

On Friday, the 30th of July, 1976 at 3:00 p.m., the great Don Danilo died. A big one had left, he had gone; but thanks to God and to his genetical potential Don Danilo had left an enormous dynasty of horses, most of them were declared “Out of Contest” like their sire. Some of his famous offspring are: El Arco, Altanero, Candidato, Canario, Don Camilo, Consul, Picasso, Pegasso, Rebelde, La Sherezada, Cumparcita, La Triana, Rosario, Parrandera, and more that there is not enough space to mention them. Most of these horses were Trocha and Trocha & Galope horses.

Article by Viviana Angel Maya