Bella Dona delivers a memorable year for the Driggers

Small owners and breeders are the lifeblood of the Thoroughbred industry. They eat, drink and sleep everything about their horses. Being a purebred in places like Kentucky, New York, and California presents a host of challenges, but being one in somewhere like New Mexico, like Robert and Del Rae Driggers, presents challenges. Other challenges — such as developing candidates who can thrive at a high level — end the competition.

Robert Draggers grew up on a cattle ranch in New Mexico, where racehorses were not raised. Now, his and his wife’s Bar Y Equine of Barino, NM, not far from the state border near El Paso, Texas, has five ponies and three thoroughbreds in its stables. That’s in addition to 15 stallions and a quarter stallion.

This year has been a very good year for the Driggers, as their 3 year old chubby baby Bella Dona won 7 to 7, all in bet races. For her career, she’s 12-1-0 in 13 starts with $750,068 earnings. The Driggers, along with a cousin, Ben Ivey, own her. She was trained by Simon Buechler. Todd Fincher has also trained horses for the Draggers.

MW: How did you get into the industry?

RD: When I was training, they had mixed encounters in New Mexico—they would run quarterhorses and Thoroughbreds on the same card. I just got hold of some Purebreds in some claim races. I bought a Purebred and imported it once while I was in Albuquerque and it was moderately successful. I like running horses; I like Thoroughbreds and precious horses. When I was training, I really loved Purebreds because you can do so much more with them. You can stretch them out or spread them out. When you’re in the horse pose, it’s just all the way from the gate to the finish line. With Purebred, there’s a little more strategy to it.

MW: Bella Dona has had a great year on the track. What are your plans for her next year?

RD: We will continue to run her as long as she is successful and healthy, and of course she makes some money – she made $750,000. … We’re running out of space in New Mexico and we’re thinking of going elsewhere. I spoke to several coaches on the west coast. … Of course, I feel that she can go anywhere, to what extent, of course, I don’t know.

MW: Does the prospect of fiercer competition excite you?

Del Rae Vacuum Cleaner: Sure. I think she needs a chance to prove what she is up to against various competitors.

MW: What does her success mean to you as an owner and breeder?

RD: It means a lot to me; I am a horse with a mind. A horse gets in your blood, it’s hard to get them out. It was in my blood many years ago. It means everything to my wife, DelRae, and myself. This is the best Thoroughbred we have ever had. We own her mother (Charlotte’s Drone, by BG’s Drone), she’s back in pony state (with Right Rigger).

DD: It was out of this world. You don’t get these athletes; you can get one in a lifetime and that’s it. We know you should appreciate what you have when you have it and not expect it year after year.

MW: What makes Charlotte’s Drone so special?

DD: Charlotte is not a runner. She probably had some kind of trauma, so she made $300 and something. She has five ponies, all for racing, three bet winners and two winners. Her ponies have made $1.7 million, so we think she’s pretty special.

MW: How old is she?

DD: She’s getting some age on her. She is 17 years old.

MW: How long have you had her?

DD: We’ve had her since her first pony ran (Tilla’s cat ). She has another (stock) mare, Tilla Cat. She won $369,369; (deposit) No Pasa Nada he won $360,139; Lariat , he earned $170,513; and the winner (Que Pasa )—no stake—earned $102,922. All her ponies have come to the racecourse successfully… She is very kind, easy to get along with. Her ponies, and this may sound weird, we took precautions to cross her with Storm Cat bloodlines because she is so kind and sweet, she needs a The stallion will give her ponies a little more grit than she has.