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Come Six versus Beduino
Another notable quarter horse/thoroughbred match race took place in Mexico City in 1974, when Come Six, the shortline champion two- and three-year-old and aged gelding, hooked up with a Mexico-foaled thoroughbred grey named Beduino. After Beduino defeated Chariwari in a post-Indulto, south-of-the-border grudge match, owner Justo Fernandez declared his ash-hued runner the world's fastest horse, and issued a challenge to any and all quarter-horse owners to prove otherwise. Fernandez sent jockey Ronnie Banks in search of a worthy rival, and Banks came up with one of the best in Come Six.
Though I don't believe anything like an official chart of the Come Six-Beduino showdown exists, eyewitnesses attest that Come Six, under regular rider Luke Myles, rocketed out of the gate and quickly put a length and a half of daylight between himself and Beduino. But Beduino quickly collared his rival, and by the end of the 440-yard race, the thoroughbred had turned it into a laugher, drawing away to win by a length.
Shortly after taking the measure of Come Six, Beduino was brought to the States to prepare for a match against world champion Charger Bar. Though that event never came off, Beduino caught the eye of Los Alamitos president Frank Vessels, Jr., who quickly sized up the Mexican flash as an outstanding stallion prospect. Vessels's judgment was vindicated--and then some--in such Beduino offspring as Tolltac and Chicks Beduino.
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