In 1965 MIDNIGHT SUN died.  Harlinsdale Farms had three colts to carry on his bloodlines:  PRIDE OF MIDNIGHT, SUN'S DARK BEAM and MIDNIGHT ALLEN. They were from the last crop of MIDNIGHT SUN colts. They decided we would not let any of them go.  The colts were broken out at Harlinsdale and then sent to Dot Warren for finishing.  It was decided that they were all keepers.  Their judgment was vindicated; they all proved to be very good breeding horses.  When they were 4 years old, they were put into service.  PRIDE didn't breed many mares until he was five, so they showed him the year he was four.  It was unfortunate that PRIDE did not catch on early, but Mr. Harlin believed in him and told people as early as 1971, "Believe me, this horse is going to turn this industry around’. 

PRIDE'S dam was owned by Mr. Worrell at Solitude Stock Farm, but he was owned by Harlinsdale Farms before he was registered.  PRIDE had a funny personality.  He was pop-eyed and he stood up in the cross-ties, he was a show horse from the day one.  He could do a lot when Dot Warren was riding him, but when they decided to take him to the Celebration they brought him right back home and left him from that day forward.

Harlinsdale Farms had a hard time convincing folks that they had the horse of the future but Pride had a lot of freedom up front.  At the time, the industry didn’t have the big foot as they do now and it took a lot get a horse's foot up.  But PRIDE could do it with a lot of ease and he had a natural kind of snort and show horse ways.  The trouble was, a lot of trainers put him down hard.  They said you can't fix [sore] his colts - they won't take it.  Such trainers were missing the message that Harlinsdale Farms was trying to convey which was: "We've got a horse that you don't need to fix that way.  He does it naturally."  But they had a hard time. There were some very vicious attacks against Harlinsdale Farms and PRIDE OF MIDNIGHT during that period.  The result was that over half of the colts PRIDE sired, were sired during the last two years that he live.  To quote Bill Harlin,  “He was put down so hard by so many people,  "You can't fix his colts”….That is a blight on our industry as far as I am concerned.”   According to the TWHBEA records, 1703 foals were registered to this legendary stallion.

In 1979, PRIDE passed away after two colic attacks. That was the last time Bill Harlin saw his father in tears.

PEDIGREE

If you wish to print off this pedigree, click HERE to load a black and white copy

----- Original Message -----
From: Maskr8ng@aol.com
To: walkerswest@walkerswest.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2003 4:29 PM
Subject: Pride Of Midnight


Hey Mary Ellen,

While playing on your site today, I came across the photo of Pride Of Midnight and Dot Warren. It brought tears to my eyes. As a child, I spent many happy times at the Dot Warren Stables in Spring Hill, TN, and have more than a few wonderful memories now. Long weekends and school holidays would usually find me there, getting to ride my own horses and some great ones belonging to other owners.

Dot was an exceptional horseman. He truly understood horses and what made them tick. Although he didn't get to ride but a few World Champions, he gave several great horses the start they needed to attain World titles.

I believe I started riding with Dot in 1972 when my family purchased Setting Sun's Go Boy, a noted walking pony, from the Warren family. I continued to ride and learn under Dot until his retirement but kept a close relationship with him and his wife, Mable until his death. Many times in his later years, Dot and I would talk on Sunday afternoon, going over a show I had made the night before...even though the horses were then in training at other places. Boy, I sure miss those conversations! Even though he wasn't riding then, Dot's instincts and hard won experience were invaluable then...and still to this day, I can hear him giving me some tidbit of advice from a long ago conversation.

I can remember Pride as he was called when he was at Dot's barn. There was never a prettier horse anywhere. The decision to retire him so early may have been the show world's loss, but it was definitely the breed's gain. Dot also started and worked a world of Pride's colts that went on to be noted champions and producers themselves.

Mr. Wirt (W.W.) Harlin of Harlinsdale, had an awesome eye for a good young horse and a knack for getting them to the right trainers. He would come by Dot's barn some days to see his horses worked, and, as Dot usually always worked the horses in a large pasture away from the barn, Mr. Wirt would drive from the barn to the pasture. Many days I would ride with him instead of walking. He was a wonderful southern gentleman who always had kind things to say to a horse crazy youngster and an encouraging word. Wouldn't take anything now for those days!

Thanks for letting me share the memories,

Dee Dee Sale

----- Original Message -----
From: Allen Fleming
To: walkerswest@walkerswest.com
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2008 8:58 PM
Subject: Feedback From Walkers Website

1982 started the Pride of Midnight HF dynasty at World Grand Champion Level.  Beginning that year all the stallions who have earned this title have him in there pedigree with the exception of 4 horses: 1983 Ebony's Bold Courier, 1988 Doc's High Tribute, 1989 Motown Magic, and 1998 Masquerading. All other winners have been his son's and grandsons. 21 total with 1982 Champion Pride's Secret Threat as the lead off man and most resent champion Santana's El Nino are included. What a contribution for a horse that never
earned the title for himself!

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