Registration:  ApHC #231225
Foaled:  1975
Died: August 21, 1989

Bull Nunneley, by Mr. Spotted Bull and out of Miss Rose Go (by the Thoroughbred stallion Bolodier), earned $36,345.92 during his one-year career on the track, winning six and placing second in two of his eight ApHC-approved starts as a two-year-old.

While he was an outstanding running horse, it was as a breeding stallion that Bull Nunneley established himself as a legend. He sired Executive Race Committee (ERC) supreme champions I Love Willie, Undercover Willie and Mundo Dinero, and ERC champions Notcho, Built Tough and Mr. Keck.

With the exception of 1983, Bull Nunneley was listed in the top three of leading sires (based on dollars earned by his get) from 1981 into the 1990s. He topped that prestigious list in 1985, 1987 and 1988. As of press time for the October 1989 issue of Appaloosa Journal, the lifetime earnings of his get totaled $1,025,386.14.

From an article in the October 1989 Appaloosa Journal, records at the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) showed that Bull Nunneley had sired 261 registered foals, 151 of them track starters. Of those starters, 43 have earned their register of merit, nine are medallion winners, six are champions and three are supreme champions.

The Texas-bred stallion earned prestige for his owner and breeder as well. Bill Jones, who has bred and owned several great Appaloosa runners during a span of more than 30 years, was named leading breeder by the ERC in 1988 and was the co-leading owner in 1985.

On August 21, 1989, Bull Nunneley died of a heart attack in his paddock at Bill Jones' Ranch in Nocona, Tezas. Jones buried his great stallion on a grassy knoll under shade trees overlooking his ranch in Nocona.

Though Bull Nunneley's death was untimely, his impact on the breed and Appaloosa racing will remain eternal.

{Information for the above came from an article that was originally published in the Appaloosa Journal, October 1989, Vol 44, No. 10, "Bull Nunneley:   1975-1989"}

Joe Daniels
December 1999

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