Registration:  ApHC #171032
Foaled:  Mar 25, 1972
Died:  Oct 1, 1987
Color:  Chestnut

Scooter Bug G., bred and owned by hall of famer Gene Miles of Wichita, Kan., was sired by Lady Bug's Moon (AQHA) and out of We Go Charge. He was foaled in 1972 and raced as a two-year-old, winning six, placing once and showing once. He won the two-year-old all distance crown at Santa Fe Downs in New Mexico after wins at two and one half and four furlongs. Two weeks later he won the two furlong Santa Fe Appaloosa Futurity and earned a bronze medallion.

An Appaloosa News article in 1975 reports on the colt's racing triumphs, and makes a few predictions for the future:

"Perhaps the greatest excitement came in the rich Texas Futurity, May 12. Scooter Bug G. had company in the winner's circle after finishing first in a dead heat with Deep South. 'If not for the horse's superior conditioning and training, it wouldn't have happened,' said Gene Miles. 'Our trainer, Elroy Zogleman, deserves much of the credit for the success.' Miles called the Santa Fe meet '... a great finish to Scooter Bug G.'s racing career,' so track fans may not have a chance to see this horse in action again. Miles will be standing the horse in Golden Valley Ranch, near Norman, Okla., for 1975, hoping that the resulting foals will be even greater proof of the program started with the purchase (of We Go Melody) in 1964. If we can judge people's performance like students of the sport judge race horses, Gene Miles will be making his share of appearances in the winner's circle with Scooter Bug G. offspring."

And Scooter Bug G.'s get did grace the the winners circles with consistency. He sired sires and producing daughters, including Straw Bug, Bear Trac, Mister Clyde, Boogie Bug, Tubelo's Bug and Wego Lady Bug. His get number 256 registered with 105 starters earning $395,000 making him one of the all-time leading Appaloosa sires.

He's also the sire of 29 halter and performance horses, two of them medallion winners and one the receiver of a Superior Achievement certificate. Tricky Misture, by Scooter Bug G., earned 17 halter points, 86.5 western pleasure points and 93 hunter points, winning year-end high-point in senior western pleasure in 1987.

An athlete and sire of athletes, Scooter Bug G. also had a remarkable disposition. "Our granddaughter Becky always delighted in the times she could catch a ride on Scooter Bug G. He was so even-tempered and always gentle and calm,"" said Marie Miles.

Scooter Bug G. died in October, 1987. He now joins fellow Gene Miles-bred and -owned hall of fame inductees Wego Melody (1988), We Go Easy (1991), and Easy We Go (1992).

{This article, and accompanying photograph were originally published in the Appaloosa Journal, April 1994, Vol 49, No. 4, "Special 1993 Awards" and are used here by permission.}

Copyright © 1993 Appaloosa Horse Club. All rights reserved.