All-Time Leading Racehorse Sires

Part bloodline, part training, part good ol’ determination – it takes a lot to make it to the top in American Quarter Horse racing. Over time, proven winners have linked their heritage to an elite group of Quarter racing sires. 
 

No. 1: First Down Dash, $90,349,801

Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2011, First Down Dash is arguably the greatest race sire of all time. 

First Down Dash has sired 1,476 winners, which includes 259 stakes winners. 

First Down Dash is the sire of a record six All American Futurity (G1) winners: Royal Quick Dash, Dash Thru Traffic, A Classic Dash, Corona Cash, Falling In Loveagain and No Secrets Here.  

He is also the sire of a record six Champion of Champions (G1) winners: Wave Carver, Ocean Runaway, Cash For Kas, The Down Side, A Ransom and Dashing Folly. 

His leading earner is Ocean Runaway ($1,642,498). 

First Down Dash is part of a dynasty of producers. He is a leading sire of sires, with the likes of Dash Ta Fame, FDD Dynasty, Stoli, Valiant Hero and Volcom among the ranks. First Down Dash is the son of all-time leading sire Dash For Cash, and among his sons are leading sire Walk Thru Fire.  

No. 2 Corona Cartel, $69,629,245 

Corona Cartel’s runners have average earnings of $39,008 per starter across his career. He is the sire of 2007 world champion Blues Girl Too, who retired with earnings of $2,032,328 and remains one of the sport's leading distaffers. 

Corona Cartel is one of only four sires to break the $50 million mark in sire earnings in the sport’s history. 

The son of Holland Ease out of the blue hen mare Corona Chick, Corona Cartel is also the sire of All American Futurity winner Teller Cartel and leading sire PYC Paint Your Wagon, and joined the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2021.

No. 3 Apollitical Jess, $66,199,817

This 2007 son of two champions - Mr Jess Perry and Apollitical Time - was himself the sport's world champion in 2010, and retired from the racetrack with earnings of $1,399,831. 

The youngest sire on this list has already made a massive impact on the breed, with record year-over-year earnings pushing him up the all-time sires list. He has 980 starters and 676 winners, and is the sire of All American Futurity winners KJ Desparado, Mr Jess Jenkins and Apocalyptical Jess.

His leading earner is KJ Desparado, who is the sport's all-time leading money earner with $3,061,849. 

No. 4 Mr Jess Perry, $62,109,702

Mr Jess Perry is one of only four stallions to ever break the mark of $50 million in progeny earnings. He joined the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2019. 

The son of Streakin La Jolla is also a leading broodmare sire of money earners.  

Himself a champion, Mr Jess Perry has sired more than 1,026 winners and 166 stakes winners from just over 1,600 starters.

His leading starter by money earned is Matabari, who $1,410,471 on the racetrack.

Mr Jess Perry is also a sire of sires, with such illustrious sons as world champion Apollitical Jess, who has surpassed him on the all-time list of sires, as well as One Famous Eagle and Feature Mr Jess. Mr Jess Perry is the sire of All American Futurity winner Mr Piloto.  

No. 5 Favorite Cartel, $43,985,669

One of two living sires on the list of all-time sires by money earned, Favorite Cartel moves into the Top 5 for the first time. 

The son of Thoroughbred stallion Favorite Trick, Favorite Cartel earned $607,669 on the racetrack. 

Favorite Cartel has gotten 673 starters from 1,075 starters. His progeny have to date earned $40,917 per starter, and they are led by champion Trane Station V ($1,754,152).