Be a Bono
World Champion Racing American Quarter Horse
Quick Facts
Earnings
$1.3 million
Record
26 starts, 14-4-1
Retired
2007
Be a Bono won the first seven races of his career, including a record-breaking win in the Golden State Futurity.
Be a Bono made his mark on racing with tenacious consistency, a flair for the dramatic, and a legendary breeder/owner.
A true homebred, Be A Bono was the result of a decades-long breeding program undertaken by Spencer Childers, a breeder and owner of Quarter Horses for more than 50 years.
Spencer Childers was thrilled when his homebred won a race named in his honor. He was humbled when Be a Bono did it again the next year, and the next– winning the Spencer Childs California Breeder’s Championship three years in a row.
At the end of his three-year-old season, Bono finished second in the Champion of Champions. He repeated that performance in 2006. Both losses were by a tiny margin–less than a nose.
Be a Bono made an impact off the track, as well. He became the first racehorse to receive stem cell therapy to treat a joint problem. That experimental treatment, (placing stem cells in his knee to repair damage caused by bone chips) was a success.
He returned to racing in 2006 and won the Vessels Maturity for the second time, as well as the Go Man Go Handicap.
Post-surgery, his final 220-yard times were among the fastest ever recorded at Los Alamitos Race Track.
Be a Bono was retired from racing in 2007 and joined the Hall of Champions in 2009.
Be a Bono was the first World Champion for his 96-year-old owner/breeder Spencer Childs.
All 9 of his Stakes wins came against top-notch competition in Grade 1 races.
As a 3-year-old, Be a Bono was named World Champion Racing American Quarter Horse.
At the end of his three-year-old season, Bono finished second in the Champion of Champions.
Notable Wins
2002
Golden State Futurity (G1)
2004
Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G1)
Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship (RG1)
2005
Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship (RG1)
Vessels Maturity (G1)
2006
Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship (RG1)
Vessels Maturity (G1)
Go Man Go Handicap (G1)
“Be a Bono prefers to make things interesting and exciting. I guess he’d rather win by a nose or a head. We’ll take it either way.”
Trainer, Dan Francisco
Facts
Earnings
$1.3 million
Record
26 starts, 14-4-1
Retired
2007
Pedigree
Bono Jazz,
Be Peacefull
Nickname
Bono
Attributes
Sorrel Gelding
Foaled
2001
Died
April 2021
Height
16.2 hands
Trainer
Dan Francisco
Breeders
Spencer Childers
Owner
Spencer Childers
Jockey
G.R. Carter
2004 World Champion
AQHA Register of Merit
Hall of Champion Resident
2009 – April 2021
