Steel Dust Plaque

In 1844, a young colt named Steel Dust arrived in the Texas Republic. He journeyed with settlers Middleton Perry and Jones Greene. Here at the Steel Dust Plaque, we commemorate this legendary horse. The Steel Dust Plaque stands as a testament to his impact on the quarter horse breed. Steel Dust wasn’t just any horse. He was a “Virginia type” horse, born from a Kentucky thoroughbred mare. His speed was legendary. He raced at the farm track of Thomas McKee Ellis, near Lancaster. Ellis was the father-in-law of Steel Dust’s owners. There, Steel Dust outran every challenger. He was about 16 hands high. He was so fast, his jockey had to use molasses on his back to stay on. In 1855, Steel Dust raced in McKinney against a local favorite named Monmouth. It was a spectacular win for Steel Dust. He then defeated another horse, Brown Dick from Hopkins County. Later that year, tragedy struck. At the starting gate of a race against Shiloh, a horse from Tennessee, Steel Dust was injured. The injury eventually led to his blindness, ending his racing career. However, Steel Dust’s legacy lived on through his offspring. He continued to contribute to the quarter horse bloodline for years. The famous King Ranch in South Texas began using Steel Dust and Shiloh’s bloodlines in 1916. They went on to win many accolades at the State Fair of Texas. The King Ranch’s quarter horses were used in circuses, rodeos, and polo teams. In 1940, the American Quarter Horse Association was formed. Today, quarter horses remain highly sought after, both for racing and ranch work. The Steel Dust Plaque serves as a reminder of this remarkable horse’s legacy. His influence on the quarter horse breed is undeniable.