Mesh Tenney: A Cowboy Who Trained Racehorses

Mesh Tenney (right) with his Kentucky Derby winner Swaps, ridden by Art Sherman. (Photo by Benoit Photo)
It’s hard to describe Mesach Adams Tenney as simply a horse trainer, because although he most undoubtedly trained horses—and did so with success for many years—he did it in a manner that was distinctly his own and wholeheartedly different than the majority of other trainers.
Mesach “Mesh” Tenney was a cowboy first and a trainer second, and his cowboy heritage had a major influence on his training techniques and appearance. Bowing to the traditions of the sport, he would wear a suit and tie on race day, but when out and about in his barn on an ordinary day, he could often be found in full cowboy attire, complete with cowboy hat and chaps. He was the personification of the stereotypical cowboy image, except he was better—he was real.
Born in Arizona on Nov. 16, 1907, Tenney grew up as a cowboy and was about as hands-on as a horse trainer can be. There was never a need for a blacksmith in Tenney’s barn, because Tenney himself was a skilled blacksmith and shod all his own horses. On occasion, he could even be found sleeping in a stall, showing a remarkable dedication to the horses in his care.
Tenney started training horses in the 1930s, but it wasn’t until the 1940s that his career really took off. Partnering with his childhood friend and fellow cowboy Rex Ellsworth, Tenney and Ellsworth established a Thoroughbred ranch in California that was soon producing top runners at a remarkable rate.
The first big star for the stable was the legendary Swaps, a mighty son of Khaled bred by Ellsworth. After an unremarkable season as a 2-year-old in 1954, Swaps stepped up in a huge way the following year, winning eight of his nine races during a spectacular campaign. Among his victories were the Kentucky Derby, in which he upset future Hall of Fame member Nashua, and the Californian Stakes, in which he defeated 1954 Kentucky Derby winner Determine in the world-record time of 1:40 2/5 for 1 1/16 miles. To end the season, Swaps ran in a match race at Washington Park against Nashua, but was beaten by his rival after aggravating a foot injury on the eve of the race.
Swaps would have been remembered as a top-notch runner even if he had retired as a 3-year-old, but he came back better than ever in 1956 to stamp himself as an all-time great racehorse. Racing 10 times in 1956, he won eight races and set or equaled track and world records in seven of them. Arguably his most impressive performance came in the 1 1/16-mile Inglewood Handicap, when he ran the distance in an incredible 1:39 flat while eased up at the finish. His accomplishments earned him the title of Horse of the Year.
SWAPS

Photo courtesy HorsePhotos.com
Also in 1956, Tenney sent out Terrang to win the Santa Anita Derby and San Vicente Stakes before heading to Churchill Downs for the Derby. However, Tenney’s second Derby starter didn’t have quite the same success as Swaps, as Terrang finished twelfth behind Needles. A few quiet years followed, but things began to pick up again in the early 1960s and really came together in 1962. That year, Tenney’s stable was filled with a remarkable group of talented Ellsworth horses. They included 1961 Santa Anita Handicap winner Prove It, winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup and five other stakes races in 1962; Olden Times, winner of the San Juan Capistrano Handicap; and a lightly-raced 2-year-old colt by the name of Candy Spots. After beginning the season with a pair of victories, Candy Spots was sent to Arlington for the prestigious Arlington-Washington Futurity, then the richest race in the world with a purse of $357,000. Candy Spots wasn’t expected to win, but proved as game as they come in the final furlong, defeating future 2-year-old champion Never Bend by a half-length in a thrilling performance.
Thanks in part to Candy Spots’ victory, Tenney was the leading trainer by money won in 1962, with the horses in his care earning a remarkable $1,099,474. He would repeat the title the following year when his horses earned a smaller, but still respectable $860,703. Once again, Candy Spots contributed a great deal to Tenney’s lofty total, winning the Santa Anita Derby, Florida Derby, Preakness Stakes, Jersey Derby, Arlington Classic, and American Derby—in addition to placing in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes—to stamp himself as one of the best horses of his generation.
Over the next couple of years, Tenney enjoyed more success when Olden Times won the historic Metropolitan Handicap in 1964 and Candy Spots returned from a long layoff in 1965 to win the San Pasqual Handicap and place second in four other stakes, including the Santa Anita Handicap. Tenney also sent out The Scoundrel to finish third in the 1964 Kentucky Derby and second in the Preakness, but soon thereafter, the fortunes of Ellsworth’s racing stable began to decline, and so too did the fortunes of Mesh Tenney as a trainer. Less than 10 years later, Tenney would retire from training, and after a brief but largely unsuccessful comeback, he called it quits for good.
Tenney’s training career might not have ended on a high note, but his horsemanship—and the accomplishments of his glory days—will never be forgotten. In 1991, when Tenney was approaching 84 years old, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, a fitting honor for a man that was among the best trainers—cowboy or otherwise—of all time.
SWAPS WITH ART SHERMAN ABOARD AND TENNEY PONYING

Photo courtesy Benoit Photo

Fun Facts

Mesh Tenney is among the most successful trainers in the history of Santa Anita, having won 225 races there during his career.
Swaps, who was undoubtedly the best horse that Tenney ever trained, was ranked #20 on The Blood-Horse’s list of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century.
Showing his dedication to Swaps, it was said that Tenney slept in Swaps’ stall for two weeks in advance of the Kentucky Derby.
Tenney trained 36 stakes winners during his career, including Swaps, Candy Spots, Prove It, Terrang, Olden Times, and The Scoundrel.
Art Sherman (pictured above), trainer of 2014 Horse of the Year and Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, was an exercise rider for Tenney's Swaps and made the journey to the 1955 Kentucky Derby with the colt.