Legendary Champion and Leading Sire Separatist Dies at 29, Leaving Lasting Legacy in Quarter Horse Racing

Separatist SI 101, a three-time AQHA Racing Champion and one of the Quarter Horse racing industry's most influential sires, died Sunday, November 8, at the Louisiana Center for Equine Reproduction (LACER) in Opelousas, Louisiana. The legendary gray stallion was 29.

A son of Chicks Beduino out of the Hempen mare Seperate Ways, Separatist distinguished himself as an exceptional racehorse before establishing a remarkable breeding career that spanned more than two decades. His offspring have earned more than $26.5 million, while his influence as a broodmare sire has extended his legacy into succeeding generations of Quarter Horse racing champions.

Stephen Deville, stallion manager at LACER, paid tribute to the stallion and the opportunity to care for him during his final years.

"Separatist is a once-in-a-lifetime stallion, and any farm would be honored to be associated with him in any capacity," Deville said. "He is truly one of the foundation stallions whose influence helped shape the Quarter Horse racing industry we know today."

"I cannot thank his owners enough for entrusting us with his care and allowing me to be part of his remarkable legacy during his final years. He will have a special place at the front of our stallion barn, beneath the big oak tree, where he can look out over the generations of stallions that follow, each hoping to fill the enormous shoes he leaves behind."

A Champion on the Racetrack

Bred in California by Edward C. Allred, Separatist was campaigned by Rod and Jackie MacPherson Jr. and trained by John L. Cooper.

He compiled an outstanding record of 16 wins, three seconds, and one third from 24 starts, earning $889,044 during his two-year racing career.

As a 2-year-old in 1999, Separatist won eight of 13 starts and earned $599,931. His victories included the Governor's Cup Futurity (G1) and California Sires' Cup Futurity (G2). He also finished second in both the Los Alamitos Million Futurity (G1) and Golden State Futurity (G1).

His accomplishments earned him the title of AQHA Racing Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.

Returning at three in 2000, Separatist continued his dominance, winning eight of 11 starts and adding $289,113 to his career earnings.

His sophomore campaign included victories in the Golden State Derby (G1), Governor's Cup Derby (G1), PCQHRA Breeders' Derby (G2), Z Wayne Griffin Director's Stakes (G3), and Jet Deck Handicap.

He was named both AQHA Racing Champion Three-Year-Old and Champion Three-Year-Old Colt, completing a career that earned him three national championship titles.

A Remarkable Legacy at Stud

Separatist entered stud at Burns Ranch in 2001 and developed into one of the industry's most consistent sires of stakes winners, champions, and major futurity and derby performers.

According to statistics updated November 3, 2026, Separatist sired 1,779 foals of racing age from 23 crops to race, including 1,264 starters, 794 winners, 70 stakes winners, and 97 stakes-placed runners.

His offspring have accumulated $26,539,214 in earnings, averaging $20,996 per starter.

Among his most accomplished offspring was DM Shicago SI 104, the 2004 AQHA Racing World Champion and winner of $1,873,730. Out of the Special Leader mare Leading Sensation, DM Shicago captured the All American Futurity (G1), All American Derby (G1), Rainbow Derby (G1), and Ruidoso Derby (G1), establishing himself among the most successful runners of his generation.

Another standout was Moonist SI 101, a multiple AQHA Racing Champion who earned $878,468 while winning 24 races. Out of the First Down Dash mare Your First Moon, Moonist captured the Golden State Derby (G1), Los Alamitos Winter Championship (G1), Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship (G1), and Spencer L. Childers California Breeders Championship (G1).

Separate Bet SI 107, out of Better Bet On Me by First Down Dash, earned $799,481 and captured the Rainbow Derby (G1) and Remington Park Invitational Championship (G1), among other major stakes victories.

Inseperable SI 96, another champion son of Separatist, earned $672,756 while winning the All American Derby (G1) and Rainbow Derby (G1). The stallion, out of A Delightful Legacy by First Down Dash, was named AQHA Racing Champion Three-Year-Old and Champion Three-Year-Old Colt.

Other prominent offspring included Seperate Interest SI 98 ($486,761), Divide The Cash SI 105 ($448,643), Separatist Firstdown SI 109 ($436,117), Myst Fit SI 97 ($258,379), Ajs Anna Smoke SI 93 ($249,119), and Strong Hope SI 95 ($209,395).

Beyond the earnings and stakes victories, Separatist's ability to sire championship-caliber runners across multiple generations helped establish him as a lasting influence in the breed.

An Influential Broodmare Sire

Separatist's influence extended well beyond his direct offspring.

As of November 9, 2026, daughters of Separatist had produced runners credited with more than $33.3 million in earnings, placing him 16th among the all-time leading Quarter Horse broodmare sires by money earned.

Separatist is the sire of the dams of 99 stakes winners, further establishing his influence on succeeding generations of Quarter Horse racing champions. Among the leading runners out of his daughters were Matabari SI 104, an AQHA Racing Champion and Grade 1 winner of $1,410,471; Chance To Excel SI 104, a Grade 1 winner of $458,515; Sir Louisiana Dash SI 106, a restricted Grade 2 winner of $406,715; Black Fryday SI 98, a Grade 2 winner of $369,940; Chance To Fire SI 101, an earner of $348,986; and Rock Ya Later SI 104, a Grade 2 winner.

His record as a maternal grandsire included 1,563 starters and 909 winners, illustrating the continuing importance of his bloodlines in the modern Quarter Horse racing industry.

He was also ranked 23rd among all-time leading sires by money earned, reflecting his sustained success as a sire over more than two decades.

A Distinguished Female Family

Separatist was a son of the legendary Chicks Beduino SI 104, the influential sire of numerous champions and major stakes winners.

His dam, Seperate Ways SI 92, by Hempen, was named the 2000 AQHA Broodmare of the Year and was also recognized as an AQHA Dam of Distinction.

Her outstanding produce record included champion Separatist, champion Way Maker SI 103 ($617,444), and Make It Anywhere SI 91 ($409,733).

Way Maker captured the Dash for Cash Futurity (G1) and Golden State Futurity (G1), while Make It Anywhere won the PCQHRA Breeders' Futurity (G1) and PCQHRA Breeders' Derby (G2).

The family became one of the most recognizable and successful female lines in California Quarter Horse racing, with generations of mares producing numerous stakes winners and influential breeding prospects.

His Legacy Will Continue

Separatist stood his final years at the Louisiana Center for Equine Reproduction in Opelousas, where he was owned by a syndicate.

Although his passing marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in Quarter Horse breeding history, his genetic influence will continue through his sons, daughters, and succeeding generations.

LACER has confirmed that frozen semen remains available, allowing breeders an opportunity to continue utilizing his bloodlines.

For Deville and those who cared for Separatist, his legacy will also have a permanent place at the farm, beneath the large oak tree overlooking the stallion barn.

It is a fitting tribute to a horse whose accomplishments on the racetrack, success as a sire, and influence on generations of champions have secured his place among Quarter Horse racing's most respected stallions.

For additional information about Separatist's available frozen semen, contact the Louisiana Center for Equine Reproduction at (337) 407-0708 or visit www.laequine.com.

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