Ken Fratis

Ken Fratis got a late start in the Quarter Horse industry, but when he got involved, it was in a big way.

In the early 1940s, Fratis was first introduced to the American Quarter Horse through some neighbors.  With the purchase of one of their colts, King Billy by King P-234, Fratis was launched into the horse business.  Fratis used King Billy as a stock and roping horse, and enjoyed a good deal of success in competitive roping.

Through those same neighbors, Fratis became involved with Quarter Horse racing.  His neighbors were bringing horses from Arizona, and Fratis bought a few and broke them to ride.  Among the group was a filly named Hot Foot, whom Fratis raced successfully.

Incidentally, the California rancher’s first area of service for AQHA was as a state representative on the AQHA Racing Committee.  Before long, Fratis was elected to the AQHA Executive Committee and was elected president in 1959.  He followed on the heels of J. Ernest Browning.  The battle between the “bulldog men” and the Thoroughbred-Quarter-cross supporters had ended, but bitterness remained.  However, Fratis’ term in office was relatively quiet.

Fratis served on the finance and international committees and as the director of youth activities for a short period during the mid-1960s.

Through other racing enthusiasts, Fratis heard about Ott Adams and a stallion called Joe Moore.  On his first visit to Texas, Fratis bought two colts from Adams.  One of the colts, Lee Moore by Joe Moore, turned into a successful racehorse and sire of runners and roping horses.

Fratis also leased Chicaro Bill as a breeding stallion and Sugar Bars, racing him as a 2 and 3-year-old.

Fratis died in 1980, and was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1993.

Biography updated as of March 1993.