Last updated: Jan 18 2009, 22:28:22

General Warren

Way back in April 1775, a handsome young physician-turned-patriot named Joseph Warren was the only American rebel leader brave enough to remain in British-held Boston after his peers -- including Sam Adams and John Hancock, sought by Crown authorities for "treason" -- fled for the surrounding countryside. Subsequently, it was Dr. Warren who gave Paul Revere his orders to go off on his midnight ride. Fortunately for Revere, he succeeded, survived to a ripe old age and had a poem written about him that made him famous. Unfortunately for the brave Dr. Warren -- who was promoted to Major General shortly before the ill-fated Battle Of Bunker Hill two months after Revere's ride -- he elected to fight in the forefront of that very battle and there, died at the tender age of 34. His death was a staggering loss to the patriot cause, and one can only wonder what he might have accomplished had he survived. Perhaps he, too, would have become a household name, a founding father, maybe even a President of our fledgling country. Though our 19th century ancestors knew very well who General Warren was, naming towns, counties, and streets for him, nowadays, most people have never heard of him ... though that's certainly not the case with the much-less-deserving Paul Revere!

As an admirer of this long-forgotten hero, I decided it was time that his name be remembered. And so, when I commissioned Kathi Bogucki to create for me a very special racehorse, I knew just what he was going to be named: General Warren. Kathi took one of her renowned Showman resins that was cast too leanly through the belly, took off the thick, muscled crest of his neck to make him more in keeping with a racehorse's physique, sculpted a new mane and tail, added stallion genitalia, and sent him to artist Sonya Johnson for finishing. Sonya painted him in oils to a beautiful shaded bay with just enough chrome to set him off, and when I opened the box containing this very special horse, I knew that the finest model in my collection was carrying Dr. Warren's name.

The equine General Warren is a live show Grand Champion in Halter, and has many live and photo-show championships to his credit. He has many, many NAN cards and even went to NAN 2001 where he won a Top Ten in CM/AR TB. Currently, General Warren is starting his racing career in the MRF, and remains the most prized and beloved horse in my collection.

I hope the real General Warren would be proud!