You can watch horse racing for an example of something that works. Yes, you are right: it is incredible. You probably don’t want to be reminded of the pervasive dysfunction in these troubling days, but the next time it overwhelms you, the next time it gives you a headache, think about horse racing in Texas.

Here’s something that works, something that would even make Colonel “Hannibal” Smith smile, the leader of the A-Team of the popular 1980s TV show, who at least once an episode would say, “I love it when a plan falls into place.

Well, the Texas plan is coming to fruition. The impressive evidence is found at the confluence of the North and South Paluxy rivers at Bluff Dale, an hour southwest of Fort Worth. Together they form the Paluxy, which flows 29 miles south before joining the Brazos. Mark Collinsworth can tell you all about the wagon trains that have passed through this region westbound in pursuit of the American dream, and somehow that seems perfectly fitting, because that’s why he and his wife, Lori, are here too. They pursue their dream: Forks of the Paluxy, a farm dedicated to the breeding of racehorses. They built – and still build – their farm around a dream, a Grade 1 stallion named Mr Speaker, and the escrow account of the Texas horse industry.

In 2019, through House Bill 2463, Texas lawmakers created the Horse Industry Escrow Account. Funded from revenue from taxes on horse-related products, the HIEA was established to support racing and breeding, as well as various programs and grants; in other words, it aimed to contribute to the preservation and promotion of equestrian sport, industry, heritage and culture. And that’s when Lori and Mark Collinsworth decided to pursue their dream – when the bill passed and Governor Greg Abbott signed it into law.

Don’t you like when a plan comes to fruition?

At the time, the Collinsworths owned a farm in Midland and Mark worked in industrial real estate. For years they enjoyed going to races together, and in 2012 they bought their first horse, a filly they named Strike Pleasure, for $5,200 at the Texas Yearling Sale. Two years later, it offered them their first victory. She then won five more times and won $116,000; so we can say that Strike Pleasure was instrumental in shaping their dream.

They only owned a few, but they continued to win races – with horses such as Lawyer Gabe, Lass Channel, Mad Dog Matters, Joyable, Paluxy Princess, South Texas Lingo, Quinn Murphy and Hanalei’s Houdini. Over the years, the Collinsworths raced a few horses in Texas, but because of scholarships, most of their horses raced elsewhere, from New York to California, with trainers such as Dallas Keen, Karen Jacks, Carlos Martin, Joe Orseno and Bret Calhoun. And the dream kept growing, this dream of having a stallion and a farm and breeding racehorses. When their son, Richmond, moved to Dallas and their daughter, Alana, went to Southern Methodist University, the Collinsworths knew where they wanted their dream to come true.

Initially, Mark explained, they thought they could support Maraud, their winner of $506,000 in progressive stakes. But when HB 2463 passed, he said, it “gave us the confidence to seek out and acquire a Grade 1 winning sire, because with the increased purses Texas riders would have the confidence to breed in Texas. It also gave us the confidence to come back to Texas to race as well.

And so their Paluxy, a $45,000 yearling by Brody’s Cause, won back-to-back races from Sam Houston. And Mr Speaker, bought and moved from Lane’s End in Kentucky, took up residence in Forks of the Paluxy. Representing $5,000, he is arguably the most accomplished stallion in the state. In fact, since he is not only a Grade 1 winner himself, but also the sire of a Grade 1 winner, he is probably the most accomplished stallion to ever exist in Texas. He raced with the best of his generation and won major stakes on grass and dirt. And he’s here in Texas as a direct result of legislation passed in 2019.

You have to love it when a plan comes to fruition.

At age 2, Mr. Speaker won the Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park; at age three he won the Lexington in Keeneland and the Belmont Derby in New York; and at four he won the Commonwealth Cup at Laurel – all graded stakes. Trained by “Shug” McGaughey and racing in the signature silks of the famed Phipps stable, Mr. Speaker has earned $1,247,544 during his career. Unusually handsome and obviously athletic, he looks like a millionaire. In other words, he looks like the horse he was born to: he’s by Pulpit, a son of AP Indy who won the Fountain of Youth and Blue Grass before finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby, and Mr. Speaker is a grandson of the incomparable Personal Ensign, who has never lost a run in his Hall of Fame career.

He also had a successful second career as a stallion. Among the stake winners Mr. Speaker has spawned is Speech, winner of Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland who finished third at Kentucky Oaks. From his four crops, he sired 16 black-type horses, including Ironstone, Speaking, Miss Hard Knocks and Three Technique.

Mr. Speaker is alone at the moment in the stallion stable, which was built on a model from Kentucky. Admiring visitors pass by and gaze into Mr. Speaker’s grand grand stand as farm manager James Weatherford looks on. Nothing escapes any of them.

In the middle of the property, at the highest point, the Collingsworths have built a large house, its upper floor adorned with equine art, dominates. Or so it seems, because in truth this place was built for Mr. President – and for the grandchildren, of course, who love horses and need lots of space.

On the other side of the farm, in a rolling pasture by the river, nine mares quietly await their moment. Strike Pleasure, full of Tonalist, is one of them. Most of the mares, however, the Collinsworths bought in foal to breed with Mr. Speaker. Among those mares is Ginger Brew, a multi-bet winner of $970,311 who in 2008 was the Canadian Champion 3-Year-Old Filly. She is full of Hard Spun. $277,000 multi-bet winner Twixy Roll is full of Malibu Moon. Unspoken Word, a multiple winner of $370,000, is full of Upstart.

Count on it: Excellence will emerge from the Forks of the Paluxy – excellent and talented racehorses, bred and born in Texas to excel. Yes, this plan came together beautifully.

This story was originally written by veteran turf reporter Gary West for TXRacehorse.com, and has been reprinted with permission.