GOODSAMARITAN BriefHistoryofAnAmericanFamilyof RacingPigeons TheSilveradoFamilyofRacingPigeons

BySilvioMattacchioneBAMA

ogooddeedgoesunrewardedwhichisoftenspoken,Ibelieveisinfactatruism.Whenan individualgoesoutofhiswaytodowhatismorallyrightandjust.Whenonedoessofreelyand unencumbered.Whenoneexpectsnothing andwants nothinginreturnthefatesorthemuses have,on manyoccasionsa way ofcompensating,thatgooddeedthatismostunexpected,actuallyso unexpectedthatitcanbelifechanging.Soitwaswiththebeginningsofthat uniquefamilyof Americanracingpigeonsnowgenerally referred toastheSilveradoFamilyoroftenmistakenly calledtheSilveradoJanssens. Thesingleeventthatleadtothefoundingofthishighlysuccessfulfamilywasunexpectedandcertainly atthetimeverytragicandfrightening.Ourstoryactuallybeginningsover30yearsagoinArizona.It beginswhenapigeonfancierinArizonahadanunfortunateheartattack.Imaginesufferingsucha debilitatingeventandhavingnoonetocareforthebirdsyousocarefullycared for, forsomanyyears. This wasinfactthesituationwhenaveryyoung localfancier,letscallhim Bobdecidedtohelpa fellowfancierinneed. Bobcleaned, fed,cared forandtrained this gentlemans birdsduringtheentire lengthofhisrecovery (and thankfullyhedidrecover).Therecoverywasalongandslowprocess,butBob perseveredandthisArizonafancierwassothankfulthatheinsistedthatBobchoosetwococksfrom hisextensive (and Idomeanextensiveastherewere307youngcocksinthosesections)latebred sectionsasasignofhisenormousappreciation.WellourfriendBobrefused,saidthatcompensation wasneitherexpectednor necessary.Well thefancierwouldnothearofitandhemadeitabundantly clearthatBobhadtopickhimselftolatehatch cocks; afterallitwasjusttherightthingto do!Well Bobrelented.Bobwentthrougheveryoneofthose307youngcocksandsomehoweventually completedthisseeminglydauntingtaskandinfactselected two.So offgoesourrecoveryArizona fanciertolookupthepedigreesonthesetwoyoungstersandmuchtohisutteramazementourfriend Bobhadinfact chosen twofullbrothers fromtwoseparate rounds.Pretty unlikelygiventhe numberstochoosefrom,butthatisinfactexactlywhathappenedallthoselongyearsago.Whatmakes thisstoryevenmoreinterestingisthatthesireofthesetwoyoungcockswasnoneotherthanadirect sonthenowlegendaryDONKERESTEIRanincrediblehalfbrothertotheOUDE MERCKX.The damof thesetwoyoungcockswasthefanciersfamousFRILLKLAKHEN.Whatarethechancesofaperson pickingtwobrothersunderthesecircumstances?Notverylikely!Yetitdidoccur.Thefancierwas shocked,afteralleven30ormoresyearsagohesoldthisbreedingforbetween$1000.00and$2000.00 USeach. ThebrotheroftheseyoungcockshadinfactjustwonNationalHallof Fame.The fancier

B
to?

askedthisGood Samaritanifitwas OKforhimtotakeonlyone.Bob our Good Samaritan agreed replying certainlyIdidnotexpectanything. WellittookBobanother30minutes todecidewhichcockhewouldtake andasyouknow, itoftenhappens thatinthesetypesofsituationsyou oftenchoosethewrongone, soit wasthatthefinalchoice wasleftto chance,tofate,tothemuses,anda coinwastossedandBobwenthome withonecock. Butnotjustany cock andtimewouldprovethisoutvery clearly.Sojustwhoisthis Good Samaritan Bobthatwearereferring

WellitjusthappenstobeRobertKinneyandthatyoungcockwaseventuallytobecomeknowasthe SilveradoStier!

obKinneywouldeventuallybecomeknown BobKinneytragicallypassed th awayonSundayNovember26 throughouttheworld hetraveledandwrotearticles 2007inKrugerNationalPark. forthesportfor years .Eventually HediedintheAfrican wilderness hestartedhisownmagazine close tonatureashehadalways calledTheThoroughbred. The wished!Hisasheswerelaidto highlightsofhiscareerwould restinthatpristineareathathe lovedsomuch. eventuallyincludeNationaland International honors butIthink theforemostinBobsestimation wasinfacttheeventualsuccessofTheGreatLakesScholarshipProgramthat hestarted.

Bobhadbegunhiscareer inthe racingpigeonsportaround1962withaStassartfamilyof birds. They wonforhim andBobwasanaverageflyer butat leasthewas notlastonthesheet.ThenHe purchased ablackStichelbauthen.Thishen producedmanywinnersmated tothreedifferentcocks,heryoungwon overandover.Bob hadthisfamilyofbirdsallbasedonthishenforabout10years. Bobwould eventuallywritethefollowingregardingthisearlyperiodintime: Inthoseyears,Janssen'sweretheBIGNAME.EverybodywaswinningwithJanssen.Everybodywasselling
Janssen.Itriedmanyandassoonastheracegotlongorthedaygothard,theywerelostoriftheycamebackthey

GIVECREDITWHERECREDITIS DUE Janssen brothersalwayshaveclaimed thattheonlypigeontheysuccessfully importedintheirloftwasthesocalled 'HalveFabry('HalfFabry')B60 1000863. 'HalveFabry'isthegrandgrandfatherof worldfamous'OudeMerckx'(B67 6282031)and'OudeMerckx'isfatherof '019'andof'JongeMerckx'.Janssen brothersgot'HalveFabry'fromMrFabry whobreditoffaJanssen bird(soitcould alsohavebeencalled'HalveJanssen'and ahenofhisown(B591005026)which FabrygotfromJosvandenBosch.It wasadaughterofhis'YoungPrincess' (B576327825)and'YoungPrincess' wasadaughterofJosvandenBosch's 'Princessof56'.'Princessof56'wasa sisterofthemotherof'Oudevanden Bosch'ofKarelMeulemans! Canyou imaginethat? Theworldfamous Janssen pigeonsarerelatedtotheworld famousMeuleman pigeons. The connectinglinkis'Princess'apigeonof JosvandenBoschwhoalsosupplied HuyskensvanRielwiththeir'Dream Team'shortlyafterWorldWar2 so: JanssenandMeulemansbothliveinthe townofArendonk. JanssenandMeulemansbothhada miraclebirdcalled'Merckx'. Boththesemiraclebirdsdescendof 'Princess'ofJosvandenBosch. Thebloodlineof'Princess'isnotonlyin Janssen'sMerckx,019etcetera. 'TheHalveFabry'whichImentioned beforeisfathertothatwonder bird'Oude Witoger'(B656371172)whichwon15 firstprizesand'OudeWitoger'isfather of'OudeRaket'etcetera.
Reference: TheMeuleman'sStory(part1) by Ad Schaerlaeckens

wereruined.Ididnotlikethem.PlusIwasflyingin"GordonCountry". Everyloftandtherewere70inourclubandover150in our combinehad someGordons.Notmeastheywerelittle, uglypigeons,withpooreyesign andonlyracedwellwhenitwasadifficultday.Theywonat800yardsa minuteandunder.Ithoughtinthosedaysapigeoncouldwalkfasterthan that.At700yardsaminuteflying,theywouldsurely falloutofthesky. However,manyofourraceswere veryslowanddifficult.Manydays thebirdshadtocomethroughrain therereallyarehorses andheadwind.Evensnow,inold forcoursesandinthis birdraces andveryhotinyoung casesthathorsesnamewas birds.Itwasaverytoughcourse. Gordonitwasahard Inthosedays,wealsodidnothave lessonbutheeventually theweatherknowledgeand learnedthelessonwelland forecastingthatwehavenowso woulduseittohis birdswentupunderallconditions. advantage! Throughouttheyears,themost covetedracingwinswereatthe distance.500miles(800900km) andup.Weoftenflewtwotofour 800to1000kmraceseach10 weeksandmanyyearsa1500kmrace.IevenorganizedaracefromAlaska toChicagoonetimethatwas3,500kmovertheRockyMountains. WhatInoticedinthosedayswasIcouldwinbelow700kmbutIcouldnotget thebirdstowinoverthatdistance.TheGordonsalwaysbeatme.Sometimes theybeatmeverybad.Itwasembarrassing.Finally,Iwenttomybestfriend whowasthechampiononthelongracesandhegavemefourofhisGordon pigeons.Ireallydidnotlikethematall.However,thenextoldbirdseason,I wonan800kmracewithayearlingfromthem.Thatwasit. Ihadlearnedsomething.Ittakestherightpigeontowinonthecourse.Not allpigeonswoulddoitnomatterhowgoodtheymaybe.Justlikedogshave specialtalentstothemselves.Justlikepeoplehavespecialtalents.Our racingpigeonsmustbeabletoracethecourseandhandlethetasktheyare given.

IkeptmyStichelbautfamilybutusedGordononthem. SoaswecanseetheSilverado StiertheoriginalFoundationSire oftheSilveradoFamilybeinga sonofthefamousDonkereStier whoisahalfbrothertotheOUDE MERCKXisinfacta descendant of thisverysameMeulemans Princessline.

SoaccordingtoBobtherereallyareHorsesforCoursesand inthis particularcase thehorsesnameisinfactGordon!Soletsresume ourstorywheredidBobgotofromhere?Wellaccordingtomyrecent conversationwithBobthattook placeearlyNovember2007he proceededtomatetheyounggiftpigeoneventuallytobecalledthe

Bobsexperienceisfoundedon fivenationalchampionloft awards,calledPresidentCups inAmerica,andmanynational HallofFameracingpigeons thathaveallbeenrelatedthat weretheresultofhisSilverado Family.Kinneysloftandbirds areknowninmanypartsofthe worldandtheyhavewonin Holland,China,Taiwan,and SouthAfricaaswellasCanada andtheUnitedStatestomention onlyafew.Theyhavewonover water,overmountainsandover theplains.Twoofthe SilveradoFamily birds, sold atpublicauctionaslatebreds bredthewinneroftheSunCity MillionDollarPigeonRacein SouthAfricaforQuallsofthe USA.Thisevent,withouta doubt isthemostcovetedeventinthe RacingPigeonWorldcarrying alongwiththeglorythe st enormous1 placeprizeof $200,000.00US.Thatwinning birdwasSilveradofamily"a Janssen/Gordonfamilyandit wasabout10minutesoutin frontofthenextbird.Theycame thatdayoneatatime.Nodoubt aboutwhomwasoutfrontand wheretheywerethatday.Less thanadozenloftsintheworld haveeverhavebredthefirst placewinnerofthisracee.I fullyexpectthatsomeyearsoon BokKinneysSilverado Familyfamilywilldoitagain

SilveradoStiertohisbesthenatthattime,hereisexactlywhathe said:
Imatedhim(SilveradoStier)toaStichelbaut/Gordon henthatIhad. Usedthatpairasapumper(fosterparents)forthefirsttworoundsofeggs. ThenIraisedapairoffthem.Thatpairofbabies,Igavetoafriendofmineto fly.Oneofthemwonfirstasayoungbirdat550km.Theotheronewonthe next yearfirstat800km.Bynow,thehenwasalreadygone.Ihadsoldheror somethingIthoughtmaybethiscockwassomethingspecialandIstartedto lookforahenforhim.NotfrommyfamilybutfromsomeJanssenfamily. SinceItraveledforthesportandwroteformagazinesinthesport,Iknew many,manyfanciers.InCaliforniaIfound ahen.Veryspecialbutstillyoung. Iaskedthefanciertosendmetwobabiesoffofthathenmatedtowhateverhe thoughtwashisbestcock.Thishappenedto bea KlakJanssenfamilyand verygoodatthemiddleandlong distancein California.However,itwasa fastcourseandthebirdshadtheoceanononesideandthemountainsonthe other.Theycouldnotgetlost.SoIdidnotknowiftheywouldflyinthe Midwest,throughstorms,weatherfrontsandbadweather.Ididnotknowif thehomingabilitywasstrongenough.

ItisinterestingthatatthispointBobgoeslookingforaJanssenhen fliestheyoungstersfromCaliforniafallsinlovewithoneofthem: ItrainedthebabiesIgotfromtheCaliforniafancierandlikeoneso muchthataftertheseason,Ijustputhertostocktogoontothis Janssencock.Onepairof Janssenscouldnothurtmyloft.Ifgood,I wouldkeepthemandifnot,theywouldgolikesomanyother Janssensdid.OutofthelofttothewastecanThatveryfirstyear,I bredsixfromthepairandfiveofthemwonforthreedifferentlofts.I hadsomethingbuttheyhadnotyetbeentothedistance.Thesewere theracesthatIwantedtowin.Ihadalreadyintheyearspastwonso manyofthemiddleracesitwasthedistancethatIhadahungerto havevictoryin. BluePridewastheSilverado Foundationhenthatwasalways matedtoSilveradoStiertoproduce incredibleprepotentchildren includingSlade,The540cock, Dolly,1710andahostofothers thathaveimpactedonlofts around theworld.

.Toputmythoughtsonbreeding intotheverysimplestof examples.Considerthe following.Image ajarinfrontofyou withgolddollarcoinsinit.Imagine thateachgolddollarcoin representsawinnergeneandyou wanttoreachintothatjarandpull outanotherwinner. Therearesay 20 gold dollarcoinsinthatjar. So longasthereareonly goldcoinsin thatjar,everytimeyoureachintoit youwillpulloutawinner. Soletsimaginethatyounowdecide tobringinacross,unproven,an unknownquantity,thatyounowmix intoyourloft(orjar).Sonowyour jarisfullofthe20goldcoinsto whichyouhavejustadded20 copperpennies.Soitiseasyto understandthatyouroddsofpulling awinneroutofyourjarhavejust beenreducedby50%.Nowdothat foranothergenerationbecausethe birdthatyouimportedorbought costsomuchandisclaimedtobeso goodandyounowhavesay60 copperpenniesandthesame20 goldcoins.Ifyoumultiplythe numberwithevenmoreunknown genepackagesandthelikelyhoodof everfindingoneofthosegoldcoins isevenfurtherreduced.Theaboveis aformulaforlifelongmediocrity. WhenIfoundthatsuperpairI literallyculledeverythingand workedwiththatpairandtheir children.Somewereprovenas youngstersotherswerebredfor stock.Iproceededtomatethem together becauseIhadno choice.WithatotalofsevenpairI startedover.IwasLUCKYenough tofindthegoldminemyjarwas fullofgoldcoinsOvertheyearsI havetwicecutbacktosevenpair only.Eachtimeresultedinaleap forwardinperformance BobKinney

BluePrideandtheSilveradoStieroveranumberofyearsbred12 st 1 placewinningchildren,aswellasNationalAwardwinningpigeons st howevertheirchildren,virtuallywithoutexceptionbred1 placeafter st 1 placewinnersforBobandahostofotherfanciers.Bobnever claimedthathehadanythingspecialthathebroughttothetable.He creditedhisfoundationpairtotally.Hewouldoftensaythathegottwo superiorpigeonsthatwhenmatedtogetherwerepossessedofa geneticpackagethatwastrulyawesome.FromthispairBobmated togetherabrotherandsister,thespecialmatingwasthe540cockX the1710henwhichwashisfullsister.Itwaswithoutadoubtthe greatestmoveBobcouldhavemade.Thispairproducedwinnerafter winnerandtheirchildrenwereevenbetterbreedersthantheirparents. Somehowthegeneticpackagewasintensified. Itssotrueisitnotthatthehungeriswhatdrivesyoutotryonemore time,tohope,towillsomethingintobeingyoumusthavethewillto achieve.Manyhavethetalentmostfallshortinthattheyfailto DAREtoachieve.Theyworrysomuchaboutthepossibilityof failurethattheywelcomemediocrity.Bobhadadreamandhewas preparedtoriskallinanattempttobringthatdreamofanallpurpose Americanracingpigeonfamilytoreality.Hereiswhereitgets personallyinterestingforme.Youseeinlatein1992Ipurchasedat publicauction,sightunseenanoldSilveradoFamilyFoundation SirecalledSladeatthattimeIpaid$2000.00USforthiscockand all onhispedigree,actuallyonahunchthatthisSilveradogenetic packagewouldblendwithmyownSpanjaardFamilyline.Iwasnot tobedisappointed.Bobcontinuedthestoryofthecreationofhis familyasfollows:
"Slade"wasoneofthefirstyoung cocksIgotfromthepair.Hewonayoung birdraceandthenwaslostforfourweeks.Ithought,thatisit.Theyareno betterthantheotherJanssensaroundtheworld.Iflew12widowhoodcocks andhadanemptyboxsowhenhecame back Iputhimintothewidowhood loftandforgothim.Hewasjustthere.Hemustflyordiebasically.Thatnext springasayearling,Isenthimtofourdifferent800kmracesonthree differentcoursesandhewononeofthemandscoredinthetop10onthe othersNow,IknewIhadsomething.Ibredhimandhisyoungwereno good.However,becausehehadflownsowell,Ibred6latehatchesoffhis parents.Sotheywereallinthestockloftaswell.Anewfamilyplustheold family. ..Imatedthesesixvariousways.Tothe Stichelbautsandtothe Gordons.Onepairofbrotherandsistertogether. FromtheStichelbauts,Igotnothingthatflewwell.Thebrothersisterpair onlybredonethatflewwell.However,thetwopairsthatwereGordonand

(Natureisnotonyourside). PURESTRAINS Natureneverprogressesfromless SeveralyearsagoIwroteanarticle ordertogreaterorder,butalways entitledPureStrainsthat canbe fromordertodisorder.Inthehands foundonmywebsiteat oftheoriginatorsofthesefamilies, http://www.silvio wehadacertain(lesserorgreater) co.com/pigeons/strains.htm degreeoforder.Eventually,inthe handsofthemassoffanciers HereiswhatIhadtosay: worldwide,wenaturallyrevertto Youmustalwayskeepinmindthat disorder,orwhatIreferredtoas inbreedingfavorstheproductionof commonform.Whateverqualities homozygosity,andifselection thesemastersfixedtolesseror criteriaareastute,asteady, greaterdegreeswaseventually continuousbuildupofbreeding dilutedandlostinthehandsof merit,and therefore,emphasisupon lesserfanciers.Itreallytakesvery theproductionofafamily.Out fewgenerationsforthistohappen crossinghasjusttheoppositeeffect. aslittleasoneortwoinmostcases. Therefore,itfollowslogicallythatif Mostfancierslovetorace.Oncethe abreedistoadvance,then seasonisover,forthemostpartso inbreedingmust,ofnecessity,bethe istheirinterestforyetanotheryear. toolwithwhichitisaccomplished. Theyreallyjustlovetoseethem Awordofextreme cautionis comehome.Mostfanciersarenot necessaryatthispoint: Remember dedicatedtoalifetimeoftryingto thatinbreedingisatooltoanend.It achieveaspecificbreedinggoalthe isaspecialpurposetool.Inandof resultofwhichmaybetotalfailure itself,itcannotcreateanythingnew intheendanyway.Theoldadageis itcanonlyfixinafamilydesirable that"halfthefunisgettingthere." orundesirablegenesbybringingall Asforme,winorlose,Iwill genestoahomozygousstate.Ifthe continueundaunted,mating fancierwasunfortunateenoughto father/daughter,brother/sister, chooseincorrectlyinhisoriginal lookingforthatmostelusiveofall stock,thenthetaskofbreedingout qualities,aprettyface.Eachyear theundesirablecharacteristicsmay theylookmoreandmorelikepeas provetotallyimpossibleandsoit inapod,eachyearmorestructural doesinmostcases. uniformity,eachyearprettierfaces whatmorecanyouask? Inthehandsofavisionarysuchas wehavehadinthepast,itis Reference: http://www.silvio possibletoconcludethataninbred co.com/pigeons/strains.htm familycanbepurified,inwhichcase theoffspringwouldbealmost identicalinappearance,equally goodracers,potentialwinnerson raceday,andultimately,very valuablestockbirds.Inaddition. suchafamilywouldbehighly Anoldtimertoldmethat desirablefor outcrossingbecause whenbuildingafamily,you oftheirhomozygosity.

Janssencross,bredmebirdsthatwoninyoungbirdsfiveofthe11racesI flew.800yardsaminutethrough1700yardsaminute. Ithoughtwow!However,Iwasstillnotconvinced.Icertainlydidnotrealize thatIhadstumbledbyaccidentthefoundationofafamilythatwouldinthe yearstocomemakemeknownaroundmuchoftheworld. Mybreedingwasplanned.Itwastest,test,andtest.However,itwasnot geniusorsmart.Awordofextremecautionisnecessaryatthispoint:

Rememberthatinbreedingisatooltoanend.Itisaspecialpurpose tool.Inandofitself,itcannotcreateanythingnewitcanonlyfixina familydesirableorundesirablegenesbybringingallgenestoa homozygousstate.Ifthefancierisunfortunateenoughtochoose incorrectlyinhisoriginalstock,thenthetaskofbreedingoutthe undesirablecharacteristicsmayprovetotallyimpossibleandsoitdoes inmostcases. Inthehandsofavisionary itispossibletoconcludethataninbred familycanbepurified,inwhichcasetheoffspringwouldbealmost identicalinappearance,equallygoodracers,potentialwinnersonrace day,andultimately,veryvaluablestockbirds.Inaddition.Such a familywouldbehighlydesirableforoutcrossing becauseoftheir homozygosity.Thisisinfactthetheoryandrarelyisiteverachieved withoutgreatstruggle and perseverance.BobKinney has, inmy opinionproventhathewasso determined.Here ishowBobdescribed hisrevelation:
IhadtherightpigeonsinthelofttoputtogetherandIputthemtogether everywhichwaypossibleandIracedthem. Overthenextyearorso,manyracesformyselfandotherfanciersthathad thebirdsfrommefortestingweretobewon,includinganationalchampion daughtercamefromtheoriginalpair. Finally,thelightbulbinmybraincameonandbecamebright. IgotridofalltheStichelbauts. Everyone ofthem.Therewasabout35pairat thatpointintime.Iwentto7stockpair.Hugerisktomyfutureagain.That wastheoriginalJanssenpair.Severaloftheirsonsanddaughtersthatwere neverraced.Justbredforstock.PlusanoldGordoncockthatIreallydidnot like.Mypurposenowwastobuildafamily.Iinsistedinmymindthatifthey weregood,theninbreedingthebrothersandsisterswouldworkandthe geneticpackagewouldbestrongerthenextgeneration.Someofthe inbreeds weregood.Notgreatbutgood.Allofthebabiesfromthe GordonCockand oneoftheJanssenhensweregreat.Onebecameanationalchampion.Iwas nowastrongforceonthelongdistanceraces.Dependingontheday.Itcould beaJanssenstraightbutmostoftenwasaJanssen/ Gordon. Iwenttoasaleofbirdsfromaoneloftraceandboughtallthebirdsthat

workwithacrossoftwoor threeinbredprovenlines. Thenyoutakethosecrosses thatflyorbreedlike championsandmatethem backtoeithersideofthe family

ManycallitaJanssenfamily butIneverhave.Itismyfamily andaJanssen/Gordonfamily.I thinkthatanything canrace200 kmandifittrapsfast,itcould win.Whenyouaretalking800to 1200km,itisthepigeon.Itmust havethebrainsandthestamina. Inmymanyyearsofracing,the greatesttestofwhichmygood longdistancebirdswillbeinthe futureisyoungbirdracesover 325miles(480km).Forwhatever reasonandIdon'tknowthe answerorwhythisissobutIfind itis.Racesat450kmhave differentwinnersthanracesfrom 480km. Myverybestlong distanceyoungandoldbird racerscomefrombirdsthathave flownorbredthewinnersat racesover480or500 km.

wereinthatracefromthreedifferentlofts.Nomatterwheretheyscored,asit didnotmatter.Mythinkingwasifthesefanciersputthebirdsintothisrace, theydidsotowinthemoneyandglorysotheyhadofftheirbestinthere.The entryfeewasexpensivetoenterandnotaracetosend"trymeouts"to.I boughtfiveandtheywereallGordons.Itookthemhomeandcrossedthemto myJanssensthatnextyear.Fromone,camemanymoregoodtogreatracers. Now,Ihadenoughtomake3/4crosses.Anoldtimertoldmethatwhen buildingafamily,youworkwithacrossoftwoorthreeinbredprovenlines. Thenyoutakethosecrossesthatflyorbreedlikechampionsandmatethem backtoeithersideofthefamily.Youkeepthegenepackagestrongandeven intensifyitforwinning. Ididjustthat.

The followingyearcamesolidsuccessforBobinoneofthelargest clubsintheUSA:

Thenextyear,myclubthatwasthesecondbiggestintheUSwithmanygreat nationalchampionfanciersandfamousbirdsovertheyearswasdominatedby myfamilyofpigeons.Thisclubwasover70yearsoldandmynewfamilyof birdsbrokeeveryrecordtherewasintheclubthatseason.Whenitcametime fortheawardsdinner,theyjustputthemallonmytableandtookawaytheone ortwothatIdidnotwin.Ienjoyedthat eveninglikenootherIcanremember. However,Iamnotsurethatmyclubmatesandcompetitorsenjoyeditnearlyas muchasIdid!

"Asiawhowasasonofnational champion"1505"whenmatedto the"1515Hen"soheisabouta quarterGordonwenton to becomethefoundationcockfor thenextgenerationortwoofthe SilveradoFamily."Asia"won firstcombineat930km Bob andhissonJames probablyhave thebestbreedingGordonhenin thiscountry,the"483" hen. Majorwinneraftermajorwinner came off of herandoffherkids whenontheSilverado family. 483bredtheLittleBelgium winner.1stplacewinnerwhen matedtoBlueAsset.Her daughteristhe17henwhohas st won2times1 byfrom10to25 minutesoutinfrontat323miles againstsomeofthefinestracing pigeonsinthecountry.483 st herselfisa 1 placewinnerat 350miles.

Sothroughverygoodluck,alotofdedication,perseverance andvision BobKinneymanagedtocreateandsustainafamilyofallpurpose racingpigeonsforalmostfourdecades.Therewascertainlymorethathe wishedto achieve.Butletslookatwhathedidachieve:

Intheyearssince,thevictorieshavebecomesoroutinethatonetakesthemfor granted.Iwasracingwidowhoodwith12cockbirdsvs.anentirecombineof fanciersflyinghensnatural.ItisdifficulttobeathensonnaturalATTHE DISTANCEUNLESSYOUHAVETHEWIDOWERSJUSTRIGHT.Ibecame veryproficientatwidowhood.ThegreatestlongdistanceracethatIeverflew wasan800kmrace.Toughtoughdaywithnodaybirdsatallanywhere.Iwas middletolongendandkeptexpectingacallthattheshortendhadabirdat darkorsomething.Nevercame.Nextmorningabout7:30am,whichwasan hourandhalfaftersunrise,Igotabird.Itwas3/4Gordonand1/4Janssen. Pencilbluecock.ThiswasJune6th,1992.Thewinnerwas91ER1001.About 20minuteslaterIgotasecondbird.89ER1961BBcock.Hewas3/4Janssen family.FiveminuteslaterIgotanother.Thiswasmynationalchampion"1505" DCcock.(SeetheWorldChampionsbook,1994EditionpublishedbyKenichi YoshiharaofChampionTradeCompanyinJapan).Eightminutesafter"1505" came90NVC1083BBcock.Sevenminutesafterhimcame"Moneymaker"who

Youcan'tseeitorrecognizethat geneineithertheracerorthe breeder,untilracingisunderway. Thatisourtest. Ourwindowtothe geneticpackagethatabirdcarries. Fewintheworldare theypigeons, dogs,horses,orpeoplegetthatgene butifitisinthefamilyanditis nurturedandintensified,itwill showup.Asbreedingprogresses fromyearto yearandselectionis basedonwinningorbreeding winners,itwillgetstrongerand stronger. Numbersareimportanttothe extentthatthemorebirdsyoubreed fromthatcarrythisgene,themore likelythatgenewillgetpassedonto theyoungIfIleavesomething behindinthepigeonsport worthwhile,Ihopeitisafamilyof pigeonsthatpassthischampionship geneonforgenerationstocome.I knowtheyhaveit.Inallmytravels, Ialsoknowtherearegreatrace recordsandgreatindividualbirds butafamilyis ararityandthatis theonekeyingredientto maintainingthechampiongene fromgenerationtogeneration. Theobjectivenowisformeisto findandintensifythegenethat makesthedifferencebetween winningandbeingatthetopover andover,andbeingoutfrontand alone.Leavingeventhechampions behind.Itisthere.Ihaveseenit. Racedit.Bredit.Soforthenext20 years,IplantointensifyitItis wherethegoalissetthatmakesthe firststepinaccomplishment.Then theattainmentcomesalongbecause ofthegenes BobKinney

wasnotofmyfamilybutacockthatintheyearstocomewouldbebred throughoutit.Thenafewminutes laterIgotTB1751,a3/4Janssencock. Thosewerethe"AwesomeSix".Theytookfirst,second,third,fourth,fifthand sixthofbothclubandcombine.Ihadshipped10birdsofthe12birdteamto theraceasIrecallaswehadsomemorelongracescomingupandIwanted twoheldbacktoincreasetheirreserveifneededfora1200kmracecoming inthreeweeks.TwoweekslateronJune20th,thesameteamwentbackto 800km.Again,atoughrace.Igot"Moneymaker"justafterdarkandhewon boththeclubandthecombine.Oneotherdaybirdthatcameaboutthesame timethathedidbutitwas32milesshortofme.Thenthenextmorningthey rainedin.Whenitwasalldone,myteamtook1st,4th,6th,8th,9th,14th, 15th,20thpositions. Thetrophywiththesetworacesonitisstillonmywallandwillbeuntil passedontomysonwhoisalsoracingmyfamily. Intheyearssince,thevictorieskeepcoming."Asia'whowasasonofnational champion"1505"whenmatedtothe"1515Hen"soheisaboutaquarter Gordonwentontobecomethefoundationcockforthenextgenerationortwo ofthefamily."Asia"wonfirst combineat930km.Hismother,the"1515 Hen"isoffofafullbrothersisterpairing.Theyarebothoffoftheoriginal pair.Sheandhersister"1316"whoisstillhereandalivebutlayingonlyan occasionalegg,arethebirdsbehindtheNEXTSTEPUPinthefamily.The baseoftheSilveradofamily.ManycallitaJanssenfamilybutIneverhave.It ismyfamilyandaJanssenGordonfamily.IstillkeepsomestraightGordon's andifyourememberItoldyouearlierIdidnotlikethelooksofthemand howtheyhandled.Thatisprettymuchstillthecase.However,theare amongstthebestanywhere.MysonandIprobablyhavethebestbreeding Gordonheninthiscountry,the"483".Majorwinneraftermajorwinneroff herandoffherkidswhenonmyfamily.Ihadalotofsplashandwhiteshow upinmyfamilybasedaroundacockcalled"Prodigy"whowasacockIbred butandinthefamilyalotbutmostlygonenow.Idon'twanttoencouragethe splashorlotsofwhitesothosegotosalesasarule.Theyarejustasgood andthepiedshaveprovenoverandovertobesomeofthebestbreedersbut whenyoumatethemcloseasIdo,yougettomuch ofit.Ihadawhitecock thathadbredintwoyears4or5winnersthatwasofthis"Prodigy"lineandI senthimtoafriend.Ibroughthimbackthissummertouseon"483"soI couldpreservethatgeneticlinewithinthefamily.Ididnotwantthewhite colorbutgotitanyway,soIwillkeepthefirsttwofromthispairforthe futureandhopetobreedbackawayfromit.

OneChampionwithgoodcarewill makeyoufamousfortwoorthree years.Therestofthebirdsinthe loftarejusttheretoscareyour competition.Takecareofthemso thechampioncanshowhimself. BobKinney

SoaswenowclearlyseetheSilveradoFamilyisinfactaunique familythatisacrossofmainly JanssenandGordonthefamilyis inbred/linebredwiththebasketessentiallymakingthefinaldecision. Sofarithasprogressedunderthe foundersvisionforalmostfour decadeswhetheritcontinuesisnowin thehandsofhissonJames KinneyaswellasotherswhoovertheyearshavetestedtheSilverado

WhenIstartedracingpigeonsIdidvery well.Iworked,hadagreatmentorand thenIworkedsomemore.Ialsohad little"compassion".Thebirdsmarvelto mewasnot justreturninghome,itwas returninghomeatawinningspeed. Whenthatfirstchampioncamealong,it wassuchaneyeopenerorbrainopener tomethatitchangednotonlymy perspectiveofpigeonbreedingand racing,butofallthingsinlife.Itsetthe standardhigherandthegoalswayout there. Whenyouthinkaboutit,hereisalittle birdthathasinheritedsomethinginside thatputshimaboveothersofhiskind. Abirdthatisnotjusthavingagoodday, buthasgooddaysoverandover.Every otherbirdontheteamisbasically treatedequallyandyetsomething specialinthisbird'smakeupallowsitto gethomefirst.First, ataspeedthat alwayskeepsit either infrontornear the top,overandoverevenwhen conditionsarenotin its favor. Onetimemaybeluckbuttorepeatthat issomethinginsidethatcreature. Iwasakidatthetime.AsIlooked aroundmyworld,peoplehadthatsame quality.Averyfewbutsome.Somedogs. Somehorses.Somethingspecialthatset themapartinsomemanner fromtheir peersorkind.MademewonderifIhad itinsidemeaswell. Thishasmademy lifeanexplorationandmademewilling tobothtryandputallofmeintomany differentthingstosearchforthe championqualitywithinmyself. Ithas mademeacutelyawareofitinothers andmaybemoreimportantIthink it mademeappreciateexcellenceinareas oflifethatmanypassonby.Itisnota movieoramoviestarIrememberor admire.Notevenasportorsportfigure. Certainlytheymayhaveachampion qualitybutofwhatvalueintheuniverse. Ihavedifferent"heroes". BobKinney

Familystock.OvertheyearsIhadoftenthoughtofBobasabullin achinashop.EarlierthisyearIsawanothersideofBob.Ihavefond
memoriesofBobcomingtoCanadatoparticipateinthetwo incredibleSick ChildrensHospitalCharityAuctionsthatIorganizedin1994and1995that raisedover$25,000.00fortheHospitalforSickKids.SoIguessthatitwas onlyappropriatethat Bob,onNovember4th2007,should havebeenin CanadaforanauctionofhispigeonsinOshawaOntario.Afewofmyfriends andIhaddinnerwithhimattheMandarinontheeveningthathearrived.He lovedthefoodandthefriendssomuchsothatwewentthereasecondtime, afterhisauction,andtreatedusallto awonderfuldinnerbeforeheleftfor home.Thatevening,athismotelroom,aswesaidgoodbyehegavemea greatbighug,thankedmeandsaidthatIwasagoodfriendtohimandthathe wouldreturntospendmoretimewithme.BoblovedhissonJames,lovedhis family,lovedAfricaandhadtoldmethatday,thatifhewereevertodiehe wouldprefertodosointheAfricanwilderness.Soithascometopass.Bob hadwrittenextensivelyonAfricaandhadaskedmetoeditaseriesofshort storiesonhisbelovedAfrica.HeplanedtobuildahomeinAfricaandlive thereatleastsixmonthsofeveryyear.Hehadtheregionpickedout,hadtold mewithgreatdelightofhisplansforestablishinganewracingpigeonclubin thearea,hehadsomanyplans,somuchthathewantedtodo.Helovedhis SilveradoFamilyofracingpigeonsandthroughgoodfortune,great instincts,incredibleknowhow,heperpetuatedthisfamilyforover4decades andmoveditfromaccomplishmenttoevengreateraccomplishment.Hewas presentinAfricaastwopigeonsbredbyhim,werematedtogethertoproduce thewinnerofthegreatestpigeonraceintheworldTheSunCityMillion DollarPigeonRace.Hewasproud,rightlysoforhehadachievedwhatfew willeverachieve.AsFormerInternationalMarketingDirectorSunCity MillionhewasdirectlyresponsibleforhelpingtomaketheSunCity MillionDollarthe greatest, mostprestigiouspigeonraceintheworld.Robert KinneyfoundedanAmericanFamilyofRacingPigeonssecondtononein theworld.
Figure 1 November3rdBobKinneyandSilvioMattacchioneattheMandarinin Oshawa OntarioCanada.

JamesKinneyIbelievethatyou wereoneofthoseheroesIknow yourdadlovedyouaboveallelse! SilvioMattacchione

Honey
94TB4729BBw/1wfHen
Current Silverado Family Foundation hen.Damofover30firststhatweknow of,andgranddamandgreatgranddam to countless. She is a truly great, great hen.Hermotheristhelegendary1515 Hen. Her half brother is Asia first 600milesandfoundationcock.Hernest mateistheKlakCocksireof11first. Isoldherasasqueakeroutofthenestto a fancier Dick Crawford. Mr. Williams purchased heryearslateronCrawfords death.ForMr.Crawford,shebredover 20 different first. For Mr. Williams she bred:
st st st 1 125miles,1 400miles,1 300miles rd st st 3 275miles,1 250miles,1 275miles st st 1 475miles,1 200miles st th Equal 1 250 miles,11 400 miles (22 daybirds)

TheSilverado FamilywillcontinuetosuccessfullyflytheskiesofAfrica, China,Taiwan,Canada,USA,andEuropewithdistinction,forgenerationsto come.LongagoIsawBobathislowestandinNovemberIsawamanatthe verytopofhisgame,inlovewithhisfamily,proudaspunchofhissonJames andallthathehopedforhim,Isawamaninlovewithhisadoptedpeopleand hisadoptedcountryAFRICA, IsawamaninlovewithLIFE.BobKinney wasverymuchabigman,at6ft4incheshewasinhisprime,strongand readytoachieveevenmore.Evenso,Isawachangeinhimhewasnolonger abullinachinashophehadmellowedtoagreat degree, more contemplativeandmorephilosophical. Godkeepyousafedearfriendand may yourspiritwatchovertheAfricanplainsand mayyourincrediblefamily ofracingpigeonsflythe Silveradoskiesoftheworld! SotoconcludeBob Kinneysgooddeedtothatailingfancierwasrepaidtohimhandsomely!

IgotherbackhomeinJan2003.Since then she has bred first after first and superbreedersformeandforothers. The great 17 hen is a granddaughter st (double1 PlaceWinner320miles,out front10to20minutesanddam,grdam of many winners). Remember, the winneroftheMillionDollarracewasa th grand child of 1515. As was the 5 place winner a few years later. Also st theyearIhadtwobirdsoutfront1 and nd 2 positionvs.4000birdsoffthebestof the world in the million for several weeksinarowintheoverallresults,one was off of Honey. This is the same line that produced First Federation and second Federation vs. over 3000 and 4000 birds in Africa. Plus other Federation winners and Federation Champion Birds. Thisfamily wins out front,overandover.

SilvioMattacchione