J. K. Northway, the veterinarian on the King Ranch, described Old Sorrel as I saw Richard Kleberg and George Clegg rope off him and ride him all morning, and then race him in the afternoon.
Although a stallion, and treated as such, his daily work consisted of regular ranch routine with the remuda.
[5][6] The dam was a mare of Thoroughbred breeding that Clegg had bought from a Dr. Rose who was a dentist in Mexico as well as running a few ranches.
[3] The Old Sorrel sired 116 horses registered with the AQHA, but through the linebreeding program the King Ranch used, almost every horse the King Ranch registered from 1940 to the early 1960s was at least a descendant of Old Sorrel, and most were heavily inbred to him.
[3] Among his famous offspring were Cardinal, Solis, Little Richard P-17, Tomate Laureles P-19, Silver King, Macanudo and Hired Hand.