Sorry to say our 2009 winner has now passed over the rainbow bridge. Here is the email I received last week.

I just got off the phone with Marian Alton. She said many times she knew this day was coming sooner or later. Black Annie Hands, the last known living daughter of the foundation stallion Hands Up F-2217, passed away this morning. I don’t have my notes in front of me, but I think she would have been 38 next month. The backhoe was already there when Marian called me this morning. She started failing about a week ago, and the tough decision was made this morning. She will be buried next to one of her daughters.

Marian bred and owned her for her entire life. Black Annie Hands was one of Hands Up’s last foal crop. Marian told me, on more than one occasion, that she already had three mares at Nolan Hutchison’s farm in Missouri to be bred to Hands Up in 1973 when Hands Up passed away. She was a big Hands Up fan, and still is.

I’ve attached a picture I took of Marian & Black Annie Hands around the later part of 2008, and also a picture of a number of Sooner ApHC members who stopped by one day to see “Annie.” She had become somewhat of a celebrity with the Sooner ApHC folks.

At this point, I really don’t know if she was the last known living get or produce of any of the foundation horses, but could very well be.

On a more historical note, Hands Up was originally buried at Nolan Hutchison’s place in Missouri. When the highway expansion would have paved over his grave, he was exhumed and reburied at Marian Alton’s place in Claremore, Oklahoma, so now he, and his last known living daughter will be buried on the same farm.

Gerry, Oktaha, OK