A Farewell to Slick By Design: Remembering a Legend in Barrel Racing

With unmatched speed, heart, and style, Slick By Design left an indelible mark on barrel racing — a true legend whose legacy will continue to inspire riders for generations.

Last week the  barrel racing world lost one of its most influential sires and competitors with the unexpected passing of Slick By Design, the sleek black stallion whose name became synonymous with speed, precision, and legacy. His sudden death from complications of laminitis left a void not only in the stallion barn, but also across an entire industry that had come to regard him as one of its cornerstones. Although his physical presence is gone, his impact is indelibly written into the lineage of modern performance horses.

Foaled in 2007, Slick By Design was bred for greatness. His sire, Designer Red, brought proven speed and performance blood, while his dam, Dreams Of Blue, descended from Dream On Dancer, ensuring a strong foundation of athleticism and disposition. The stallion’s jet-black coat and commanding presence made him a standout from his earliest days.

Beyond conformation and looks, Slick carried genetic strength that reassured breeders. He tested negative for major heritable conditions such as HYPP, HERDA, GBED, PSSM1, MH, and IMM/MYHM. With this clean slate, he represented both performance and reliability, two qualities highly sought after in the competitive breeding industry.

Though destined for the breeding barn, Slick By Design first captured hearts in the arena. Under the skilled hand of barrel racing professional Michele McLeod, he made a name for himself as one of the most explosive competitors of his generation.

Slick was a three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, where he carved his place in history by clocking a blazing 13.48 seconds, the fastest run ever recorded by a stallion at the NFR. His career earnings exceeded $643,000, with titles including the Fort Smith Derby Championship, 11 WPRA Rodeo Championships, and recognition as an AQHA Champion.

What set him apart was not just his speed but also his consistency and composure. Slick was known for entering the arena with focus and leaving it with fans buzzing about his remarkable athleticism. He wasn’t a horse that needed to be coaxed; he thrived on competition and seemed to understand the spotlight.

When his performance career slowed, Slick seamlessly transitioned to life as a sire. His true gift to the industry was revealed here. By the time of his passing, his offspring had earned more than $7 million in competition, making him the leading barrel racing sire of all time.

His progeny proved versatile, excelling not only in barrel racing but also in roping, pole bending, and other timed events. Among the standout names are:

• Slicks Lil Amigo, with earnings surpassing $350,000

• Slick Lane Ta Fame, a major money earner with more than $279,000

• Slick N Black, surpassing $270,000 in winnings

• Fiesta By Design, a futurity winner continuing his sire’s tradition of dominance

• Probably By Design, who crossed disciplines to become a World Champion Select Heading horse

These offspring not only reflected his genetic power but also carried on his athleticism, competitive heart, and soundness.

Slick was also widely promoted through major incentive programs such as the Pink Buckle, Ruby Buckle, Riata Buckle, Royal Crown, Diamond Classic, Future Fortunes, and Select Stallion Stakes. This ensured his foals had access to some of the industry’s richest purses and opportunities, magnifying his influence on future generations.

While statistics and bloodlines tell part of his story, Slick By Design was equally known for his personality. At approximately 15 hands tall, he carried himself with a presence that commanded attention but balanced it with an approachable, curious demeanor. Those around him often remarked on his intelligence. He was the type of horse that wanted to watch the round pen, follow the action, and never be left out of what was happening around the barn.

Some memorable facts include:

• He was nicknamed simply “Slick,” a moniker that became iconic in its simplicity.

• His lifetime breeding fee was listed at around $3,100, an investment many breeders now consider priceless given his influence.

• He stood under the ownership of Highpoint Performance Horses, run by Jason Martin and Charlie Cole, who helped manage his rise as both a competitor and sire.

• His foals consistently demonstrated not only speed but also the versatility to succeed in multiple rodeo disciplines, a testament to his well-rounded abilities.

Slick’s passing came suddenly, the result of complications of laminitis. Despite the best efforts of veterinary care, the complications proved fatal. The news spread quickly across social media and industry outlets, prompting an outpouring of tributes from professionals and fans alike.

For many, the loss was personal — even those who had never touched him felt connected through his progeny or through the thrill of watching him run. As one tribute expressed, “It’s strange how a horse you never laid eyes on can affect your life so greatly.” His death underscored how deeply he had become interwoven with the culture of modern barrel racing.

While his stall stands empty, Slick By Design’s presence continues through his foals, his bloodlines, and the standard he set for the industry. His offspring continue to light up arenas across the country, carrying forward his fire and shaping the next generation of champions.

Beyond his tangible successes, Slick also helped redefine the expectations of a stallion in competition. He proved that a breeding stallion could not only stand at stud but also dominate at the highest levels of sport. In doing so, he inspired breeders to seek both athletic performance and long-term genetic influence.

Today, his name appears in pedigrees that are shaping the future of rodeo. He is remembered not just for what he won, but for what he gave back: a foundation of excellence that the barrel racing world will build upon for years to come.

Slick By Design’s life was the story of a horse who fulfilled every promise of his pedigree and then exceeded it. From his groundbreaking arena runs to the millions won by his foals, he embodied the marriage of speed, intelligence, and heart. His death was sudden and heartbreaking, but his influence endures in every colt that rounds a barrel with his fire in its veins.

He was more than a stallion, he was a phenomenon. And though the world will never again hear the thunder of his hooves, it will continue to feel the rhythm of his legacy every time one of his progeny crosses a finish line.

Slick By Design, 2007–2025. Gone, but never forgotten.