Pomona Man Inducted into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

Nine-time World Grand Champion horse trainer in the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association (MFTHBA), Geno Middleton, has been inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame with its 2021 class of honorees. 

 

Middleton and his wife, Barb, reside on a farm in Pomona. His 40-year career in horse training sparkles with such accolades as being the youngest trainer to ever win a World Grand Championship. He was 18 years of age in 1986 when he won with Madam Sensation. 

 

Middleton’s nine World Championships represent his skill against the hundreds of competitors who enter the MFTHBA classes. His other eight titles were with Missouri’s Bobbie Sue in 1989, Missouri’s Charming Princess M. in 1994, Traveler’s Red Alert in 1995, Pancho Villa A in 1996, Prince Jester in 2003, Cardinal’s Gunslinger A in 2004, Gunslinger’s Guns & Roses A in 2008, and Oh Yeah in 2020. Middleton is a 2015 MFTHBA Hall of Fame inductee.

Middleton bred many of his winning horses himself, one of whom, Prince Jester, went on to be a Breyer Horse Model. 

“With a breeding program going strong and customers also raising future show prospects, there is no down time,” said the professional horse trainer. 

 

Middleton’s influence on the industry is not limited to his trophies and producing winners. He also developed two versions of aluminum bits and three saddle pads specific to Missouri’s official state horse, the Missouri Fox Trotter.

In his interview for the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Middleton thanked his wife, and their children, Wesley, Madison, and Dusty for all their support. 

 

Middleton was inducted alongside the Roper Family, for accomplishments in auto racing, angler Rick Emmitt, tennis player Jim Klousia, Don Berry for accomplishments in fishing and media, water skier Erin Kalkbrenner, track and field coach Victor Thomas, and golfer Wayne Fredrick.