A book written by Mary Balf of the Kamloops Museum reveals that even the earliest horsemen in the province were touting the area now occupied by Red Rock Farm.

She writes "The Salmon River Valley, 35 miles southeast of Kamloops was quickly adopted by the traders as an excellent place to winter horses."

The Talbots weren't there in the early 100s but they arrived before the century was out and they have worked in the shadow of the Monte Hills and along the banks of the Salmon River for about 100 years.

Grandfather Gerald Talbot homesteaded the first 160 acres and turned it over to his son Henry Ellis when the latter returned in 1918 from the First World War. Known as Tommy, Henry Ellis married Irene Irwin and they had three children.

Pat, now deceased, became a veterinarian, well known at Exhibition Park. Sheila married a horsemen, moved to California, and worked a long time in the Racing Secretary's office at Santa Anita. Bob graduated from U.B.C. in 1952 with a degree in agriculture and with a large assist from wife Lillian runs the present day frm, which encompasses 600 acres.

The Talbot influence on B.C. racing will be felt for at least another generation. Daughter Suzanne is a trainer and already has sent out the homebred stakes winner Sailmaid.

Son Bobby owns some broodmares and is presently studying business to help his future in the horse business.

Red Rock already is the longest surviving Thoroughbred operation in the province and the oldest established maket breeder.

There were Thoroughbreds on the farm in the early 1930s and in 1935 Red Rock aquired three mares from Austin C. Taylor. They ere Ann Curtis, Joya and Rican and amon them they produced a long line of capable runners.

The first of numerous stallions to stand at Red Rock was Broxa, who became an influential sire.

When Tommy Talbot died in 1960 the family decided to go into breeding and boarding in a more serious vein and Red Rock has achieved a reputation as a first class establishment.

They stand their own stallions and raise their own horses for the market but a large percentage of their business is boarding other people's stock.

They have 20 mares of their own, but the total equine population usually numbers more than 100, including boarders and layups.

Bob has high hopes for their stallion Regal Remark (Vice Regent) which is on lease from Sam-Son Farms in Ontario. Also standing is Jack Diamond's well-established Police Car and Nijinsk's son Avodire, sire of Futurity winner Golden Pursuit.

Golden Pursuit, incidentally, is one of numerous champions raised on the farm although that statistic is never listed in the record books.

The most successful runner to carry The Red Rock label remains Major Presto, a grey son of Canorous out of Flurry, who sold for $1,200 and earned $125,000 from the modest purses of the 1960s.

As is his habit, Talbot will travel to Keeneland sales again this year, hoping to pick up a couple of broodmares that are within his budget. "New blood," he says, "is important to the vitality of the farm."

He is not one to dwell on the romance of the horse business. "We've had some tough years but we've paid off our banks and made a living," he says. "All our money has been generated from the horse business."