In this episode of Mornings in D Minor, hosts Shane and Drew sat down with special guests Garth and Gage Gardner to dive deep into the worlds of elite horse breeding and country music.

Garth shared the fascinating backstory of the legendary stallion, Hickory Holly Time (affectionately known as Oliver). He recounted purchasing the stallion as a two-year-old, his incredible run to the Derby championship in Paso Robles, and the whirlwind deal that eventually transferred ownership to Dean Tuftin. The guys also broke down the monumental financial impact of the Riata Buckle on the rope horse industry and how its massive payouts completely reshaped the EquiStat earnings landscape.

Later in the morning, the conversation shifted from the arena to the stage as 22-year-old country artist Gage Gardner opened up about his musical journey. He detailed his early days of pounding the pavement and knocking on doors throughout the Fort Worth Stockyards just to secure his first 30-minute gig. Gage also shared a hilarious backstage blunder where he accidentally called country legend Tracy Lawrence “Tracy Chapman” right before a show.

To wrap up the morning, Gage treated the hosts and listeners to a live, captivating acoustic performance of his original song, “Miss Forever.”