In the early morning hours of March 4, 2024, barrel racing lost a true icon when Go Go Fame—a champion in the arena barrel horse producer—tragically passed away.
Best known as the dam of million-dollar mare Hello Stella, Go Go Fame’s influence extends far beyond her own accomplishments, leaving a lasting imprint on the sport through her offspring.
Her owner and trainer, Sharin Hall, reflected on the fiery mare’s journey, from a difficult start to a career that would impact Hall’s world in many ways.
Born in 2010, Go Go Fame was bred for greatness, sired by Dash Ta Fame and out of Volley Six (by Streakin Six). However, her early days in training were anything but easy.
“When I first got her as a late two-year-old, she was tough,” Hall said. “Christy Gaffney sent her to me to prepare for her futurity season—I believe she originally bought her from Chad Hart. The first three days I rode her, she tried to rear up and flip over every time I asked her to turn in a circle. I had a Brazilian intern at the time, and I told him, ‘Just lope her out of the barn and make her go somewhere.’ We did that for six weeks straight, and after that, she never tried it again.”
Despite her strong-willed nature, Go Go Fame had a natural feel for the barrels.
“She was easy to start on barrels—she just naturally wanted to turn,” Hall said. “She had so much raw ability, and even though she had some quirks, she always figured things out.”
Go Go Fame made her futurity debut under Hall, but their time together was short-lived. Sharin took time off the mare’s back, and Ashley Schafer took the reins for the fall futurity season, where Go Go Famehas success. The mare’s talent was undeniable, but her future was still uncertain.
“That mare was opinionated,” Schafer said, laughing. “And had so much confidence. She was aggressive in her turns, and I had fun riding behind Sharin and running her.”
By the late summer of her five-year-old year, Hall got the call she had been waiting for—Go Go Fame was for sale.
“Christy called me and said she was willing to sell,” Hall said. “I had a partner at the time, and we bought her together to start a breeding program. But a few years later, I lost her, and went to court to win my horses back. She was truly always meant to be with me.”
Before retiring due to two chips and a spur in her right front knee, Go Go Fame added derby wins and ProRodeo earnings to her résumé. But her biggest contributions to the sport would come after her retirement.
Go Go Fame cemented her place as one of the most influential producers in barrel racing. As a dam, she produced more than $1.1 million in earnings, with an astonishing $389,816 average per money earner.
“Every stallion she was bred to made a champion,” Hall said. “Which made her a true blue-hen, black-type broodmare.”
Her most notable offspring include:
- Hello Stella (The Goodbye Lane) – $1M+ LTE
- VC Gogo Fling (A Streak of Fling) – $76,425 LTE
- Triple Fame To Go (Triple Vodka) – $74,120 LTE
“That grit, that fire—she passed it on,” Hall said. You can see it in the way her babies work.”
While Go Go Fame will be remembered for her athleticism and producing ability, she was also a strong-willed character in her own right.
“GoGo’s grit and fight are what made her a winner, and she has passed those traits on to her babies.”
Sharin Hall
Her impact on the industry is undeniable, and though she is gone, her influence will continue to shape the sport for years to come.
“She will forever hold a special place in my heart, and her legacy will continue through her daughters,” Hall said.
