Barry Hankerson grew up in urban New York City, but his fascination with horses started early. He began taking riding lessons, in exchange for cleaning stalls, at Van Cortland Park Stables in the Bronx when he was a young boy. His Father, a New York cab driver, outfitted his son with a used helmet, breeches and a pair of boots for this exciting new undertaking. Today, Barry Hankerson is a record producer who divides his time between the east and West Coasts, and maintains 26 Arabian horses at his Axum Arabians, in Newnan, GA.

The star of this show is Maaximus, a bay, 2001 Dakar El Jamaal son that Barry raised out of the lovely Chance To star, a daughter of CWP Chances Are ( Bey Shah xBrandie Alexandra, by SR Nadom.)

Chance to Star is similarly well bred on her dam’s side, being out of the good Rastano daughter, Starilla ( x star of Seville, by barich de washoe), which lends the elegant Maaximus a strong infusion of Spanish blood. This powerful combination has proven to be successful one with Ali Jamaal and his descendants. Chance To Star was bred by Doug Dahmen, and Hankerson purchased her from Bob Faul’s Chapel Farms in September of 2000. With his good looks, pedigree and wonderful temperament, the future looks bright for Maaximus as a show horse and sire.