Champion – When coin-operated kiddie rides first appeared in the late 1940s & early 1950s what did every kid in America want to be? A cowboy. Knowing that every kid wanted to be a cowboy, the Bally company in Chicago made one of the first mechanical horse rides. They decided to borrow the name of a horse made famous by one of American’s most recognized cowboys – Gene Autry.
Bally named their horse Champion. Champion become a recognizable icon at grocery stores across the country. If you don’t want to spend for an authentic antique we can also put “Ride the Champion” on another horse for all the nostalgic look and feel without the additional cost. Many people, too, have us substitute the name of their horse in place of “Champion”. How cool is having a ride with your horses’ name on it!?!