Its name comes from King Ranch, one of the largest ranches in the world, though it's unclear if it actually originated from the ranch.
A sixth-generation Texan, he was born on the King Ranch near Kingsville, Texas, where his father served as foreman of the showcase Santa Gertrudis Division.
Old Sorrel, sometimes known as The Old Sorrel, (1915–1945) was a Quarter Horse stallion who was the foundation of the King Ranch linebreeding program for Quarter Horses, and the cornerstone of the King Ranch horse breeding program.
Santa Gertrudis was formally established in 1917 as one of three schools associated with the King Ranch in South Texas.
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At the time, Norias was the headquarters for the southern most portion of the 825,000-acre King Ranch and was also used by the Missouri Pacific Railroad to water their trains.
He earned two wins in the American Classic Races, the first coming in 1962 when he rode Greek Money to victory in the Preakness Stakes, A year earlier, he had finished second in the Preakness aboard Globemaster and earned another second place finish in 1968 with King Ranch's Out of the Way.
Although best remembered for his affiliation with King Ranch, in California he trained horses for several other prominent owners from the East Coast such as Harry Isaacs, Alfred G. Vanderbilt II, Joan and Jock Whitney's Greentree Stable as well as Edward Lasker and his wife, the actress Jane Greer.