Majestic Prince (KY)

A record-priced yearling at auction, Majestic Prince became the first horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes while undefeated.

Inducted

1988

Foaled

1966

Sire

Raise a Native

Dam

Gay Hostess

Damsire

Royal Charger

Breeder

Leslie Combs II

Owner

Frank McMahon

Trainer

John P. Longden

Career

1968-1969

Earnings

$414,200

Racing Record

10

Starts

Year	Starts	First	Second	Third	Earnings
Year	Sts	1	2	3	$
1968	2	2	0	0	$5500 $5,500
1969	8	7	1	0	$408700 $408,700

Biography

A record-priced yearling at auction, Majestic Prince became the first horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes while undefeated.

Bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm’s Leslie Combs II, Majestic Price was purchased for $250,000 by Canadian oilman Frank McMahon at the 1967 Keeneland July yearling sale and sent to trainer Johnny Longden, formerly one of America’s most accomplished jockeys.

After winning both of his starts as a 2-year-old in 1968 in California, Majestic Prince strung together five consecutive victories to begin his 3-year-old campaign prior to contesting the Kentucky Derby. His wins included the Los Feliz Stakes, San Vicente Stakes, San Jacinto Stakes, and the Santa Anita Derby.

Installed as the 7-5 favorite for the 1969 Kentucky Derby, Majestic Prince did not disappoint. A week prior to the Derby, Majestic Prince won the seven-furlong Stepping Stone purse at Churchill by six lengths in 1:21⅗, one-fifth of a second off the track record. In the Derby, Arts and Letters, with Braulio Baeza up, had a half-length lead on Majestic Prince and Bill Hartack through a mile. At the eighth pole, however, Majestic Prince stuck his head in front and went on to win by a neck over Arts and Letters with Dike finishing third.

In the Preakness, Majestic Prince, favored at 3-5, held off Arts and Letters again to win by a head. Arts and Letters, however, was finally able to turn the tide on Majestic Prince in the Belmont, winning by 5½ lengths to spoil the Triple Crown bid and hand Majestic Prince his first and only defeat.

Majestic Prince returned to California following the Belmont and was given some time off to recover from a minor injury. A knot appeared behind one of his knees during the winter and he was retired with a record of 9-1-0 from 10 starts and earnings of $414,200. He was syndicated for $60,000 a share and entered stud at Spendthrift.

As a stallion, Majestic Prince sired 33 stakes winners, including 1979 Belmont winner Coastal and the successful sire Majestic Light. He also sired the dams of 77 stakes winners.

Majestic Prince died at the age of 15 on April 22, 1981.