Twenty Grand, print by Franklin Voss
NMR Collection

Considered one of the best of his crop, Twenty Grand raced against excellent contemporaries, including Equipoise, Jamestown, and Mate. At 3 he was described by some as the best since Man o'War.

The neck and neck competition between Twenty Grand and Equipoise in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes is still remembered as one of the best contests on the American turf. Twenty Grand's winning time of 1:36 set a mile record for 2-year-olds of that era. At 3 Twenty Grand won the Wood Memorial, Kentucky Derby, Belmont, Dwyer, Travers, Saratoga Cup, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. A leg injury in the Jockey Club Gold Cup made this his final race in top condition.

After an attempt to return Twenty Grand to his earlier form failed, he retired to stud but proved sterile. He returned briefly to the races at 7 and then was permanently retired.

Twenty Grand was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1957.

Twenty Grand, with Marshall Lilley up, prepares for a workout
©C.C. Cook