Zev (KY)

Zev didn’t break his maiden until his sixth career start, but once he figured out how to get to the winner’s circle he made a habit of it, registering a seven-race win streak and a pair of five-race win streaks in his distinguished career. He won some of the sport’s biggest prizes — including the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes — and earned lasting acclaim as the first Derby winner to defeat an Epsom Derby winner.

Inducted

1983

Foaled

1920

Sire

The Finn

Dam

Miss Kearney

Damsire

Plaundes

Breeder

John E. Madden

Owner

Rancocas Stable

Trainer

Samuel C. Hildreth

Career

1922-1924

Earnings

$313,639

Racing Record

43

Starts

Year	Starts	First	Second	Third	Earnings
Year	Sts	1	2	3	$
1922	12	5	4	2	$24665 $24,665
1923	14	12	1	0	$272008 $272,008
1924	17	6	3	3	$16966 $16,966

Biography

Zev didn’t break his maiden until his sixth career start, but once he figured out how to get to the winner’s circle he made a habit of it, registering a seven-race win streak and a pair of five-race win streaks in his distinguished career. He won some of the sport’s biggest prizes — including the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes — and earned lasting acclaim as the first Derby winner to defeat an Epsom Derby winner.

Bred by Hall of Famer John E. Madden and campaigned by Harry Sinclair’s Rancocas Stable, Zev won five in a row as a juvenile in 1922 after losing his first five starts. The wins included the Grand Union Hotel Stakes and the Albany Handicap at Saratoga. In the Albany, Zev carried 126 pounds to a 2½-length victory over Vigil, who carried only 106.

As a sophomore, Zev won his first start in the Paumonok Handicap, then finished off the board in the Preakness, which was won by Vigil. After winning the Rainbow Handicap, Zev earned a 1½-length victory over Martingale in the Kentucky Derby (Vigil was third). Zev defeated Martingale again in the Withers, then won the Belmont, Queens County Handicap, and Lawrence Realization before meeting Epsom Derby winner Papyrus in a match race at Belmont Park on Oct. 20, 1923.

The race garnered international attention and a crowd of 50,000. Zev handled his international foe with ease, winning by five lengths. Zev won another match race that November, defeating In Memoriam by a nose at Churchill Downs. In Memoriam defeated a tiring Zev by six lengths two weeks prior to their match race in the Latonia Championship Stakes. Following the win in the match race, Zev was put away for the winter after compiling a seasonal record of 12-1-0 from 14 starts and earnings of $272,008. He was recognized as Horse of the Year.

Returning as a 4-year-old, Zev won the Kings County Handicap and several allowance races, finishing the year with a mark of 6-3-3 from 17 starts. He was retired after finishing third in one of the Fall Serial races at Pimlico. Zev’s career earnings of $313,639 surpassed Man o’ War’s previous American standard.

As a stallion, Zev was mostly a disappointment, siring only minor stakes winners Zevson and Zilda. Zev died at the age of 23 in 1943.