Biography

Revered as an equine hero in both America and England, the mighty Parole cemented his legacy as one of the finest racehorses of the 19th century during a fascinating 11-year career that was defined by durability, determination, and a series of masterful performances in marquee events.

A foal of 1873, Parole was bred in Pennsylvania by Aristides Welch at his Erdenheim Stud near Philadelphia. Parole’s pedigree was a fashionable one, as he was a son of Leamington out of the Lexington mare Maiden. Leamington was America’s leading sire in 1875, 1877, 1879, and 1881. When Leamington topped the stallion list in 1875 it ended a 14-year reign for Lexington atop the leaderboard. Maiden was accomplished in her own right, winning the second edition of the Travers Stakes in 1865.

Although the breeding was considered impressive, Parole’s appearance was not. The brown gelding was referred to as “the Yankee mule” by writers in England and was said to be “light-necked, rough-coated, leggy, and curby hocked.” However, what Parole lacked in looks he more than made up for with his talent.

Owned by Pierre Lorillard and trained by Hall of Famer Matthew Byrnes, Parole arrived at the races as a 2-year-old in 1875. He won the July Stakes and August Stakes at Monmouth Park before heading to Saratoga and winning the Saratoga Stakes and Kentucky Stakes. Parole was generally considered the best 2-year-old in his crop.

As a 3-year-old, Parole defeated Hall of Famer Tom Ochiltree in the All-Aged Sweepstakes at Saratoga. He also won the Sequel Stakes at the Spa and the Excelsior Stakes and All-Aged Stakes at Jerome Park. Although not as consistent as during his juvenile campaign, Parole still showed plenty of ability as a sophomore.

Parole’s achievements at ages 2 and 3, however, were merely a footnote in a lager tale and a prelude to future brilliance and international fame.

Parole became a sensation as a 4-year-old in 1877, winning the 2½-mile Woodburn Stakes, the 2¼-mile Saratoga Cup, the 1¾-mile Summer Handicap, and the Maturity Stakes at three miles. Parole, however, wasn’t alone in his brilliance that year. Tom Ochiltree defeated Parole in both the Grand National Handicap and the All-Aged Stakes, while Ten Broeck was busy fashioning a 15-race win streak, which included multiple American speed records.

When Parole, Ten Broeck, and Tom Ochiltree met Oct. 24, 1877, in the “Great Sweepstakes” at Pimlico it was an event that entranced the nation. Congress adjourned for the day to attend the race and the sport had not received such widespread attention since the great rivalry between Harry Bassett and Longfellow in 1872.

Ten Broeck was a heavy favorite with Tom Ochiltree the second choice and Parole considered by many an afterthought for the $2,500 purse at 2½ miles. Racing historian Walter Vosburgh described the scene: “They passed the half-mile stand amid cheering that might have been heard in Monument Square, the Eastern men cheering, the Western followers of Ten Broeck yelling like demons. It was cheers answering cheers, like the noise of contending armies. Suddenly as they turned the last quarter pole, there arose a cry … ‘Look at Parole!’”

Ten Broeck led for the first two miles before Parole found another gear and romped home a five-length winner with Tom Ochiltree a distant third. Lorillard offered Ten Broeck’s owner, John Harper, another chance with a match race at Jerome Park. Ten Broeck, however, trained poorly and Harper paid a forfeit. Parole walked over for his eighth and final win of the year, pushing his earnings for the year to $14,840.

Parole was in top form again as a 5-year-old in 1878, winning the Baltimore Cup (2¼ miles), Monmouth Cup (2¼ miles), and his second consecutive Saratoga Cup (2¼ miles). He finished the year with a record of 8-1-0 from 10 starts with purse earnings of $8,450 and was once again regarded as the top older horse in America.

Lorillard wanted to take a shot at racing in England in 1879. He purchased the outstanding Duke of Magenta from his brother, George, to run against the best English competition. Duke of Magenta had been America’s dominant 3-year-old the prior year with wins in the Preakness, Belmont, Travers, Withers, and Jerome, among others. Lorillard brought Parole along for the trip, but Duke of Magenta was supposed to be the featured runner while Parole was considered a trial horse.

Those plans never came to fruition for Lorillard. Duke of Magenta became ill on the voyage across the Atlantic and never raced again, leaving Lorillard’s hopes in England to Parole, his venerable old gelding. The “Yankee mule” was scorned in the press, but he was unquestionably a wonder on the English turf.

On April 16, 1879, Parole defeated English champion Isonomy in the Newmarket Handicap and six days later pulled off another stunning upset when he beat Lord Rosebery’s Ridotto and 16 others in the City and Suburban Handicap. The press accounts regarding Parole were no longer dismissive. England’s Sporting Life commented: “Rough and Ready is a good motto for men as well as horses and the Americans seem to have applied it. Over-education, pampering, free trade, and the defeat of Ridotto are ruining our country and the sooner we get back to truths the better.”

Parole continued to thrive in England, winning the 2¼-mile Metropolitan Stakes, the 1¼-mile Great Cheshire Handicap, and the 1½-mile Epsom Gold Cup. The grueling campaign slowly wore Parole down and he began to regress in the second half of 1879.

As a 7-year-old, Parole remained in England, but the form he displayed during his brilliant stretch in 1879 had abandoned him. Winless in 10 starts, Lorillard brought his great champion home to America in an attempt to resurrect his fading career. Parole began to show some promising signs when he returned home, winning four consecutive overnighters to close out 1880.   

Parole returned to the upper echelon of American racing as an 8-year-old in 1881, compiling a record of 12-4-4 from 24 starts and earnings of $9,820. He won the Manhattan Handicap and Westchester Cup that year, and on Oct. 4 his career earnings reached $69,891, surpassing the American record held by Planet that had stood for 21 years. Parole’s career earnings mark was briefly eclipsed by Hindoo the following year, but Parole took the distinction back with a minor stakes victory only two weeks after Hindoo set the mark.

Although he was no longer competing in top events, Parole continued to race successfully at ages 9 and 10, posting a record of 15-9-9 from 42 starts from 1882 through 1883, including a victory in the Washington Stakes in the latter year. He made one start at age 11 in 1884 and raced 11 times in 1885 as a 12-year-old. Parole finished second six times in 1885, but was never able to earn another victory.

When he was finally retired at the end of 1885, Parole owned a career record of 59-28-17 from 138 starts and record earnings of $82,816.

Six years later, at the age of 18, Parole made a celebrated public appearance July 4, 1891, at Monmouth Park. To the cheers of an adoring crowd, Parole galloped a quarter-mile in front of the grandstand. He spent his retirement years at Lorillard’s Rancocas Farm in New Jersey and was regarded as a friendly horse who loved company. Parole often stood outside a farm worker’s door whinnying for attention until someone came out to spend time with him. He enjoyed the comforts of a spacious paddock and was kept in company with the horses Lorillard had in training to keep fit. Parole died at Rancocas in 1903 at the age of 30.

Vosburgh, who later witnessed the careers of Exterminator, Old Rosebud, and Roamer, described Parole as “the most renowned gelding in the history of American racing.”

Achievements

Co-Champion 2-Year-Old Male — 1875
Co-Champion Handicap Male — 1877
Champion Handicap Male — 1878

Biography

As some of the darkest days of the Civil War brought widespread death and destruction to the South, an equine hero was rising to prominence at the new Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. Although most things that hailed from the South at the time were regarded with contempt in the North, the remarkable racehorse Kentucky proved to be an exception.

In a career that more than a century later earned him a place in the Hall of Fame, Kentucky won 21 of 22 starts — including 20 in a row — and established himself as the first four-legged sensation at Saratoga. In the early days of the Spa’s fabled history, Kentucky won the inaugural Travers Stakes and the first two runnings of the Saratoga Cup, which at the time was considered to be as prestigious as any race in the land.

Bred in Lexington, Kentucky, by John M. Clay at Ashland Stud, Kentucky was an 1861 foal by the mighty sire Lexington out of the Glencoe mare Magnolia. Clay raced Kentucky once as a 2-year-old. At a new track in Paterson, New Jersey, Kentucky broke his maiden at first asking in October 1863.

Following his career debut, Kentucky was sold to John Hunter, who later became the first chairman of The Jockey Club. Hunter brought in William R. Travers and George Osgood as partners in the promising colt. Kentucky was described Walter Vosburgh "as a rangy, bright bay, having an Arab-like head with a narrow stripe down his face and an off-fore white pastern. He was said to have excellent shoulders, a strong, short back and the cleanest and soundest feet, legs, and hocks." Another contemporary report indicated Kentucky had “an easy, graceful stride with truly beautiful and magnificent action.”

Kentucky made his 3-year-old debut in the 1½-mile Jersey Derby at the Paterson course on June 7, 1864, finishing a distant fourth. Accounts of the race said that Kentucky had been interrupted twice in his training for the race and that he was not in top condition. Kentucky never lost again.

Two days after his defeat in the Jersey Derby, Kentucky rebounded to win the two-mile Sequel Stakes and was then shipped to Saratoga. Amid great fanfare, Saratoga Race Course opened its gates for the first time on Aug. 2, 1864. Only a few weeks had passed since more than 7,000 Union soldiers were killed in one of the Civil War’s most gruesome battles at Cold Harbor, Virginia. At Saratoga, however, the bloody battlefields of the South were far from the general consciousness and the talk of the town was thoroughbred racing.

The inaugural Travers Stakes was the first event at the new Saratoga track. The race was named for William R. Travers, one of Kentucky’s three owners and the president of the Saratoga Association. With future Hall of Fame jockey Gilbert W. Patrick in the irons, Kentucky thundered home to win by three lengths. Three days after winning the Travers at 1¾ miles, Kentucky won the two-mile Sequel Stakes at Saratoga, then returned to New Jersey and closed out his campaign with three more victories — all in a five-day span — including the Jersey St. Leger at 2¼ miles.

At ages 4 and 5, Kentucky was the undisputed best horse in America. He won all seven of his races from June through October in 1865, including the first edition of the Saratoga Cup. Two of Kentucky’s victories that season were walkovers as legitimate competition was becoming scarce.

Kentucky followed up his undefeated 4-year-old season with another perfect campaign at age 5 in 1866. On June 6, at Paterson, Kentucky defeated Norwich at two-mile heats. The next day, he won a three-mile race in 6:04¼. A day after that he won at three-mile heats. Following the grueling stretch of running 13 miles in three days, the iron horse Kentucky was rested until Saratoga opened.

Back at the Spa, Kentucky rolled to his second consecutive Saratoga Cup victory. He then went four miles in a walkover four days later at Saratoga in preparation for Jerome Park’s Inaugural Stakes, which he had no trouble winning in consecutive four-mile heats.

Leonard Jerome, who built Jerome Park, was so impressed with Kentucky that he made his owners an offer they could not refuse. Jerome purchased Kentucky for $40,000, an unprecedented price for a racehorse at the time. Kentucky didn’t disappoint his new owner, romping in the Grand National Handicap at 2¾ miles while giving anywhere from 19 to 24 pounds to his opponents. His win streak was at 20. There was nothing left for Kentucky to prove.

Following the Grand National, Jerome decided it was time to retire Kentucky to stud. However, more than two years after his final race — and well into his stud career — Kentucky returned to the racetrack for a run against the clock. Kentucky’s sire, Lexington, had set the world record for four miles at 7:19¾ a dozen years earlier. Jerome bet $5,000 that Kentucky could break the mark.

Three miles into his race against time at Jerome Park in October 1868, Kentucky was at 5:29 flat, two seconds faster than his sire at the same point in the journey. Kentucky had Charles Littlefield aboard for the daunting time trial and was carrying 120 pounds. Lexington, meanwhile, carried only 103 pounds when he set the record. In the final mile, Kentucky began to wear down. Frustrated and starting to sulk, he tried to bolt the course and his final time of 7:31¾ was 12 seconds slower than Lexington’s. It was still regarded as a heroic effort considering the amount of time Kentucky had been away from the track.

Following the time trial, Kentucky was purchased by August Belmont I for $15,000 and sent to Belmont’s Nursery Stud at Babylon, New York, on the south shore of Long Island. Kentucky never approached Lexington’s greatness as a stallion, but he did sire a few notable runners, including Woodbine, winner of the Alabama Stakes and Monmouth Oaks, and Jersey Derby winner Bertram. Kentucky died at age 14 in 1875.

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.   

Achievements

Champion 2-Year-Old Male — 1922
Horse of the Year — 1923
Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1923

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Kentucky Derby — 1923
Won the Belmont Stakes — 1923

Biography

Known for his extraordinary speed, Calumet Farm’s Coaltown set a world record, equaled two others, and broke four track records during his illustrious four-year career.

Trained by Hall of Famer Ben Jones, Coaltown was nicknamed “The Goose” by stable employees for his habit of outstretching his long, thin neck when he raced. Overshadowed by stablemate Citation as a 3-year-old in 1948, Coaltown finished second to the Triple Crown winner in the Kentucky Derby, but he beat older horses that year in the Phoenix Handicap and set a track record in the Blue Grass Stakes. Coaltown was recognized as 1948 Champion Sprint Horse and finished with a record of 8-3-2 from 13 starts and earnings of $104,650.

As a 4-year-old, Coaltown came into his own as Citation missed the year with an osselet problem. Coaltown won 12 of his first 13 starts, including the McLennan, Widener, Gallant Fox, Roger Williams, Stars and Stripes, Arlington, and Washington Park handicaps. He set a world record for one mile at Washington Park, equaled a world record for 1⅛ miles at Hialeah Park, and matched a world record for 1¼ miles at Gulfstream Park. He also set a track record at Arlington Park that year and equaled one at Hollywood Park. Overall, Coaltown posted a record of 12-3-0 from 15 starts and earnings of $276,125 in 1949 to be recognized by Turf and Sport Digest as Horse of the Year.

Coaltown had limited success the next two years, winning only three of 11 starts before being retired with a career record of 23-6-3 from 39 starts and earnings of $415,675. He was considered a disappointment as a sire and was sold to breeding interests in France, where he died at the age of 20 in 1965. 

Achievements

Champion Sprint Horse — 1948
Horse of the Year (Turf & Sport Digest) — 1949
Champion Handicap Horse — 1949

Biography

Ten Broeck set six American speed records during the 1870s at distances ranging from one to four miles.

A bay son of Phaeton out of the Lexington mare Fanny Holton, Ten Broeck was bred in Kentucky by John Harper, who had already enjoyed great success in racing earlier in the decade with Hall of Famer Longfellow. When Harper died in 1875, Ten Broeck passed to his nephew, Frank Harper.

After finishing third in his lone start as a juvenile in 1874, Ten Broeck made his 3-year-old debut on May 10, 1875, in the historic Phoenix Hotel Stakes at Lexington. Ten Broeck was an easy winner in a field of six, which also included Aristides. A week later, Aristides turned the tables by winning the inaugural Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Ten Broeck finished fifth in the Derby and was rested until the fall. After finishing fifth in a six-horse field in his return, Ten Broeck began to figure things out and set out on a path to stardom. He established the first of his records on Sept. 9, covering 1⅝ miles in 2:49¼, lowering the American record by 3¾ seconds. Ten Broeck added wins in the Post Stakes, Merchants’ Post Stakes, and the Maxwell House Stakes that autumn.

Ten Broeck began his 4-year-old season in 1876 by finishing second to old nemesis Aristides, who set an American record of 3:34½ for 2⅛ miles in the process. It was the only defeat of the year for Ten Broeck, winner of his next 15 starts and 18 of his next 19. His 1876 victories included the Louisville Cup and Galt House Plate in May and three American records in the fall. At the Lexington track in September, Ten Broeck covered 2⅝ miles in 4:58½. He followed that a week later at Churchill in the Post Stakes by lowering the American mark for three miles to 5:26½. Four days later, Ten Broeck broke Fellowcraft’s four-mile record, clocking in at 7:15¾, almost four seconds better than the previous standard.   

Competition was scarce for Ten Broeck as a 5-year-old. On May 24, 1877, he set a new American record for one mile (1:39¾ ) at Churchill. Five days later, Churchill management offered Harper half the gate if Ten Broeck could beat True Blue’s American record of 3:32½ for two miles. Ten Broeck delivered, smashing the mark by five seconds for his sixth American record. He added four more wins in the fall to extend his win streak to 15.

Ten Broeck’s streak was snapped in his next race, a showdown with Parole and Tom Ochiltree at Pimlico on Oct. 26, 1877. Heavily favored, Ten Broeck finished second to Parole in one of the most celebrated races of the century. Ten Broeck immediately returned to his winning ways two days later by winning the Bowie Stakes in four-mile heats. He won in dominant fashion in 7:42 ½ and 7:40, distancing his overmatched rivals, including Belmont winner Algerine. A scheduled rematch with Parole fell through when Harper was not pleased with Ten Broeck’s training.

Continuing to compete as a 6-year-old in 1878, Ten Broeck won a sweepstakes at Lexington in May, defeating his old nemesis Aristides. He met one more challenge, the 5-year-old California mare Mollie McCarthy, in a match race at Churchill on July 4 before a crowd of more than 25,000. The $10,000 purse was the richest event of Ten Broeck’s career. The contest was not expected to be easy, as Mollie McCarthy was undefeated in 13 starts. Ten Broeck, however, handled the great mare with ease, distancing her in the first four-mile heat to win the race.

Ten Broeck was retired after his brilliant effort against Mollie McCarthy. His final victory became the subject of folk songs throughout Kentucky. Standing stud at Nantura alongside Longfellow, Ten Broeck sired Travers winner Bersan, Kentucky Oaks winner Ten Penny, Tennessee Derby winners Ten Strike and Jim Gray and Alabama winner Tolu.

On June 28, 1887, Ten Broeck died at the age of 15. Turf, Field and Farm reported: “Longfellow lives, but Ten Broeck is dead. The daughters of producing lines which neigh for the son of Phaeton are answered by silence. A great horse, wearing a name distinguished in the annals of the turf, has passed away, and no one would blame Frank Harper if he should put crape on his hat.”

Achievements

Co-Champion Handicap Horse — 1876
Co-Champion Handicap Horse — 1877

Biography

An Eclipse Award winner in each of his three seasons, Spectacular Bid won at 15 different racetracks in nine different states, broke seven track records, had win streaks of 12 and 10, respectively, and was described by his trainer as “the greatest horse to ever look through a bridle.”

A son of Bold Bidder, Spectacular Bid was purchased for $37,000 by Harry Meyerhoff as a yearling and sent to Hall of Fame trainer Grover “Bud” Delp. He broke his maiden in his career debut on June 30, 1978, at Pimlico and equaled a track record there in his subsequent allowance start. Delp moved quickly to place Spectacular Bid in stakes company. He then finished fourth in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth and second in the Dover Stakes at Delaware Park.

Following the Dover, Spectacular Bid delivered a remarkable performance in winning the World’s Playground Stakes by 15 lengths at Atlantic City, covering the seven furlongs in 1:20⅘. Two weeks later, he defeated General Assembly in the one-mile Champagne Stakes at Belmont, running a near-stakes-record 1:34⅘. Spectacular Bid then added wins in the Young America Stakes, Laurel Futurity (by 8½ lengths) and the Heritage Stakes (by six lengths) to wrap up the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Male with a record of 7-1-0 from nine starts and earnings of $384,484.

Spectacular Bid began his 3-year-old campaign in 1979 with five consecutive wins: the Hutcheson, Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby, Flamingo, and Blue Grass. As the odds-on favorite in the Kentucky Derby, Spectacular Bid was restrained by jockey Ron Franklin in the early stages before moving up on the outside to take the lead on the far turn. He drew clear in the straight and won by 2¾ lengths over General Assembly before a crowd of 125,000.

In the Preakness, Spectacular Bid was bumped early and ran wide before taking command in the stretch to defeat Golden Act by 5½ lengths in 1:54.20, faster than that of Seattle Slew or Affirmed, and by official time faster than Secretariat (though Secretariat’s time in this race was disputed and in 2012 changed to 1:53).

On the morning of the Belmont Stakes, a freak mishap took place — Spectacular Bid stepped on a safety pin. The pin become embedded in his hoof, later leading to an infection that required the hoof to be drilled to cure the problem. However, after the discovery of the injury, Spectacular Bid did not seem lame and remained in the Belmont. Franklin rode Spectacular Bid aggressively early in the race, and he owned a clear lead entering the stretch, but he began to struggle and was overtaken by Coastal, who challenged along the inside rail. The favorite faded in the closing stages and lost second place to Golden Act near the finish. 

Following the Belmont Stakes, Spectacular Bid took two months off to recover from the injury. He returned with new rider Bill Shoemaker, who rode him through most of the remainder of his career. His first race back was in August in an allowance at Delaware Park. He won by more than 17 lengths and set a new track record for nine furlongs, 1:41.60. Spectacular Bid followed this performance with a win at the Marlboro Cup at Belmont Park, beating both horses he had lost to in the Belmont Stakes, Coastal and Golden Act. He was scheduled to race in the Marlboro against 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed, but Affirmed’s owners bowed out of the race in reaction to a 133-pound impost assignment to Affirmed.

Spectacular Bid did meet Affirmed in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont in October, where he made repeated challenges and finished second to the Triple Crown winner. This was the last race Spectacular Bid lost. He finished the year with one more race, the Meadowlands Cup, again setting a track record at 1¼​ miles, 2:01.20. At the end of the year, he was unanimously voted the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Male and was runner-up to Affirmed for Horse of the Year.

As a 4-year-old, Spectacular Bid won all nine of his races and set five track records at distances of seven furlongs, one mile, 1¼ miles, and twice at 1⅛ miles. His first three races were part of the “Strub Series,” at Santa Anita Park. Spectacular Bid carried 126 pounds in each race and defeated Flying Paster each time. The first race in the series was the Grade 2 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs. Spectacular Bid ran the distance in 1:20. He next won the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes before an incredible performance in the Grade 1 Strub Stakes at 1¼ miles, running the fastest time for the distance ever on a dirt track, 1:57.80, and breaking the 30-year-old record of 1:58.20 set by Hall of Famer Noor in 1950.

Spectacular Bid also won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap (carrying 130 pounds) on a sloppy track March 2. Then he moved to Hollywood Park, where he won the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap under 132 pounds and the Grade 1 Californian Stakes, carrying 130 pounds in a track-record time of 1:45.80. He then shipped to Arlington Park to win the Grade 3 Washington Park Handicap by 10 lengths under 130 lbs. His time of 1:46.20 for 1⅛ miles broke the track record. Then it was on to Monmouth Park for the Grade 1 Monmouth Handicap, which he won under 132 pounds, defeating champion filly Glorious Song.

Spectacular Bid concluded his career with a walkover in the Woodward Stakes at Belmont on Sept. 20, 1980. A plan to race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup was aborted on the day of the race when an injury to the horse's left front ankle flared up. Delp thereafter announced Spectacular Bid's retirement.

Retired with a career record of 26-2-1 from 30 starts, Spectacular Bid’s earnings were a record $2,781,607. He was named Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male in 1980.

Following his last race, Spectacular Bid was syndicated for a then-record $22 million and stood stud at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, where his initial stud fee was $150,000. He made a promising start to his breeding career, but his later record was disappointing. The quality of mares he attracted fell, and his stud fees steadily declined. Spectacular Bid was eventually sold and moved in 1991 to Milfer Farms in Unadilla, New York, where he lived out the remainder of his years, continuing to attract visits and letters from admirers. He was never pensioned from stud duty, covering 10 mares at a fee of $3,500 in the final year of his life.

Spectacular Bid sired 253 winners, including 47 stakes winners. He died on June 9, 2003, at the age of 27 and was buried at Milfer Farms.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Male — 1978
Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1979
Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1980
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 1980

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Kentucky Derby — 1979
Won the Preakness Stakes — 1979

Biography

Two Lea was somewhat overshadowed at the beginning of her career by her more famous Calumet Farm stablemates, including Citation, Coaltown, Bewitch, and Armed. However, by the time she retired in 1952, Two Lea had established her own impressive legacy.

Plagued with foot problems throughout her career, Two Lea broke her maiden in her third career start on Sept. 17, 1948, at Belmont Park in her final start of the season. She began her 3-year-old season with three consecutive victories, including the Princess Doreen Stakes. After finishing second in the Modesty Stakes, Two Lea won her next five races, including the Cleopatra Handicap, Artful Stakes, and Santa Margarita Handicap.

A foot injury sidelined Two Lea from July of 1950 until May of 1952, forcing her to miss her entire 5-year-old season. It took Two Lea some time to return to form once she made it back to the races, but in June of 1952 she won the Vanity Handicap and later put together a four-race win streak that included the Ramona Handicap (in a dead heat with Princess Lygia), Hollywood Gold Cup, San Mateo Handicap, and Children’s Hospital Handicap. She became the first filly or mare to win $100,000 in a single race with her Hollywood Gold Cup victory, and her win in the Children’s Hospital Handicap set a Bay Meadows track record.

Retired after finishing second in the Bay Meadows Handicap with a career record of 15-6-3 from 26 starts and earnings of $309,250, Two Lea returned to Calumet Farm. She produced eight foals as a broodmare, including Hall of Famer Tim Tam; On-and-On, winner of the Brooklyn Handicap; and Pied d’Or, a multiple stakes winner. Two Lea followed Armed, Bewitch, Citation, Twilight Tear, and Whirlaway as the sixth Calumet horse to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. She died in 1973 at the age of 27.

Achievements

Co-Champion 3-Year-Old Filly — 1949
Champion Older Female — 1950

Biography

At the time of her retirement in 1927, Princess Doreen was the greatest money-earning filly or mare of all time with $174,745 earned in 94 career starts.

Bred in Kentucky at Hamburg Place by the legendary John Madden, Princess Doreen was a bay daughter of Spanish Prince II out of the Ogden mare Lady Doreen. Purchased from Madden by Oklahoma oilmen B. B. Jones and Monfort Jones, Princess Doreen ran for their Virginia-based Audley Farm Stable.

From midway through her 3-year-old campaign in 1924 through 1926, Princess Doreen was regarded as at least the equal or better than any runner in her division. As a 3-year-old, she won the Kentucky Oaks and Coaching Club American Oaks, as well as the Labor Day, Covington, and Falls City handicaps.

Princess Doreen enjoyed her best campaign in 1925, posting a record of 11-3-8 from 25 starts and earning $69,220. She defeated males under 130 pounds in her second Covington Handicap victory and won the Autumn Handicap, also against males, while carrying 133 pounds. Princess Doreen also defeated males at 1½ miles that year in the Bowie Handicap.

In 1926, Princess Doreen easily won the Saratoga Handicap by four lengths and added a win in the Inaugural Handicap. She won the Greater Chicago Handicap and her second Independence Handicap in 1927 at the age of six and was retired with a record of 34-15-17 from 94 starts and the earnings mark of $174,745. The record was previously owned by Miss Woodford, who retired in 1886 with earnings of $118,270. Princess Doreen’s record stood until surpassed by Top Flight in 1931.

Princess Doreen died at the age of 31 in 1952.

Achievements

Co-Champion 3-Year-Old Filly — 1924
Champion Handicap Female — 1925
Champion Handicap Female — 1926

Biography

Bred and owned by Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt, Dahlia earned international fame for her ability to beat the boys in some of the most prestigious races in North America and Europe.

Dahlia flashed some potential as a 2-year-old in 1972, winning the Prix Yacowlef at Deauville in France. At ages 3 and 4, Dahlia, trained by Maurice Zilber, was named English Horse of the Year and topped the English Free Handicap at 140 pounds at 11 furlongs and up both years.

In 1973, Dahlia won the Prix de la Grotte, Prix Saint-Alary, Irish Guinness Oaks, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Prix Niel, and the D.C. International. She beat males in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes one week after winning the Irish Guinness Oaks. Her victory at 10-1 odds in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth by six lengths was a monumental accomplishment, as the field included three major European Derby winners: Roberto (English Derby), Hard to Beat (French Derby), and Weaver’s Hall (Irish Derby), as well as Rheingold, winner of the l'Arc de Triomphe. She was also the first filly to win the race. Dahlia made her United States' debut that fall when she defeated odds-on favorite Tentam and Big Spruce in the D.C. International.

As a 4-year-old in 1974, Dahlia spent the first half of her season competing in France and England. She won the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, repeated in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and won the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup before another successful trip to North America that included Grade 1 wins in the Man o’ War and Canadian International. Dahlia won the Eclipse Award for Champion Grass Horse in 1974 and became the first filly or mare to eclipse $1 million in career earnings that year.

Dahlia won the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup again in 1975 and late in the year became permanently based in the United States with new trainer Charlie Whittingham. Dahlia won twice in 15 races for Whittingham, including a victory in the 1976 Hollywood Invitational Handicap for her third North American Grade 1 win to go along with seven European Group 1 wins. She was the first horse of either gender to win Grade/Group 1 races in five different countries: England, France, Ireland, United States, and Canada.

Dahlia was retired as racing’s richest filly or mare with earnings of $1,489,105 and a career record of 15-3-7 from 48 starts. She died April 6, 2001, at the age of 31. 

Achievements

Horse of the Year (England) — 1973
Horse of the Year (England) — 1974
Eclipse Award Champion Grass Horse — 1974

Biography

America’s 10th Triple Crown winner and the first to complete the series with an undefeated record, Seattle Slew was Horse of the Year in 1977 and an Eclipse Award winner in each of his three years on the racetrack.

Bred in Kentucky by Ben Castelman, Seattle Slew was a dark bay son of Bold Reasoning out of the Poker mare My Charmer. Mickey and Karen Taylor, in partnership with Dr. Jim and Sally Hill, bought Seattle Slew for $17,500 at the 1975 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale. Dr. Hill, a veterinarian, picked out the colt.

Seattle Slew was turned over to young trainer Billy Turner, whose wife, Paula, had broken the colt at Mrs. Henry Obre’s farm near Monkton, Maryland. Seattle Slew made his career debut with a five-length victory under jockey Jean Cruguet at Belmont Park on Sept. 20, 1977. Two weeks later, he led all the way in winning a seven-furlong allowance event at Belmont.

In his staked debut, Seattle Slew romped by 9 3/4 lengths in the Champagne Stakes in his third career start. He covered the mile distance in 1:34⅖, breaking the stakes record. He was named the Eclipse Award winner for Champion 2-Year-Old Male.

In his 3-year-old debut, Seattle Slew set a track record for seven furlongs at Hialeah in a nine-length win/He then won the Flamingo Stakes and Wood Memorial to enter the Kentucky Derby undefeated in six starts. As the 1-2 favorite in the Derby, Seattle Slew caught early pacesetter For The Moment and pulled away at the top of the stretch to win by 1¾ lengths with Run Dusty Run finishing second.

The 2-5 favorite in the Preakness, Seattle Slew put away Cormorant around the far turn and went on to win by 1½ lengths with Iron Constitution second. Again 2-5 in the Belmont, Seattle Slew went right to the lead and made it look easy, winning by four lengths over Run Dusty Run to become the first undefeated Triple Crown winner.

Instead of getting some time off, Seattle Slew was shipped to California for the July 3 Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park. Seattle Slew was flat and suffered his first career loss, finishing 16 lengths behind J. O. Tobin. The Swaps was the final start of the year for Seattle Slew, who was named Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Male.

Turner was replaced as Seattle Slew’s trainer in December of 1977 by Doug Peterson. As a 4-year-old, Seattle Slew began his campaign with allowance victories at Aqueduct and Saratoga before being beaten a neck by Dr. Patches in the Paterson Handicap at the Meadowlands. Cruguet, who had been critical of the horse’s training regimen, was then replaced by Hall of Famer Angel Cordero, Jr.

With Cordero now on board, Seattle Slew met Affirmed in the Marlboro Cup Handicap at Belmont in September of 1978. It was the first meeting of Triple Crown winners. Affirmed was favored at 1-2, but Seattle Slew won easily by three lengths. Seattle Slew next won the Woodward Stakes in track-record time, covering the 1¼ miles in 2:00 with Hall of Famer Exceller second.

Seattle Slew and Affirmed met again in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but in the end it was Exceller defeating Seattle Slew by a nose. Seattle Slew raced once more, closing out his career with a victory in the Stuyvesant Handicap at Aqueduct to finish with a record of 14-2-0 from 17 starts and earnings of $1,208,726. He was voted Champion Older Male and sent off to stud at Spendthrift Farm in 1979.

In his first crop, Seattle Slew sired future Hall of Famer Slew o’ Gold, as well as Grade 1 winners Landaluce, Adored, and Sleepy. Seattle Slew’s second crop included 1984 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Swale. Other champions sired by Seattle Slew included Hall of Famer A.P. Indy, Capote, Surfside, and Vindication, as well as international standouts Digression and Tomahawk. Seattle Slew was the leading freshman sire in 1982 and topped the general sire list two years later.

Seattle Slew died in 2002 at the age of 28 at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm. He had spent the previous 17 years at Three Chimneys Farm after being moved from Spendthrift in 1985.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Male — 1976
Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1977
Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1977
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 1978

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Kentucky Derby — 1977
Won the Preakness Stakes — 1977
Won the Belmont Stakes — 1977