Biography

A standout distance runner who regularly defeated the top colts of her era, Firenze became the second American filly to earn $100,000 in her career. She twice lowered the standard for the fastest 1½ miles on record and was a model of consistent excellence against top competition throughout her six-year career.

Bred at Daniel Swigert’s Elmendorf Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, Firenze was a small bay of only 15 hands. Purchased as a yearling for $2,600 by James Ben Ali Haggin, Firenze was a daughter of 1869 Travers Stakes winner Glenelg (America’s leading sire in 1884, 1886, 1887, and 1888) out of the Virgil mare Florida. Virgil was America’s leading sire in 1885.

Firenze made her career debut Aug. 2, 1886, at Saratoga, winning by three lengths. She won the Autumn Stakes and Nursery Stakes that year and finished her juvenile campaign with a record of 5-2-0 from eight starts and earnings of $12,825.

As a 3-year-old in 1887, Firenze won the Ladies’ Stakes, Gazelle Stakes, Mermaid Stakes, Monmouth Oaks, Free Handicap Stakes, West End Hotel Stakes, and the 1¾-mile Jerome Stakes, defeating Hall of Famer Hanover in the latter by three lengths. Firenze concluded her sophomore season with a mark of 8-4-2 from 14 starts and earnings of $23,230. After being trained by James Murphy at 2, Hall of Famer Matthew Byrnes took over Firenze’s conditioning for the remainder of her career.

Firenze enjoyed her most successful campaign as a 4-year-old. Her wins included the Monmouth Cup, Champion Stakes (defeating Kingston), Freehold Stakes (defeating The Bard and setting the record for 1½ miles), Great Long Island Stakes, Monmouth Handicap, Battle Stakes, Average Stake, Manhattan Handicap, Harvest Handicap, and Free Handicap Sweepstakes. Firenze compiled a record of 13-6-3 from 22 starts and earnings of $34,836 in 1888.

At 5, Firenze won the Knickerbocker Handicap, Monmouth Cup, Navesink Handicap, New York Handicap, Omnium Handicap, and Freehold Stakes (via walkover). She finished 1889 with a ledger of 12-6-3 from 21 starts and earnings of $22,050.

Firenze continued to stand out as a 6-year-old in 1890. She lowered her record for 1½ miles to 2:33 in the Coney Island Cup with Hall of Famer Isaac Murphy aboard. Her other wins included the Freehold Stakes, Free Handicap Sweepstakes, Twin City Handicap, and New York Handicap. She owned a record of 7-3-0 from 14 starts and earnings of $14,720 for the year.

As a 7-year-old in 1891, Firenze won two of three starts, including her second victory in the Champion stakes, before being retired with a career record of 47-21-9 from 82 starts and earnings of $112,471. Her earnings allowed her to join Miss Woodford as the only fillies at the time with more than $100,000 in career earnings. Firenze was regarded retrospectively as the champion 3-year-old filly of 1887 and the champion older mare in 1888, 1889, and 1890.

Firenze died March 27, 1902, at the age of 18 at Rancho Del Paso near Sacramento, California. 

Achievements

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly — 1887
Champion Older Mare — 1888
Champion Older Mare — 1889
Champion Older Mare — 1890

Biography

Gifted with extraordinary speed and weight-carrying ability, Roamer was one of the most accomplished, durable, and popular racehorses of his era. An unplanned mating between a farm teaser and a blind mare produced the unlikely success story of the legendary gelding.

Roamer’s sire was Knight Errant, the teaser at Runnymeade Farm near Paris, Kentucky. According to legend, Knight Errant jumped a fence and consummated his mating with Rose Tree II, a 14-year-old blind mare.

A 15.2-hand bay, Roamer made his debut on May 1, 1913, with a five-length victory at 4½ furlongs at Lexington. After eight starts, which included two more wins, Roamer was sold to Andrew Miller for $2,500. Thereafter, Roamer carried the Miller colors of cardinal, white sash, and black cap for 90 races and was trained by Jack Goldsborough. Roamer proved to be a solid prospect as a 2-year-old, compiling a record of 4-6-1 from 17 starts and earning $8,480. His most significant victory of the year was the Saratoga Special.

Roamer became a star as a 3-year-old, setting track records in the Carter Handicap, Travers Stakes (winning by 10 lengths), and three other stakes. He covered nine furlongs in 1:49⅗ in the Washington Handicap to establish an American record for the distance. Roamer was regarded as Horse of the Year for 1914, compiling a record of 12-1-2 from 16 starts and earning $29,105.

“The truly great racehorse appears infrequently,” began the American Racing Manual’s recap of 1914. “At least one such graced the racing of 1914. Andrew Miller’s Roamer displayed all the qualities that appear in the makeup of a star of the first magnitude: Amazing speed, as well as the ability to carry high weight and stay over any route were demonstrated publicly time and again by this splendid grandson of the great Australian racer and sire, Trenton. There has never been in this country such a remarkable exhibition of speed of the highest order as he gave at Laurel in the Washington Handicap, when carrying 124 pounds, he made the astounding record of 1:49⅗ for a mile and an eighth and ran the first mile in 1:36⅗ without being urged to do his best at any part of the race.”

The top-weighted handicapper of 1915, Roamer won the Queens County Handicap, Brookdale Handicap, Saratoga Handicap, Merchants’ and Citizens’ Handicap, Saratoga Cup, Havre de Grace Handicap, and the National Handicap that year. He equaled the track record at Aqueduct in the Brookdale, set a track record in the Havre de Grace, and won the Saratoga Handicap by 10 lengths under 128 pounds.

Roamer won only once as a 5-year-old, the Yonkers Handicap, but he was best of the handicappers, assigned top weight in each of the six handicaps in which he finished second. As a 6-year-old in 1917, Roamer was regarded behind only Hall of Famer Old Rosebud among the handicappers. He won his second Saratoga Handicap that year (defeating Old Rosebud) and equaled another track record at Aqueduct.

In top form as a 7-year-old in 1918, Roamer won the Queens County Handicap under top weight, tied the track record in winning the Empire City Handicap, and won his third Saratoga Handicap. In winning the Saratoga Handicap, Roamer covered 1¼ miles in 2:02⅕, which set another track record. It marked the 10th time Roamer had set or equaled a track record.

Clamor then arose for Roamer for an attempt at Salvator’s mile record of 1:35½, set on a straight course against time in 1890. On Aug. 21, 1918, at Saratoga, Roamer became the first horse to run a mile in less than 1:35. Racing away from his pacesetter, Roamer flew around Saratoga’s two turns in 1:34⅘, a new American standard.

“He has more track records than any other horse that has sported silk in this country at any period and has dazzled and thrilled thousands by his matchless speed and dauntless courage,” reported the Thoroughbred Record.

Roamer showed his age as an 8-year-old in 1919. He made six starts, winning only the Yonkers Handicap for his 24th stakes win on July 26, 1919. It was also his 39th and final career victory. On Dec. 31, 1919, Miller suffered a heart attack and died. A few hours later, Roamer slipped on ice in his paddock at Arthur Schutt’s farm in New Jersey and had to be euthanized.

Roamer won at distances from 4½ furlongs to 1¾ miles and set or equaled 11 track records in New York and Maryland. He was undisputed champion at ages 3 and 4 and top class at 5, 6, and 7. Years later, Goldsborough was asked about great horses: “In my opinion there were only two great horses — Man o’ War and Roamer.”

Achievements

Horse of the Year — 1914
Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1914
Champion Older Male — 1915
Co-Champion Older Male — 1916

Biography

Affirmed became America’s 11th Triple Crown winner in 1978 during the first of his back-to-back Horse of the Year campaigns. At the time of his retirement in 1979, Affirmed was the sport’s all-time leading money winner at $2,393,818.

Bred in Florida by Louis and Patrice Wolfson’s Harbor View Farm, Affirmed began one of racing’s greatest rivalries as a 2-year-old in 1977 with Alydar. Affirmed defeated Alydar by a half-length in the Hopeful Stakes, by a nose in the Belmont Futurity, and by a neck in the Laurel Futurity. Alydar, meanwhile, finished ahead of Affirmed in the Great American Stakes and Champagne Stakes, setting the stage for the 1978 Triple Crown series. Affirmed won the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Male in 1977 with a record of 7-2-0 from nine starts and earnings of $343,477.

Affirmed won his first eight starts as a 3-year-old in 1978 — including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes — to win the Triple Crown. Alydar finished second in each of the Triple Crown races. Other victories for Affirmed in 1978 included the San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, Hollywood Derby, and Jim Dandy Stakes. Affirmed finished first in the Travers Stakes, but was disqualified and placed second behind Alydar. Affirmed was named Horse of the Year and finished with a record of 8-2-0 from 11 starts and earnings of $901,541.

As a 4-year-old in 1979, Affirmed set a track record in the Santa Anita Handicap, defeated Belmont Stakes winner Coastal in the Woodward Stakes, and Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Spectacular Bid in the Jockey Club Gold Cup to conclude his career with seven consecutive victories. He was again named Horse of the Year with a record of 7-1-1 from nine starts and earnings of $1,148,800.

At stud, Affirmed sired a dozen champions, including Hall of Fame member Flawlessly, who won back-to-back titles on the grass in 1992 and 1993 for the Wolfsons. Affirmed also sired Canadian Triple Crown winner Peteski and a second Canadian Horse of the Year, Quiet Resolve.

Affirmed died at the age of 26 in 2001 at Jonabell Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Male — 1977
Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1978
Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1978
Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1979
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 1979

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Kentucky Derby — 1978
Won the Preakness Stakes — 1978
Won the Belmont Stakes — 1978

Biography

Bred and campaigned by Greentree Stable, Devil Diver overcame a foot defect to thrive at a variety of distances under demanding weight assignments.

As a 2-year-old in 1941, Devil Diver won the Sanford Stakes, Hopeful Stakes, and Breeders’ Futurity Stakes, compiling a record of 4-7-1 from 12 starts and earnings of $65,359. Devil Diver was then overshadowed by his Greentree stablemate, Shut Out, as a 3-year-old in 1942. While Shut Out won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, Devil Diver’s only significant victory for the year was the Phoenix Handicap, in which he defeated Triple Crown winner Whirlaway.

As a 4-year-old in 1943, Devil Diver won the Carter, Toboggan, Metropolitan, and Brooklyn handicaps, defeating Shut Out in the latter three. With a seasonal record of 4-1-0 from nine starts and earnings of $48,900, Devil Diver was named Champion Handicap Horse by Daily Racing Form.

Devil Diver enjoyed another strong campaign in 1944. He defeated Shut Out in the Toboggan (carrying 134 pounds), and won the Metropolitan (carrying 134 pounds), American Legion (carrying 136 pounds), and Paumonok (carrying 130 pounds) under heavy weight. He also won the Whitney Handicap, Wilson Stakes, and the Manhattan Handicap. Devil Diver posted a record of 7-1-1 from 12 starts and earnings of $64,265 to be named Champion Handicap Horse by both Daily Racing Form and Turf and Sport Digest.

In 1945, Devil Diver won the Metropolitan Handicap for the third consecutive year, something no other horse had ever accomplished. He also won the Suburban and Paumonok handicaps. In the Suburban, Devil Diver carried 132 pounds to victory, 13 more than second-place finisher Stymie.

Devil Diver injured a foot during a workout on Aug. 1, 1945, and was retired with a career record of 22-12-3 from 47 starts and earnings of $261,064. He sired 18 stakes winners and died in 1961 at the age of 22.

Achievements

Champion Handicap Horse (Daily Racing Form) — 1943
Champion Handicap Horse — 1944

Biography

Described by historian John Hervey as “the greatest race mare ever produced in America," Fashion was the undisputed Queen of the Turf in the 1840s.

A chestnut filly by Trustee out of the Sir Charles mare Bonnets o’ Blue, Fashion was bred in New Jersey by owner/breeder William Gibbons and trained by Samuel Laird.

Fashion made her career debut as a 3-year-old in October 1840 at Camden, New Jersey, winning easily in straight two-mile heats. Six days later, at Trenton, New Jersey, she again won in straight two-mile heats, defeating Fleetfoot, at the time considered one of the best fillies ever bred on Long Island.

In the spring of 1841, Fashion had her first race over the Union Course on Long Island, winning in straight three-mile heats. She suffered a rare defeat 12 days later at Camden when she finished second to Tyler. Fashion, however, quickly regained her form and began defeating the best horses of her day. In October 1841, Fashion defeated the talented John Blount, regarded as the best colt in Virginia.

Seven days after defeating John Blount, Fashion contested the Jockey Club Purse, a race open to all ages to be run in four-mile heats. John Blount was given another chance and the race also drew Col. William Ransom Johnson’s Hall of Famer Boston. Fashion’s jockey, Joe Laird, was given instructions not to press his mount in the first heat, which was won by John Blount. In the second heat, Fashion won by three lengths in 7:48, a second faster than any second heat ever run by Boston. John Blount came back lame and Fashion was named the winner. Boston did not contest the second heat after being ruled ineligible because he was “distanced” in the first heat.

Boston’s poor showing was shocking, prompting Col. Johnson to offer a match race at $20,000 a side, with a $5,000 forfeit, to be run in four-mile heats. Gibbons accepted and the match was set for May 10, 1842, at the Union Course. Nine-year-old Boston carried 126 pounds, while the 5-year-old Fashion carried 111. In the first heat, Fashion hit the wire a length ahead of Boston in 7:32½, besting the world record for a four-mile heat by 2½ seconds. Fashion won the second heat by about 60 yards; Boston was pulled up. An estimated 70,000 people were on hand for the contest, including more than 40 United States Senators and Congressmen making the trip from Washington, D.C.

Fashion continued to dominate, stretching her win streak to 20, which was finally snapped in an 1845 match race against the mare Peytona. Fashion raced successfully through the age of 11. She was retired with a record of 32-4-0 from 36 starts and earnings of $41,500. In her specialty, the four-mile heat, she was a remarkable 34-8. In her final season in 1848, Fashion defeated Bostona, a daughter of her old rival Boston.

In retirement, Fashion produced seven foals in nine years. She died at the age of 23 in 1860 while foaling a filly by Bonnie Scotland.

Biography

Recognized as a champion each year she competed, Gamely's enormous size — she stood 16.2 hands — prevented her from being ready to race as a 2-year-old. Bred by Claiborne Farm and owned by William Haggin Perry, Gamely made a major impact as a sophomore in 1967 and also thrived at ages 4 and 5.

Trained by Hall of Famer James Maloney, Gamely began her career in California and secured her first major victories in the summer of 1967 at Saratoga in the Test Stakes and Alabama Stakes. In the Test, Gamely set a seven-furlong track record. With a record of 4-3-3 from 14 starts and earnings of $117,617, Gamely was recognized as Champion 3-Year-Old Filly by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations.

At 4, Gamely became the first filly or mare to carry 131 pounds to victory in a California stake when she won the Vanity Handicap. She also won the Santa Margarita, Beldame, and Wilshire. She efeated males in the Inglewood Handicap and ran second to Dr. Fager in the Californian to be named Champion Older Female with a record of 7-3-2 from 14 starts and earnings of $282,742.

Gamely continued her excellence at age 5 in 1969. She won the Beldame and Wilshire for the second consecutive year and added victories in the Santa Monica and Diana handicaps. With a record of 5-3-1 from 13 starts and earnings of $174,602, Gamely was recognized as Champion Older Female by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations.

At the conclusion of her 5-year-old campaign, Gamely was retired with a record of 16-9-6 from 41 starts and earnings of $574,961. Gamely died at the age of 11 in 1975.

Achievements

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly (Thoroughbred Racing Associations) — 1967
Champion Older Female — 1968
Champion Older Female (Thoroughbred Racing Associations) — 1969

Biography

Bred and raced by Brownell Combs, Myrtlewood set or equaled five track records and was recognized as champion sprinter and champion older female in 1936.

A bay daughter of Hall of Famer Blue Larkspur out of the Sweeper mare Frizeur, Myrtlewood broke her maiden in her career debut on June 8, 1934, at Latonia and won two of four starts as a juvenile.

As a 3-year-old in 1935, Myrtlewood set the American record for six furlongs in 1:09⅖. When Clang equaled the American record for seven furlongs and set a track record at 6½ furlongs, a match race was proposed by the management at Hawthorne at six furlongs. Myrtlewood had already defeated the gelding three times, and she did so once again, winning by a nose. Another six-furlong match was arranged 17 days later at Cincinnati, and Clang won this time by a nose, lowering Myrtlewood’s American record by one-fifth of a second.

As a 4-year-old, Myrtlewood won seven stakes races and set track records at Detroit in the Motor City and Cadillac handicaps. Myrtlewood then won the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland and closed out her career on a six-race win streak with a victory against Miss Merriment in a match race also at Keeneland.

Myrtlewood was retired with a record of 15-4-2 from 22 starts and earnings of $40,620. She produced the champion Durazna and Kentucky Oaks winner Miss Dogwood. Myrtlewood died on March 17, 1950, at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky at the age of 18.  

Achievements

Champion Sprinter — 1936
Champion Older Female — 1936

Biography

An Eclipse Award winner at ages 3 and 4, the front-running Desert Vixen was purchased for $40,000 as a 2-year-old by Harry Mangurian, Jr, from the estate of breeder Muriel Vanderbilt Adams.

After achieving only moderate success as a 2-year-old in 1972, Desert Vixen won eight in a row in 1973, including the Monmouth Oaks, Delaware Oaks, Test Stakes, Alabama Stakes, Gazelle Handicap, and Beldame Stakes. In the weight-for-age Beldame, Desert Vixen defeated older Hall of Famer Susan’s Girl by 11½ lengths in track-record time. She posted an overall record of 9-2-0 from 11 starts that year with earnings of $256,147 to win the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.

Desert Vixen started slowly in her 4-year-old campaign in 1974, but she repeated her victory in the Beldame (by 12 lengths this time) and tied a track record at Atlantic City Race Course in winning the Matchmaker Stakes. She finished her season with a ledger of 3-3-1 from 11 starts and earnings of $154,830 to win the Eclipse Award for Champion Older Female.

After one start as a 5-year-year-old in 1975, Desert Vixen was retired with a career record of 13-6-3 from 28 starts and earnings of $421,538. She died in 1982 at the age of 12 and was buried at Breckinridge Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly — 1973
Eclipse Award Champion Older Female — 1974

Biography

A three-time Horse of the Year and winner of eight Eclipse Awards, Forego was one of the most accomplished and popular horses of the 1970s.

Foaled at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky, Forego was a bay gelding by Forli out of the Hasty Road mare Lady Golconda. He was bred and owned by Martha F. Gerry’s Lazy F Ranch.

Forego arrived at the races as a 3-year-old in 1973. He won the Roamer and Discovery handicaps that year, finished fourth in Secretariat’s Kentucky Derby, and posted an overall record of 9-3-3 from 18 starts with earnings of $188,909. Forego came into his own the following year, winning Eclipse Awards for Horse of the Year, Champion Older Male, and Sprint Horse.

Forego’s wins in 1974 included the Woodward Stakes, Brooklyn Handicap, Widener Handicap, Don Handicap, Carter Handicap, Gulfstream Park Handicap, Vosburgh Handicap, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. He carried 131 pounds to victory in the Vosburgh that year, winning the first of 13 races in which he carried 130 pounds or more.

As a 5-year-old in 1975, Forego was again named Horse of the Year. His victories included Woodward, Brooklyn, Widener, and Carter for the second consecutive year, as well as the Suburban and Seminole handicaps. In the Brooklyn, Forego set a track record of 1:59⅘ for 1¼ miles under 132 pounds while giving the runner-up 23 pounds.  

In 1976, Forego won five times under 130 pounds or more, including a 137-pound impost when he defeated Honest Pleasure by a head in the Marlboro Cup. His wins that year included his third score in both the Woodward and Brooklyn, as well as wins in the Metropolitan and Nassau County handicaps. With a record of 6-1-1 from eight starts and earnings of $491,701, Forego was named Horse of the Year for the third consecutive year.

As a 7-year-old in 1977, Forego won the Woodward for the fourth consecutive year and repeated in the Metropolitan and Nassau County handicaps. Forego's fourth Woodward victory was the final of his 14 Grade 1 wins. He also won his fourth straight Eclipse Award for Champion Older Male.

Forego raced twice as an 8-year-old in 1978, winning once, before he was retired with a career record of 34-9-7 from 57 starts and earnings of $1,938,957. Twenty-four of his wins were in stakes races.

Following his retirement, Forego spent time at John Ward’s farm near Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, before being moved to the Kentucky Horse Park in 1981. He lived there until he died Aug. 27, 1997, at the age of 27. 

Achievements

Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1974
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 1974
Eclipse Award Champion Sprint Horse — 1974
Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1975
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 1975
Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1976
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 1976
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 1977

Biography

Whisk Broom II raced with some distinction in England, but it was his three scintillating performances in America — becoming the first horse to sweep the New York Handicap Triple Crown — that earned him lasting acclaim.

Bred in Kentucky at Senorita Stud Farm by Sam S. Brown, Whisk Broom II was a rich golden chestnut with great size (16.3 hands) and a powerful build. Purchased by Harry Payne Whitney, the son of Broomstick was sent to England to race as a 2-year-old with Hall of Fame trainer Andrew J. Joyner. Whisk Broom II broke his maiden in his second career, start, winning the Prince of Wales Plate at York. He enjoyed decent success in England, adding wins in  the Trial Stakes at Ascot, Select Stakes at Newmarket, Salford Borough Handicap at Manchester, Peril of the Peak Handicap at Derby, and the Victoria Cup Handicap at Hurst Park.

In the spring of 1913, Whitney brought Whisk Broom II to his Brookmeade Farm in Kentucky to prepare for the Metropolitan Handicap with Hall of Fame trainer James Rowe, Sr. Carrying 126 pounds in the Metropolitan, Whisk Broom II defeated G. M. Miller by 1½ lengths. Saddled with 130 pounds in the Brooklyn Handicap, Whisk Broom II again defeated G. M. Miller by 1½ lengths. In the Suburban, Whisk Broom II delivered one the great performances in the annals of American racing. Under 139 pounds — 27 more than the runner-up — Whisk Broom II defeated Lahore by a half-length. He covered the 1¼ miles at Belmont Park in 2:00 flat, breaking every record for the distance.

Of the Suburban effort by Whisk Broom II, the Thoroughbred Record stated: “It was a test of speed, courage, and stamina, and he answered each of the questions. Though he had carried his great burden at a heartbreaking pace from the start he came again under the urging and at the end it was apparent that he would hold his advantage indefinitely. He was the master of his company.”

Retired to stud after the Suburban, Whisk Broom II sired Kentucky Derby winner Whiskery, Preakness winner Victorian, and champion colt Whiskaway. Whisk Broom II was also the damsire of Seabiscuit. Whisk Broom II died in 1928 at the age of 28.

Achievements

Horse of the Year — 1913
Champion Older Male — 1913