Biography

Fair Play was arguably the best colt August Belmont II ever raced in America. A chestnut son of Hastings out of the Bend Or mare Fair Gold, Fair Play set track records as a 3-year-old at both Belmont Park and Gravesend and later became a three-time leading sire.

Trained by Hall of Famer Andrew Joyner, Fair Play broke his maiden in his second career start in 1907 at Brighton Beach. He won three times as a juvenile, including the Montauk and Flash stakes. He also finished second in the Hopeful and third in the United States Hotel.

Fair Play finished first or second in 15 of 16 starts as a 3-year-old in 1908. He set a track record for 1 1/4 miles at Gravesend and for 1 5/16 miles at Belmont Park. Fair Play, however, was always behind the undefeated Colin and finished second to him in the 1908 Belmont Stakes, missing victory by only a head. It was the fifth and final meeting between Colin and Fair Play, as Colin retired following the Belmont.

With Colin on the sidelines, Fair Play dominated the second half of the 1908 season, winning the Brooklyn Derby, Coney Island Jockey Club Stakes (equaling the track record of 2:31⅕ for 1 1/2 miles), Lawrence Realization, First Special (setting a track record of 2:03⅖ for 1 1/4 miles), Jerome Handicap (setting a track record of 2:10⅖ for 1 5/16 miles), and Municipal Handicap. He finished his sophomore season with a record of 7-8-1 from 16 starts and earnings of $70,215.

Betting on a race became illegal in New York when the Percy Grey law was repealed in 1908 and Belmont sent many of his horses, including Fair Play, to run in England. As a 4-year-old, Fair Play was winless in six starts overseas, finishing no better than fourth. He was retired with a career record of 10-11-3 from 32 starts and earnings of $86,950.

Fair Play went on to become America’s leading sire in 1920, 1924, and 1927. His masterpiece was the immortal Man o’ War. Other standouts sired by Fair Play included Display, Mad Hatter, Chance Shot, Chance Play, Mad Play, and the Hall of Fame steeplechaser Fairmount.

Fair Play died Dec. 16, 1929, at Elmendorf Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, at the age of 24.

Biography

Regarded as the top American steeplechaser of the early 1900s, Good and Plenty arrived at the races as a 4-year-old in 1904 and won seven consecutive jump events that year, including the Westbury Steeplechase and Champion Steeplechase Handicap at Morris Park, the richest steeplechase of the season.

Bred in Kentucky by Frank B. Harper, Good and Plenty was owned by Thomas Hitchcock, Jr. and trained by Charles Kiernan. Good and Plenty finished his 4-year-old season with a record of 8-1-1 from 10 starts and earnings of $17,140.

As a 5-year-old, Good and Plenty won the New York Steeplechase Handicap and the Whitney Memorial Steeplechase in his only two starts. In 1906, at the age of 6, Good and Plenty won the Grand National at Belmont Park under 170 pounds, an impost that was not carried by another winner in that race for until 30 years later. Good and Plenty’s time of 5:25 for 2½ miles bettered the course record by 12 seconds. He also won a second Whitney Memorial that year.

The Thoroughbred Record described the action in the Grand National: “The run through the front stretch was sensational, as the horses were well-bunched. They took the water jump so well together and in such splendid style that the thousands in the stand rose to their feet with a mighty cheer. There have been greats in the past days of steeplechasing, but I am not ashamed to assert my opinion that Good and Plenty is the equal of any of them, if not the superior of all.”

Good and Plenty won his final race in 1907 as a 7-year-old to conclude his career with a record of 14-4-1 from 21 starts and earnings of $45,815. Suffering from chronic navicular disease, Good and Plenty was euthanized in 1907. 

Biography

Bred and raced by James R. Keene, Peter Pan was a son of Belmont Stakes winner Commando out of Cinderella, a daughter of 1867 Epsom Derby winner Hermit.

Trained by Hall of Famer James Rowe, Sr., Peter Pan won half of his eight starts as a 2-year-old in 1906, including the Hopeful Stakes and Flash Stakes at Saratoga.

Peter Pan developed into a standout as a sophomore in 1907, winning the Belmont Stakes, Brighton Handicap, Advance Stakes, Standard Stakes, Tidal Stakes, and Brooklyn Derby. His performance in the Brighton Handicap before a crowd of 40,000 prompted the New York Times to report that Peter Pan “accomplished a task that completely overshadowed any previous 3-year-old performance in turf history.”

Retired with a career record of 10-3-1 from 17 starts and earnings of $115,450, Peter Pan stood at Keene’s Castleton Stud near Lexington, Kentucky, before being sold to a breeding farm in France for $100,000 in 1912. He was later brought back to the United States by Harry Payne Whitney and stood at Brookdale Farm in New Jersey until 1915 when he became the foundation sire for the new Whitney Farm in Kentucky.

Peter Pan sired standout stallion Black Toney, as well as champions Puss in Boots, Prudery, Tryster, and Vexatious. He is also the damsire of Hall of Famer Top Flight, Kentucky Derby winner Whiskery, and Preakness winners Bostonian and Victorian. Through Black Toney, he is the grandsire of Hall of Famers Black Gold and Bimelech and Kentucky Derby winner Brokers Tip. Through his son Pennant, Peter Pan is the grandsire of Hall of Famer Equipoise.

Peter Pan died at the age of 29 in December of 1933 and was buried at the Whitney Farm, which is now part of Gainesway Farm.

Achievements

Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1907

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Belmont Stakes — 1907

Biography

Bred and owned by James R. Keene, Commando was the most successful son of Hall of Famer Domino, one of the finest runners of the 19th century. Although his career was brief, Commando was a brilliant performer and was recognized as Horse of the Year in 1900 and 1901.

A dark bay with four white feet, Commando was described as a “big, coarse, muscular colt with low withers, high croup, and great depth in chest and flanks.” Commando made his debut June 25, 1900, at Sheepshead Bay in the $1,000-added Zephyr Stakes. He behaved badly at the post and delayed the race for a considerable amount of time, but once jockey Henry Spencer got him under control he quickly displayed his class. Commando ran to the lead and had no trouble winning by two lengths.

Five days later, in the $20,000-guaranteed Great Trial Stakes, Commando again went to the lead early and coasted to a three-length victory over The Parader. Commando then won the $3,000 Montauk Stakes at Brighton Beach by eight lengths three weeks later before getting a month of rest.

Commando returned with a victory in the $10,000 Brighton Junior Stakes and followed that with a win in the $15,000 Junior Champion Stakes at Gravesend under 127 pounds.

In his final start as a 2-year-old, Commando suffered his first defeat in the $20,000 Second Matron at Morris Park in October. Goodwin’s Guide noted Commando was “carelessly ridden” by Spencer. Favored at 5-2, Commando had a two-length lead at the eighth pole, but Spencer began to gear Commando down and apparently did not notice Beau Gallant on the inside. Before Spender could get Commando going again, Beau Gallant slipped ahead and won by half a length. A reporter for Turf, Field and Farm described Spencer’s ride as “stupid carelessness; (he) literally threw the race away.”

The loss did little to hurt the reputation of Commando. He was regarded as Horse of the Year for 1900, posting a season record of 5-1-0 from six starts and earnings of $41,084.

Rowe selected the Belmont Stakes as Commando’s first race as a 3-year-old in 1901. The Belmont was contested at 1⅜ miles at Morris Park that year on May 23. Commando had only two foes that day. He defeated The Parader by two lengths and the overmatched All Green finished some 50 lengths out of the picture.

A week later, Commando gave 15 pounds and a three-lengths beating in the Carlton Stakes at Gravesend, winning the mile in 1:39⅖ “with ridiculous ease.”

On July 4, 1901, Commando was brought out for the final time in the 1⅝-mile Lawrence Realization. He followed the pace closely for the first mile before moving into the lead. Commando, however, broke down near the end and The Parader won by two lengths.

Commando was retired with a career record of 7-2-0 from nine starts and earnings of $58,196. His victories in the Belmont and Carlton were viewed as enough to earn Commando the unofficial retrospective honor of Horse of the Year once again. Upon retirement, Commando was sent to Keene’s Castleton Farm for stud duty. Of his 27 foals, 10 were stakes winners, including Hall of Fame members Colin and Peter Pan.

In March 1905, Commando suffered a severe injury when he stepped awkwardly on a rock. Tetanus set in and he died within 48 hours at the age of seven. The success of Colin and Peter Pan placed Commando atop the American sire list posthumously in 1907.  

Achievements

Horse of the Year — 1900
Champion 2-Year-Old Male — 1900
Horse of the Year — 1901
Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1901

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Belmont Stakes — 1901

Biography

Bred at Col. Milton Young’s McGrathiana Stud in Kentucky, Broomstick was a small bay son of the great Ben Brush out of the Galliard mare Elf. He was included in a lot of 10 yearlings Col. Young sold for a total of $17,100 to Capt. Samuel S. Brown.

A millionaire coal magnate, Capt. Brown was a member of The Jockey Club and a major stockholder in Churchill Downs. He had been a fixture in racing since his Troubadour won the 1896 Suburban Handicap and had beaten Miss Woodford in a match race.

Trained as a 2-year-old by Peter Wimmer, Broomstick made his debut May 7, 1903, winning the $4,860 Juvenile Stakes at Morris Park by a head over the favored Precious Stone. Three weeks later, Broomstick won the $5,540 Expectation Stakes with ease and then won the $10,600 Great American Stakes at Gravesend.

Broomstick’s early success led to an increase in the weights he was forced to carry. With an impost of 129 pounds, Broomstick lost for the first time that June by a length to Pulsus (carrying 122 pounds) in the Great Trial Stakes. With 128 pounds, Broomstick then finished second to Gallant (114) in the Spring Stakes. He did not win another race that year, finishing his juvenile campaign with a record of 3-4-0 and earnings of $25,400 from nine starts.

Bob Tucker took over the training of Capt. Brown’s horses in 1904 and Broomstick made his 3-year-old debut a winning one May 12 in an overnighter at Morris Park. Broomstick’s finest performance took place in the $25,000 Brighton Handicap. With Hall of Famer Tommy Burns in the irons, Broomstick set an American record for 1¼ miles of 2:02⅘, breaking the previous mark set a year before by Waterboy by two-fifths of a second. Broomstick’s record stood until broken by Whisk Broom II, a son of Broomstick, in the 1913 Suburban Handicap.

Carrying 129 pounds, Broomstick won the Travers Stakes in impressive fashion, defeating Bobadil (116) and Auditor (111). He added a victory in the Flying Handicap at Sheepshead Bay later in the year for his final career stakes win. Broomstick posted a record of 6-4-3 and earnings of $37,970 as a 3-year-old.

As a 4-year-old, Broomstick ran into one of the top horses of the early 20th century in the 3-year-old Sysonby, owned by James R. Keene. In each of the four times they met in 1905, Sysonby got the better of his older foe, winning the Commonwealth Handicap, Great Republic Stakes, Century Stakes, and Annual Champion Stakes.

When Sysonby ran elsewhere, Broomstick won five races, but none of them were stakes. He carried 133 pounds to victory in a six-furlong overnighter at Sheepshead Bay and he defeated Ort Wells and Pulsus at one mile at Sheepshead, but Broomstick was not considered to have the same quality he displayed the previous two years.

Broomstick was retired to Capt. Brown’s Senorita Stud near Lexington, Kentucky, with a career record of 14-11-5 and earnings of $74,730 from 39 starts. He was bred to a small book of mares, including Audience, winner of the Kentucky Oaks and Tennessee Oaks. Audience produced a chestnut colt that was sold as a yearling for $2,500 to Harry Payne Whitney. Capt. Brown died in 1906 and his thoroughbred interests were inherited by his brother, Capt. W. Harry Brown, who eventually decided to sell. The dispersal was held Nov. 23, 1908, in Lexington.

Trainer A. J. Joyner was breaking the Broomstick—Audience colt at the time and liked what he saw. He advised Whitney to buy Broomstick and anything else in the sale by him. Broomstick topped the sale, going to Whitney for $7,250. At the time, Whitney was collecting the finest broodmare band in America and Broomstick was established as a quality young stallion even before his reputation was gained from progeny out of the Whitney mares.

Broomstick sired seven foals in his first crop from Senorita Stud mares. All seven won at age 2, including Whisk Broom II and Scarpia. Broomstick sired a dozen foals in his second crop, including Kentucky Derby winner Meridian. In his third and last crop at Senorita, Broomstick sired 17 foals, getting three more stakes winners, including English Two Thousand Guineas winner Sweeper.

Whisk Broom II raced in England while the sport was shut down in New York during 1911 and 1912. When racing returned to New York in 1913, Whisk Broom II was brought back from England and won the Metropolitan Handicap with 126 pounds, the Suburban Handicap with 139, and the Brooklyn Handicap with 130. Forty years had passed when Tom Fool became the next horse to win the Handicap Triple Crown in 1953.

Broomstick ranked among the top 10 sires in progeny earnings from 1911 through 1927. He topped the list in 1913, 1914, and 1915. The best of Broomstick’s progeny was Hall of Famer Regret, the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby. Other good ones included Cudgel, Wildair, Spot Cash, Halcyon, and Bostonian. Those whose sturdiness outlasted their class included Dr. Clark, winner of 44 of 265 starts in 13 years. He was Broomstick’s lone $100,000 earner. Other notables included Tippity Witchet, who won 78 of 266 starts and had earnings of $88,241 in 13 years, and Leochares, winner of 62 races and $68,867 in nine years.

Broomstick died in 1931 at the age of 30.

Biography

Sir Archy, America’s first great thoroughbred stallion, was foaled in 1805 at Capt. Archibald Randolph’s Ben Lomond plantation along the James River in Virginia. In the hands of Col. William R. Johnson, Sir Archy became the champion four-mile horse of his day. Upon retirement to stud, he sent out a succession of champions, which essentially established the breed of the American thoroughbred.

“He has done as much for the Turf stock of this country as the Godolphin Arabian, King Herod, or Highflyer for that of Great Britain. Most of the best stock at present in this country are either immediately from the loins of Sir Archy or have been produced from his sons and daughters,” commented the American Turf Register in 1829. That comment served as the basis for historians’ repeated references to Sir Archy as the Godolphin Arabian of America.

Sir Archy was described as being “rich bay colour, a horse of commanding size, fully sixteen hands high, with great power and substance,” by the American Turf Register. Heavily patronized during his stud career, nearly 100 of Sir Archy’s sons were advertised as stallions and 160 of his daughters are listed as producers in the American Stud Book. Considering the relatively small number of horses with any claim to the title of blood-horse in the early 1800s, the influence of Sir Archy on the development of the American racehorse is overwhelming.

Sir Archy was originally named Robert Burns by Capt. Randolph, who bred the horse in partnership with Col. John Tayloe III. Capt. Randolph suffered a series of financial losses that forced the sale of his Ben Lomond estate in 1805. Two years later, he sold his half-interest in the colt to Ralph Wormeley VI and in May of 1807 he wrote Col. Tayloe:

“I have sent our fine colt for you to take and do with as you please. I am not able to do him that justice such a horse is entitled to. He is thought to be the best colt that is anywhere, Larkin says the finest two-year-old he ever saw. Mr. Wormeley will inform you what are his engagements; any part of which you may take. I have named him Robert Burns, under which name he is entered.”

When the colt arrived at Tayloe’s Mount Airy, he was promptly renamed Sir Archy in honor of the former master of Ben Lomond and the change was duly noted in the farm stud book.

Sir Archy was sired by Diomed, the first standout English racehorse imported to America. Diomed was undefeated in his first 10 starts, including the 1780 English Derby. Sir Archy’s dam, Castianiri, was imported by Tayloe and turned over to Randolph to breed on shares. Under the agreement, Randolph paid board and training bills on the foals until they reached three. The first foal in the partnership was Sir Archy.

Sir Archy was not an immediate success as a racer. He made his debut in 1808 as a 3-year-old and was distanced in his first start, a race won by Bright Phoebus near Washington, D.C. He was then led down to Richmond, Virginia, and entered against six others in the Fairfield Sweepstakes. Sir Archy finished an exhausted third.

Col. Johnson, who won the race with True Blue, saw something in Sir Archy and offered to purchase him despite the lackluster showing. Johnson offered Wormeley $1,500 and the deal was made. Col. Johnson sent Sir Archy to Warrenton, North Carolina, where he was put in the hands of Arthur Taylor, an Englishman who trained all the good horses Johnson could find.

In the spring of 1809, Sir Archy made his first start as a 4-year-old in the Annual Post Stakes, four-mile heats at Richmond. The day before the Post Stakes, Wrangler had won the Jockey Club Purse in easy fashion and was considered a lock to win the Post Stakes. Sir Archy, however, promptly defeated him with ease.  

Sir Archy and Wrangler met again a week later at the Newmarket Course in Petersburg, Virginia. Wrangler won the first heat decisively, but Sir Archy caught him in the second heat and the judges deliberated some time before awarding the decision to Wrangler. Johnson took issue with the decision and proposed a match between Sir Archy and Wrangler that afternoon at four miles. The challenge was turned down and Johnson took his horse back to North Carolina for more training.

That fall, Sir Archy was brought out for the Jockey Club Purse. Four others were entered, including Wrangler. Sir Archy drew off by himself after two miles and had such a long lead that he was pulled up and walked across the finish, leaving all his rivals behind the “distance” pole and eliminating the necessity of running a second heat.

A week later at Petersburg, Sir Archy again distanced his foes and was considered to be in a class by himself. Competition became scarce and Johnson offered to match Sir Archy “against any horse for $5,000 or $10,000, four-mile heats, being satisfied Sir Archy is the best horse I have ever seen.”

Gen. Stephen Carney of North Carolina decided to match his horse Blank against Sir Archy at the Scotland Neck Course near Halifax, North Carolina. Sir Archy won the first heat by a length in 7:52, the fastest four miles ever run south of the James River. He also won the second heat by a length in eight minutes flat.

Among the spectators was Gen. William R. Davie, Revolutionary War hero, governor of North Carolina and founder of the University of North Carolina. He offered $5,000, bought Sir Archy and immediately retired him to stud.

In his first three crops, Sir Archy sired five horses of high distinction: Director, Lady Lightfoot, Vanity, Timoleon, and Reality. These would have been sufficient to establish Sir Archy as a great stallion, but more standout runners kept coming.

Historian John Hervey studied the record of Sir Archy’s progeny at length, trying to pare down the list of Sir Archy’s exceptional sons, and the best he could do was reduce the number to 31, listed in chronological order: Director, Timoleon, Contention, Carolinian, Kosciuski, Napoleon, Virginian, Rattler, Sir Charles (five-time leading sire), Sir William, Childers, Muckle, Sumpter, Sir Henry, John Richards, Stockholder, Arab, Cherokee, Marion, Sir William of Transport, Bertrand, Gohanna, Pacific, Saxe Weimar, Crusader, Sir Archy Montorio, Giles Scroggins, Industry, Tariff, Wild Bill, and Zinganee.

The best of his fillies were Lady Lightfoot, Vanity, Coquette, Reality, Fair Rosamund, Beggar Girl, Farity, Betsey Richards, Duchess of Marlborough, Creeping Cate, Flirtilla, Janet, Isabella, Phillis, Janette, Sally Hope, Kate Kearney, Charlotte Temple, Gabriella, and Virginia Taylor.

Sir Archy died in 1833 at the age of 28.

Biography

Purchased for $1,350 as a yearling by Phil and Mike Dwyer, Hanover won the first 17 races of his career and retired after the 1889 season as America’s greatest money earner.

A chestnut son of Hindoo out of the Bonnie Scotland mare Bourbon Belle, Hanover won all three of his starts as a 2-year-old in 1886 — the Hopeful, July, and Sapling stakes — all in a period of 17 days.

Trained by Hall of Famer Frank McCabe, Hanover became dominant as a 3-year-old. He won both the Belmont Stakes and Brooklyn Derby by 15 lengths, the Coney Island Derby and Swift Stakes by 10 lengths each (defeating Firenze in the latter), and the Tidal Stakes by six lengths (defeating Kingston). He continued to add wins in races such as the Spindrift, Lorillard, Stockton, Barnegat, and Stevens stakes before finally suffering a defeat July 30, 1887, in the Raritan Stakes at Monmouth. It was the sixth start of the month for Hanover and his 15th of the year.

Hanover was given an 11-day break before winning the 1½-mile United States Hotel Stakes at Saratoga. He then returned to Monmouth and defeated Firenze and Volante in the 1½-mile Champion Stakes. The Dwyers continued to race Hanover through a grueling schedule and the colt began to wear down. Following the Champion Stakes, Hanover lost twice in a week, prompting Turf, Field and Farm to write: “Hanover’s third defeat on Thursday of last week will probably at last open the eyes of his owners to the fact, which has been apparent to everyone else for a month, that their colt is not only out of condition, but that something is radically wrong. Hanover has this year been set a task never before asked of a 3-year-old either in this country or in England. How well he has responded, the records show.”

Hanover was granted a month’s rest before returning to the races. He added wins in the Second Special, Breckinridge Stakes, and Dixie Stakes to finish the year with 20 wins from 27 starts and earnings of $87,632.

Foot problems slowed Hanover as a 4-year-old, as he finished second in all three of his starts before sitting out the majority of the year. He returned in 1889 as a 5-year-old and compiled a record of 9-6-1 from 17 starts and earnings of $15,470. His wins included the Coney Island Cup, Coney Island Stakes (defeating Kingston), California Stakes, Merchants’ Stakes, and Express Stakes.

Hanover was retired after the 1889 season with a lifetime mark from 32-14-2 from 50 starts and record earnings of $118,887. He was later purchased by Col. Milton Young’s McGrathiana Stud and became America’s top sire in 1895, 1896, 1897, and 1898. Among the top horses sired by Hanover included Hall of Famer Hamburg, Kentucky Derby winner Halma, and Preakness winner Half Time. Hanover died March 23, 1899, at the age of 15. 

Achievements

Horse of the Year — 1887
Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1887

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Belmont Stakes — 1887

Biography

Any conversation about the greatest racehorses of the 19th century has to include the mighty Hindoo. A bay colt by Virgil out of the Lexington mare Florence, Hindoo was bred by Daniel Swigert at Stockwell Farm in Kentucky. By the time he concluded his career in 1882, Hindoo had won 30 of 35 starts — including 18 consecutive victories during his 3-year-old season — and established a new record for career earnings at $71,875. Twenty-six of his wins were in stakes races.

Hindoo made his career debut for trainer Lee Paul at the old Kentucky Association track in Lexington in May of 1880. By late June of that year, Hindoo had won his first seven starts and was so highly regarded regionally that bookmakers no longer took money on him. He had won at four different tracks in the Midwest and local competition became scarce.

In each of his first six starts, Hindoo was even money or odds-on. By his seventh start, the Tremont Hotel Stakes, Hindoo was considered such a lock he was barred from the betting. With no logical foes in the Midwest, Swigert gave Hindoo a seven-week break before sending him to Saratoga Race Course for the five-furlong Windsor Hotel Stakes.

Now in the care of Hall of Fame trainer Ed Brown, Hindoo was sent off at 1-2 in his Saratoga debut on Aug. 14, 1880. Like so many great ones before and since, Hindoo was upset at the Spa, finishing third to Crickmore. Five days later, Hindoo was once again odds-on when he finished second to the talented filly Thora in the Day Boat Line Stakes.

Hindoo did not race again that year. Although he had a record of 7-1-1 from nine starts, Hindoo’s reputation was somewhat tarnished by his Saratoga setbacks. Swigert decided to sell the colt for $15,000 to Mike and Phil Dwyer. The Dwyer brothers had the champion 3-year-old of 1880 in Luke Blackburn and were looking for another standout to go after the top sophomore prizes of the 1881 racing season.

Hindoo proved to be exactly what they were looking for.

The Dwyers turned Hindoo over to Hall of Fame trainer James Rowe, who sent him out for his 3-year-old debut on May 12, 1881, in the 1½-mile Blue Ribbon Stakes. Hindoo won easily, setting in motion one of the greatest stretches in American racing history. A week later, Hindoo won the Kentucky Derby, contested at 1½ miles, and followed with a win in the Clark Stakes. He was then shipped to Jerome Park in New York for two more wins before meeting old nemesis Crickmore in the Tidal Stakes at Sheepshead Bay.

Crickmore had won five of his six career starts at that point and was joined in the field by Belmont Stakes winner Saunterer, but Hindoo had his way, winning in a canter. The victories began to add up for Hindoo, including a 10-length romp in the Coney Island Derby and impressive scores in the Ocean Stakes and Lorillard Stakes.

Hindoo returned to Saratoga that summer and quickly made amends for his defeats at the Spa the previous year with four scintillating victories, including the 1¾-mile Travers, a race in which he was excluded from the auction pools. He added a win in the Sequel Stakes and victories over Crickmore in the United States Hotel Stakes and Kenner Stakes.

After his Saratoga dominance, Hindoo was sent to Monmouth Park in New Jersey and won the 1½-mile Champion Stakes, defeating Hall of Famer Parole and George Lorillard’s top handicapper, Monitor. At the time, Parole had recently surpassed Hall of Famer Planet’s 21-year-old record for career earnings of $69,700. Three days after the Champion, Hindoo won the Jersey St. Leger by four lengths. By Sept. 1, 1881, Hindoo had won 18 consecutive races and was the undisputed best horse in the land.

Hindoo, however, began to show wear and tear from the grueling campaign. The Dwyer brothers were known to be demanding of their horses — and Hindoo was no exception. The heavy workload caught up to Hindoo when Crickmore trounced him by 10 lengths on Sept. 7, 1881, at Sheepshead Bay in the 1¾-mile September Handicap.

Ten days later, Crickmore handed Hindoo another defeat in the Brighton Beach Purse. Hindoo conceded weight both times, but it was clear the weight of the campaign was more of a factor than the weight on Hindoo’s back. The Dwyers finally gave their great champion a break and put him away for the year.

Hindoo returned to the races as a 4-year-old on May 17, 1882, in the Dixiana Stakes at Churchill Downs. Perhaps a bit rusty, Hindoo lost his third consecutive race, as Capt. Jim Williams’ Checkmate won by a length. Hindoo returned two days later in the Louisville Cup at 2½ miles and defeated Checkmate by 1½ lengths. He met Checkmate twice more in the next two weeks, defeating him in both the Merchants’ Stakes and Turf Stakes.

The Dwyers then shipped Hindoo to New York. He won the Coney Island Stakes by six lengths on June 14 before defeating Parole and Eole in the 2¼-mile Coney Island Cup three days later. The victory in the Coney Island Cup boosted Hindoo’s career earnings to $71,875, a new American record.

Hindoo injured a tendon sheath in the Coney Island Cup and was retired with a record of 30-3-2 from 35 starts. The Dwyers had no interest in the breeding aspect of racing and sold Hindoo to Col. E. F. Clay and Col. Catesby Woodford. The Dwyers received $7,000 and a 2-year-old filly named Miss Woodford, who became America’s first $100,000 earner and eventually a member of the Hall of Fame.

Sent to Clay and Woodford’s Runnymeade Stud near Paris, Kentucky, Hindoo enjoyed a successful stallion career. From his first crop came future Hall of Fame member Hanover and stakes winners Hindoo Rose and Jim Gore. He later sired Preakness winner Buddhist, Latonia Derby winner Hindoocraft, Alabama winner Sallie McClelland, Hopeful winner Merry Monarch, and Dungarvan, winner of 51 races, among others.  

Hindoo lived at Runnymeade until his death in 1901 at the age of 23.

Achievements

Champion 2-Year-Old Male — 1880
Horse of the Year — 1881
Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1881
Horse of the Year — 1882
Champion Handicap Male — 1882            

Triple Crown Highlights 

Won the Kentucky Derby — 1881

Biography

Purchased for $1,200 as a yearling by Ed Brown and Eugene Leigh, Ben Brush won the Kentucky Derby in 1896 and was the top handicapper in America the following year.

A bay son of Bramble out of the Reform mare Roseville, Ben Brush was bred by Catesby Woodford and Ezekial F. Clay at Runnymede Farm near Paris, Kentucky. Brown named the horse after Ben Brush, a track superintendent at Gravesend. When track superintendent Brush was later asked by several trainers why Leigh’s dogs were allowed to run all over the track and even on the lawn at Gravesend, Brush replied: “Not a damn one of you ever named a horse Ben Brush.”

The equine Ben Brush won his first five races in the Midwest as a 2-year-old in 1895, prompting Brown and Leigh to take the colt to New York. After losing three of his next four races, Ben Brush was labeled an “overrated little goat from the West” in one contempoary account. 

Ben Brush, however, bounced back and won the Holly Handicap, drawing the attention of prominent owner Mike Dwyer, who bought the horse from Brown and Leigh for a reported price of between $12,000 and $18,000.

Now running in Dwyer’s colors, Ben Brush added victories in the Prospect Handicap, Nursery Stakes, Albany Stakes, and Champagne Stakes to cap his juvenile campaign with seven consecutive wins and a record of 13-1-1 from 16 starts and earnings of $21,398.

Ben Brush, now trained by Hardy Campbell, Jr., began his sophomore season by winning the 1896 Kentucky Derby with Hall of Famer Willie Simms aboard by a nose over Ben Eder. The Spirit of the Times said: “Simms made one last and desperate rally with Ben Brush, displaying as vigorous a piece of riding as was ever seen, and gradually but surely gaining on the other Ben, he finally beat him out by a nose in a terrific and hair-raising finish, which elicited a wild and spontaneous shout from the grandstand.”

Ben Brush added victories in the Buckeye Stakes and Latonia Derby in 1896, finishing the year with a record of 4-1-1 from eight starts and earnings of $26,755.

As a 4-year-old in 1897, Ben Brush won the Suburban Handicap, Brighton Handicap, Citizens’ Handicap, Omnium Handicap, First Special, and Second Special. He defeated standouts such as Clifford, Hastings, and Ornament that season.

Ben Brush was sold to James R. Keene at the conclusion of his 1897 campaign and sent to Keene’s Castleton Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, for stud duty. Ben Brush was America’s leading sire in 1909. He sired 20 stakes winners overall, including Delhi, Sweep, and Pebbles, and founded a significant American sire line that represented stallions such as Broomstick, Whisk Broom II, and Rosemont.

Keene died in 1913 and Ben Brush was sold to Sen. Johnson N. Camden’s Hartland Stud near Versailles, Kentucky. Ben Brush died at Hartland in 1918 at the age of 25.

Achievements

Champion 2-Year-Old Male — 1895
Champion Older Male — 1897

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Kentucky Derby — 1896

Biography

Kingston won an all-time record 89 races during his nine years of competition and retired in 1894 with career earnings of $140,195, which was the highest total in racing history at the time.

Bred by James R. Keene at his Castleton Stud near Lexington, Kentucky, Kingston was a son of Spendthrift out of the Victorious mare Kapanga. Keene, who was experiencing financial difficulties at the time, sold Kingston to trainer Evert Snedeker and partner J. F. Cushman.

At age 2 in 1886, Kingston showed some promise with two wins and four placings in six starts, which prompted Mike and Phil Dwyer to purchase the colt for $12,500. The Dwyer brothers turned Kingston over to Hall of Fame trainer Frank McCabe.

Kingston flourished for McCabe and the Dwyer brothers. He compiled a record of 13-2-2 from 18 starts as a 3-year-old, lost only once in 15 starts at age 4, and suffered only one loss at age 5 in 10 starts. During one stretch — from August of 1888 through May of 1891 — Kingston won 33 of 35 races. His only losses during that time were to Hall of Famer Hanover and top handicapper Los Angeles. Kingston’s most successful season in terms of earnings was in 1891, when he collected $26,815 in purses and owned a record of 15-5-1 from 21 starts.

Kingston set an American record of 1:27¼ for seven furlongs as a 3-year-old and another American mark at age 5, covering 1¼ miles in 2:06½. In the latter, with Hall of Famer Isaac Murphy up, Kingston defeated Tenny in the 1889 First Special at Gravesend in one of his finest efforts.

In an era during which horses commonly ran 1½ miles three times a week, Kingston was regarded primarily as a sprinter. Of his 138 races, only 18 were at 1¼ miles or longer (of which he won 11). Although not known as a distance horse, Kingston was both durable and consistent. He finished outside the top three only four times in his career. 

In 1891, the Dwyer brothers split up and Mike Dwyer bought out his brother’s interest in Kingston for $30,000. He turned the horse over to Hardy Campbell, Jr. to train. By the end of 1892, Kingston had won 76 times in 104 career starts. He won his 30th and final stakes race, the Flight Stakes, in September 1892.

At ages 9 and 10, Mike Dwyer sent Kingston out 34 more times, but never in a stakes race and never at more than a mile. Kingston won 13 of those races and finished in the top three 31 times. At 10, in 1894, he closed out his career by winning three of his final four races in an 11-day span.

Kingston went on to have a solid career as a stallion, topping the American sire standings in 1900 and 1910. He sired the champion Novelty, Belmont Stakes winner Ildrim, and Futurity winner Ballyhoo Bey. Kingston died on Dec. 6, 1912, at Castleton Stud at the age of 28.

Achievements

Co-Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1887
Co-Champion Handicap Male — 1889
Co-Champion Handicap Male — 1890