Asteroid (horse)
Encyclopedia
Asteroid was one of the most successful Thoroughbred
racehorses in the United States
during the 19th century having retired to stud with an undefeated race record.
his dam Nebula was by the imported Glencoe. This Lexington Glencoe cross made him a three-quarters-brother-in-blood to the undefeated racehorse and good sire, Norfolk and the twice-defeated Kentucky
. All of these colts were foaled in 1861. Asteroid was from an early American family, A34, Norfolk was from another American family A2, while Kentucky was from an English family, 4-b. Asteroid was described as being a bay, standing 15.2 hands with a broad back, short coupling and well-developed hind quarters.
Asteroid was undefeated in his 12 starts on the racecourse, having won at distances ranging from one mile to four miles, including two walk-overs. Two $20,000 winner take-all match races were arranged between Asteroid and Kentucky with both horse owners being confident of a victory. The match races were to have taken place in New York and Louisville. Asteroid unfortunately bowed a tendon after working on the track and was retired before the match races were run.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorses in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the 19th century having retired to stud with an undefeated race record.
Pedigree
He was foaled in 1861 and was by the great racehorse and sire, LexingtonLexington (horse)
Lexington was a United States Thoroughbred race horse who won six of his seven race starts. Perhaps his greatest fame came however as the most successful sire of the second half of the nineteenth century; he was the Leading sire in North America 16 times, and of his many brood mare and racer...
his dam Nebula was by the imported Glencoe. This Lexington Glencoe cross made him a three-quarters-brother-in-blood to the undefeated racehorse and good sire, Norfolk and the twice-defeated Kentucky
Kentucky (horse)
Kentucky , was a successful American Thoroughbred racehorse who won 21 of his 23 starts, including 20 consecutive wins....
. All of these colts were foaled in 1861. Asteroid was from an early American family, A34, Norfolk was from another American family A2, while Kentucky was from an English family, 4-b. Asteroid was described as being a bay, standing 15.2 hands with a broad back, short coupling and well-developed hind quarters.
Racing record
In 1864 Confederate raiders stormed Woodburn Farm and Asteroid was stolen, but returned to his owner by a neighbour, after he saw the contingent pass and bargained for the horse’s release. The following February, 15 of Alexander’s horses were taken by soldiers, including two of Alexander's best trotting sires and a younger brother to Asteroid, Norwich. After this invasion, Alexander moved his horses, including the stallions Lexington and Australian, from Woodburn to Illinois, where they stayed until the end of the war, in April 1865.Asteroid was undefeated in his 12 starts on the racecourse, having won at distances ranging from one mile to four miles, including two walk-overs. Two $20,000 winner take-all match races were arranged between Asteroid and Kentucky with both horse owners being confident of a victory. The match races were to have taken place in New York and Louisville. Asteroid unfortunately bowed a tendon after working on the track and was retired before the match races were run.