Broomspun
Encyclopedia
Broomspun was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. The son of Broomstick out of a Rock Sand
mare Sun Glass
Broomspun will best be remembered for posting a three quarters of a length win over a capacity field of 14 including champion filly Polly Ann in America's richest race that year in the mile and eighth $43,000 Preakness Stakes
at Pimlico Race Course
on May 16, 1921 in front of a record breaking crowd.
in his second start in the summer of 1920 as a two year-old. Later that summer he posted an impressive performance at a mile and an eighth in an allowance race at Churchill Downs
in Louisville, Kentucky
in a very fast time. Broomspun did not win again over the next three months and was freshened for the winter.
. In that race he ran a game second. Later that year, after the Derby runner decided not to return two weeks later in Baltimore his trainer James Rowe had enough confidence in him to give him a shot in the second jewel of Triple Crown
, the Preakness Stakes
. In that race four multiple stakes winners were assigned the high weight of 126 pounds. Broomspun, because of his lack of success was given a weight allowance of 12 pounds and went to post carrying 114 pounds, including his jockey Frank Coltiletti
. In 1921 The Preakness was the richest race held in North America valued at some $5,000 more than the Kentucky Derby
, $43,000 was awarded to the winner compared to $38,450. A record 30,000 race fans, the most in the 48 year history of the race viewed the "Run for the Black-eyed Susans" breaking the previous record.
At the start of the race, several of the 14 starters were fractious or unruly as it took the starter eleven minutes to get the field settled and aligned for the start. In the race itself Broomspun broke from post position 7 in a forward position and stalked the leaders from the fourth place passing the stands for the first time at Pimlico Race Course
. He was content to sit just off the leader Leonard II's flank going down the back stretch in 47.4 for the first half mile. On the final turn Broomspun worked his way around on the outside and burst down the lane to take the lead by just over a length. In the final strides he had to be ridden out hard by his jockey Frank Coltiletti to hold for the win by three quarters of a length over a hard charging filly named Polly Ann.
The headline in the Baltimore Sun the next day read, "From obscurity to fame, Broomspun jumped in less than two minutes in The Preakness Stakes. The 3 year-old son of Broomstick and Spun Giass, who is the property of Harry Payne Whitney
, the New York
sportsman, won the Classic Preakness
from a field of 14 strong competitors, the best three year-olds in the country." In that race he not only beat America's sweetheart Polly Ann but he dusted off stakes winners; Jeg, who held on for third and Leonardo II and Tryster who dead-heated for fourth. That win turned out to be owner Harry Payne Whitney
's second win of four in his career in the Preakness Stakes.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
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...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. The son of Broomstick out of a Rock Sand
Rock Sand
Rock Sand was a brown Thoroughbred race horse who was a very good young galloper, winning six of his seven starts. Always showing great courage he won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, St. Leger Stakes and Epsom Derby which earned him the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.He was a beautifully conformed...
mare Sun Glass
Broomspun will best be remembered for posting a three quarters of a length win over a capacity field of 14 including champion filly Polly Ann in America's richest race that year in the mile and eighth $43,000 Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
on May 16, 1921 in front of a record breaking crowd.
Two year-old season
Broomspun broke his maiden at Aqueduct RacetrackAqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
in his second start in the summer of 1920 as a two year-old. Later that summer he posted an impressive performance at a mile and an eighth in an allowance race at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
in a very fast time. Broomspun did not win again over the next three months and was freshened for the winter.
Three year-old season
Broomspun got a late start to his three year-old season making his sophomore debut an allowance race in New York at a mile and one eighth at Aqueduct RacetrackAqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
. In that race he ran a game second. Later that year, after the Derby runner decided not to return two weeks later in Baltimore his trainer James Rowe had enough confidence in him to give him a shot in the second jewel of Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
, the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
. In that race four multiple stakes winners were assigned the high weight of 126 pounds. Broomspun, because of his lack of success was given a weight allowance of 12 pounds and went to post carrying 114 pounds, including his jockey Frank Coltiletti
Frank Coltiletti
Frank Coltiletti was an American Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing.Coltiletti began his professional riding career in 1919 when he was just fifteen years old. Almost immediately he became one of the top jockeys in the country, competing two years after he began racing in his first...
. In 1921 The Preakness was the richest race held in North America valued at some $5,000 more than the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
, $43,000 was awarded to the winner compared to $38,450. A record 30,000 race fans, the most in the 48 year history of the race viewed the "Run for the Black-eyed Susans" breaking the previous record.
At the start of the race, several of the 14 starters were fractious or unruly as it took the starter eleven minutes to get the field settled and aligned for the start. In the race itself Broomspun broke from post position 7 in a forward position and stalked the leaders from the fourth place passing the stands for the first time at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
. He was content to sit just off the leader Leonard II's flank going down the back stretch in 47.4 for the first half mile. On the final turn Broomspun worked his way around on the outside and burst down the lane to take the lead by just over a length. In the final strides he had to be ridden out hard by his jockey Frank Coltiletti to hold for the win by three quarters of a length over a hard charging filly named Polly Ann.
The headline in the Baltimore Sun the next day read, "From obscurity to fame, Broomspun jumped in less than two minutes in The Preakness Stakes. The 3 year-old son of Broomstick and Spun Giass, who is the property of Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney was an American businessman, thoroughbred horsebreeder, and member of the prominent Whitney family.- Early years :...
, the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
sportsman, won the Classic Preakness
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
from a field of 14 strong competitors, the best three year-olds in the country." In that race he not only beat America's sweetheart Polly Ann but he dusted off stakes winners; Jeg, who held on for third and Leonardo II and Tryster who dead-heated for fourth. That win turned out to be owner Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney was an American businessman, thoroughbred horsebreeder, and member of the prominent Whitney family.- Early years :...
's second win of four in his career in the Preakness Stakes.