Burnt Cork (horse)
Encyclopedia
Burnt Cork was a thoroughbred race horse, a son of Mr. Bones, who was owned by Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
. His career earnings totaled $21,130 in 38 starts. The horse had 9 wins, places, and shows.
Burnt Cork became the first horse entered at the Kentucky Derby
by an African American
owner
in May 1943.
As a dark horse
among thoroughbreds eligible for the event, he was timed at 0:36 for 3/8 of a mile on April 6, 1943. Fulfilling a pre-race prediction of a last place finish, Burnt Cork came in
10th in a ten horse field.
Because of his last-place finish, there was some controversy about whether Anderson had entered the horse into the Derby for publicity purposes. Those who claimed this believed that the great race was marred by it. Frank B. Ward of the Youngstown Vindicator
newspaper, devoted a considerable amount of space in his May 7, 1943 sports column to addressing this aspect. He pointed out that the horses of other prominent men had finished last in the past and there had been no outcry when that happened.
Ward went on to say that the money for Burnt Cork's Kentucky Derby entry was Anderson's to spend, that the dream of any thoroughbred horse owner was that his or her horse might be classed as good enough to qualify for the race, and one could certainly not blame Anderson for that. Ward continued, saying that Burnt Cork met all Kentucky Derby requirements for inclusion in 1943 and that there were no complaints at all from those who had also entered their horses in the race. He finished this segment by asking what all the shouting was about.
purchase at Saratoga
, Burnt Cork won the $5,000 Prairie State Stakes
at Washington Park Race Track
in Chicago, Illinois, on September 5, 1942. Before an audience of 25,000 people the thoroughbred bested "All Hoss" owned by H.P. Headley. He was defeated by a length
and a half by Woodford Lad, a 2-year-old chestnut colt
, in the
Hawthorne Stakes at Hawthorne Race Course
, on September 26, 1942.
Burnt Cork ranked behind Count Fleet
in Jack Campbell's Experimental Handicap list of top juvenile thoroughbred's of 1942. Scoring 114 there were 19 thoroughbreds which were rated higher when the list was released on January 15, 1943.
On June 5, 1943 Burnt Cork gained a show at the $5,000 added Steger Handicap at Hawthorne Race Course.
Burnt Cork died in Los Angeles of a fever he contracted while being shipped from Chicago in July 1944.
Eddie Anderson (comedian)
Edmund Lincoln Anderson , also known as Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, was an American comedian and actor. His most famous role was that of Rochester van Jones, valet of Jack Benny, on his radio and television shows.-Early life:Anderson was born in Oakland, California...
. His career earnings totaled $21,130 in 38 starts. The horse had 9 wins, places, and shows.
Burnt Cork became the first horse entered at 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...
by an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
owner
in May 1943.
As a dark horse
Dark horse
Dark horse is a term used to describe a little-known person or thing that emerges to prominence, especially in a competition of some sort.-Origin:The term began as horse racing parlance...
among thoroughbreds eligible for the event, he was timed at 0:36 for 3/8 of a mile on April 6, 1943. Fulfilling a pre-race prediction of a last place finish, Burnt Cork came in
10th in a ten horse field.
Because of his last-place finish, there was some controversy about whether Anderson had entered the horse into the Derby for publicity purposes. Those who claimed this believed that the great race was marred by it. Frank B. Ward of the Youngstown Vindicator
The Vindicator
The Vindicator, also known at times as The Youngstown Vindicator, is a daily newspaper serving Youngstown, Ohio and the Mahoning County Region as well as southern Trumbull County and northern Columbiana County. Founded in 1869, the newspaper currently has a circulation of 62,100 daily and 87,000...
newspaper, devoted a considerable amount of space in his May 7, 1943 sports column to addressing this aspect. He pointed out that the horses of other prominent men had finished last in the past and there had been no outcry when that happened.
Ward went on to say that the money for Burnt Cork's Kentucky Derby entry was Anderson's to spend, that the dream of any thoroughbred horse owner was that his or her horse might be classed as good enough to qualify for the race, and one could certainly not blame Anderson for that. Ward continued, saying that Burnt Cork met all Kentucky Derby requirements for inclusion in 1943 and that there were no complaints at all from those who had also entered their horses in the race. He finished this segment by asking what all the shouting was about.
Career highlights
As a 2-year-old, a $800 yearlingYearling (horse)
A yearling is a young horse of either sex that is between one and two years old. Yearlings are comparable in development to a very early adolescent, they are not fully mature physically, and while they may be in the earliest stages of sexual maturity, they are considered too young to be breeding...
purchase at Saratoga
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
, Burnt Cork won the $5,000 Prairie State Stakes
at Washington Park Race Track
Washington Park Race Track
Washington Park Race Track was a popular horse racing venue in the Chicago metropolitan area from 1884 until 1977. It had two locations during its existence. It was first situated in what is the current location of the Washington Park Subdivision of the Woodlawn community area of Chicago in Cook...
in Chicago, Illinois, on September 5, 1942. Before an audience of 25,000 people the thoroughbred bested "All Hoss" owned by H.P. Headley. He was defeated by a length
Length
In geometric measurements, length most commonly refers to the longest dimension of an object.In certain contexts, the term "length" is reserved for a certain dimension of an object along which the length is measured. For example it is possible to cut a length of a wire which is shorter than wire...
and a half by Woodford Lad, a 2-year-old chestnut colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
, in the
Hawthorne Stakes at Hawthorne Race Course
Hawthorne Race Course
Hawthorne Race Course is a race track for horse racing in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois, near Chicago.The oldest continually-run family-owned racetrack in North America, in 2009 the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America...
, on September 26, 1942.
Burnt Cork ranked behind Count Fleet
Count Fleet
Count Fleet was born and died at Stoner Creek Stud farm in Paris, Kentucky, United States. He was a Thoroughbred racehorse and Triple Crown champion in 1943....
in Jack Campbell's Experimental Handicap list of top juvenile thoroughbred's of 1942. Scoring 114 there were 19 thoroughbreds which were rated higher when the list was released on January 15, 1943.
On June 5, 1943 Burnt Cork gained a show at the $5,000 added Steger Handicap at Hawthorne Race Course.
Burnt Cork died in Los Angeles of a fever he contracted while being shipped from Chicago in July 1944.