Cicada (horse)
Encyclopedia
Cicada was an American Thoroughbred
champion racehorse
bred by Christopher Chenery's
Meadow Stud. A bay filly by Bryan G, she was out of Satsuma; Satsuma's dam was Hildene, a "blue hen" mare (a prolific producer of quality offspring) and the first horse owned by Chenery (who later bred and owned Secretariat
). Sired by the 1926 Kentucky Derby
winner Bubbling Over
, Hildene cost $600.
Cicada was trained by Casey Hayes, who also trained Hill Prince
, First Landing
, and Sir Gaylord
. Hayes believed in starting his horses young, so Cicada first raced in February 1961 at Hialeah Park Race Track
and won easily by 4½ lengths. She won one allowance race and lost one before being entered in her first stakes
race. She lost the Fashion Stakes, but then won her third allowance easily. She won the Blue Hen Stakes
wire-to-wire, winning by 5½ lengths. Cicada was never out of the money in her sixteen starts as a two-year-old. She won eleven of those races (six in a row) and set a new record for earnings by a filly.
In her first race as a three-year-old, she raced older males and won. Racing officials began to require her to carry more weight, but she continued to win or place. After she easily won the Oaks Prep she was considered for the Kentucky Derby
; ironically, her stablemate Sir Gaylord
(who had been entered instead) went lame and was unable to race. Cicada entered the Kentucky Oaks
instead, and won by three lengths. By now she had replaced Bewitch
as the world’s leading money-winning filly or mare, and set new records every time she raced.
During a workout, Cicada suffered a minor injury and it was decided to retire her rather than risk serious hurt. As a broodmare, Cicada was not a great success. In her first season, she proved barren and was returned to the races. Retired a second time, she produced Cicada's Pride (by Sir Gaylord) who won the 1968 Juvenile Stakes at Belmont Park
.
Cicada lived until the age of 22, dying in 1981.
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...
champion 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...
bred by Christopher Chenery's
Christopher Chenery
Christopher Tompkins Chenery was an American engineer, businessman, and owner/breeder of Thoroughbred horse racing's U.S. Triple Crown champion Secretariat....
Meadow Stud. A bay filly by Bryan G, she was out of Satsuma; Satsuma's dam was Hildene, a "blue hen" mare (a prolific producer of quality offspring) and the first horse owned by Chenery (who later bred and owned Secretariat
Secretariat (horse)
Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby , and the Belmont Stakes —records that still stand today.Secretariat was sired by Bold...
). Sired by the 1926 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...
winner Bubbling Over
Bubbling Over (horse)
Bubbling Over was an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse. Bred in Kentucky, he was sired by English stakes winner North Star out of the mare, Beaming Beauty, who in turn was sired by the great Belmont Stakes champion, Sweep....
, Hildene cost $600.
Cicada was trained by Casey Hayes, who also trained Hill Prince
Hill Prince
Hill Prince was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who earned Champion honors in his first three years of racing. Trained by Casey Hayes for owner Christopher Chenery, at age two Hill Prince won six of the first seven races he entered and was the American Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, sharing the...
, First Landing
First Landing (horse)
First Landing was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Turn-To, a grandson of the great Nearco, he was out of the mare Hildene, whose sire was the 1926 Kentucky Derby winner, Bubbling Over...
, and Sir Gaylord
Sir Gaylord
Sir Gaylord was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who later became a successful sire.-Background:He was bred and raced by Christopher Chenery...
. Hayes believed in starting his horses young, so Cicada first raced in February 1961 at Hialeah Park Race Track
Hialeah Park Race Track
The Hialeah Park Race Track is a historic site in Hialeah, Florida. Its site covers 40 square blocks of central-east side Hialeah from Palm Avenue east to East 4th Avenue, and from East 22nd Street on the south to East 32nd Street on the north. On March 5, 1979, it was added to the U.S...
and won easily by 4½ lengths. She won one allowance race and lost one before being entered in her first stakes
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
race. She lost the Fashion Stakes, but then won her third allowance easily. She won the Blue Hen Stakes
Blue Hen Stakes
The Blue Hen Stakes at Delaware Park Racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old fillies held annually in early October at Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton, Delaware...
wire-to-wire, winning by 5½ lengths. Cicada was never out of the money in her sixteen starts as a two-year-old. She won eleven of those races (six in a row) and set a new record for earnings by a filly.
In her first race as a three-year-old, she raced older males and won. Racing officials began to require her to carry more weight, but she continued to win or place. After she easily won the Oaks Prep she was considered for 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...
; ironically, her stablemate Sir Gaylord
Sir Gaylord
Sir Gaylord was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who later became a successful sire.-Background:He was bred and raced by Christopher Chenery...
(who had been entered instead) went lame and was unable to race. Cicada entered the Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Oaks
The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
instead, and won by three lengths. By now she had replaced Bewitch
Bewitch (horse)
Bewitch was a Thoroughbred race horse born in 1945 at Calumet Farm, Kentucky, United States in the same crop in which the stallion Bull Lea produced Citation and Coaltown. Each of these exceptional Bull Lea foals were, in time, inaugurated into the Thoroughbred Hall of Fame...
as the world’s leading money-winning filly or mare, and set new records every time she raced.
During a workout, Cicada suffered a minor injury and it was decided to retire her rather than risk serious hurt. As a broodmare, Cicada was not a great success. In her first season, she proved barren and was returned to the races. Retired a second time, she produced Cicada's Pride (by Sir Gaylord) who won the 1968 Juvenile Stakes at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
.
Cicada lived until the age of 22, dying in 1981.
Further reading
- Robertson, William H. P., The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America