Colorado King
Encyclopedia
Colorado King was a South Africa
n Thoroughbred
racehorse
who also competed successfully in the United States
. Virtually all thoroughbred horses in the Southern Hemisphere
are born between July 1 and December 31, and the South African racing year begins on August 1 whereas in the United States they are usually born between January and March.
Conditioned by renowned trainer Sydney C. Laird, Colorado King won ten races in South Africa including the Cape Derby plus that country's premier event, the Durban July Handicap
. Sold to an American racing partnership led by William R. (Fritz) Hawn
, he raced under the Poltex Stable banner in California
. There, under trainer Wally Dunn
, Colorado King won six races in 1964 including the Hollywood Gold Cup
in which he defeated Native Diver
and the American Handicap where he equaled the world record for 9 furlong
s. In 1965 he won only once in nine starts before being retired to stud
where he met with limited success as a sire
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n 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...
who also competed successfully in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Virtually all thoroughbred horses in the Southern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
are born between July 1 and December 31, and the South African racing year begins on August 1 whereas in the United States they are usually born between January and March.
Conditioned by renowned trainer Sydney C. Laird, Colorado King won ten races in South Africa including the Cape Derby plus that country's premier event, the Durban July Handicap
Durban July Handicap
The Durban July Handicap is a South African Thoroughbred horse race held annually on the first Saturday of July since 1897 at Greyville Racecourse in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Raced on turf, the Durban July Handicap is open to horses of all ages. It is South Africa's premier horse racing event and...
. Sold to an American racing partnership led by William R. (Fritz) Hawn
William R. Hawn
William Russell "Fritz" Hawn was an American businessman and philanthropist who bred and raced Thoroughbred horses, served for twenty years as president of Del Mar Racetrack, owned by life-long friend Clint Murchinson with whom he became a founding partner in the Dallas Cowboys franchise of the...
, he raced under the Poltex Stable banner in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. There, under trainer Wally Dunn
Wally Dunn
Thomas Wallace "Wally" Dunn is an Canadian-born Thoroughbred horse trainer.Born in Minitonas, Manitoba, Wally Dunn went to Vancouver, British Columbia at age seventeen where he would find work in Thoroughbred horse racing...
, Colorado King won six races in 1964 including the Hollywood Gold Cup
Hollywood Gold Cup
The Hollywood Gold Cup is an American Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions...
in which he defeated Native Diver
Native Diver
Native Diver was an American Thoroughbred racehorse bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Louis K. Shapiro who had claimed his dam, Fleet Diver, the daughter of Devil Diver out of Our Fleet by Count Fleet. Despite the fact that her immediate lineage included members of Blood-Horse magazine List of the...
and the American Handicap where he equaled the world record for 9 furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s. In 1965 he won only once in nine starts before being retired to stud
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
where he met with limited success as a sire
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
.