Coventry (horse)
Encyclopedia
Coventry was an American Thoroughbred
racehorse
. He was bred by Edward Simms, the owner of Xalapa Farm
in Paris, Kentucky
who had purchased his sire Negofol from the Haras du Quesnay
in Normandy
, France
owned by the estate of the wealthy American, Willie K. Vanderbilt's
.
Consigned to the 1923 yearling auction, Coventry was sold for $25,000 to New York carpet
manufacturer, Gifford A. Cochran
. In 1925, Coventry's training was handled by future U.S. Hall of Fame
member Bill Duke who knew the colt's breeding having returned from France
that year where he had been training Thoroughbreds since 1888. Duke had trained Coventry's sire Negofol for Willie Vanderbilt's racing stable and had won important races with him including the French Derby
. Back home in the United States, in 1925 Duke also trained Coventry's stable mate, a colt owned by Gifford Cochran named Flying Ebony
whose ability to run extremely well on muddy racetracks resulted in his winning of the May 16 rain-soaked Kentucky Derby
.
Coventry made just five lifetime starts, winning once. But, the one win came in the Preakness Stakes
. Ridden by Clarence Kummer
, the colt went off at the longest odds of any Preakness winner in history, paying backers $45.60 for a $2 wager. That record stood for exactly fifty years until Master Derby
in 1975 paid $48.80. In his next race, the Withers Stakes
at New York's Aqueduct Racetrack
, Coventry broke down and was retired to stud. He had very limited success as a sire. Hand To Hand and Durango were his best runners, each winning a number of minor races.
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...
. He was bred by Edward Simms, the owner of Xalapa Farm
Xalapa Farm
Xalapa Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding farm founded in 1897 in Paris, Kentucky by Edward Francis Simms.Horses such as Prince Palatine have stood at stud at Xalapa Farm. They have bred notable Graded stakes race winners such as Suave Dancer who in 1991 won the Irish Champion Stakes...
in Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
who had purchased his sire Negofol from the Haras du Quesnay
Haras du Quesnay
Haras du Quesnay, known as "Le Quesnay", is a thoroughbred horse breeding farm in France about four miles outside the city of Deauville on 3 km², established in 1907 by wealthy American sportsman William Kissam Vanderbilt. He sold the property to another American horseman, A. Kingsley Macomber,...
in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
owned by the estate of the wealthy American, Willie K. Vanderbilt's
William Kissam Vanderbilt
William Kissam Vanderbilt was a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family. He managed railroads and was a horse breeder.-Biography:...
.
Consigned to the 1923 yearling auction, Coventry was sold for $25,000 to New York carpet
Carpet
A carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such as polypropylene,nylon or polyester and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their...
manufacturer, Gifford A. Cochran
Gifford A. Cochran
Gifford A. Cochran was an American entrepreneur and sportsman from New York City. During the latter part of the 19th Century and the first decades of the 20th Century, he made a fortune in the carpet making industry...
. In 1925, Coventry's training was handled by future U.S. Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
member Bill Duke who knew the colt's breeding having returned from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
that year where he had been training Thoroughbreds since 1888. Duke had trained Coventry's sire Negofol for Willie Vanderbilt's racing stable and had won important races with him including the French Derby
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
. Back home in the United States, in 1925 Duke also trained Coventry's stable mate, a colt owned by Gifford Cochran named Flying Ebony
Flying Ebony
Flying Ebony was an American thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by John E. Madden, who had already bred four Kentucky Derby winners, and was raced by New York carpet manufacturer, Gifford A. Cochran....
whose ability to run extremely well on muddy racetracks resulted in his winning of the May 16 rain-soaked 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...
.
Coventry made just five lifetime starts, winning once. But, the one win came in 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...
. Ridden by Clarence Kummer
Clarence Kummer
Clarence Kummer was a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey who won four American Classic Races.In early 1920, Kummer rode the 1919 Triple Crown Champion Sir Barton to a new Saratoga track record in winning the Saratoga Handicap. In May 1920 he was given the opportunity to ride Man o' War after Johnny...
, the colt went off at the longest odds of any Preakness winner in history, paying backers $45.60 for a $2 wager. That record stood for exactly fifty years until Master Derby
Master Derby
Master Derby was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1975 Preakness Stakes.-Background:He was bred by Robert E. Lehmann at his Golden Chance Farm in Paris, Kentucky...
in 1975 paid $48.80. In his next race, the Withers Stakes
Withers Stakes
The Withers Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds willing to compete one mile on the dirt. Held at Aqueduct Racetrack every year at the end of April , it is a Grade III event, and offers a purse of $150,000...
at New York's Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct 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:...
, Coventry broke down and was retired to stud. He had very limited success as a sire. Hand To Hand and Durango were his best runners, each winning a number of minor races.