Creme Fraiche (horse)
Encyclopedia
Creme Fraiche was an American
thoroughbred
gelding
racehorse
. He was sired by Rich Cream, co-holder of the world record of 1:19.40 for 7 furlongs on dirt in the 1980 Triple Bend Handicap, out of the Terrible Tiger mare, Likely Exchange.
Bred by Pamela Firman and her nephew, G. Watts Humphrey, Jr., Creme Fraiche was originally sent as a yearling colt to the 1983 Fasig-Tipton
Kentucky July sale where he was sold to Brushwood Stable for $160,000. He was sent from there to Virginia's Hickory Tree Stable
for breaking where he proved too unruly and was gelded
.
Although thought to be a "late bloomer", Creme Fraiche was a hardy three year old, winning not only the Derby Trial
but taking the Belmont Stakes
, with Eddie Maple
astride, as only the first gelding
to win the classic race and the fourth winner for his trainer, Woody Stephens
. By the end of his three year old season, he had five graded stakes
wins.
As a four year old, he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup
, defeating Turkoman
, and ended the year with almost $1 million in additional earnings.
At five, he again won the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Meadowlands Handicap and finished that year with a career high of $1,323,666 in earnings.
At six, he won both the January and December Tropical Park Handicap but then seemed to lose some of his old speed, and never won another graded race again, with only a third at age six in the W. L. McKnight Handicap
as his best effort.
due to a severe case of laminitis
on October 9, 2003 at the age of 21. He was buried at the farm in the memorial garden at Bryn Clovis.
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...
gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
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 sired by Rich Cream, co-holder of the world record of 1:19.40 for 7 furlongs on dirt in the 1980 Triple Bend Handicap, out of the Terrible Tiger mare, Likely Exchange.
Bred by Pamela Firman and her nephew, G. Watts Humphrey, Jr., Creme Fraiche was originally sent as a yearling colt to the 1983 Fasig-Tipton
Fasig-Tipton
The Fasig-Tipton Company, Inc. is an auction house for Thoroughbred horses founded in 1898 by William B. Fasig and Edward A. Tipton. It is the oldest auction company of its kind in North America....
Kentucky July sale where he was sold to Brushwood Stable for $160,000. He was sent from there to Virginia's Hickory Tree Stable
Alice du Pont Mills
Alice Francis du Pont Mills was an American aviatrix, thoroughbred race horse breeder and owner, environmentalist, philanthropist and a member of the prominent du Pont family....
for breaking where he proved too unruly and was gelded
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
.
Although thought to be a "late bloomer", Creme Fraiche was a hardy three year old, winning not only the Derby Trial
Derby Trial
The Derby Trial Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of April at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Held one week before the Kentucky Derby, it was first run in 1924 and every year since, with the exception of 1928...
but taking the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
, with Eddie Maple
Eddie Maple
Edward Retz "Eddie" Maple is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. One of eight brothers and sisters, he was an older brother to jockey Sam Maple who won more than 2,500 races. He began riding horses at age 12 and won his first race as a professional at 17...
astride, as only the first gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
to win the classic race and the fourth winner for his trainer, Woody Stephens
Woody Stephens
Woody Stephens was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame trainer.Born Woodford Cefis Stephens in Stanton, Kentucky, his younger brother William Ward Stephens also became a successful trainer. Woody Stephens first started in racing as a jockey at age 16 but within a few years switched...
. By the end of his three year old season, he had five graded 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...
wins.
As a four year old, he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup
Jockey Club Gold Cup
The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a prestigious thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It is typically the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the spring meeting and the Travers Stakes is of the...
, defeating Turkoman
Turkoman (horse)
Turkoman is an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse. Owned and bred by Corbin J. Robertson, he was sired by 1989 United States Racing Hall of Fame inductee Alydar out of the Table Play mare, Taba, who was the Champion 2 year old Filly in Argentina.Raced under Corbin J. Robertson's Saron Stable...
, and ended the year with almost $1 million in additional earnings.
At five, he again won the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Meadowlands Handicap and finished that year with a career high of $1,323,666 in earnings.
At six, he won both the January and December Tropical Park Handicap but then seemed to lose some of his old speed, and never won another graded race again, with only a third at age six in the W. L. McKnight Handicap
W. L. McKnight Handicap
The W.L. McKnight Handicap is a race for Thoroughbred horses run at Calder Race Course, Florida, in the late fall of each year. The race is open to horses, age three and up. From 1973 to 1980, the distance was one and one-eighth miles on the turf...
as his best effort.
Retirement
Retired at age seven, Creme Fraiche was sent to Brushwood Stable near Malvern, PA. for pensioning. He stayed there being visited by fans bringing his favorite treat of mints until he had to be put downAnimal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
due to a severe case of laminitis
Laminitis
Laminitis is a disease that affects the feet of ungulates. It is best known in horses and cattle. Symptoms include lameness, and increased temperature in the hooves...
on October 9, 2003 at the age of 21. He was buried at the farm in the memorial garden at Bryn Clovis.