Elwood (horse)
Encyclopedia
Elwood was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse that is best remembered for winning the 1904 Kentucky Derby
and for being the first horse both bred and owned by a woman to win the Derby.
Elwood was bred by Mrs. J.B. Prather at Faustiana Stud in Maryville, Missouri
and was bought in 1902 by Charles Durnell while on a horse buying trip to San Francisco
, where the yearling was being trained. Durnell named the horse Elwood after his mother's maiden name.
in California
. He was second in the Competition Stakes and Youngster Stakes as a two-year old and placed a commendable second in the 1904 California Ascot Derby, which was run on a very muddy track that year.[2]
Elwood was raced in Charles Durnell's wife's name. Laska Durnell entered the colt in the Kentucky Derby without her husband's knowledge. http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/history/women-derby For the Derby, the Durnell's had traveled with Elwood by railroad car from California to Kentucky, but Derby spectators did not think the "Missouri mule" would win.[2] The thirtieth Kentucky Derby was run on a fast track with a field of five contenders.[1] Elwood won the Kentucky Derby at 15-1 odds over the favored colt, Proceeds, to win $4,850 in one of the greatest upsets recorded at the Derby to that date.[1]
Elwood went on to win the 1904 Latonia Derby
but was last (sixteenth) in the more prestigious 1904 American Derby
.
Elwood was gelded at some point during his four-year old season but did race, with marginal success, until he was six years old in California.[2] By 1910, he was being used as a saddle horse in California.
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...
racehorse that is best remembered for winning the 1904 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...
and for being the first horse both bred and owned by a woman to win the Derby.
Pedigree
Elwood was a bay colt sired by Free Knight out of the mare Petticoat (by Alarm). Free Knight finished third in the 1886 Kentucky Derby. By the time Elwood won the Derby in 1904, Free Knight had been sold for $45 and was used as a farm horse in southern Kentucky.Elwood was bred by Mrs. J.B. Prather at Faustiana Stud in Maryville, Missouri
Maryville, Missouri
Maryville is a city in Nodaway County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,581 at the 2000 census. The town, organized on February 14, 1845, was named for Mrs. Mary Graham, wife of Amos Graham, then the county clerk. Mary was the first Caucasian woman to have lived within the boundaries...
and was bought in 1902 by Charles Durnell while on a horse buying trip to San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, where the yearling was being trained. Durnell named the horse Elwood after his mother's maiden name.
Racing career
Elwood was a mediocre racehorse during his two-year old and early three-year old season, racing mostly in small stakes and a few $300 claiming racesClaiming race
A claiming race in thoroughbred horse racing is one in which the horses are all for sale for more or less the same price up until shortly before the race. Race types form a hierarchy in terms of the quality of horse they attract, with handicap races and graded stakes races attracting the "best"...
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...
. He was second in the Competition Stakes and Youngster Stakes as a two-year old and placed a commendable second in the 1904 California Ascot Derby, which was run on a very muddy track that year.[2]
Elwood was raced in Charles Durnell's wife's name. Laska Durnell entered the colt in the Kentucky Derby without her husband's knowledge. http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/history/women-derby For the Derby, the Durnell's had traveled with Elwood by railroad car from California to Kentucky, but Derby spectators did not think the "Missouri mule" would win.[2] The thirtieth Kentucky Derby was run on a fast track with a field of five contenders.[1] Elwood won the Kentucky Derby at 15-1 odds over the favored colt, Proceeds, to win $4,850 in one of the greatest upsets recorded at the Derby to that date.[1]
Elwood went on to win the 1904 Latonia Derby
Latonia Derby
The Latonia Derby was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1883 through 1937 at Latonia Race Track in Latonia, Kentucky. Open to three-year-old horses, for its first 52 years the Latonia Derby was contested at a mile and a half; in 1935, the race was shortened to a mile and a...
but was last (sixteenth) in the more prestigious 1904 American Derby
American Derby
The American Derby is a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States run annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The inaugural American Derby was held at the city's old Washington Park race track and raced there until 1905 when the facility was closed and the track demolished....
.
Elwood was gelded at some point during his four-year old season but did race, with marginal success, until he was six years old in California.[2] By 1910, he was being used as a saddle horse in California.