Equipoise (horse)
Encyclopedia
Equipoise was a champion Thoroughbred
racehorse, a chestnut
bred in the United States
by Harry Payne Whitney
and owned by his son, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
. He was called the Chocolate Soldier by his fans, due to his elegance and symmetry—living up to his name.
Equipoise raced against very strong opponents in 1930 and 1931 when he was part of what the Chicago Tribune
newspaper called the "big four" in racing which included Jamestown
, Mate
, and Twenty Grand
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As a two-year-old, Equipoise got his first stakes victory when he won the Keene Memorial Stakes at Belmont Park
. He then beat Twenty Grand
and Mate
to win the Pimlico Futurity, despite being left in the gate and racing right out of two of his shoes. When his jockey Sonny Workman
was asked if this was his greatest race, Workman replied: "My greatest race? Hell, it may have been the greatest race anybody ever saw."
A hoof crack cut his two-year-old season short, and as a three-year-old he raced only three times.
At 4, however, he won the Metropolitan Handicap
, the Stars and Stripes Handicap, and Whitney Stakes...and set a world record of 1:34⅖ for the mile at Arlington Park
. At 5, Equipoise gave 26 pounds to the runner-up in again winning the Metropolitan. He also won the Suburban Handicap
carrying 132 pounds. At 6 he won the Philadelphia and Dixie Handicaps, and the Whitney Gold Trophy.
Of his 51 Starts, he won 29, placed ten times, and had 4 shows. His career earnings were $338,610.
His career was greatly restricted by hoof problems, but he was still named unofficial United States Horse of the Year
in both 1932 and 1933 and unofficial U.S. Champion Older Male Horse
in 1932, 1933, and 1934.
Though he died young in 1938, he was Leading Sire in 1942. In that year, his son Shut Out
won the 1942 Kentucky Derby
and Belmont Stakes
.
In the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century, Equipoise was ranked #21. Equipoise was also inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in Saratoga Springs, New York
in 1957.
Equipoise is also one of the racing rats in the movie Stalag 17
.
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, a chestnut
Chestnut (coat)
Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
bred in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney was an American businessman, thoroughbred horsebreeder, and member of the prominent Whitney family.- Early years :...
and owned by his son, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney was an American businessman, film producer, writer, and government official, as well as the owner of a leading stable of thoroughbred racehorses....
. He was called the Chocolate Soldier by his fans, due to his elegance and symmetry—living up to his name.
Equipoise raced against very strong opponents in 1930 and 1931 when he was part of what the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
newspaper called the "big four" in racing which included Jamestown
Jamestown (horse)
Jamestown was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred and raced by George D. Widener, Jr., an Exemplar of Racing and someone described by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune newspaper as "one of thoroughbred racing's most respected horsemen." Bred in Kentucky, Jamestown's racing success...
, Mate
Mate (horse)
Mate was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1931 Preakness Stakes. From modest parentage, he was bred and raced by Albert C...
, and Twenty Grand
Twenty Grand
Twenty Grand was an American thoroughbred race horse. Owned and bred by Helen Hay Whitney's Greentree Stable, Twenty Grand was a bay colt by St. Germans out of Bonus.- Racing career :Trained at age three by James G. Rowe, Jr...
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As a two-year-old, Equipoise got his first stakes victory when he won the Keene Memorial 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...
. He then beat Twenty Grand
Twenty Grand
Twenty Grand was an American thoroughbred race horse. Owned and bred by Helen Hay Whitney's Greentree Stable, Twenty Grand was a bay colt by St. Germans out of Bonus.- Racing career :Trained at age three by James G. Rowe, Jr...
and Mate
Mate (horse)
Mate was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1931 Preakness Stakes. From modest parentage, he was bred and raced by Albert C...
to win the Pimlico Futurity, despite being left in the gate and racing right out of two of his shoes. When his jockey Sonny Workman
Raymond Workman
Raymond "Sonny" Workman was an American Champion and Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. During his fifteen years as a professional rider from 1926 through 1940, he won an exceptional twenty percent of his starts....
was asked if this was his greatest race, Workman replied: "My greatest race? Hell, it may have been the greatest race anybody ever saw."
A hoof crack cut his two-year-old season short, and as a three-year-old he raced only three times.
At 4, however, he won the Metropolitan Handicap
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
, the Stars and Stripes Handicap, and Whitney Stakes...and set a world record of 1:34⅖ for the mile at Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
. At 5, Equipoise gave 26 pounds to the runner-up in again winning the Metropolitan. He also won the Suburban Handicap
Suburban Handicap
The Suburban Handicap is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is run at the classic one-and-one-quarter mile distance on dirt for a $400,000 purse....
carrying 132 pounds. At 6 he won the Philadelphia and Dixie Handicaps, and the Whitney Gold Trophy.
Of his 51 Starts, he won 29, placed ten times, and had 4 shows. His career earnings were $338,610.
His career was greatly restricted by hoof problems, but he was still named unofficial United States Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding....
in both 1932 and 1933 and unofficial U.S. Champion Older Male Horse
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
The title of American Champion Older Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a stallion or gelding, four years old and up. Prior to 1971, this award was referred to as "Champion Handicap Male Horse", and was open to any horse, three years old and up...
in 1932, 1933, and 1934.
Though he died young in 1938, he was Leading Sire in 1942. In that year, his son Shut Out
Shut Out (horse)
Shut Out , was an American Thoroughbred racehorse sired by Hall of Famer Equipoise, the multiple stakes winning champion his fans called "The Chocolate Soldier." Shut Out was bred by the Greentree Stable in Lexington, Kentucky owned by Mrs...
won the 1942 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 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...
.
In the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century, Equipoise was ranked #21. Equipoise was also inducted into the National Museum of Racing and 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...
in Saratoga Springs, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1957.
Pop-culture Reference
In "Fugue for Tinhorns," the opening number of the musical Guys and Dolls, Equipoise is referred to as the great-grandfather of one of the song's fictional racehorses.Equipoise is also one of the racing rats in the movie Stalag 17
Stalag 17
Stalag 17 is a 1953 war film which tells the story of a group of American airmen held in a German World War II prisoner of war camp, who come to suspect that one of their number is a traitor...
.