Fair Stable
Encyclopedia
Fair Stable was an American
Thoroughbred
horse racing
stable
owned by heiress Virginia Graham Fair
that operated during the 1920s and the first half of the 1930s. Ms. Fair was the daughter of the wealthy mining magnate James Graham Fair
. In 1899, she married William Kissam Vanderbilt II
of the prominent Vanderbilt family
of New York
who in 1920 inherited the Haras du Quesnay
Thoroughbred breeding farm and racing stable near Deauville
in France's famous horse region of Lower Normandy
. Interested in horse racing, but separated from her husband, Virginia Graham Fair established her own racing stable.
Fair Stable employed future Hall of Fame trainer
Max Hirsch
until 1928 when Albert Gordon took over. They won a number of important Graded stakes race
s including the 1923, 1927, and 1931 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park
. The stable had only one horse run in the Kentucky Derby
with Chicatie finishing 14th in the 1929 edition.
By far the most famous horse owed by Fair Stable was Sarazen
, a gelding acquired in 1923 who would earn back-to-back U.S. Horse of the Year
honors in 1924 and 1925 and who was posthumously inducted into the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
.
As part of a program honoring important horse racing tracks and racing stables, the Pennsylvania Railroad
named its baggage car #5853 the "Fair Stable".
Virginia Graham Fair Vanderbilt died in 1935 and her estate sold off the racing stable but daughter Muriel Vanderbilt
would follow in her mother's footsteps and set up her own racing operation which would include the Hall of Fame filly
, Desert Vixen
.
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...
horse racing
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...
stable
Stable
A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals...
owned by heiress Virginia Graham Fair
Virginia Fair Vanderbilt
Virginia Fair Vanderbilt was an American socialite, hotel builder/owner, philanthropist, owner of Fair Stable, a Thoroughbred racehorse operation, and a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family.-Biography:...
that operated during the 1920s and the first half of the 1930s. Ms. Fair was the daughter of the wealthy mining magnate James Graham Fair
James Graham Fair
James Graham Fair was the overnight millionaire part-owner of the Comstock Lode, a United States Senator and a colorful real estate and railroad speculator.-Early life:...
. In 1899, she married William Kissam Vanderbilt II
William Kissam Vanderbilt II
William Kissam Vanderbilt II was a motor racing enthusiast and yachtsman and a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family.-Biography:...
of the prominent Vanderbilt family
Vanderbilt family
The Vanderbilt family is an American family of Dutch origin prominent during the Gilded Age. It started off with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy...
of 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...
who in 1920 inherited 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,...
Thoroughbred breeding farm and racing stable near Deauville
Deauville
Deauville is a commune in the Calvados département in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.With its racecourse, harbour, international film festival, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino and sumptuous hotels, Deauville is regarded as the "queen of the Norman beaches" and...
in France's famous horse region of Lower Normandy
Basse-Normandie
Lower Normandy is an administrative region of France. It was created in 1956, when the Normandy region was divided into Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy...
. Interested in horse racing, but separated from her husband, Virginia Graham Fair established her own racing stable.
Fair Stable employed future Hall of Fame trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
Max Hirsch
Max Hirsch
Maximilian J. "Max" Hirsch was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born in Fredericksburg, Texas, Hirsch became one of the most successful trainers in Thoroughbred horse racing history. He spent part of his formative years working as a groom and jockey at Morris Ranch in...
until 1928 when Albert Gordon took over. They won a number of important Graded stakes race
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...
s including the 1923, 1927, and 1931 Champagne 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...
. The stable had only one horse run in the 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...
with Chicatie finishing 14th in the 1929 edition.
By far the most famous horse owed by Fair Stable was Sarazen
Sarazen
Sarazen was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Owned by Colonel Phil T. Chinn's Himyar Stud, Sarazen won his first three starts in impressive fashion...
, a gelding acquired in 1923 who would earn back-to-back U.S. 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....
honors in 1924 and 1925 and who was posthumously inducted into the United States' 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...
.
As part of a program honoring important horse racing tracks and racing stables, the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
named its baggage car #5853 the "Fair Stable".
Virginia Graham Fair Vanderbilt died in 1935 and her estate sold off the racing stable but daughter Muriel Vanderbilt
Muriel Vanderbilt
Muriel Vanderbilt was an American socialite and a thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder who was a member of the wealthy Vanderbilt family.-Biography:...
would follow in her mother's footsteps and set up her own racing operation which would include the Hall of Fame filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
, Desert Vixen
Desert Vixen
Desert Vixen was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse.-Accomplishments:The Filly began racing at age two but met with limited success, winning only one of her five starts. At age three, Desert Vixen was the dominant filly in her class, winning eight straight races including a...
.