Fairy Chant
Encyclopedia
Fairy Chant was an American
Champion Thoroughbred
filly
racehorse
. Her sire was the 1927 Belmont Stakes
winner Chance Shot, a son of three-time Leading sire in North America
Fair Play
. Her dam was Star Fairy, a daughter of The Satrap, the 1926 English Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse who was a son of the great The Tetrarch
.
, and raced under the banner of his Foxcatcher Farm for trainer, Richard E. Handlen
. She was so impressive in her early career that her connections; trainer Richard E. Handlen
and owners at Foxcatcher Farm decided to take a shot at the defacto second jewel of the filly triple crown. In fact, Fairy Chant may be best remembered from her stirring win in the $20,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
(then called the Pimlico Oaks
) on Friday, May 10, 1940. In that race she took on a field of nine of the best fillies that the country had to offer and beat two stakes winners in True Call and Discerning. That day she won in a final time of 1:49-4/5 for the mile and a sixteenth over dirt with jockey Ralph Neves
in the irons. Her performances on the track earned her Champion
honors in 1940 and 1941. She finished in-the-money an incredible 62% of the time earning a win, place or show check in 26 of 42 career races.
As a broodmare, her best known runner was the multiple stakes winner, Chevation.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Champion 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...
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....
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...
. Her sire was the 1927 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...
winner Chance Shot, a son of three-time Leading sire in North America
Leading sire in North America
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the year...
Fair Play
Fair Play (horse)
Fair Play was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was successful on the track, but even more so as a sire.His grandsire was Spendthrift, whose grandsire was the English Triple Crown champion West Australian....
. Her dam was Star Fairy, a daughter of The Satrap, the 1926 English Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse who was a son of the great The Tetrarch
The Tetrarch
The Tetrarch was an undefeated Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire, who was voted Britain's Two-Year-Old of the 20th Century.-Breeding:...
.
Racing Career
Fairy Chant was bred by William duPont, Jr.William duPont, Jr.
William duPont, Jr. was an American businessman and banker and a prominent figure in the sport of thoroughbred horse racing. A member of the Delaware Du Pont family, he was the son of William du Pont and Annie Rogers , and brother to horsewoman, Marion.In 1919, he married Jean Liseter Austin...
, and raced under the banner of his Foxcatcher Farm for trainer, Richard E. Handlen
Richard E. Handlen
Richard E. "Dick" Handlen was an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer whom the March 15, 1937 edition of the Los Angeles Times called "one of the best trainers in America"...
. She was so impressive in her early career that her connections; trainer Richard E. Handlen
Richard E. Handlen
Richard E. "Dick" Handlen was an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer whom the March 15, 1937 edition of the Los Angeles Times called "one of the best trainers in America"...
and owners at Foxcatcher Farm decided to take a shot at the defacto second jewel of the filly triple crown. In fact, Fairy Chant may be best remembered from her stirring win in the $20,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is open to three-year-old fillies willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $250,000...
(then called the Pimlico Oaks
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is open to three-year-old fillies willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $250,000...
) on Friday, May 10, 1940. In that race she took on a field of nine of the best fillies that the country had to offer and beat two stakes winners in True Call and Discerning. That day she won in a final time of 1:49-4/5 for the mile and a sixteenth over dirt with jockey Ralph Neves
Ralph Neves
Ralph P. Neves was an American Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. Born in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Neves won 3,772 races, including 173 stakes, and was elected to the Racing Hall of Fame in 1960...
in the irons. Her performances on the track earned her Champion
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
honors in 1940 and 1941. She finished in-the-money an incredible 62% of the time earning a win, place or show check in 26 of 42 career races.
As a broodmare, her best known runner was the multiple stakes winner, Chevation.