Fonso
Encyclopedia
Fonso was an American Thoroughbred
racehorse and was the winner of the 1880 Kentucky Derby
. Fonso was bred in Kentucky
and was a chestnut colt sired by King Alfonso out of the mare Weatherwitch.
Fonso won the Phoenix Stakes
as a three year old over Luke Blackburn
who finished third, but is best remembered for going on to beat the favored Kimball in the 1880 Kentucky Derby. The track was particularly dry and the dust, up to 5 inches thick, Fonso kicked up obscured the path for the other contenders. Fonso finished the race with a one length lead at a time of 2:37.50 and won $3800. The owner of Kimball called a foul in the race against Fonso, but the placing was not altered. Fonso had a career record of 12 starts, 5 wins, 3 places and 2 shows.
Fonso died at the age of 26 while standing as stud at the Oakwood Stud Farm in Lexington, Kentucky
in 1903. His most notable offspring was the mare Fondling (br. 1886, out of Kitty Heron by Chillicothe), who produced the champion filly Imp
.
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 and was the winner of the 1880 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...
. Fonso was bred in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and was a chestnut colt sired by King Alfonso out of the mare Weatherwitch.
Fonso won the Phoenix Stakes
Phoenix Stakes (United States)
The Phoenix Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of six furlongs and currently offers a purse of $250,000...
as a three year old over Luke Blackburn
Luke Blackburn (horse)
Luke Blackburn was a Thoroughbred race horse born and bred in Tennessee by Capt. James Franklin.-Background:Sired by Bonnie Scotland, his dam was Nevada out of perhaps the most influential stallion America ever produced, the great Lexington. A bay foal, he was sold at two to Capt. Jim Williams...
who finished third, but is best remembered for going on to beat the favored Kimball in the 1880 Kentucky Derby. The track was particularly dry and the dust, up to 5 inches thick, Fonso kicked up obscured the path for the other contenders. Fonso finished the race with a one length lead at a time of 2:37.50 and won $3800. The owner of Kimball called a foul in the race against Fonso, but the placing was not altered. Fonso had a career record of 12 starts, 5 wins, 3 places and 2 shows.
Fonso died at the age of 26 while standing as stud at the Oakwood Stud Farm in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
in 1903. His most notable offspring was the mare Fondling (br. 1886, out of Kitty Heron by Chillicothe), who produced the champion filly Imp
Imp (horse)
Imp was a pure black Thoroughbred racing filly with a white diamond shaped star between her eyes. She was sired by Wagner out of Foundling and was foaled on March 5, 1894. Owned and bred by Daniel R. Harness of Chillicothe, Ohio, and trained by both Charles E. Brossman and Peter Wimmer , Imp's...
.