General Quarters (horse)
Encyclopedia
General Quarters is an American Thoroughbred
racehorse
who was a contender for the 2009 U.S. Triple Crown
. He was sired by Sky Mesa, winner of the 2002 Grade I Hopeful Stakes, a son of the 1997 Blue Grass Stakes
winner, Pulpit
. His dam is Ecology, a daughter of the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
winner, Unbridled's Song
.
He is owned and trained by 75-year-old Tom McCarthy
, a retired high school
teacher and principal. His only horse, on May 30, 2008 McCarthy claimed General Quarters colt for $20,000 out of a maiden race at Churchill Downs
.
General Quarters made seven starts as a two-year-old. He won a maiden
claiming race
his first time out and was claimed by 75-year-old owner-trainer Tom McCarthy
, a retired high school teacher and principal from Louisville, Kentucky
. After that, the colt showed limited promise until his last race of 2008 when he earned his best stakes race
result with a second-place finish in the Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs
.
Age 3
On February 14, 2009, General Quarters won the Sam F. Davis Stakes
at Tampa Bay Downs
. At Keeneland Race Course
on April 11, the colt won the most important race of his career to date, the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes
. His win qualified him for the May 2 Kentucky Derby
, the first leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
. Ridden by French jockey, Julien Leparoux, he finished in the tenth position.
He was then entered into the Preakness Stakes
at Pimlico Downs
, again with Leparoux aboard; finishing ninth.
Age 4
On May 1, 2010, General Quarters won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, beating Court Vision.
“He is doing well,” owner-trainer Tom McCarthy said. “I’d like to have him ready for the Clark Handicap
if possible. After the Derby
we noticed a little filling, but there was no heat or discomfort. It was not a major thing. After the Preakness, I took him to Rood & Riddle in Lexington
and had it x-rayed. There was not much there but we went ahead and took it out.”
McCarthy has an idea of when the injury may have occurred in the Derby.
“We went back and looked at pictures of the race, and there was one in which he had three feet up and the right front was on the ground,” McCarthy said. “He got bumped at that time and he might have twisted it then.”
Bloodhorse.com
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
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...
who was a contender for the 2009 U.S. Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
. He was sired by Sky Mesa, winner of the 2002 Grade I Hopeful Stakes, a son of the 1997 Blue Grass Stakes
Blue Grass Stakes
The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, currently sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is an American Grade 1 horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in mid April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky....
winner, Pulpit
Pulpit (horse)
Pulpit , is an American Thoroughbred stallion who now performs stud duties at Claiborne Farm for a fee of $60,000 per live foal. His sire is the 1992 Eclipse Award winner for American Horse of the Year and American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse, A.P. Indy...
. His dam is Ecology, a daughter of the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Breeders' Cup Juvenile
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships....
winner, Unbridled's Song
Unbridled's Song
Unbridled's Song is an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled out of the Caro mare, Trolley Song....
.
He is owned and trained by 75-year-old Tom McCarthy
Thomas R. McCarthy
Thomas R. McCarthy is a Kentucky native and former High School teacher, school principal, and a Thoroughbred racehorse owner & trainer best known for the 2009 Blue Grass Stakes winner and Kentucky Derby runner, General Quarters...
, a retired high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
teacher and principal. His only horse, on May 30, 2008 McCarthy claimed General Quarters colt for $20,000 out of a maiden race at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
.
Racing career
Age 2General Quarters made seven starts as a two-year-old. He won a maiden
Maiden race horse
A Maiden race horse is the term that refers to a race horse that has yet to win a single race. The races are generally run for younger more inexperienced horses at two and three. However, many maidens never "break their maiden", and will continue to race at later ages, often retiring winless.Zippy...
claiming race
Claiming 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"...
his first time out and was claimed by 75-year-old owner-trainer Tom McCarthy
Thomas R. McCarthy
Thomas R. McCarthy is a Kentucky native and former High School teacher, school principal, and a Thoroughbred racehorse owner & trainer best known for the 2009 Blue Grass Stakes winner and Kentucky Derby runner, General Quarters...
, a retired high school teacher and principal from Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. After that, the colt showed limited promise until his last race of 2008 when he earned his best 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...
result with a second-place finish in the Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Downs is an American Thoroughbred horse racing facility located in Westchase in Hillsborough County, just outside Tampa, Florida. It opened in 1926 under the name Tampa Downs. The first of many names, the racetrack was well known as Sunshine Park and Florida Downs.-Season:The track races...
.
Age 3
On February 14, 2009, General Quarters won the Sam F. Davis Stakes
Sam F. Davis Stakes
The Sam F. Davis Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid February at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack in Tampa, Florida. It is open to three-year olds and is used as a prep race for the Tampa Bay Derby. In recent years it has begun being used as an early prep for the Kentucky...
at Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Downs is an American Thoroughbred horse racing facility located in Westchase in Hillsborough County, just outside Tampa, Florida. It opened in 1926 under the name Tampa Downs. The first of many names, the racetrack was well known as Sunshine Park and Florida Downs.-Season:The track races...
. At Keeneland Race Course
Keeneland
Keeneland is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and sales complex in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Operated by the Keeneland Association, Inc., it is also known for its reference library on the sport, which contains more than 10,000 volumes, an extensive videocassette collection, and a substantial...
on April 11, the colt won the most important race of his career to date, the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes
Blue Grass Stakes
The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, currently sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is an American Grade 1 horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in mid April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky....
. His win qualified him for the May 2 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...
, the first leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
. Ridden by French jockey, Julien Leparoux, he finished in the tenth position.
He was then entered into the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
at Pimlico Downs
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
, again with Leparoux aboard; finishing ninth.
Age 4
On May 1, 2010, General Quarters won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, beating Court Vision.
Further Info
After the Preakness, General Quarters had a small chip removed from his right front knee. He will be out until late fall (2009).“He is doing well,” owner-trainer Tom McCarthy said. “I’d like to have him ready for the Clark Handicap
Clark Handicap
The Clark Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November/early December at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Among the oldest races in the United States, it was first run in 1875, the year the racetrack opened for business...
if possible. After the 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...
we noticed a little filling, but there was no heat or discomfort. It was not a major thing. After the Preakness, I took him to Rood & Riddle in Lexington
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...
and had it x-rayed. There was not much there but we went ahead and took it out.”
McCarthy has an idea of when the injury may have occurred in the Derby.
“We went back and looked at pictures of the race, and there was one in which he had three feet up and the right front was on the ground,” McCarthy said. “He got bumped at that time and he might have twisted it then.”
Bloodhorse.com