George L. Lorillard
Encyclopedia
George Lyndes Lorillard was an American
tobacco
manufacturer and a prominent Thoroughbred
racehorse
owner.
(1796-1867) and Catherine Griswold. In 1760, his great-grandfather founded P. Lorillard and Company in New York City
to process tobacco, cigars, and snuff. Today, Lorillard Tobacco Company
is the oldest tobacco company in the United States.
Lorillard owned a mansion on 800 acres (3.2 km²) on Long Island
, located north of the Montauk Highway
and west of Connetquot Road. He also maintained a winter home in St. Augustine, Florida
.
At the time of his death in 1892, George Lorillard was married to Marie Louise Lafarge, later Countess Di Agreda.
, was a dominant owner during the latter part of the 19th Century in racing in New York
, New Jersey
and Maryland
. At his Long Island estate, he built a large stable and training track. Lorillard arranged to take in boys from the New York House of Refuge
who were given stable work and educated in a specially built schoolroom. The boys learned to ride horses and after a five year apprenticeship were given an opprtunity to become a professional jockey
. Notable among them was Tom Costello, who won numerous important races including three American Classics.
George Lorillard's racing stable was handled by trainer R. Wyndham Walden. Notably they then won the Preakness Stakes
a record five straight years between 1878 and 1882, the Belmont Stakes
in 1878, 1880, and 1881 and the Travers Stakes
in 1878 and 1880. Among George Lorillard's best horses was Saunterer, Vanguard, Grenada, Tom Ochiltree
and Duke of Magenta
.
In 1878, George Lorillard headed a group of investors which included David D. Withers
and Gordon Bennett, Jr.
who bought Monmouth Park Racetrack
. Under Lorillard's management, they built a new racing facility on 660 acres (2.7 km²) of land with the then largest grandstand in the United States. Opened on July 4, 1890, the track flourished and became known as the "Newmarket
of America."
George Lorillard died in 1892 at the age of forty-nine. Lorillard Avenue in The Bronx
is named for him and brother Pierre.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
manufacturer and a prominent 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...
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...
owner.
Biography
He was born in Westchester, New York, the son of Pierre Lorillard IIIPierre Lorillard III
Pierre Lorillard III was the grandson of Pierre Abraham Lorillard, the founder of the P. Lorillard and Company. Pierre also developed Tuxedo Park, New York, one of the nation's early country clubs. -References:...
(1796-1867) and Catherine Griswold. In 1760, his great-grandfather founded P. Lorillard and Company in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to process tobacco, cigars, and snuff. Today, Lorillard Tobacco Company
Lorillard Tobacco Company
Lorillard Tobacco Company is an American tobacco company marketing cigarettes under the brand names Newport, Maverick, Old Gold, Kent, True, Satin, and Max. Lorillard is a member of the National Black Chamber of Commerce.- History :...
is the oldest tobacco company in the United States.
Lorillard owned a mansion on 800 acres (3.2 km²) on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, located north of the Montauk Highway
Montauk Highway
Montauk Highway is one of the original through highways of Long Island, New York, extending from Jamaica, in the New York City borough of Queens to Montauk Point in Suffolk County, a distance of approximately 100 miles ....
and west of Connetquot Road. He also maintained a winter home in St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
.
At the time of his death in 1892, George Lorillard was married to Marie Louise Lafarge, later Countess Di Agreda.
Thoroughbred horse racing
George Lorillard, as well as his brother PierrePierre Lorillard IV
Pierre Lorillard IV was an American tobacco manufacturer and thoroughbred race horse owner.-Biography:...
, was a dominant owner during the latter part of the 19th Century in racing in 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...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. At his Long Island estate, he built a large stable and training track. Lorillard arranged to take in boys from the New York House of Refuge
New York House of Refuge
The New York House of Refuge was the first youth detention center in the United States. The building was located in Manhattan, New York City, at Randall's Island.-External links:*...
who were given stable work and educated in a specially built schoolroom. The boys learned to ride horses and after a five year apprenticeship were given an opprtunity to become a professional jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
. Notable among them was Tom Costello, who won numerous important races including three American Classics.
George Lorillard's racing stable was handled by trainer R. Wyndham Walden. Notably they then won 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...
a record five straight years between 1878 and 1882, the 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 1878, 1880, and 1881 and the Travers Stakes
Travers Stakes
The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.First held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers...
in 1878 and 1880. Among George Lorillard's best horses was Saunterer, Vanguard, Grenada, Tom Ochiltree
Tom Ochiltree
Tom Ochiltree , was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, one of the last by the great foundation stallion, blind Lexington, still standing at what by then was A. J. Alexander's Woodburn Stud in Kentucky. Tom Ochiltree was an enormous colt, eventually reaching 16 hands 2½ inches high with a girth of...
and Duke of Magenta
Duke of Magenta
----Duke of Magenta was one of the most successful racehorses in the United States in the 19th century.Foaled in 1875 at the Woodburn Stud near Lexington, Kentucky, he was owned by New York City tobacco tycoon, George L. Lorillard and trained by Hall of Famer R. Wyndham Walden. "Duke of Magenta"...
.
In 1878, George Lorillard headed a group of investors which included David D. Withers
David D. Withers
David Dunham Withers was an American businessman and a Thoroughbred horse racing track owner and an owner/breeder...
and Gordon Bennett, Jr.
James Gordon Bennett, Jr.
James Gordon Bennett, Jr. was publisher of the New York Herald, founded by his father, James Gordon Bennett, Sr., who emigrated from Scotland. He was generally known as Gordon Bennett to distinguish him from his father....
who bought Monmouth Park Racetrack
Monmouth Park Racetrack
Monmouth Park Racetrack is an American race track for thoroughbred horse racing in Oceanport, New Jersey. It is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and is operated under a five-year lease as a partnership with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City.Monmouth Park's marquee event...
. Under Lorillard's management, they built a new racing facility on 660 acres (2.7 km²) of land with the then largest grandstand in the United States. Opened on July 4, 1890, the track flourished and became known as the "Newmarket
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
of America."
George Lorillard died in 1892 at the age of forty-nine. Lorillard Avenue in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
is named for him and brother Pierre.