Gifford A. Cochran
Encyclopedia
Gifford A. Cochran was an American entrepreneur and sportsman from New York City
. During the latter part of the 19th Century and the first decades of the 20th Century, he made a fortune in the carpet making industry. His wealth afforded him the opportunity to become a major owner of Thoroughbred
racehorses and in 1925, with two different horses, he won two of the most prestigious races in the United States, the Kentucky Derby
and the Preakness Stakes
.
Cochran maintained a stable at Long Island's
Belmont Park
and in 1915 set up a stable in New Orleans for winter racing. In the mid 1910s, William Midgley trained for Cochran then in the early 1920s Edward Evans and later former star jockey
Frank Keogh.
In August 1922, Gifford Cochran purchased Goshawk from Harry Payne Whitney
for $50,000. At the time, the son of the U.S. Hall of Fame horse Whisk Broom
was considered one of the best two-year-olds in the United States but he failed to perform beyond that age level. Nevertheless, Cochran owned horses that won a number of important New York
races:
However, Cochran's most remembered success came with two different horses in 1925 after Bill Duke returned to America as his trainer. Duke, a future U.S. Hall of Fame
inductee had been a champion trainer in France
where he had worked since 1888, notably for the Haras du Quesnay
racing stable of American Willie K. Vanderbilt
, a friend of Gifford Cochran. Under Dukes guidance, Gifford's colt Flying Ebony
won the Kentucky Derby
and another colt, Coventry
, captured the Preakness Stakes
. Unfortunately, Cochran's successful partnership with Bill Duke lasted only a short time as Duke died in January 1926 of pneumonia
.
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...
. During the latter part of the 19th Century and the first decades of the 20th Century, he made a fortune in the carpet making industry. His wealth afforded him the opportunity to become a major owner of 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...
racehorses and in 1925, with two different horses, he won two of the most prestigious races in the United States, 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...
and 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...
.
Cochran maintained a stable at Long Island's
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...
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...
and in 1915 set up a stable in New Orleans for winter racing. In the mid 1910s, William Midgley trained for Cochran then in the early 1920s Edward Evans and later former star 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:...
Frank Keogh.
In August 1922, Gifford Cochran purchased Goshawk from Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney was an American businessman, thoroughbred horsebreeder, and member of the prominent Whitney family.- Early years :...
for $50,000. At the time, the son of the U.S. Hall of Fame horse Whisk Broom
Whisk Broom II
Whisk Broom II was American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who raced in the United Kingdom and in the United States.-Background:...
was considered one of the best two-year-olds in the United States but he failed to perform beyond that age level. Nevertheless, Cochran owned horses that won a number of important 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...
races:
- Astoria StakesAstoria StakesThe Astoria Stakes is a long-lived race for two-year-old Thoroughbred fillies run at Belmont Park during its Spring/Summer season. Originally set at a distance of five furlongs, beginning in the year 1940, it went off at five and a half furlongs on the dirt...
- Pleione (1915) - Gazelle HandicapGazelle HandicapThe Gazelle Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race raced annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, New York. Open to three-year-old fillies, it is a Grade I event run over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on dirt...
- Fairy Wand (1918), Banksia (1921) - Travers StakesTravers StakesThe 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...
- Sun Flag (1924), Dangerous (1925) - Tremont StakesTremont StakesThe Tremont Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually for 2-year-olds at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.Due to the troubled economy in 2008, the Tremont was canceled by the NYRA as they adjusted races to meet the new Grade I standard purse of $300,000. The Tremont Stakes was...
- Draconis (1926) - Champagne Stakes - Healy (1928)
- Dwyer StakesDwyer StakesThe Dwyer Stakes is an American Grade II stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred racehorses held annually at Belmont Park racetrack in Elmont, Long Island, New York. Run in early July, it is open to three-year-old horses and is raced over a distance of 1 1/16-miles on dirt...
- Genie (1928) - Westchester HandicapWestchester HandicapThe Westchester Handicap is a one mile thoroughbred horse race at Belmont Park on Long Island, New York. It is run in early May for horses three years old and up. It is a Grade III race with a purse of $100,000 added....
- Genie (1929) - Demoiselle StakesDemoiselle StakesThe Demoiselle Stakes is a stakes race for thoroughbred horses open to two-year-old fillies who are willing to race the one and one-eighth miles on dirt...
- The Beasel (1929) - Manhattan HandicapManhattan HandicapThe Manhattan Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race raced annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is named for Manhattan, the principal borough of the City of New York...
- Flying Heels (1930) - Hopeful Stakes - Epithet (1930)
- Carter HandicapCarter HandicapThe Carter Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early April at Aqueduct Racetrack. Open to horses three-years-old and up, it is raced over a distance of seven furlongs....
- Flying Heels (1930, 1931)
However, Cochran's most remembered success came with two different horses in 1925 after Bill Duke returned to America as his trainer. Duke, a future U.S. 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...
inductee had been a champion trainer in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
where he had worked since 1888, notably for 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,...
racing stable of American Willie K. Vanderbilt
William Kissam Vanderbilt
William Kissam Vanderbilt was a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family. He managed railroads and was a horse breeder.-Biography:...
, a friend of Gifford Cochran. Under Dukes guidance, Gifford's colt Flying Ebony
Flying Ebony
Flying Ebony was an American thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by John E. Madden, who had already bred four Kentucky Derby winners, and was raced by New York carpet manufacturer, Gifford A. Cochran....
won 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...
and another colt, Coventry
Coventry (horse)
Coventry was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Edward Simms, the owner of Xalapa Farm in Paris, Kentucky who had purchased his sire Negofol from the Haras du Quesnay in Normandy, France owned by the estate of the wealthy American, Willie K...
, captured 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...
. Unfortunately, Cochran's successful partnership with Bill Duke lasted only a short time as Duke died in January 1926 of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
.