Hillsdale (horse)
Encyclopedia
Hillsdale was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. He was sired by Take Away who did not distinguish himself on the race track, but grandsire Aneroid did. Aneroid's wins on the U.S. East Coast
included the Suburban
and Carter Handicap
s, plus he defeated Seabiscuit
in the 1938 San Antonio Handicap
in California
. Hillsdale's dam was Johann, a daughter of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee Johnstown
.
Purchased by Clarence Smith, Hillsdale's less than stellar parentage kept his selling price at a very reasonable $25,000. Trained by Martin L. Fallon, Jr., Hillsdale raced at a time when he went head-to-head with four other outstanding horses. He competed against Harry Guggenheim's colt Bald Eagle
, and future Hall of Fame inductees, Round Table
, Tim Tam
, and Sword Dancer.
At age three, he won five important races on both coasts, the last of which was the Malibu Stakes
, the first leg of the Strub Series
. He followed up in early 1959 by winning the San Fernando Stakes and the Santa Anita Maturity
, becoming the second of just five horses who have ever won the Strub Series. In thirteen starts in 1959, the four-year-old Hillsdale won ten important stakes, including seven in a row, and finished second in his other three. His most important win came in the Hollywood Gold Cup
. He defeated Round Table in the San Carlos Handicap
and on the East Coast
he beat Bald Eagle in winning the Aqueduct Handicap
. In the Woodward Stakes
at Aqueduct Racetrack
, Hillsdale beat Round Table again but finished second to Sword Dancer.
Retired to stud
duty, Hillsdale's first foals were born in 1962, his last in 1973. Although he produced several stakes winners, none achieved his level of success.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
. He was sired by Take Away who did not distinguish himself on the race track, but grandsire Aneroid did. Aneroid's wins on the U.S. East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
included the Suburban
Suburban Handicap
The Suburban Handicap is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is run at the classic one-and-one-quarter mile distance on dirt for a $400,000 purse....
and Carter Handicap
Carter Handicap
The 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....
s, plus he defeated Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States. From an inauspicious start, Seabiscuit became an unlikely champion and a symbol of hope to many Americans during the Great Depression...
in the 1938 San Antonio Handicap
San Antonio Handicap
The San Antonio Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Hillsdale's dam was Johann, a daughter of U.S. Racing 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 Johnstown
Johnstown (horse)
Johnstown was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse who won two out of every three races he competed in. Bred at Claiborne Farm, he was purchased by William Woodward, Sr...
.
Purchased by Clarence Smith, Hillsdale's less than stellar parentage kept his selling price at a very reasonable $25,000. Trained by Martin L. Fallon, Jr., Hillsdale raced at a time when he went head-to-head with four other outstanding horses. He competed against Harry Guggenheim's colt Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle (horse)
Bald Eagle was an American-bred Thoroughbred Eclipse Award-winning racehorse who competed successfully in both the United Kingdom and the United States. He won the Washington, D.C. International Stakes twice, in 1959 and 1960.-Pedigree:...
, and future Hall of Fame inductees, Round Table
Round Table (horse)
Round Table was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. He is considered the greatest turf horse in American racing history. He was foaled at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, on the night of April 6, 1954...
, Tim Tam
Tim Tam (horse)
Tim Tam was an American thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Tom Fool and out of the great racing mare Two Lea , the dark bay colt was owned and bred by Calumet Farm...
, and Sword Dancer.
At age three, he won five important races on both coasts, the last of which was the Malibu Stakes
Malibu Stakes
The Malibu Stakes is a race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses of either gender held each December at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
, the first leg of the Strub Series
Charles H. Strub
Dr. Charles Henry Strub was an American dentist and entrepreneur who built and owned Santa Anita Park racetrack in Arcadia, California and was president and partner of the San Francisco Seals baseball club of the Pacific Coast League.Charles Strub was born in Hollister, California as the only...
. He followed up in early 1959 by winning the San Fernando Stakes and the Santa Anita Maturity
Strub Stakes
The Strub Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California each year.Currently a Grade II stakes race with a purse of $300,000, it is open to horses, age four, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the synthetic surface of Santa Anita and offers...
, becoming the second of just five horses who have ever won the Strub Series. In thirteen starts in 1959, the four-year-old Hillsdale won ten important stakes, including seven in a row, and finished second in his other three. His most important win came in the Hollywood Gold Cup
Hollywood Gold Cup
The Hollywood Gold Cup is an American Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions...
. He defeated Round Table in the San Carlos Handicap
San Carlos Handicap
The San Carlos Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at during the third week of February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
and on the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
he beat Bald Eagle in winning the Aqueduct Handicap
Aqueduct Handicap
The race is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. It was called the Aqueduct Handicap, but beginning in 2009, the name was changed to the Evening Attire Stakes in honor of the great grey gelding Evening Attire. He raced until he was 10 years...
. In the Woodward Stakes
Woodward Stakes
The Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. Named for prominent racehorse owner, George Nicholas Woodward, it is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt for a purse of $750,000.The Woodward was run as a handicap in...
at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
, Hillsdale beat Round Table again but finished second to Sword Dancer.
Retired to stud
Stud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
duty, Hillsdale's first foals were born in 1962, his last in 1973. Although he produced several stakes winners, none achieved his level of success.