Kentucky (horse)
Encyclopedia
Kentucky was a successful American
Thoroughbred
racehorse who won 21 of his 23 starts, including 20 consecutive wins.
He was by Lexington
, who sired three colts in 1861 (out of Glencoe mares) and would each become one of the best race horses in America – Norfolk, Asteroid
and Kentucky. Norfolk and Asteroid went undefeated throughout their racing careers, and one of the few horses who ever defeated Kentucky was Norfolk. Kentucky's dam was Magnolia, by the imported British champion Glencoe; Glencoe stood at John Harper's Nantura Stock Farm in Kentucky. His sire line traced back to Herod
.
A rangy bay with a narrow white stripe and white off-fore pastern, Kentucky was owned by John Hunter, one of the founders of the Saratoga Race Course
and co-owner (and the first chairman) of The Jockey Club
.
and George Osgood, he lost his second start in the inaugural Jersey Derby
– coming in fourth to Norfolk. After that he won 20 consecutive races, including the first Travers Stakes
in 1864 and the first two runnings of the Saratoga Cup
at a distance of 2¼ miles. He also won the first Inaugural Stakes in four mile heats at the newly-opened Jerome Park Racetrack
. For three seasons (1864, 1865 and 1866), when races were two, three and four miles long, he was the undisputed champion of East Coast racing.
In 1866 he was sold for the then-enormous sum of $40,000 to Leonard Jerome
, after whom the Jerome Handicap
is named. Kentucky was then resold to Annieswood Stable (a partnership of August Belmont, Jr.
, John Hunter, Jerome, Cameron, and Travers). He was again sold at auction in October of 1868, and Belmont bought him outright for $15,000.
Two match races were arranged by Joseph Kleb between Asteroid (the top horse in Kentucky) and Kentucky (the best horse in New York). Both owners were confident of winning the two matches – one in New York and one in Louisville for $20,000 winner-take-all. Unfortunately, Asteroid pulled a tendon during training and was retired before the match races were held.
He lost his only start at age six in 1867, the second loss of his entire career.
Nursery Stud, where he sired the champion filly
Woodbine (1869). He also produced the stakes winners Bertram (colt
1873), Elastic (filly 1871), Beatrice, Medora and Dublin.
He died at Nursery Stud in April 1875 – the same year his sire Lexington (the "Blind Hero of Woodburn
") died. Kentucky was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in 1983.
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 who won 21 of his 23 starts, including 20 consecutive wins.
He was by Lexington
Lexington (horse)
Lexington was a United States Thoroughbred race horse who won six of his seven race starts. Perhaps his greatest fame came however as the most successful sire of the second half of the nineteenth century; he was the Leading sire in North America 16 times, and of his many brood mare and racer...
, who sired three colts in 1861 (out of Glencoe mares) and would each become one of the best race horses in America – Norfolk, Asteroid
Asteroid (horse)
Asteroid was one of the most successful Thoroughbred racehorses in the United States during the 19th century having retired to stud with an undefeated race record.-Pedigree:...
and Kentucky. Norfolk and Asteroid went undefeated throughout their racing careers, and one of the few horses who ever defeated Kentucky was Norfolk. Kentucky's dam was Magnolia, by the imported British champion Glencoe; Glencoe stood at John Harper's Nantura Stock Farm in Kentucky. His sire line traced back to Herod
Herod (horse)
Herod , formerly King Herod, later shortened to just Herod in common usage, was a Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the three foundation sires of the modern Thoroughbred racehorse, along with Matchem and Eclipse...
.
A rangy bay with a narrow white stripe and white off-fore pastern, Kentucky was owned by John Hunter, one of the founders of the Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
and co-owner (and the first chairman) of The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club, formed on February 9, 1894, is the keeper of The American Stud Book. It came into existence after James R. Keene spearheaded a drive in support of racehorse trainers who had complained about the Board of Control that governed racing in New York State.-History:On its formation, The...
.
Racing record
Probably trained by A.J. Minor (the facts are unclear), Kentucky won his only two-year-old start. At age three, racing for John Hunter, William R. TraversWilliam R. Travers
William Riggin Travers was an American lawyer who made a fortune on Wall Street. A well-known cosmopolite and high liver, Travers was a member of 27 private clubs, according to Cleveland Amory in his book Who Killed Society?-Biography:He was born in 1819.Along with John Hunter, in 1863 he founded...
and George Osgood, he lost his second start in the inaugural Jersey Derby
Jersey Derby
The Jersey Derby is a $100,000 American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in late July/early August at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Since 1993 it has been raced on grass at a distance of 1 1/16 miles....
– coming in fourth to Norfolk. After that he won 20 consecutive races, including the first 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 1864 and the first two runnings of the Saratoga Cup
Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap
The Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap was, until it was discontinued in 2005, a Thoroughbred race for horses three-years-old and up run at Saratoga Race Course...
at a distance of 2¼ miles. He also won the first Inaugural Stakes in four mile heats at the newly-opened Jerome Park Racetrack
Jerome Park Racetrack
Jerome Park Racetrack was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility.-History:It opened in 1866 in the northwest part of Fordham, Westchester County , New York....
. For three seasons (1864, 1865 and 1866), when races were two, three and four miles long, he was the undisputed champion of East Coast racing.
In 1866 he was sold for the then-enormous sum of $40,000 to Leonard Jerome
Leonard Jerome
Leonard Walter Jerome was a Brooklyn, New York, financier and grandfather of Winston Churchill.- Early life :...
, after whom the Jerome Handicap
Jerome Handicap
The Jerome Stakes is a Grade II race for thoroughbred horses run each fall at one mile on the dirt at Belmont Park. It is open to three-year-olds and carries a purse of $150,000. The race is a prep race to several races of the Breeders' Cup....
is named. Kentucky was then resold to Annieswood Stable (a partnership of August Belmont, Jr.
August Belmont, Jr.
August Belmont, Jr. was an American financier, the builder of New York's Belmont Park racetrack, and a major owner/breeder of thoroughbred racehorses.-Early life:...
, John Hunter, Jerome, Cameron, and Travers). He was again sold at auction in October of 1868, and Belmont bought him outright for $15,000.
Two match races were arranged by Joseph Kleb between Asteroid (the top horse in Kentucky) and Kentucky (the best horse in New York). Both owners were confident of winning the two matches – one in New York and one in Louisville for $20,000 winner-take-all. Unfortunately, Asteroid pulled a tendon during training and was retired before the match races were held.
He lost his only start at age six in 1867, the second loss of his entire career.
At stud
In 1869 Belmont sent Kentucky to stand at his Babylon, New YorkBabylon (village), New York
Babylon is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 12,615 at the 2000 census.Its official name is The Incorporated Village of Babylon...
Nursery Stud, where he sired the champion filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
Woodbine (1869). He also produced the stakes winners Bertram (colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
1873), Elastic (filly 1871), Beatrice, Medora and Dublin.
He died at Nursery Stud in April 1875 – the same year his sire Lexington (the "Blind Hero of Woodburn
Woodburn Stud
Woodburn Stud was an American horse breeding farm located in Woodford County, Kentucky about ten miles from the city of Lexington. It was established in the 18th century as an original land grant property of General Hugh Mercer to whom it had been granted for his military services during the...
") died. Kentucky was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and 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...
in 1983.
See also
- Asteroid (horse)Asteroid (horse)Asteroid was one of the most successful Thoroughbred racehorses in the United States during the 19th century having retired to stud with an undefeated race record.-Pedigree:...
- Lexington (horse)Lexington (horse)Lexington was a United States Thoroughbred race horse who won six of his seven race starts. Perhaps his greatest fame came however as the most successful sire of the second half of the nineteenth century; he was the Leading sire in North America 16 times, and of his many brood mare and racer...
- List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses
Further reading
- “The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America,” by William H.P. Robertson, Bonanza Books, New York
External links
- http://www.pedigreequery.com/kentucky Kentucky's pedigree and race record
- http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyIJK.htm Kentucky in the Thoroughbred Bloodlines