Leonatus
Encyclopedia
Leonatus was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse.
Leonatus was the son of Uncle John Harper's great racer and sire, Longfellow
, himself the son of the imported English
stud, the great Leamington
. Leonatus' dam was the Daniel Swigert-bred Semper Felix, whose dam was by the greatest of all Nineteenth century American foundation stallions, Lexington
, himself by Boston
.
Purchased by the partnership of George Martin and Jack Chinn, and thereafter stabled in Mercer County, Kentucky
, Leonatus was trained by the African American
horseman Raleigh "Rolla" Colston as well as by John McGinty. Racing only once as juvenile, his losing effort was a second place. As a three-year-old, Leonatus won ten stakes
, all in either Kentucky or Illinois
within the space of 49 days. Although there were no official awards given until 1936, this feat made him the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse of 1883.
Born just a few years after the last of the great match races (run between the easterner Ten Broeck
and the California
mare
Mollie McCarty
in 1878) Leonatus raced in a new world of English "dash" races on the kind of racetracks we recognize today.
Winning the 1883 Kentucky Derby
(run that year on May 23rd) was an accomplishment, but it did not hold the caché it does today. Leonatus took only the ninth running of the race but there were still quite a few years to go before the Derby was the plum of the racing season. Carrying 105 pounds and the 2-1 favorite, Leonatus was piloted by William "Billy" Donohue, the jockey
who'd ridden Sligo in the 1881 Derby, coming in fourth. Running in mud on a clear cold day, Leonatus was up against the colt
, Drake Carter, trained by Green B. Morris who hoped to take his second consecutive Derby (he'd won with Apollo in 1882). Drake Carter leaped into the lead but Leonatus caught him at a quarter of a mile. A quarter of a mile farther on, Leonatus was ahead by three lengths. In the homestretch, Lord Raglan made a strong bid, but though it carried him forward, he tired. Leonatus won over Drake Carter by that same three lengths. For his Derby, Leonatus collected $3,760.
Leonatus distinguished himself by eating the presentation roses. (Blankets of roses were not recorded being draped over the winning horse until 1896 when Ben Brush wore them.)
He was retired to stud at Runnymede Farm near Paris, Kentucky
. Leonatus remained there until he was eighteen years old, dying in 1898. Before that day he proved a fine sire, producing the 1898 American Derby
winner Pink Coat and 1898 Suburban Handicap
winner Tillo. Leonatus lies in an unmarked grave on a bend of the Elkhorn Creek
that runs through Runnymeade Farm. Near him lies Hindoo
, Billet, and Sir Dixon.
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.
Leonatus was the son of Uncle John Harper's great racer and sire, Longfellow
Longfellow (horse)
Longfellow was one of America's first great Thoroughbred racehorses and the sire of great racehorses. A legend in his own time, he was out of the first crop of the outstanding imported English stallion Leamington....
, himself the son of the imported English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
stud, the great Leamington
Leamington (horse)
Leamington was a Thoroughbred racehorse, and an influential sire in the United States during the second half of the nineteenth century. He was not only a fast horse, but also showed great staying ability....
. Leonatus' dam was the Daniel Swigert-bred Semper Felix, whose dam was by the greatest of all Nineteenth century American foundation stallions, 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...
, himself by Boston
Boston (horse)
Boston , was an outstanding chestnut Thoroughbred racehorse and a Leading sire in North America three times from 1851 to 1853. He started in about 45 races, winning 40 of these, including 15 in succession...
.
Purchased by the partnership of George Martin and Jack Chinn, and thereafter stabled in Mercer County, Kentucky
Mercer County, Kentucky
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 20,817. Its county seat is Harrodsburg. The county is named for General Hugh Mercer...
, Leonatus was trained by the African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
horseman Raleigh "Rolla" Colston as well as by John McGinty. Racing only once as juvenile, his losing effort was a second place. As a three-year-old, Leonatus won ten stakes
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...
, all in either Kentucky or Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
within the space of 49 days. Although there were no official awards given until 1936, this feat made him the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse of 1883.
Born just a few years after the last of the great match races (run between the easterner Ten Broeck
Ten Broeck
Ten Broeck was an American U.S. Racing Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse whose 1878 match race win in Louisville against the great California mare, Mollie McCarty was immortalized in the Kentucky folk song commonly called Molly and Tenbrooks.Bred by John Harper at his farm near Midway,...
and the 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...
mare
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
Mollie McCarty
Mollie McCarty
Mollie McCarty, , foaled in 1873, was an outstanding California-based Thoroughbred racehorse who won her first 13 race starts and was second on the two occasions when she was defeated.-Breeding:...
in 1878) Leonatus raced in a new world of English "dash" races on the kind of racetracks we recognize today.
Winning the 1883 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...
(run that year on May 23rd) was an accomplishment, but it did not hold the caché it does today. Leonatus took only the ninth running of the race but there were still quite a few years to go before the Derby was the plum of the racing season. Carrying 105 pounds and the 2-1 favorite, Leonatus was piloted by William "Billy" Donohue, the 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:...
who'd ridden Sligo in the 1881 Derby, coming in fourth. Running in mud on a clear cold day, Leonatus was up against the 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....
, Drake Carter, trained by Green B. Morris who hoped to take his second consecutive Derby (he'd won with Apollo in 1882). Drake Carter leaped into the lead but Leonatus caught him at a quarter of a mile. A quarter of a mile farther on, Leonatus was ahead by three lengths. In the homestretch, Lord Raglan made a strong bid, but though it carried him forward, he tired. Leonatus won over Drake Carter by that same three lengths. For his Derby, Leonatus collected $3,760.
Leonatus distinguished himself by eating the presentation roses. (Blankets of roses were not recorded being draped over the winning horse until 1896 when Ben Brush wore them.)
He was retired to stud at Runnymede Farm near Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
. Leonatus remained there until he was eighteen years old, dying in 1898. Before that day he proved a fine sire, producing the 1898 American Derby
American Derby
The American Derby is a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States run annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The inaugural American Derby was held at the city's old Washington Park race track and raced there until 1905 when the facility was closed and the track demolished....
winner Pink Coat and 1898 Suburban Handicap
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....
winner Tillo. Leonatus lies in an unmarked grave on a bend of the Elkhorn Creek
Elkhorn Creek
Elkhorn Creek is an stream running through several counties in central Kentucky in the United States. It derives its name from the shape, as seen on a map, of its main stem with its two primary forks....
that runs through Runnymeade Farm. Near him lies Hindoo
Hindoo (horse)
Hindoo was an outstanding American Thoroughbred race horse who won 30 of his 35 starts, including the Kentucky Derby, the Travers Stakes and the Clark Handicap. He later sired the Preakness Stakes winner Buddhist and the Belmont Stakes winner and Leading sire in North America, Hanover.He was a bay...
, Billet, and Sir Dixon.