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Miss Woodford (horse)
Encyclopedia
Miss Woodford was a brown Thoroughbred
racemare
that became one of the best American fillies of all time. At one stage she won 16 consecutive races during her racing career.
She was bred by Colonel Catesby Woodford and Colonel Ezekial Clay of Runnymede Farm
near Paris, Kentucky
. (Ezekial Clay was chairman of the Kentucky
State Racing Commission.) Miss Woodford was by Billet, (imported from England
, and the leading sire in America
in 1883, due almost entirely to his daughter, Miss Woodford), out of the unraced Fancy Jane, by Neil Robinson.
Miss Woodford was sold to Mike and Phil Dwyer of the Dwyer Brothers Stable
, to replace Hindoo
, their retired champion. The Dwyers liked to race horses, not breed them, so buying the best was how they built their phenomenal stable of winners. In Miss Woodford's case, they traded Hindoo as a stallion prospect plus a couple of fillies (two daughters of the great mare Maggie B.B.: Red and Blue by Alarm, and Francesca by Leamington
; Francesca was a stakes winner) to her then owner, George W. Bowen, in exchange for $9,000 cash and his three-year-old filly.
. After she was purchased by the Dwyers, Miss Woodward, like Hindoo, was trained by National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
inductee, James G. Rowe, Sr. It was a dispute with the Dwyers concerning Miss Woodford that caused Rowe to resign and become a racing official. Eventually James Rowe returned to his first love, training great runners like Sysonby
, Colin
, two-time Horse of the Year
(1900-1901) Commando: the sire of Colin, Peter Pan, Maskette and Sweep.) At the time of acquiring Miss Woodford, the Dwyer brothers already owned a colt who was considered the best of his crop. With the addition of Miss Woodford, they now owned the best colt, George Kinney and the best filly.
One of the highlights of her three-year-old season was in defeating George Kinney, her stablemate who had won the Belmont Stakes
. At three, four, and five, Miss Woodford won 16 consecutive races. By the end of her fifth year of racing, Miss Woodford was America
's leading money winner having earned $98,179. At this point most owners would have retired her for breeding, the Dwyers weren’t really interested in the breeding, so she continued to race. Big and aggressive, she won six races in less than two months at the age of six.
One of her best efforts was the Eclipse Stake at the Fair Grounds in St Louis. There she faced the first two winners of the American Derby
: Modesty and Volante. Miss Woodford won easily and this win pushed her earnings over the $100,000 mark, the first horse ever to do so in a racing career. She also won the Monmouth Cup at Long Branch Racetrack (twice), the Monmouth Oaks, the Ocean Stakes (three times), the Eatontown Stakes and the West End Hotel Stakes.
In the end Miss Woodford ran in 48 races and won 37 of them, was second in 7 and third in 2. In her three match races, she won two. Her lifetime earnings over the best colts of her day at distances up to 2½ miles amounted finally to $118,270. This made her the highest stakes winning filly in American history. Firenze
followed her in earnings, and then came Yo Tambien
.
She was sold to James B. A. Haggin and proved the Dwyers were right to keep her racing. Although she produced the stakes winners, George Kessler and Sombre, as well as three other winners from nine foals, none of her progeny even approached her abilities.
in Saratoga Springs, New York
in 1967.
Hall of Fame trainers, Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons
, Thomas J. Healey
, A. Jack Joyner
, R. Wyndham Walden, and Rowe, all thought her one of the best fillies of all time. In a poll among members of the American Trainers Association, conducted in 1955 by Delaware Park Racetrack, Miss Woodford was voted the fifth greatest filly in American racing history. Gallorette
was voted first.
The Miss Woodford Stakes
has been run at Monmouth Park in her memory since 1952.
She died in 1899 at Elmendorf Farm
in Lexington, Kentucky
.
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...
racemare
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...
that became one of the best American fillies of all time. At one stage she won 16 consecutive races during her racing career.
She was bred by Colonel Catesby Woodford and Colonel Ezekial Clay of Runnymede Farm
Runnymede Farm
Runnymede Farm is an American horse breeding farm located outside Paris, Kentucky on U.S. Route 27, the Paris-Cynthiana Road. Breeders of Thoroughbreds, the farm was established in 1867 by American Civil War Colonels Ezekiel Field Clay and Catesby Woodford....
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%...
. (Ezekial Clay was chairman of the Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
State Racing Commission.) Miss Woodford was by Billet, (imported from England
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...
, and the leading sire in America
Leading sire in North America
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the year...
in 1883, due almost entirely to his daughter, Miss Woodford), out of the unraced Fancy Jane, by Neil Robinson.
Miss Woodford was sold to Mike and Phil Dwyer of the Dwyer Brothers Stable
Dwyer Brothers Stable
Dwyer Brothers Stable was an American thoroughbred horse racing operation owned by Brooklyn, New York businessmen, Phil and Mike Dwyer.The Dwyer brothers hired trainer Evert Snedecker and purchased their first Thoroughbred, Rhadamanthus, in 1874. In October of that same year they acquired Vigil...
, to replace 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...
, their retired champion. The Dwyers liked to race horses, not breed them, so buying the best was how they built their phenomenal stable of winners. In Miss Woodford's case, they traded Hindoo as a stallion prospect plus a couple of fillies (two daughters of the great mare Maggie B.B.: Red and Blue by Alarm, and Francesca by 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....
; Francesca was a stakes winner) to her then owner, George W. Bowen, in exchange for $9,000 cash and his three-year-old filly.
Racing record
Miss Woodford had already raced for Bowen & Company, winning the Spinaway StakesSpinaway Stakes
The Spinaway Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to two-year-old fillies, it is a Grade I event contested at a distance of seven furlongs on dirt...
. After she was purchased by the Dwyers, Miss Woodward, like Hindoo, was trained by 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...
inductee, James G. Rowe, Sr. It was a dispute with the Dwyers concerning Miss Woodford that caused Rowe to resign and become a racing official. Eventually James Rowe returned to his first love, training great runners like Sysonby
Sysonby
Sysonby was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He won every start easily, except one, at distances from one mile to two and a quarter miles...
, Colin
Colin (horse)
Colin was one of America's greatest Thoroughbred racehorses. He retired undefeated after 15 starts and as a sire appears in the pedigree of the champion racehorse, Alsab.-Pedigree:...
, two-time Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding....
(1900-1901) Commando: the sire of Colin, Peter Pan, Maskette and Sweep.) At the time of acquiring Miss Woodford, the Dwyer brothers already owned a colt who was considered the best of his crop. With the addition of Miss Woodford, they now owned the best colt, George Kinney and the best filly.
One of the highlights of her three-year-old season was in defeating George Kinney, her stablemate who had won 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...
. At three, four, and five, Miss Woodford won 16 consecutive races. By the end of her fifth year of racing, Miss Woodford was America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's leading money winner having earned $98,179. At this point most owners would have retired her for breeding, the Dwyers weren’t really interested in the breeding, so she continued to race. Big and aggressive, she won six races in less than two months at the age of six.
One of her best efforts was the Eclipse Stake at the Fair Grounds in St Louis. There she faced the first two winners of the 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....
: Modesty and Volante. Miss Woodford won easily and this win pushed her earnings over the $100,000 mark, the first horse ever to do so in a racing career. She also won the Monmouth Cup at Long Branch Racetrack (twice), the Monmouth Oaks, the Ocean Stakes (three times), the Eatontown Stakes and the West End Hotel Stakes.
In the end Miss Woodford ran in 48 races and won 37 of them, was second in 7 and third in 2. In her three match races, she won two. Her lifetime earnings over the best colts of her day at distances up to 2½ miles amounted finally to $118,270. This made her the highest stakes winning filly in American history. Firenze
Firenze (horse)
Firenze , also recorded as "Firenzi,", was an American Thoroughbred Champion and Hall of Fame filly racehorse. The New York Times called Firenze: "...one of the greatest distaffers of the 19th Century."...
followed her in earnings, and then came Yo Tambien
Yo Tambien
Yo Tambien was an American Thoroughbred racing filly bred in California by Theodore Winters, a breeder and major landholder from the Washoe Valley in Nevada sometimes called "Black T" due to his huge, black, T-shaped moustache....
.
She was sold to James B. A. Haggin and proved the Dwyers were right to keep her racing. Although she produced the stakes winners, George Kessler and Sombre, as well as three other winners from nine foals, none of her progeny even approached her abilities.
Honors
Miss Woodford was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of FameNational 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 Saratoga Springs, 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...
in 1967.
Hall of Fame trainers, Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons
Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons
James Edward Fitzsimmons was a thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born in Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, New York, Fitzsimmons began his career in 1885 working at a racetrack as a stable boy. After nearly ten less-than-successful years as a thoroughbred jockey, he became too heavy for that job and took...
, Thomas J. Healey
T. J. Healey
Thomas J. Healey was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame trainer.Regularly referred to as "T. J." by both his associates and the media, Healey was born near the site of Fordham University in Fordham, New York. Growing up he worked on his father's dairy farm but rather than cows, his...
, A. Jack Joyner
A. Jack Joyner
Andrew Jackson "Jack" Joyner was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame trainer and owner.Known as "Jack" and reported as "A.J." and "A. Jack," Joyner was born in Enfield, North Carolina, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Henry Joyner...
, R. Wyndham Walden, and Rowe, all thought her one of the best fillies of all time. In a poll among members of the American Trainers Association, conducted in 1955 by Delaware Park Racetrack, Miss Woodford was voted the fifth greatest filly in American racing history. Gallorette
Gallorette
Gallorette was a Maryland-bred chestnut thoroughbred filly who became a Hall of Fame race horse. Sired by Challenger II, out of Gallette, Gallorette's damsire was Sir Gallahad III. Even so, her dam, Gallette, had once exchanged hands for $250 and was used as a hack. -Breeding:Trainer Preston M...
was voted first.
The Miss Woodford Stakes
Miss Woodford Stakes
The Miss Woodford Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run each year in August at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey open to three-year-old fillies...
has been run at Monmouth Park in her memory since 1952.
She died in 1899 at Elmendorf Farm
Elmendorf Farm
Elmendorf Farm is a Kentucky Thoroughbred horse farm in Fayette County, Kentucky, and has been involved with horse racing since the early 19th century...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
.