Olambala
Encyclopedia
Olambala was an American Thoroughbred
racehorse
. Bred in Tennessee
by John G. Greener, his British-born sire Ornus, a son of Bend Or
, a two-time leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
, was imported to stand at stud
in the United States. Olambala's dam was Blue and White, a daughter of the 1885 leading sire in North America
, Virgil
.
Owned by Richard Thornton Wilson, Jr.
and raced under the name of his Montpelier Stable, Olambala was conditioned for racing by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee, Thomas J. Healey
. The colt won important races at age three including the 1909 Latonia Derby
and equaled the track record at Saratoga Race Course
for a mile and three quarters in winning the Saratoga Handicap
.
As a four-year-old in 1910, won two of the three most important races in the United States open to older horses. Best at longer distances, Olambala did not run in the one mile Metropolitan Handicap
but won both the Suburban
and Brighton Handicap
s. At Sheepshead Bay Race Track
, Olambala equaled the world record
record for a mile and a quarter on dirt in winning the Commonwealth Handicap.
As a result of New York's Hart-Agnew Law, in 1911 and 1912 there was no horse racing in New York State as well as most of the rest United States. As such, Olambala's owner sent him to race at tracks in various cities in the Province of Ontario
and in the City of Montreal, Quebec
in Canada
.
Retired from racing after the 1912 season, Olambala proved successful standing at stud
at Kirklevington Farm near Lexington, Kentucky
. Among his offspring were:
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...
. Bred in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
by John G. Greener, his British-born sire Ornus, a son of Bend Or
Bend Or
Bend Or was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1880 Epsom Derby. His regular jockey Fred Archer, winner of thirteen consecutive British jockey titles, said Bend Or was probably the greatest horse he had ever ridden....
, a two-time leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of broodmares in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1899. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won during the year by racehorses which were foaled by a daughter of the sire.-----References:*...
, was imported to stand at 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...
in the United States. Olambala's dam was Blue and White, a daughter of the 1885 leading sire in North 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...
, Virgil
Virgil (horse)
Virgil was an American thoroughbred racehorse that was bred in Kentucky by Hyman C. Gratz. He was a brown to dark bay stallion, was approximately 16 hands high and had a prominent white star on his forehead.[2] His sire, Vandal, was the second leading sire of the time, behind the great Lexington...
.
Owned by Richard Thornton Wilson, Jr.
Richard Thornton Wilson, Jr.
Richard Thornton Wilson, Jr. was an American banker and businessman who was a prominent figure in Thoroughbred horse racing in the early decades of the 20th Century....
and raced under the name of his Montpelier Stable, Olambala was conditioned for racing by future 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, 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...
. The colt won important races at age three including the 1909 Latonia Derby
Latonia Derby
The Latonia Derby was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1883 through 1937 at Latonia Race Track in Latonia, Kentucky. Open to three-year-old horses, for its first 52 years the Latonia Derby was contested at a mile and a half; in 1935, the race was shortened to a mile and a...
and equaled the track record at 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...
for a mile and three quarters in winning the Saratoga Handicap
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...
.
As a four-year-old in 1910, won two of the three most important races in the United States open to older horses. Best at longer distances, Olambala did not run in the one mile Metropolitan Handicap
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
but won both 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 Brighton Handicap
Brighton Handicap
The Brighton Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1895 through 1907 at the Brighton Beach Race Course in Brighton Beach, Coney Island, New York and in 1910 at Empire City Race Track...
s. At Sheepshead Bay Race Track
Sheepshead Bay Race Track
Sheepshead Bay Race Track was an American Thoroughbred horse racing facility built on the site of the Coney Island Jockey Club at Sheepshead Bay, New York...
, Olambala equaled the world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
record for a mile and a quarter on dirt in winning the Commonwealth Handicap.
As a result of New York's Hart-Agnew Law, in 1911 and 1912 there was no horse racing in New York State as well as most of the rest United States. As such, Olambala's owner sent him to race at tracks in various cities in the Province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and in the City of Montreal, Quebec
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Retired from racing after the 1912 season, Olambala proved successful standing at 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...
at Kirklevington Farm near 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...
. Among his offspring were:
- CampfireCampfire (horse)Campfire was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Bred and raced by the co-owner and president of Saratoga Race Course, Richard T...
(b. 1914) - 1916 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt - Hannibal (b. 1916) - wins include the Saratoga Special StakesSaratoga Special StakesThe Saratoga Special Stakes is an American grade II thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid-August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is for two-year-olds willing to race six and a half furlongs on the dirt....
(1918), 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...
(1919) - PilloryPillory (horse)Pillory was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by the co-owner and president of Saratoga Race Course, Richard T. Wilson, Jr., his damsire was Disguise, who raced for James R. Keene in England and was a son of the great Domino...
(b. 1919) - won 1922 PreaknessPreakness StakesThe 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...
and Belmont StakesBelmont StakesThe 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... - SunfireSunfire (horse)Sunfire was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by the co-owner and president of Saratoga Race Course, Richard T...
(b. 1925) - Multiple stakes winner including the 1928 and 1929 Toronto Cup HandicapToronto Cup StakesThe Toronto Cup Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually on turf at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Run in early July, the race is open to Three-year-olds and is run over a distance of 1⅛ miles on turf.... - Action (b. 1929) - in 1936 won the AqueductAqueduct HandicapThe 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...
, EdgemereEdgemere HandicapThe Edgemere Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race. Inaugurated in 1901 at the old Aqueduct Racetrack, it was open to horses of all ages and contested on dirt at a distance of one mile and seventy yards. The following year the distance was changed to one mile and one furlong.In 1908,...
, and 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...
s.