Open Fire (horse)
Encyclopedia
Open Fire was an American
Thoroughbred
Champion racehorse
. Her sire was Brandywine Stable's multiple stakes
winner Cochise, and her grandsire was the winner of the 1936 British Classic, the St. Leger Stakes
. Open Fire was out of the mare Lucy Lufton, whose sire Nimbus was a son of Nearco
, one of the world's most influential sires in the history of Thoroughbred racing.
Owned and raced under the Brandywine Stable banner by Delaware Park Racetrack president Donald P. Ross, Open Fire was trained by Buddy Raines
. A late developer, in 1966 the five-year-old was one of the dominant mares in American racing whose performances earned her Co-United States Champion Older Mare. That year, she had three major stakes wins, set a new track record for 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga Race Course
, and equaled the Delaware Park Racetrack record for 1 1/4 miles.
Retired to broodmare duty, Open Fire produced seven foals.
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...
Champion 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...
. Her sire was Brandywine Stable's multiple 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...
winner Cochise, and her grandsire was the winner of the 1936 British Classic, the St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
. Open Fire was out of the mare Lucy Lufton, whose sire Nimbus was a son of Nearco
Nearco
Nearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
, one of the world's most influential sires in the history of Thoroughbred racing.
Owned and raced under the Brandywine Stable banner by Delaware Park Racetrack president Donald P. Ross, Open Fire was trained by Buddy Raines
Virgil W. Raines
Virgil W. Raines was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Known as "Buddy" Raines, in the 1930s he began working as a stable hand and became an exercise rider, notably for the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame colt Cavalcade. He went on to condition racehorses for 65 years, working primarily on the U.S...
. A late developer, in 1966 the five-year-old was one of the dominant mares in American racing whose performances earned her Co-United States Champion Older Mare. That year, she had three major stakes wins, set a new track record for 1 1/8 miles 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...
, and equaled the Delaware Park Racetrack record for 1 1/4 miles.
Retired to broodmare duty, Open Fire produced seven foals.