Paul Jones (horse)
Encyclopedia
Paul Jones was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse that was the sixth gelding
to win the Kentucky Derby
. Paul Jones was foaled in the same year as the great Man o' War
, winner of the 1920 Preakness
and Belmont Stakes
and one of the most influential sires of the 20th century. Man o' War was not entered in the 1920 Kentucky Derby because it was thought that a race so early in the season would be too taxing for him. Upset, the only horse ever to defeat Man o' War, did make it to the Derby.
Paul Jones was foaled in Lexington, Kentucky
at Hamburg Place, the stud farm of John E. Madden
. He was sired by the imported British stallion, Sea King, and was out of the Hamburg
bred mare, May Florence. He was named after famous Admiral John Paul Jones
and a popular brand of whiskey at the time.
The 1920 Kentucky Derby was run on an overcast day on a slow track with a field of seventeen horses. Paul Jones won the race by a nose after staving off Upset, who showed impressive speed on the home stretch, and close third On Watch.
Paul Jones proved his Derby win was not a fluke by winning the 1920 Suburban Handicap
. Paul Jones raced for a total of five years and, being a gelding with no career at stud, was given to his trainer, William Garth, for use as an exercise pony. Garth spoke favorably of his former charge, complimenting the gelding's gentle disposition and work ethic. Paul Jones did race in a few pony races at the Pimlico Race Course
and was entered in a number of steeplechase
races in the late 1920s under the name of Garth's son-in-law, Dr. John Paul Jones. Dr. Jones also trained Paul Jones as a hunter and rode him in fox hunts
. In 1929, Paul Jones was pensioned by Garth to live the remainder of his life at the Inglecrest Farm in Charlottesville, Virginia
, also the final home of 1911 Kentucky Derby winner Meridian
.
Paul Jones was euthanized in April 1930 due to physical infirmities and was buried at Dr. John Paul Jones's Inglecrest Farm in Charlottesville, Virginia.
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 that was the sixth gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
to win the 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...
. Paul Jones was foaled in the same year as the great Man o' War
Man O' War
Man O' War, man o' war or manowar may refer to:* Man-of-war, a warship* Man of war for uses with this spelling - Places :...
, winner of the 1920 Preakness
Preakness Stakes
The 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 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...
and one of the most influential sires of the 20th century. Man o' War was not entered in the 1920 Kentucky Derby because it was thought that a race so early in the season would be too taxing for him. Upset, the only horse ever to defeat Man o' War, did make it to the Derby.
Paul Jones was foaled 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...
at Hamburg Place, the stud farm of John E. Madden
John E. Madden
John Edward Madden was a prominent AmericanThoroughbred and Standardbred owner, breeder and trainer in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. He owned Hamburg Place Stud in Lexington, Kentucky and bred five Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winners.He was inducted into the National...
. He was sired by the imported British stallion, Sea King, and was out of the Hamburg
Hamburg (horse)
Hamburg was an American Thoroughbred race horse bred in Kentucky by James E. Kittson, brother to Norman W. Kittson who had been partners in Erdenheim Stud. His sire was the great Hanover by another great, Hindoo....
bred mare, May Florence. He was named after famous Admiral John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones was a Scottish sailor and the United States' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War. Although he made enemies among America's political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to...
and a popular brand of whiskey at the time.
The 1920 Kentucky Derby was run on an overcast day on a slow track with a field of seventeen horses. Paul Jones won the race by a nose after staving off Upset, who showed impressive speed on the home stretch, and close third On Watch.
Paul Jones proved his Derby win was not a fluke by winning the 1920 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....
. Paul Jones raced for a total of five years and, being a gelding with no career at stud, was given to his trainer, William Garth, for use as an exercise pony. Garth spoke favorably of his former charge, complimenting the gelding's gentle disposition and work ethic. Paul Jones did race in a few pony races at the Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
and was entered in a number of steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
races in the late 1920s under the name of Garth's son-in-law, Dr. John Paul Jones. Dr. Jones also trained Paul Jones as a hunter and rode him in fox hunts
Fox hunting
Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.Fox hunting originated in its current...
. In 1929, Paul Jones was pensioned by Garth to live the remainder of his life at the Inglecrest Farm in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
, also the final home of 1911 Kentucky Derby winner Meridian
Meridian (horse)
Meridian was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1911 Kentucky Derby, setting a new record by running 1 1/4 miles in 2 minutes, 5 seconds. The previous record of 2:06 1/4 had been set by Lieut. Gibson in the 1900 Derby. Meridian was determined to be the historical Champion Three-Year...
.
Paul Jones was euthanized in April 1930 due to physical infirmities and was buried at Dr. John Paul Jones's Inglecrest Farm in Charlottesville, Virginia.