Play On (horse)
Encyclopedia
Play On was an American Thoroughbred
racehorse
he was the son of Stop the Music and grandson to Hail to Reason. Play On will be best remembered for winning the 1984 Withers Stakes
and placing second three weeks later in the $400,000 grade 1 Preakness Stakes
to Gate Dancer
.
in his second attempt and followed that up with a second place finish in allowance company. In only his fourth lifetime start his connections decided to take a big step up class and race him in a graded stakes race. That race was the one turn one mile Withers Stakes
which he won in 1:36.40 under jockey Jean-Luc Samyn
at Aqueduct Racetrack
.
Three weeks later his trainer decided to take a shot at the second jewel of the Triple Crown. The Preakness Stakes
is run at a mile and three sixteenths on dirt at Pimlico Race Course
in Baltimore, Maryland. In that race Play On was listed as the fourth favorite in a field of ten stakes winning colts at 8:1 odds. The prohibitive odds-on favorite was Swale
the Kentucky Derby
winner. Play On broke from the very outside in the tenth post position and settled in mid-pack. Around the clubhouse turn and down the back stretch Fight Over, Taylor's Special and Swale
led while Play On reserved behind the leaders in fifth. Going into the final turn Play On moved inside and took over third one length behind an intimidating Gate Dancer
and Fight On. Down the stretch Gate Dancer pulled away to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Play On who finished strongly under jockey Jean-Luc Samyn
to place second over by four lengths over a tiring Fight On. Heavy favorite Swale
weakened going into the final turn and faded to finish a non-thretening seventh some eight lengths back.
After his strong Preakness placing performance in the Preakness Stakes
he was sold to interests in Venezuela and entered a stud career there.
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...
he was the son of Stop the Music and grandson to Hail to Reason. Play On will be best remembered for winning the 1984 Withers Stakes
Withers Stakes
The Withers Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds willing to compete one mile on the dirt. Held at Aqueduct Racetrack every year at the end of April , it is a Grade III event, and offers a purse of $150,000...
and placing second three weeks later in the $400,000 grade 1 Preakness Stakes
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...
to Gate Dancer
Gate Dancer
Gate Dancer was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as a winner of an American Classic Race and for his part in a thrilling three-horse finish in the inaugural running of the Breeders' Cup Classic....
.
Racing Career
Play On may go down in history as one of the shortest racing careers in the 1980's. He only raced in six races over seven months but did make his mark on the three year-old division in 1984. After breaking his maiden at Aqueduct RacetrackAqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
in his second attempt and followed that up with a second place finish in allowance company. In only his fourth lifetime start his connections decided to take a big step up class and race him in a graded stakes race. That race was the one turn one mile Withers Stakes
Withers Stakes
The Withers Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds willing to compete one mile on the dirt. Held at Aqueduct Racetrack every year at the end of April , it is a Grade III event, and offers a purse of $150,000...
which he won in 1:36.40 under jockey Jean-Luc Samyn
Jean-Luc Samyn
Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...
at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
.
Three weeks later his trainer decided to take a shot at the second jewel of the Triple Crown. The Preakness Stakes
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...
is run at a mile and three sixteenths on dirt at 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...
in Baltimore, Maryland. In that race Play On was listed as the fourth favorite in a field of ten stakes winning colts at 8:1 odds. The prohibitive odds-on favorite was Swale
Swale
Swale is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England. Its council is based in Sittingbourne. The borough is named after the narrow channel called The Swale, a channel that separates the mainland of Kent from the Isle of Sheppey, and which occupies the central part of the...
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...
winner. Play On broke from the very outside in the tenth post position and settled in mid-pack. Around the clubhouse turn and down the back stretch Fight Over, Taylor's Special and Swale
Swale
Swale is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England. Its council is based in Sittingbourne. The borough is named after the narrow channel called The Swale, a channel that separates the mainland of Kent from the Isle of Sheppey, and which occupies the central part of the...
led while Play On reserved behind the leaders in fifth. Going into the final turn Play On moved inside and took over third one length behind an intimidating Gate Dancer
Gate Dancer
Gate Dancer was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as a winner of an American Classic Race and for his part in a thrilling three-horse finish in the inaugural running of the Breeders' Cup Classic....
and Fight On. Down the stretch Gate Dancer pulled away to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Play On who finished strongly under jockey Jean-Luc Samyn
Jean-Luc Samyn
Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...
to place second over by four lengths over a tiring Fight On. Heavy favorite Swale
Swale
Swale is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England. Its council is based in Sittingbourne. The borough is named after the narrow channel called The Swale, a channel that separates the mainland of Kent from the Isle of Sheppey, and which occupies the central part of the...
weakened going into the final turn and faded to finish a non-thretening seventh some eight lengths back.
After his strong Preakness placing performance in the Preakness Stakes
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...
he was sold to interests in Venezuela and entered a stud career there.