Princess Doreen
Encyclopedia
Princess Doreen was a Thoroughbred
racehorse best known for being the top American female money-winner.
Bred by John E. Madden
at his stud farm, Hamburg Place, in Kentucky
.
Madden matched Spanish Prince (an English
sprinter who had won the five furlong
King's Stand Stakes
at Royal Ascot before being shipped to the United States
to stand at stud) to Lady Doreen, a half sister to Sir Barton
. The result was Princess Doreen.
Princess Doreen was trained by the former jockey
Kay Spence; Spence said that Princess Doreen represented the pinnacle of his success.
, where three races would take place. The third race took place at the old Latonia Race Track
in Covington, Kentucky
for a purse of $50,000. Those racing included Chilhowee, Epinard
, Mad Play
, Sarazen
. Princess Doreen was the lone filly of this group. Sarazen placed first, Epinard second, and Mad Play third.
Princess Doreen died in 1952 at the age of 31.
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 best known for being the top American female money-winner.
Bred by 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...
at his stud farm, Hamburg Place, in 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...
.
Madden matched Spanish Prince (an English
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...
sprinter who had won the five furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
King's Stand Stakes
King's Stand Stakes
The King's Stand Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
at Royal Ascot before being shipped to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to stand at stud) to Lady Doreen, a half sister to Sir Barton
Sir Barton
Sir Barton, , was a chestnut thoroughbred colt who in 1919 became the first winner of the American Triple Crown.He was sired by leading stud Star Shoot out of the Hanover mare Lady Sterling. His grandsire was the 1893 English Triple Crown champion, Isinglass.Sir Barton was bred in Kentucky by...
. The result was Princess Doreen.
Princess Doreen was trained by the former jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
Kay Spence; Spence said that Princess Doreen represented the pinnacle of his success.
Racing career
From the beginning of her racing career at two, Princess Doreen showed remarkable ability on the track. Not only did she race males and win, but she did so carrying high weight (often up to 133 pounds) for four years.- At two, she placed in the Ft. Thomas Handicap, and came third in the Matron StakesMatron Stakes (USA)The Matron Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race once held annually during the second week of September at Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island, New York, but is now a Spring/Summer event along with the Futurity Stakes. Open to two-year-old fillies, it is contested on dirt at a distance at...
.
- At three she won the Kentucky OaksKentucky OaksThe Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
, the Falls City HandicapFalls City HandicapThe Falls City Handicap is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. A Grade II event, the race is open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt.-Records:* 1:48.85 - Silent Eskimo...
, the Labor Day Handicap, the Covington Handicap, and the Coaching Club American OaksCoaching Club American OaksThe Coaching Club American Oaks is a race for thoroughbred three-year old fillies and the second leg of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. Originally run at Belmont Park, the Grade I $250,000 stakes race was moved to Saratoga Race Course in 2010....
, and placed in the Chicago Special, the Alabama StakesAlabama StakesThe Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1872, the Grade I race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at Saratoga Race Course. Held in mid August, it currently offers a purse of $500,000...
, the Gadsden D. Bryan Memorial Handicap, the Latonia Oaks, and the Prince George Handicap.
- At four she won the Independence Handicap, the Bowie Handicap, the Cincinnati Enquirer Handicap (under 129 pounds), the Western Hills Handicap (under 126 pounds), the Autumn Handicap (under 133 pounds), the Cincinnati Times-Star Handicap, the Commercial-Tribune Handicap, the Covington Handicap (for the second time, carrying 130 pounds). She placed in the Thanksgiving Handicap and showed in the Chicago Special, the Gadsden D. Bryan Memorial Handicap, the Grainger Memorial Handicap, the Flint Stone Memorial Handicap, the Pimlico Cup Handicap, the Hartford Handicap, the Enquirer Handicap, and the Inaugural Handicap.
- At five she won the Inaugural Handicap and the Saratoga HandicapSaratoga Breeders' Cup HandicapThe 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...
. In the Saratoga Handicap she beat two-time Horse of the Year, SarazenSarazenSarazen was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Owned by Colonel Phil T. Chinn's Himyar Stud, Sarazen won his first three starts in impressive fashion...
. She placed in the Grainger Memorial Handicap, the Independence Handicap, the Bowie Handicap, the Pimlico Serial and was third in the Pimlico Cup and the Saratoga Cup.
- At six she won the Independence Handicap, placed in the Hotel Statler Handicap, and was third in the Lincoln Handicap and the Oak Park Handicap.
International Special
In 1924, Princess Doreen participated in what was called the International SpecialInternational Special
The International Specials of 1924 were a series of three Thoroughbred horse races held in September and October at three different race tracks in the United States...
, where three races would take place. The third race took place at the old Latonia Race Track
Latonia Race Track
Latonia Race Track on Winston Avenue in Latonia Kentucky, six miles south of Cincinnati, Ohio, was a Thoroughbred horse racing facility opened in 1883. The track hosted a spring-summer racing series and a second in late fall. It was once regarded as among the United States' top sites for racing,...
in Covington, Kentucky
Covington, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 43,370 people, 18,257 households, and 10,132 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,301.3 people per square mile . There were 20,448 housing units at an average density of 1,556.5 per square mile...
for a purse of $50,000. Those racing included Chilhowee, Epinard
Épinard
Épinard was a French Thoroughbred racehorse who was given the French name for spinach. He is considered a racing legend by French racing authority France Galop....
, Mad Play
Mad Play
Mad Play was an American-bred Thoroughbred stallion racehorse. Bred by August Belmont, Jr., he was sired by the great Fair Play, which made him a half brother to Man o' War, out of another Rock Sand mare, Mad Cap. He was a full brother to 1921 U.S...
, Sarazen
Sarazen
Sarazen was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Owned by Colonel Phil T. Chinn's Himyar Stud, Sarazen won his first three starts in impressive fashion...
. Princess Doreen was the lone filly of this group. Sarazen placed first, Epinard second, and Mad Play third.
Broodmare
Upon retiring, Princess Doreen was America’s leading female money winner, toppling Miss Woodford’s record. As a broodmare Princess Doreen produced eight foals, only one of whom won races; her daughter, Miss Doreen.Princess Doreen died in 1952 at the age of 31.