Quack (horse)
Encyclopedia
Quack was an American Thoroughbred
racehorse
who holds the world record
for a three-year-old with the fastest mile and a quarter ever run on dirt. Quack was sired by T.V. Lark
, the 1961 American Champion Male Turf Horse, and out of the mare, Quillon, a daughter of the outstanding Champion broodmare sire
, Princequillo
. Quack was a very large horse whose style it was to lag behind early and finish with a devastating closing kick. He was an attractive bay with a spot of white on his forehead. Though Quack had success early in his career with Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker, he found even more success with Hall of Fame jockey Don Pierce whose first ride on him was the 1972 Hollywood Gold Cup.
Bred and raced by Millard Waldheim's Bwamazon Farm, Quack was trained by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee, Charlie Whittingham. Not eligible for the 1972 Kentucky Derby
, Quack scored the most important and most impressive win of his career that year in the Hollywood Gold Cup
in which he defeated older horses while equaling the United States and world record for a mile and a quarter on dirt. Going into 2010, his record still stands for three-year-olds. Among his other wins, Quack captured back-to-back editions of the Californian Stakes
in 1973 and 1974.
Retired to stud
duty, Quack sired several good runners including:
Pensioned in 1994, in January of the following year Quack was humanely euthanized
due to complications of old age.
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...
who holds 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...
for a three-year-old with the fastest mile and a quarter ever run on dirt. Quack was sired by T.V. Lark
T.V. Lark
T.V. Lark was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse owned by Chase McCoy of CR Mac Stables and trained by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame member, William Molter.At age two, T.V. Lark won the Arlington Futurity...
, the 1961 American Champion Male Turf Horse, and out of the mare, Quillon, a daughter of the outstanding Champion broodmare sire
Leading broodmare sire in North America
The list below shows the leading Thoroughbred sire of broodmares in North America for each year since 1924. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won during the year by racehorses which were foaled by a daughter of the sire.-----References:* *...
, Princequillo
Princequillo
Princequillo was a Thoroughbred racehorse conceived in France and born in Ireland. He is known for his performances in long-distance races and his successes as a sire.-Background:...
. Quack was a very large horse whose style it was to lag behind early and finish with a devastating closing kick. He was an attractive bay with a spot of white on his forehead. Though Quack had success early in his career with Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker, he found even more success with Hall of Fame jockey Don Pierce whose first ride on him was the 1972 Hollywood Gold Cup.
Bred and raced by Millard Waldheim's Bwamazon Farm, Quack was trained 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, Charlie Whittingham. Not eligible for the 1972 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...
, Quack scored the most important and most impressive win of his career that year in the Hollywood Gold Cup
Hollywood Gold Cup
The Hollywood Gold Cup is an American Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions...
in which he defeated older horses while equaling the United States and world record for a mile and a quarter on dirt. Going into 2010, his record still stands for three-year-olds. Among his other wins, Quack captured back-to-back editions of the Californian Stakes
Californian Stakes
The Californian Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of June at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. The Grade II event is open to horses age three and up willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt...
in 1973 and 1974.
Retired to 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...
duty, Quack sired several good runners including:
- Plankton (b. 1976) - wins include the Grade 1 Ladies HandicapLadies HandicapThe Ladies Handicap is a historic American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies three years of age and older that is held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Inaugurated at the Jerome Park Racetrack in 1868, it is the oldest stakes race in the U.S. exclusively for fillies and mares...
, G2 Demoiselle StakesDemoiselle StakesThe Demoiselle Stakes is a stakes race for thoroughbred horses open to two-year-old fillies who are willing to race the one and one-eighth miles on dirt...
, Molly Pitcher Handicap; - Header Card (b. 1979) - won the Grade I Oak Leaf StakesOak Leaf StakesThe Oak Leaf Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at the end of September at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is restricted to two-year-old fillies...
; - Duckpower (b. 1984) - multiple stakes wins in Canada including the 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....
, Col. R.S. McLaughlin HandicapOntario DerbyThe Ontario Derby is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of September/early October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. A Grade III stakes since 2006, it is open to three-year-old horses. Raced over a distance of 1⅛ miles on Polytrack synthetic dirt, the Ontario Derby...
, Marine StakesMarine StakesThe Marine Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Held in mid May, it is open to three-year-old horses and is contested over a distance of 11/16 miles on Polytrack synthetic dirt...
; - Quick Call (b. 1984) - multiple stakes winner including back-to-back editions of the Forego HandicapForego HandicapThe Forego Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to horses three years old and up, it is run at a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt...
; - Beyond Perfection (b. 1988) - won the Del Mar Debutante StakesDel Mar Debutante StakesThe Del Mar Debutante Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race restricted to two-year-old fillies run each year in early September at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California...
.
Pensioned in 1994, in January of the following year Quack was humanely euthanized
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
due to complications of old age.