Royal Orbit
Encyclopedia
Royal Orbit was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
best known as the winner of the Preakness Stakes
, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown races.
Bred by film
mogul Louis B. Mayer
, Royal Orbit was purchased at the July Keeneland Sales
by businessman Jacques Braunstein and raced by his widow, Halina Gregory Braunstein. His sire was Royal Charger
, the important son of the great sire Nearco
. His damsire was the 1937 U.S. Triple Crown winner, War Admiral
.
Trained by Reggie Cornell
, Royal Orbit was a top two-year-old colt racing in California
, notably winning the 1958 Los Feliz Stakes and finishing second to Tomy Lee
in the Del Mar Futurity
. The following year he was second to the Hall of Fame
filly
Silver Spoon
in the Santa Anita Derby
. In his only out-of-the-money finish in twenty career races, Royal Orbit ran fourth to winner Tomy Lee in the 1959 Kentucky Derby
under jockey
William Harmatz
. However, Royal Orbit and Harmatz came back to win the 85th running of the Preakness Stakes
and in the Belmont Stakes
, the final leg of the Triple Crown series, he finished third to winner Sword Dancer.
Retired at the end of the 1959 racing season, Royal Orbit stood in Kentucky and at the Maryland
branch of E.P. Taylor's
Windfields Farm
. His offspring would meet with modest success, the best of which was multiple stakes winner, Quicken Tree
. In 1971 he was sent to a breeding farm in Ireland
. Two years later he was shipped to Argentina
where he spent a year before going to Brazil
in 1975.
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
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...
best known as the winner of 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...
, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown races.
Bred by film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
mogul Louis B. Mayer
Louis B. Mayer
Louis Burt Mayer born Lazar Meir was an American film producer. He is generally cited as the creator of the "star system" within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in its golden years. Known always as Louis B...
, Royal Orbit was purchased at the July Keeneland Sales
Keeneland Sales
The Keeneland Sales is an American Thoroughbred auction house in Lexington, Kentucky founded in 1935 as a nonprofit racing/auction entity on 147 acres of farmland west of Lexington, which had been owned by Jack O. Keene...
by businessman Jacques Braunstein and raced by his widow, Halina Gregory Braunstein. His sire was Royal Charger
Royal Charger
Royal Charger was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who was successful in racing but even more so as a sire. He was the son of the very important sire Nearco.-Racing career:As a three-year-old, Royal Charger finished third in the 2000 Guineas...
, the important son of the great sire 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 ,...
. His damsire was the 1937 U.S. Triple Crown winner, War Admiral
War Admiral
War Admiral was an American thoroughbred racehorse, the offspring of the great thoroughbred Man o' War and the mare Brushup. He inherited his father's fiery temperament and talent, but did not resemble him physically...
.
Trained by Reggie Cornell
Reggie Cornell
Reginald "Reggie" Cornell was a Thoroughbred horse racing trainer who competed in his native Canada before working for many years in the United States....
, Royal Orbit was a top two-year-old colt racing in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, notably winning the 1958 Los Feliz Stakes and finishing second to Tomy Lee
Tomy Lee
Tomy Lee was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1959 Kentucky Derby defeating Sword Dancer, First Landing, Royal Orbit and the filly Silver Spoon....
in the Del Mar Futurity
Del Mar Futurity
The Del Mar Futurity is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. A Grade I event since 2007, the race is open to horses, age two, willing to race seven furlongs on Polytrack synthetic dirt and offers a purse of $250,000.The race is currently...
. The following year he was second to the 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...
filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
Silver Spoon
Silver Spoon (horse)
Silver Spoon , a multiple stakes winning American Thoroughbred race horse, was well named. She was a daughter of the great Triple Crown winner Citation. Citation was by Bull Lea, the foundation sire of Calumet Farm...
in the Santa Anita Derby
Santa Anita Derby
The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $1 million. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby...
. In his only out-of-the-money finish in twenty career races, Royal Orbit ran fourth to winner Tomy Lee in the 1959 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...
under 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:...
William Harmatz
William Harmatz
William Harmatz was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey who won the 1959 Preakness Stakes aboard Royal Orbit...
. However, Royal Orbit and Harmatz came back to win the 85th running of 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...
and in the 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...
, the final leg of the Triple Crown series, he finished third to winner Sword Dancer.
Retired at the end of the 1959 racing season, Royal Orbit stood in Kentucky and at the Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
branch of E.P. Taylor's
E. P. Taylor
Edward Plunket Taylor was a Canadian business tycoon and famous breeder of thoroughbred race horses. Known to his friends as "Eddie", he is universally recorded as "E. P...
Windfields Farm
Windfields Farm
Windfields Farm is a six square kilometre thoroughbred horse breeding farm founded by businessman E. P. Taylor in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. The first stable and breeding operation of E. P. Taylor originated with a property near the city of Toronto known as Parkwood Stable when it was owned by...
. His offspring would meet with modest success, the best of which was multiple stakes winner, Quicken Tree
Quicken Tree (horse)
Quicken Tree was an American Thoroughbred racehorse known for his dramatic come-from-behind style of running and his ability to win at classic and marathon distances...
. In 1971 he was sent to a breeding farm in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Two years later he was shipped to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
where he spent a year before going to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
in 1975.