Royal Tourist
Encyclopedia
Royal Tourist was an American Thoroughbred
racehorse
who won the American Classic Preakness Stakes
in 1908 and who later that year set a World Record
time in winning the Winters Handicap at Emeryville Race Track in Oakland, California
.
Bred and raced by Harry Payne Whitney
, Royal Tourist's sire was the unraced British import, Sandringham, a son of the outstanding runner and nine-time Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
, St. Simon
. His dam was Leisure, who was also the dam of the 1914 Preakness Stakes winner, Holiday
. Leisure's sire was Meddler
, the leading sire in North America
in 1904 and 1906.
Racing at age two under trainer John Rogers, on September 10, 1907 Royal Tourist earned his first win in the Autumn Stakes at Sheepshead Bay Race Track
with a stakes record time of 1:11 flat for six furlongs. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9504E4DB1F30E233A25752C1A96F9C946697D6CF He went on that year to win the Oakdale Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
. As a three-year-old in 1908, Royal Tourist's race conditioning was handled by Jack Joyner
who took over as trainer of the Whitney racing stable on the death of John Rogers in February. In the pre U.S. Triple Crown
era, Royal Tourist was not entered in the Kentucky Derby
but on June 2, 1908, under jockey Eddie Dugan
, he won what is now the second leg of the Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes, contested at the time at a distance of 11/16 miles at Gravesend Race Track
.
Harry Whitney sold Royal Tourist in the early fall of 1908 to Chicago
an Charles R. Ellison. The owner of a number of successful horses, Ellison had won the 1903 Kentucky Derby with Judge Himes
and finished second in 1906 with the very good filly, Lady Navarre. Ellison sent Royal Tourist to race in California
where in November he set a new World Record
of 1:44 1/5 for 11/16 miles on dirt in the Winters Handicap at Emeryville Race Track in Oakland, California
. The colt wintered in California and continued to race there in 1909.
Royal Tourist died of a fever while still in training at the Hamilton (Ont.) racetrack stables on September 27, 1909.
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 won the American Classic 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...
in 1908 and who later that year set a 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...
time in winning the Winters Handicap at Emeryville Race Track in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
Bred and raced by Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney was an American businessman, thoroughbred horsebreeder, and member of the prominent Whitney family.- Early years :...
, Royal Tourist's sire was the unraced British import, Sandringham, a son of the outstanding runner and nine-time Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1751. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
, St. Simon
St. Simon (horse)
St. Simon was an undefeated British Thoroughbred racehorse and one of the most successful sires in the history of the Thoroughbred. In May 1886 The Sporting Times carried out a poll of one hundred experts to create a ranking of the best British racehorses of the 19th Century. St...
. His dam was Leisure, who was also the dam of the 1914 Preakness Stakes winner, Holiday
Holiday (horse)
Holiday was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1914 Preakness Stakes. Owned by Mrs. A. Barklie, he was sired by Broomstick...
. Leisure's sire was Meddler
Meddler (horse)
Meddler was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who was a leading two-year-old in England and a Leading sire in North America in 1904 and 1906. Bred and raced by George Baird, his sire, St. Gatien, dead heated for the win in the 1884 Epsom Derby and won the 1885 Ascot Gold Cup...
, the leading sire in North America
Leading sire in North America
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the year...
in 1904 and 1906.
Racing at age two under trainer John Rogers, on September 10, 1907 Royal Tourist earned his first win in the Autumn Stakes at Sheepshead Bay Race Track
Sheepshead Bay Race Track
Sheepshead Bay Race Track was an American Thoroughbred horse racing facility built on the site of the Coney Island Jockey Club at Sheepshead Bay, New York...
with a stakes record time of 1:11 flat for six furlongs. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9504E4DB1F30E233A25752C1A96F9C946697D6CF He went on that year to win the Oakdale Stakes 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:...
. As a three-year-old in 1908, Royal Tourist's race conditioning was handled by Jack Joyner
A. Jack Joyner
Andrew Jackson "Jack" Joyner was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame trainer and owner.Known as "Jack" and reported as "A.J." and "A. Jack," Joyner was born in Enfield, North Carolina, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Henry Joyner...
who took over as trainer of the Whitney racing stable on the death of John Rogers in February. In the pre U.S. Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
era, Royal Tourist was not entered in 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...
but on June 2, 1908, under jockey Eddie Dugan
Eddie Dugan
Eddie Dugan was a jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing who won three American Classic Races and two Canadian Classic Races. In addition, Dugan raced and won in Russia....
, he won what is now the second leg of the Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes, contested at the time at a distance of 11/16 miles at Gravesend Race Track
Gravesend Race Track
Gravesend Race Track at Gravesend on Coney Island, New York was a Thoroughbred horse racing facility built by the Brooklyn Jockey Club as a result of the backing of the wealthy racing stable owners, the Dwyer Brothers. Philip J...
.
Harry Whitney sold Royal Tourist in the early fall of 1908 to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
an Charles R. Ellison. The owner of a number of successful horses, Ellison had won the 1903 Kentucky Derby with Judge Himes
Judge Himes
Judge Himes was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that was foaled in Kentucky and was the winner of the 1903 Kentucky Derby. Judge Himes was a chestnut colt sired by imported Esher out of the mare Lullaby...
and finished second in 1906 with the very good filly, Lady Navarre. Ellison sent Royal Tourist to race 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...
where in November he set a new 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...
of 1:44 1/5 for 11/16 miles on dirt in the Winters Handicap at Emeryville Race Track in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. The colt wintered in California and continued to race there in 1909.
Royal Tourist died of a fever while still in training at the Hamilton (Ont.) racetrack stables on September 27, 1909.