Silver Spoon (horse)
Encyclopedia
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
. Her dam, Silver Fog, carried the blood of Equipose
, Blenheim II
, Man o' War
, Broomstick
, Peter Pan I
, and a host of others.
Silver Spoon was a big chestnut filly with four white stockings, standing 16 hands one inch tall, and weighing 1,135 pounds. As a foal, she injured her hip and forever after walked with a pronounced hesitation or "hitch" in her gait. Her first race was an $8,000 claiming event (horses can be "claimed" out of the race, meaning purchased, for an amount set by individual race conditions) for two-year-olds at Belmont Park
. There were no takers. Ridden by Eldon Nelson
, she won the race by six lengths.
Sent to California
, Silver Spoon dominated her division, going undefeated in a six-race winning streak. Winning both the Santa Anita Oaks
and the Santa Anita Derby
, she became one of only two fillies ever to do so. The other was the winner of the 1988 Kentucky Derby
: Winning Colors
. In the Santa Anita Derby, she took the race against colts
. With her ears pricked, she romped home by two and a half lengths against that year's eventual Preakness Stakes
winner, Royal Orbit
. This was the win that convinced her connections to enter her in the 1959 Kentucky Derby. The only filly even to start in the race between the years 1945 to 1980, she came in a respectable fifth, three and a half lengths behind the winner, Tomy Lee
. A few months later, back on the West Coast, she soundly beat Tomy Lee in the Cinema Handicap
. In the Cinema, she conceded 9 pounds to the runner-up. In the press, Silver Spoon was hailed as the best filly since the war
.
In the 1959 voting for Champion three-old-filly, one poll voted for Silver Spoon, who also earned the highest mathematical score, but another poll voted for another good filly, Royal Native. Silver Spoon shared that year’s honor with Royal Native.
As a broodmare, Silver Spoon gave birth to seven foals. One was the stakes
winning Inca Queen by Hail to Reason
.
In the year she died, 1978, Silver Spoon was inducted into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
. She is buried at the Gainesway Farm
, once part of the C.V. Whitney Farm, beside her equals, among them Winning Colors.
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
winning American
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...
race horse, was well named. She was a daughter of the great Triple Crown winner
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...
Citation
Citation (horse)
Citation was the eighth American Triple Crown winner, and one of three major North American Thoroughbreds to win at least 16 consecutive races in major stakes race competition...
. Citation was by Bull Lea
Bull Lea
Bull Lea was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known as the foundation sire responsible for making Calumet Farm one of the most successful racing stables in American history...
, the foundation sire of Calumet Farm
Calumet Farm
Calumet Farm is a Thoroughbred breeding and training farm established in 1924 in Lexington, Kentucky, United States by William Monroe Wright, founding owner of the Calumet Baking Powder Company. Calumet is located in the heart of Lexington's blue grass country, the finest horse breeding region in...
. Her dam, Silver Fog, carried the blood of Equipose
Equipoise (horse)
Equipoise was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse, a chestnut bred in the United States by Harry Payne Whitney and owned by his son, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney...
, Blenheim II
Blenheim II
Blenheim II was a good British-bred Thoroughbred race horse who won the Epsom Derby in 1930. As sire he had a major influence on pedigrees around the world.-Pedigree:...
, Man o' War
Man O' War
Man O' War, man o' war or manowar may refer to:* Man-of-war, a warship* Man of war for uses with this spelling - Places :...
, Broomstick
Broomstick (horse)
Broomstick was a Thoroughbred race horse born and bred at the famous McGrathiana Stud in Kentucky, but more importantly, he was one of the great sires of American racing. Out of another great sire, the Hall of Famer Ben Brush, Broomstick went on after his racing career to produce champion after...
, Peter Pan I
Peter Pan I
Peter Pan was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire, bred and raced by prominent horseman, James R. Keene. As winner of the Belmont Stakes, the Brooklyn Derby and the Brighton Handicap, he was later inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
, and a host of others.
Silver Spoon was a big chestnut filly with four white stockings, standing 16 hands one inch tall, and weighing 1,135 pounds. As a foal, she injured her hip and forever after walked with a pronounced hesitation or "hitch" in her gait. Her first race was an $8,000 claiming event (horses can be "claimed" out of the race, meaning purchased, for an amount set by individual race conditions) for two-year-olds at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
. There were no takers. Ridden by Eldon Nelson
Eldon Nelson
Glen Eldon Nelson is a retired American jockey in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing who competed primarily at tracks on the East Coast of the United States and who is best known for winning the 1972 Preakness Stakes....
, she won the race by six lengths.
Sent to 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...
, Silver Spoon dominated her division, going undefeated in a six-race winning streak. Winning both the Santa Anita Oaks
Santa Anita Oaks
Santa Anita Oaks is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to three-year-old fillies willing to race 8.5 furlongs on the dirt, it currently offers a purse of $300,000.Inaugurated in 1935 as a race for two-year-olds,...
and 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...
, she became one of only two fillies ever to do so. The other was the winner of the 1988 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...
: Winning Colors
Winning Colors (horse)
Winning Colors was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse and one of only three fillies to ever win the Kentucky Derby. Though she was registered as roan, she was, in fact, a gray with a broad band of white on her face.Racing on the West Coast of the United States for trainer D...
. In the Santa Anita Derby, she took the race against colts
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
. With her ears pricked, she romped home by two and a half lengths against that year's eventual 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...
winner, Royal Orbit
Royal Orbit
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....
. This was the win that convinced her connections to enter her in the 1959 Kentucky Derby. The only filly even to start in the race between the years 1945 to 1980, she came in a respectable fifth, three and a half lengths behind the winner, 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....
. A few months later, back on the West Coast, she soundly beat Tomy Lee in the Cinema Handicap
Cinema Handicap
The Cinema Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. Raced on turf over a distance of one and one-eighth miles during the third week of June, the Grade III event is open to three-year-old horses.The race was run in two...
. In the Cinema, she conceded 9 pounds to the runner-up. In the press, Silver Spoon was hailed as the best filly since the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In the 1959 voting for Champion three-old-filly, one poll voted for Silver Spoon, who also earned the highest mathematical score, but another poll voted for another good filly, Royal Native. Silver Spoon shared that year’s honor with Royal Native.
As a broodmare, Silver Spoon gave birth to seven foals. One was the stakes
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
winning Inca Queen by Hail to Reason
Hail To Reason
Hail To Reason was an American thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire. He was bred in Kentucky by the Bieber-Jacobs Stable, a partnership of prominent horsemen, Isadore Bieber and Hirsch Jacobs. He was sired by the English stakes winner Turn-To, a grandson of the very influential sire Nearco...
.
In the year she died, 1978, Silver Spoon was inducted into the 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...
. She is buried at the Gainesway Farm
Gainesway Farm
Gainesway Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding business in Lexington, Kentucky. It was originally called Greentree Farms.The 1,500 acre property has been home to sires such as Youth and Exceller and numerous others who are buried on the property...
, once part of the C.V. Whitney Farm, beside her equals, among them Winning Colors.