Stymie (horse)
Encyclopedia
Stymie was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. Stymie was bred by Max Hirsch, and was born on King Ranch, in Texas.
As a young horse, Stymie possessed so terrible a disposition that his ability to race was hampered; his trainer did not see much in him. Therefore, two of Stymie's first three starts were claiming race
s.
On June 2, 1943, Stymie was bought by Hirsch Jacobs, one of the time's leading trainers. Jacobs bagged the horse for $1,500 for his wife Ethel Jacobs.
Stymie was to race ten more times before being led to the winner's circle. However, even then his racing record was still unimpressive; seven wins out of fifty starts.
, and third in the Gallant Fox Handicap, Westchester Handicap, Riggs Handicap, Pimlico Cup Handicap, Flamingo Stakes
, and the Shevlin Stakes
.
In 1945, the US government shut down racing for four months. Stymie, meanwhile, enjoyed a seven month rest, which did infinite good to him. As the ban was lifted from the racetracks, he reappeared eager and refreshed.
Stymie won the Brooklyn Handicap
, Butler Handicap, Westchester Handicap, Pimlico Cup Handicap, Riggs Handicap, Saratoga Cup
, Continental Handicap, Grey Lag Handicap, came in second in the Suburban Handicap
, the Queens County Handicap
and Yonkers Handicap, and third in the Pimlico Special
, Jockey Club Gold Cup
, Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap, and the Whitney Stakes. At age five, he won the Gallant Fox Handicap (beating the winner of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
, Assault
), New York Handicap, Grey Lag Handicap, Manhattan Handicap
, Edgemere Handicap, Whitney Stakes, and the Saratoga Cup, placed in the Brooklyn Handicap, Dixie Handicap, Jockey Club Gold Cup
, Monmouth Handicap, and the Pimlico Special
, and showed in the Suburban Handicap
, Butler Handicap, Saratoga Handicap and Sussex Handicap. At six years of age, Stymie won the Gold Cup, Gallant Fox Handicap, Massachusetts Handicap, Aqueduct Handicap, Metropolitan Handicap
, Sussex Handicap, Questionnaire Handicap, placed in the Brooklyn Handicap, Butler Handicap, Edgemere Handicap, Manhattan Handicap, and Queens County Handicap
, and came home third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Whitney Stakes. When he was seven, he won the Aqueduct Handicap, Metropolitan Handicap, Sussex Handicap, took second in the Suburban Handicap, Dixie Handicap, Queens County Handicap, and third in the Brooklyn Handicap and Excelsior Handicap. In his last year at eight, he was second in the New York Handicap.
In 1947, His racing career came to an abrupt end in the Monmouth Handicap when he suffered a fractured a sesamoid bone in his right forefoot.
At Suffolk Downs
on July 7, 1947, Stymie became the first horse ever to eclipse the $700,000 earnings mark. Stymie was so heavily bet that a minus show pool of $25,887 was created that day, and the tote board briefly, jammed due to the flood of money wagered on him.
. In the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century, Stymie is ranked #41.
Jacobs, who died in 1970, was elected as a trainer to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in 1958. He and his wife named their Sparks, Maryland
breeding operation Stymie Manor.
Stymie died in 1962.
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
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
. Stymie was bred by Max Hirsch, and was born on King Ranch, in Texas.
As a young horse, Stymie possessed so terrible a disposition that his ability to race was hampered; his trainer did not see much in him. Therefore, two of Stymie's first three starts were claiming race
Claiming race
A claiming race in thoroughbred horse racing is one in which the horses are all for sale for more or less the same price up until shortly before the race. Race types form a hierarchy in terms of the quality of horse they attract, with handicap races and graded stakes races attracting the "best"...
s.
On June 2, 1943, Stymie was bought by Hirsch Jacobs, one of the time's leading trainers. Jacobs bagged the horse for $1,500 for his wife Ethel Jacobs.
Stymie was to race ten more times before being led to the winner's circle. However, even then his racing record was still unimpressive; seven wins out of fifty starts.
Racing Career and Wins
At age two, Stymie lost every race he ran save one. The best he could do in better company at two was place in the Ardsley Handicap and show in the Thomas K. Lynch Memorial Handicap. He also lost most of his three-year-old races. At three, he came in second in the Wood Memorial StakesWood Memorial Stakes
The Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, New York. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt....
, and third in the Gallant Fox Handicap, Westchester Handicap, Riggs Handicap, Pimlico Cup Handicap, Flamingo Stakes
Flamingo Stakes
The Flamingo Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in March at the Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida. Run over a distance of nine furlongs, the inaugural race took place in 1926 at the Tampa, Florida racetrack...
, and the Shevlin Stakes
Shevlin Stakes
The Shevlin Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York and at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York...
.
In 1945, the US government shut down racing for four months. Stymie, meanwhile, enjoyed a seven month rest, which did infinite good to him. As the ban was lifted from the racetracks, he reappeared eager and refreshed.
Stymie won the Brooklyn Handicap
Brooklyn Handicap
The Brooklyn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Long Island. It currently is a Grade II event open to three-year-olds and up willing to race one and one-half miles on dirt....
, Butler Handicap, Westchester Handicap, Pimlico Cup Handicap, Riggs Handicap, Saratoga Cup
Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap
The 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...
, Continental Handicap, Grey Lag Handicap, came in second in the Suburban Handicap
Suburban Handicap
The Suburban Handicap is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is run at the classic one-and-one-quarter mile distance on dirt for a $400,000 purse....
, the Queens County Handicap
Queens County Handicap
The Queens County Handicap is an American Grade III Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of December at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York...
and Yonkers Handicap, and third in the Pimlico Special
Pimlico Special
The Pimlico Special is an American thoroughbred horse race held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland in mid May. It is raced on dirt over a distance of 1³/16 miles . The race is currently open to horses age three and older and offers a purse of $250,000.The Pimlico Special was first run in...
, Jockey Club Gold Cup
Jockey Club Gold Cup
The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a prestigious thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It is typically the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the spring meeting and the Travers Stakes is of the...
, Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap, and the Whitney Stakes. At age five, he won the Gallant Fox Handicap (beating the winner of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
, Assault
Assault (horse)
Assault was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse who won the U.S. Triple Crown in 1946.-Early life:...
), New York Handicap, Grey Lag Handicap, Manhattan Handicap
Manhattan Handicap
The Manhattan Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race raced annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is named for Manhattan, the principal borough of the City of New York...
, Edgemere Handicap, Whitney Stakes, and the Saratoga Cup, placed in the Brooklyn Handicap, Dixie Handicap, Jockey Club Gold Cup
Jockey Club Gold Cup
The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a prestigious thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It is typically the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the spring meeting and the Travers Stakes is of the...
, Monmouth Handicap, and the Pimlico Special
Pimlico Special
The Pimlico Special is an American thoroughbred horse race held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland in mid May. It is raced on dirt over a distance of 1³/16 miles . The race is currently open to horses age three and older and offers a purse of $250,000.The Pimlico Special was first run in...
, and showed in the Suburban Handicap
Suburban Handicap
The Suburban Handicap is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is run at the classic one-and-one-quarter mile distance on dirt for a $400,000 purse....
, Butler Handicap, Saratoga Handicap and Sussex Handicap. At six years of age, Stymie won the Gold Cup, Gallant Fox Handicap, Massachusetts Handicap, Aqueduct Handicap, Metropolitan Handicap
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
, Sussex Handicap, Questionnaire Handicap, placed in the Brooklyn Handicap, Butler Handicap, Edgemere Handicap, Manhattan Handicap, and Queens County Handicap
Queens County Handicap
The Queens County Handicap is an American Grade III Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of December at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York...
, and came home third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Whitney Stakes. When he was seven, he won the Aqueduct Handicap, Metropolitan Handicap, Sussex Handicap, took second in the Suburban Handicap, Dixie Handicap, Queens County Handicap, and third in the Brooklyn Handicap and Excelsior Handicap. In his last year at eight, he was second in the New York Handicap.
In 1947, His racing career came to an abrupt end in the Monmouth Handicap when he suffered a fractured a sesamoid bone in his right forefoot.
Career Starts and Wins
Out of 131 lifetime starts, he won 35, placed in 33, and showed in 28. Stymie's career winnings added up to $918,485. That made him, at the time, the richest race horse in America.At Suffolk Downs
Suffolk Downs
Suffolk Downs, a thoroughbred race track in East Boston, Massachusetts, United States opened in 1935. Famous horses that have raced at this track include Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, Funny Cide and Cigar. The MassCap is held there, as well at the annual Hot Dog Safari...
on July 7, 1947, Stymie became the first horse ever to eclipse the $700,000 earnings mark. Stymie was so heavily bet that a minus show pool of $25,887 was created that day, and the tote board briefly, jammed due to the flood of money wagered on him.
Legacy
A grandson of Equipoise and inbred to Man O' War, in 1975, he was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of FameNational 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...
. In the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century, Stymie is ranked #41.
Jacobs, who died in 1970, was elected as a trainer to the National Museum of Racing and 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...
in 1958. He and his wife named their Sparks, Maryland
Sparks, Maryland
Sparks is an unincorporated community that is located in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is situated approximately 20 miles north of Baltimore, Maryland and is considered to be a suburb of the City of Baltimore...
breeding operation Stymie Manor.
Stymie died in 1962.
Footnotes
- Explained by Jane Smiley, author of "Horse Heaven." "Claiming races are for what you might call working class horses who haven't made it into the big time or the bigger time. When the trainer enters his horse in a claiming race, he is saying that the horse is for sale. If another owner or trainer wants the horse, he puts down the required amount of money (set by the value of the race and some other factors) any time up to fifteen minutes before the start of the race. As soon as the horses leave the gate, the horse belongs to the one who claimed it, whether it wins or loses, lives or dies. After the horses head back to the receiving barn, a track official comes out and hangs a red tag on the horse's bridle, and the horse goes to the barn of its new owner. Needless to say, you can run a horse over and over in claiming races, hoping that it will get claimed, and it won't, or you can risk it once, hoping that it won't get claimed, and it will. One reason to put it in a claiming race even though you don't want it to get claimed is that you think it has a good chance of winning the pot and a small chance of getting taken because it has obscure breeding or something like that. There's also an element of daring and gambling in claiming races that track people like."