Ta Wee
Encyclopedia
Ta Wee was an American Thoroughbred
Hall of Fame
race horse
bred at the Tartan Stable of William L. McKnight
(chairman of the board of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.
). (The W. L. McKnight Handicap
is raced in his honor at Calder Race Course
.) Foaled on March 26, 1966, her sire was Intentionally
, the American Champion Sprint Horse of 1959. Man o' War
appears on both sides of Ta Wee's pedigree, but Ta Wee's dam was the great broodmare Aspidistra by Better Self by Bimelech
by Black Toney
. Aspidistra also goes back to the influential Ben Brush
.
A birthday gift in 1957 to McKnight by his employees, Aspidistra cost a reputed $6,500. Aspidistra was risked in claiming races. No one claimed her and at the time she retired, McKnight still owned her. Two years prior to the birth of Ta Wee, the mare had given birth to Dr. Fager
. Aside from Dr. Fager and Ta Wee, Aspidistra is the tail-female ancestress of Unbridled
.
Ta Wee's training was assumed by the Hall of Famer
, Scotty Schulhofer
. Her introduction to racing at the age of two proved a modest success, but in her first year as a three-year-old sprinter, she won eight stakes
races, five of them consecutively. In the Vosburgh Stakes
she beat older males.
Because of her triumphs in her third year, her fourth year saw her heavily weighted. Even so, she won five of her seven races. In her last two races, her second Fall Highweight Handicap
and her second Interborough Handicap
, she ran under 140 and 142 pounds, giving away 19 pounds to the runner up in the Fall Highweight and 29 pounds in the Interborough. For this she won her second consecutive American Champion Sprint Horse award.
Retired to broodmare duties, Ta Wee had five foals, all of them winners, and four stakes winners. Her first foal was the sprint stakes winner, Great Above, who sired Holy Bull
.
The name Ta Wee comes from the Sioux
language and means "Beautiful Girl." Ta Wee died in 1980.
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...
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...
race horse
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...
bred at the Tartan Stable of William L. McKnight
William L. McKnight
William L. McKnight was an American businessman and philanthropist who served his entire career in the 3M corporation, rising to chairman of the board from 1949 to 1966. He founded The McKnight Foundation in 1953....
(chairman of the board of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.
3M
3M Company , formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States....
). (The W. L. McKnight Handicap
W. L. McKnight Handicap
The W.L. McKnight Handicap is a race for Thoroughbred horses run at Calder Race Course, Florida, in the late fall of each year. The race is open to horses, age three and up. From 1973 to 1980, the distance was one and one-eighth miles on the turf...
is raced in his honor at Calder Race Course
Calder Race Course
Calder Casino & Race Course is a casino and horse racetrack in Miami Gardens, Florida in the United States.-History:In the mid-1960s, real estate developer Stephen A. Calder envisioned summertime racing in Florida; in 1965, on the advice of Mr. Calder, the Florida Legislature approved a bill...
.) Foaled on March 26, 1966, her sire was Intentionally
Intentionally (horse)
Intentionally was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse and an important foundation sire for the Florida breeding industry. Foaled at Wolf Run Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, he was bred and raced by Baltimore, Maryland clothing manufacturer Harry Isaacs' Brookfield Farm. His sire, Intent, won...
, the American Champion Sprint Horse of 1959. 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 :...
appears on both sides of Ta Wee's pedigree, but Ta Wee's dam was the great broodmare Aspidistra by Better Self by Bimelech
Bimelech
Bimelech was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse who won two Triple Crown races, was twice named American horse of the year, and is ranked #84 among U.S. racehorses of the 20th century. After retiring to stud, he sired 30 stakes winners and his daughters produced 50 stakes winners.-Early...
by Black Toney
Black Toney
Black Toney was bred by James R. Keene's Castleton Farm. Keene, whose health was failing , sold all his holdings in 1912 to Colonel Edward R. Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm in Lexington, Kentucky...
. Aspidistra also goes back to the influential Ben Brush
Ben Brush (horse)
Ben Brush was a high class Thoroughbred racehorse and sire who won the 1896 Kentucky Derby. He was a bay stallion by Bramble out of Roseville by Reform...
.
A birthday gift in 1957 to McKnight by his employees, Aspidistra cost a reputed $6,500. Aspidistra was risked in claiming races. No one claimed her and at the time she retired, McKnight still owned her. Two years prior to the birth of Ta Wee, the mare had given birth to Dr. Fager
Dr. Fager
Dr. Fager was an American a thoroughbred racehorse who had what many consider one of the greatest single racing seasons by any horse in the history of the sport. "The Doctor" was the only horse who ever held four titles in one year...
. Aside from Dr. Fager and Ta Wee, Aspidistra is the tail-female ancestress of Unbridled
Unbridled
Unbridled was a Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse.The colt was sired by Fappiano , by Mr. Prospector, and his dam Gana Facil, by Le Fabuleux. Unbridled retired with a career record of 8 wins, 6 places and 6 shows in 24 starts, and $4,489,475 in career earnings...
.
Ta Wee's training was assumed by the Hall of Famer
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...
, Scotty Schulhofer
Flint S. Schulhofer
Flint S. "Scotty" Schulhofer was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Schulhofer was born into a racing family in Aiken, South Carolina, where his father owned a racing stable as well as a riding academy...
. Her introduction to racing at the age of two proved a modest success, but in her first year as a three-year-old sprinter, she won eight 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...
races, five of them consecutively. In the Vosburgh Stakes
Vosburgh Stakes
The Vosburgh Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Run at the end of September/early October, it is open to horses three-years-old and up of either gender...
she beat older males.
Because of her triumphs in her third year, her fourth year saw her heavily weighted. Even so, she won five of her seven races. In her last two races, her second Fall Highweight Handicap
Fall Highweight Handicap
The Fall Highweight Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually near the end of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Currently run at a distance of 6 furlongs , it is open to horses three years of age and older. The race is a real test for speed and strength in that...
and her second Interborough Handicap
Interborough Handicap
The Interborough Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at the beginning of January at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York...
, she ran under 140 and 142 pounds, giving away 19 pounds to the runner up in the Fall Highweight and 29 pounds in the Interborough. For this she won her second consecutive American Champion Sprint Horse award.
Retired to broodmare duties, Ta Wee had five foals, all of them winners, and four stakes winners. Her first foal was the sprint stakes winner, Great Above, who sired Holy Bull
Holy Bull
Holy Bull is an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by Great Above, whose dam was the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly Ta Wee.-Race History:...
.
The name Ta Wee comes from the Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
language and means "Beautiful Girl." Ta Wee died in 1980.