Two Lea
Encyclopedia
Two Lea was an American Thoroughbred
Champion racehorse
. Born at Calumet Farm
in Lexington, Kentucky
, her sire was Bull Lea
whose progeny were already successful. Her dam was Two Bob, winner of the 1936 Kentucky Oaks
.
As a yearling Two Lea developed ringbone
, a difficult condition which delayed her training which delayed the start of her racing career. By the time she stepped on a track at two years of age, the 1948 season was almost over. In her first three tries, she won only her last, a race at Belmont Park
. But in this race, she ran well, easily cruising for a win of four lengths.
At three, things improved markedly. Two Lea started seven times, winning six of her races. Her only defeat came in the Modesty Stakes against older females; in that race, she carried ten pounds more than the winner. In the Cleopatra Stakes, Two Lea raced against another stablemate, Wistful, who was considered the East Coast's leading filly. Wistful had won the 1949 Kentucky Oaks, the Pimlico Oaks
, and the Coaching Club American Oaks
and was on her way to divisional honors. Two Lea beat her easing up. In her last three-year-old race, the Artful, she defeated But Why Not
, the female champion of 1947. Here, Two Lea came close to equaling the world record for seven furlong
s.
Two Lea shared the 1949 three-year-old female championship with Wistful, both Calumet horses.
At four, after two good wins, she finally raced males. Ridden by Eddie Arcaro
for the first and last time, she contested the Santa Anita Maturity
with Ponder
, winner of the previous year's Kentucky Derby
. For some reason, on the lead and with Ponder challenging, Arcaro not only did not urge her, he was easing her up. Two Lea held on to second place. And then came the Santa Anita Handicap
which Two Lea did not win, but then neither did Citation nor Ponder. They all gave weight to a horse called Noor
. Noor won, Citation placed, Two Lea showed, and Ponder came in fourth. At the end of the year she earned a well-deserved Champion Older Filly award for 1950.
For the next year and a half Two Lea did not race, once again enduring ringbone. The treatment was called a "pinfire," a "cure" which resulted in a large knob on her fetlock
.
By the time she came back to the races she was six years old. At six and with ringbone, 1952 was a very good year for Two Lea. She started eleven times and won six times, five of those wins in stakes
races. She beat Wistful again, giving her ten pounds, and then won the Hollywood Gold Cup
against males. Her last races were at Bay Meadows Racetrack where she won the San Mateo Handicap and the Children’s Hospital Handicap under top weight. All in all, in her entire career, Two Lea finished unplaced only twice.
Two Lea was also successful as a broodmare. Among others, she gave birth to Tim Tam
, a horse who came very close to winning the Triple Crown.
Two Lea was 27 when she died in 1973. She is buried at Calumet Farm.
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...
Champion 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...
. Born at 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...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, her sire was 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...
whose progeny were already successful. Her dam was Two Bob, winner of the 1936 Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Oaks
The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
.
As a yearling Two Lea developed ringbone
Ringbone
Ringbone is exostosis in the pastern or coffin joint of a horse. In severe cases, the growth can encircle the bones, giving ringbone its name...
, a difficult condition which delayed her training which delayed the start of her racing career. By the time she stepped on a track at two years of age, the 1948 season was almost over. In her first three tries, she won only her last, a race 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...
. But in this race, she ran well, easily cruising for a win of four lengths.
At three, things improved markedly. Two Lea started seven times, winning six of her races. Her only defeat came in the Modesty Stakes against older females; in that race, she carried ten pounds more than the winner. In the Cleopatra Stakes, Two Lea raced against another stablemate, Wistful, who was considered the East Coast's leading filly. Wistful had won the 1949 Kentucky Oaks, the Pimlico Oaks
Pimlico Oaks
The Pimlico Oaks was a listed Thoroughbred horse race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Run at the beginning of April at a distance of 1 1/16 miles on dirt, its purse was $200,000....
, and the Coaching Club American Oaks
Coaching Club American Oaks
The Coaching Club American Oaks is a race for thoroughbred three-year old fillies and the second leg of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. Originally run at Belmont Park, the Grade I $250,000 stakes race was moved to Saratoga Race Course in 2010....
and was on her way to divisional honors. Two Lea beat her easing up. In her last three-year-old race, the Artful, she defeated But Why Not
But Why Not
But Why Not was an American Thoroughbred filly racehorse. The daughter of Blue Larkspur and granddaughter of Black Servant will be remembered best for wins in the Alabama Stakes, the Acorn Stakes, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course...
, the female champion of 1947. Here, Two Lea came close to equaling the world record for seven furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s.
Two Lea shared the 1949 three-year-old female championship with Wistful, both Calumet horses.
At four, after two good wins, she finally raced males. Ridden by Eddie Arcaro
Eddie Arcaro
George Edward Arcaro , known professionally as Eddie Arcaro, was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who won more American classic races than any other jockey in history and is the only rider to have won the U.S. Triple Crown twice...
for the first and last time, she contested the Santa Anita Maturity
Strub Stakes
The Strub Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California each year.Currently a Grade II stakes race with a purse of $300,000, it is open to horses, age four, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the synthetic surface of Santa Anita and offers...
with Ponder
Ponder (horse)
Ponder , an American Thoroughbred racehorse, was the son of the 1944 Kentucky Derby winner, Pensive and sire of the winner of the 1956 Kentucky Derby, Needles. Ponder, himself, won the Derby in 1949...
, winner of the previous year's 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...
. For some reason, on the lead and with Ponder challenging, Arcaro not only did not urge her, he was easing her up. Two Lea held on to second place. And then came the Santa Anita Handicap
Santa Anita Handicap
The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season...
which Two Lea did not win, but then neither did Citation nor Ponder. They all gave weight to a horse called Noor
Noor (horse)
Noor was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse Champion who competed successfully in the United Kingdom and the United States. Given the Arabic name meaning "Light", Noor was sired by five-time U.S. leading sire Nasrullah...
. Noor won, Citation placed, Two Lea showed, and Ponder came in fourth. At the end of the year she earned a well-deserved Champion Older Filly award for 1950.
For the next year and a half Two Lea did not race, once again enduring ringbone. The treatment was called a "pinfire," a "cure" which resulted in a large knob on her fetlock
Fetlock
Fetlock is the common name for the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of horses, large animals, and sometimes dogs. It is formed by the junction of the third metacarpal or metatarsal bones proximad and the proximal phalanx distad...
.
By the time she came back to the races she was six years old. At six and with ringbone, 1952 was a very good year for Two Lea. She started eleven times and won six times, five of those wins in 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. She beat Wistful again, giving her ten pounds, and then won the Hollywood Gold Cup
Hollywood Gold Cup
The Hollywood Gold Cup is an American Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions...
against males. Her last races were at Bay Meadows Racetrack where she won the San Mateo Handicap and the Children’s Hospital Handicap under top weight. All in all, in her entire career, Two Lea finished unplaced only twice.
Two Lea was also successful as a broodmare. Among others, she gave birth to Tim Tam
Tim Tam (horse)
Tim Tam was an American thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Tom Fool and out of the great racing mare Two Lea , the dark bay colt was owned and bred by Calumet Farm...
, a horse who came very close to winning the Triple Crown.
Two Lea was 27 when she died in 1973. She is buried at Calumet Farm.