Wide Country
Encyclopedia
Wide Country was an American Thoroughbred
racehorse
who defeated both male and female competitors. She was bred in Maryland
by Diana W. Carlson. She was a chestnut filly out of the mare
, Bazooka Babe. Her sire
was Magesterial, the multiple stakes winning son of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee, Northern Dancer
. Wide Country will best be remembered for her gutsy win in the slop in the Grade II
$250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
over stakes winners John's Decision and Nalees Pin on May 17, 1991.
or Laurel Park Racecourse). The streak began in the final months of 1990. Then it took on greater significance when the chestnut filly overcame adversity to win the Grade II
$250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
over a muddy race track after losing a shoe. She also won the Grade 3 Pimlico Oaks
by a romping eight and a half lengths. Wide Country shipped to Belmont Park
and Meadowlands for a summer and fall campaign where she turned in victories in the Caesar's Wish Stakes, Genuine Risk Handicap
and the Jameela Stakes and finished second in the Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap. Trained by Robert W. Camac
, Wide Country had fulfilled the promise she had shown at age two when she captured three more Maryland Stakes Races at the end of her sophomore season on her way to state-bred championship honors. At year end she was named Maryland-bred "Horse of the Year for 1991.
at Laurel Park Racecourse. That day she was closing fast and fell just short at the wire to Wood So in the seven furlong grade two stakes race. That spring in late April, Wide Country posted her only major victory of the year when she won the grade two $125,000 Genuine Risk Handicap
at Belmont Park
in New York over six furlongs on the dirt. That summer in August she had a grade one stakes showing in the Maskette Stakes (now called the Go For Wand Handicap
) finishing third to Easy Now in the one mile and an eighth race at Aqueduct Racetrack
.
which is open to fillies age three years-old and up willing to race seven furlongs on the dirt every March.
What A Summer ended her career with a record of 12 wins out of 26 starts in her career. Her most memorable race was perhaps her dominating performance in the defacto second leg of the filly Triple Crown, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. In addition to her 12 wins she also placed five times with earnings of $881,221. That record of 17 first or second finishes in 26 starts at 65% is among the best of the decade.
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 defeated both male and female competitors. She was bred in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
by Diana W. Carlson. She was a chestnut filly out of the mare
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
, Bazooka Babe. Her sire
Sire
Sire may refer to:* Father, the counterpart of a dam, particularly in animal breeding. See also stallion* James W. Sire, author on worldviews* Sire Records, a record label* Sire Advertising, an advertising agency...
was Magesterial, the multiple stakes winning son of 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...
inductee, Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
. Wide Country will best be remembered for her gutsy win in the slop in the Grade II
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...
$250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is open to three-year-old fillies willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $250,000...
over stakes winners John's Decision and Nalees Pin on May 17, 1991.
Three year-old season
In 1991 Tom Tanner's home bred, Wide Country proved to be an indomitable force during her three year-old season, running her win streak to eight straight races (all stakes races at either Pimlico Race CoursePimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
or Laurel Park Racecourse). The streak began in the final months of 1990. Then it took on greater significance when the chestnut filly overcame adversity to win the Grade II
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...
$250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is open to three-year-old fillies willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $250,000...
over a muddy race track after losing a shoe. She also won the Grade 3 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....
by a romping eight and a half lengths. Wide Country shipped to 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...
and Meadowlands for a summer and fall campaign where she turned in victories in the Caesar's Wish Stakes, Genuine Risk Handicap
Genuine Risk Handicap
The Genuine Risk Handicap is a race for thoroughbred race horses, open to fillies and mares age three and up. The race is run each spring at six furlongs on the dirt at Belmont Park in New York and offers a purse of $150,000....
and the Jameela Stakes and finished second in the Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap. Trained by Robert W. Camac
Robert W. Camac
Robert W. Camac was an American horse trainer and owner/breeder in Thoroughbred racing. He was murdered in 2001....
, Wide Country had fulfilled the promise she had shown at age two when she captured three more Maryland Stakes Races at the end of her sophomore season on her way to state-bred championship honors. At year end she was named Maryland-bred "Horse of the Year for 1991.
Four year-old seasons
At age four Wide Country had a near miss in the stakes feature on Presidents' Day in 1992, finishing only a neck behind the winner in the Barbara Fritchie HandicapBarbara Fritchie Handicap
The Barbara Fritchie Handicap is an American race for Thoroughbred horses run at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland each year. A Grade II, this race is open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race seven furlongs on the dirt and offers a purse of $300,000.The race is run in...
at Laurel Park Racecourse. That day she was closing fast and fell just short at the wire to Wood So in the seven furlong grade two stakes race. That spring in late April, Wide Country posted her only major victory of the year when she won the grade two $125,000 Genuine Risk Handicap
Genuine Risk Handicap
The Genuine Risk Handicap is a race for thoroughbred race horses, open to fillies and mares age three and up. The race is run each spring at six furlongs on the dirt at Belmont Park in New York and offers a purse of $150,000....
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...
in New York over six furlongs on the dirt. That summer in August she had a grade one stakes showing in the Maskette Stakes (now called the Go For Wand Handicap
Go For Wand Handicap
The Go For Wand Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race established in 1954 for fillies and mares age three and up. Raced at the end of July/early August, it is a Grade II race on dirt at a distance of one and one-eighth miles .Inaugurated in 1954 at Belmont Park as the Maskette Stakes in...
) finishing third to Easy Now in the one mile and an eighth race 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:...
.
Honors
After her retirement, Laurel Park Racecourse named a race in honor, the Wide Country StakesWide Country Stakes
The Wide Country Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in March at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. The Wide Country Stakes, is open to fillies age three-years-old and up willing to race seven furlongs on the dirt. It was the 18th running of the stakes race in...
which is open to fillies age three years-old and up willing to race seven furlongs on the dirt every March.
What A Summer ended her career with a record of 12 wins out of 26 starts in her career. Her most memorable race was perhaps her dominating performance in the defacto second leg of the filly Triple Crown, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. In addition to her 12 wins she also placed five times with earnings of $881,221. That record of 17 first or second finishes in 26 starts at 65% is among the best of the decade.