In the fall of 1989, Secretariat became afflicted with laminitis—a painful and debilitating hoof condition. When his condition failed to improve after a month of treatment, he was euthanized on October 4 at the age of 19. Secretariat was buried at Claiborne Farm, given the rare honor of being buried whole (traditionally only the head, heart, and hooves of a winning race horse are buried). At the time of Secretariat's death, the veterinarian who performed the necropsy, Dr. Thomas Swerczek, head pathologist at the University of Kentucky, did not weigh Secretariat's heart, but stated, "We just stood there in stunned silence.
Death
Secretariat (horse)
Secretariat (horse) | Death
He was euthanized. He became afflicted with laminitis—a painful and debilitating hoof condition and he was euthanized on October 4 at the age of 19. Secretariat became afflicted with laminitis, after a month of treatment, he was euthanized Secretariat became afflicted with laminitis—a painful and debilitating hoof condition.
how many lengths did secretariat win the belmont stakes
user
31 lengths.
assistant
who was "secretariat"?
user
An American Thoroughbred racehorse.
assistant
who owned this horse?
user
Penny Chenery.
assistant
how many years did it's career is racing last?
user
From 1972 to 1973.
assistant
which was the last race the horse competed in?
user
Canadian International Stakes .
assistant
where is this competition held?
user
Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.
assistant
who built this racetrack?
user
The Ontario Jockey Club under E.P. Taylor.
assistant
how did the above mentioned horse die?
user
In the fall of 1989, Secretariat became afflicted with laminitis—a painful and debilitating hoof condition. When his condition failed to improve after a month of treatment, he was euthanized on October 4 at the age of 19. Secretariat was buried at Claiborne Farm, given the rare honor of being buried whole (traditionally only the head, heart, and hooves of a winning race horse are buried). At the time of Secretariat's death, the veterinarian who performed the necropsy, Dr. Thomas Swerczek, head pathologist at the University of Kentucky, did not weigh Secretariat's heart, but stated, "We just stood there in stunned silence.
Secretariat (horse) | Death
We couldn't believe it. The heart was perfect. There were no problems with it. It was just this huge engine." Later, Swerczek also performed a necropsy on Sham, who died in 1993. Swerczek did weigh Sham's heart, and it was . Based on Sham's measurement, and having necropsied both horses, he estimated Secretariat's heart probably weighed , or about 2.5 times that of the average horse (). An extremely large heart is a trait that occasionally occurs in Thoroughbreds, hypothesized to be linked to a genetic condition, called the "x-factor", passed down in specific inheritance patterns. The x-factor can be traced to the historic racehorse Eclipse, who was necropsied after his death in 1789.
Secretariat (horse) | Death
"Our sport wasn't keeping up with the progress made in other areas," he once said. "We had too many tracks... our patronage was falling, we had low purses and many bad horses, and I was afraid that racing might die here as it did in Quebec." Instead of operating fourteen racetracks each with 14-day race meetings, he concentrated the industry in Toronto and Fort Erie. In 1956, he opened "new" Woodbine racetrack on the outskirts of Toronto while renovating "old" Woodbine (subsequently renamed Greenwood racetrack). New Woodbine developed into a world-class venue, especially when Taylor convinced Penny Chenery to have Secretariat make his final start in the Canadian International in 1973.
E. P. Taylor | Thoroughbred racing
The syndication deal for Secretariat precluded the horse racing past age three. Accordingly, Secretariat's last race was against older horses in the Canadian International Stakes over one and five-eighths miles on the turf at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on October 28, 1973. The race was chosen in part because of long-time ties between E.P. Taylor and the Chenery family, and partly to honor Secretariat's Canadian connections, Laurin and Turcotte. Turcotte missed the race with a five-day suspension: Eddie Maple got the mount. The day of the race was cold, windy and wet, but the Marshall turf course was firm.
Secretariat (horse) | Canadian International Stakes
Selkirk died of old age on January 3, 2013. Of his death, Kirsten Rausing stated: "We will greatly miss him, but his memory will live on, not only here at the stud, but throughout the Thoroughbred industry in this country and abroad." Former trainer Ian Balding added: "He was a wonderful racehorse first and then went on to prove himself as a champion stallion ... He was just a lovely horse to have anything to do with. Most people used to say he wanted soft ground but he went on anything."
Selkirk (horse) | Death
The same disease has also led to the death of fellow Triple Crown winner Secretariat and Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. He was buried whole—the ultimate honor for a race horse—at Jonabell Farm, wearing the flamingo pink colors of his original owners, Harbor View Farm.
Affirmed | Stud record
While at Tanforan Racetrack in San Bruno, California with a stable of horses for Harry Hatch, Bringloe took seriously ill and died a few days later in a San Francisco hospital. His remains were returned to Canada and interred in the St. John's Norway Cemetery in the Toronto neighbourhood, The Beaches. In its posthumous biography, the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame called Bringloe "one of Canada's most respected trainers during the 1920s and '30s."
William H. Bringloe | Death and Honors
His stud fee reached $150,000 for the years 1999 to 2002. In 1988, he was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Deputy Minister died of a malignant tumor at the Ohio State University veterinary hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and was buried at Brookdale Farm.
Deputy Minister (horse) | Retirement
After the race, Secretariat was brought to Aqueduct Racetrack where he was paraded with Turcotte dressed in the Meadow silks before a crowd of 32,990 in his final public appearance. "It's a sad day, and yet it's a great day," said Laurin. "I certainly wish he could run as a 4-year-old. He's a great horse and he loves to run."
Secretariat (horse) | Canadian International Stakes
The light and dark blue silks of his stable were in action throughout the U.S. In 1931 he was among the first Canadians to run a horse in the KentuckyDerby. A horse he imported from Argentina, Filisteo, set an American record in 1941 in the Exterminator Handicap at Pimlico and later sired Plate winner Collisteo. Hatch, who shied from publicity, always sent one of this three sons – Cliff, Doug or Carr – to receive the Plate trophy. In 2000, Hatch was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame as an industry builder. Harry C. Hatch died on May 8, 1946 at the age of 62.
Harry C. Hatch | Thoroughbred horse racing
Despite the weather, some 35,000 people turned out to greet Secretariat in a "virtual hysteria.” His biggest opponents were Kennedy Road, whom he had beaten in the Marlboro Cup, and Big Spruce, who had finished third in the Man o' War. Kennedy Road went to the early lead, while Secretariat moved to second after breaking from an outside post. On the backstretch, Secretariat made his move and forged to the lead. "Snorting steam in the raw twilight", he rounded the far turn with a 12-length lead before gearing down in the final furlong, ultimately winning by lengths. Once again, many winning tickets went uncashed by souvenir hunters.
Secretariat (horse) | Canadian International Stakes
The U.S. Jockey Club in New York estimates that about 600 horses died at racetracks in 2006. Another estimates there are 1000 deaths annual in the US. The Jockey Club in Hong Kong reported a far lower figure of 0.58 horses per 1000 starts. There is speculation that drugs used in horse racing in the United States, which are banned elsewhere, are responsible for the higher death rate in the United States. In the Canadian province of Ontario, a study of 1,709 racehorse deaths between 2003 and 2015 found that the majority of deaths were attributable to "damage during exercise to the horses' musculoskeletal system", including fractures, dislocations, and tendon ruptures.
Horse racing | Dangers
In 2013, Secretariat was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in honor of his victory in the Canadian International 40 years earlier. Secretariat was also the focus of a 2013 segment of "60 Minutes Sports". In March 2016, Secretariat's Triple Crown victory was rated #13 in the "Sports Illustrated" listing of the 100 Greatest Moments in Sports History. Due to Secretariat's enduring popularity, Chenery remained a prominent figure in racing and a powerful advocate for Thoroughbred aftercare and veterinary research until her death in 2017. In 2004, the Maker's Mark Secretariat Center, dedicated to reschooling former racehorses and matching them to new homes, opened at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Secretariat (horse) | Honors and recognition
In January 1973, Christopher Chenery, the founder of Meadow Stables, died and the taxes on his estate forced his daughter Penny to consider selling Secretariat. Together with Seth Hancock of Claiborne Farm, she instead managed to syndicate the horse, selling 32 shares worth $190,000 each for a total of $6.08 million, a world syndication record at the time, surpassing the previous record for Nijinsky who was syndicated for $5.44 million in 1970. Hancock said the sale was easy, citing Secretariat's two-year-old performance, breeding, and appearance. "He's, well, he's a hell of a horse." Chenery retained four shares in the horse and would have complete control over his three-year-old racing campaign, but agreed that he would be retired at the end of the year.
Secretariat (horse) | 1973: Three-year-old season
After two more important wins in 1932 at age five, Questionnaire was retired to stud for owner James Butler. However, Butler died in 1934, and his estate sold Questionnaire at auction. He was purchased for $15,000 by Helen Hay Whitney's Greentree Stud, Inc. for whom he served stallion duty at their breeding farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Among the successful runners he sired were multiple stakes winners Hash (1936), Requested (1939), Coincidence (1942), Carolyn A. (1944), and Double Brandy (1946). Questionnaire died of colic at age twenty-three on August 25, 1950.
Questionnaire (horse) | At stud
Secretariat wintered in Florida but did not race until March 17, 1973 in the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct, where he went off as the heavy favorite. As the trainer of one of his opponents put it, "The only chance we have is if he falls down." Racing boxed in by horses on each side, Turcotte decided to go through a narrow gap between horses rather than try to circle the field. Secretariat broke free and won easily, but one of the other jockeys claimed that Secretariat had committed a foul going through the hole. The stewards reviewed photos from the race and determined that Secretariat was actually on the receiving end of a bump, so let the result stand.
Secretariat (horse) | 1973: Three-year-old season
In 1950, the nearly eighty-year-old McLaughlin retired from racing, selling his Parkwood Stable to E. P. Taylor, under whom it would become known as Windfields Farm. A long-time director of the Ontario Jockey Club, McLaughlin was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1963 and the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1977.
Samuel McLaughlin | Thoroughbred horse racing
Because Eclipse's heart appeared to be much larger than the hearts of other horses, it was weighed, and found to be , almost twice the normal weight. Eclipse is believed to have passed the trait on via his daughters, and pedigree research verified that Secretariat traces his dam line to a daughter of Eclipse. Secretariat's success as a broodmare sire has been linked by some to this large heart theory. However, it has not been proven whether the x-factor exists, let alone if it contributes to athletic ability.
Secretariat (horse) | Death
After his retirement from racing, Easy Goer stood stud at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky. He was given the honor of occupying the number one stall in the number one barn. His stall was previously occupied by Bold Ruler and Secretariat. At age eight, in 1994, Easy Goer collapsed and died while jogging in his paddock at Claiborne Farm. Dr. Thomas Swerczek, the veterinary pathologist at the University of Kentucky, who conducted Easy Goer's necropsy, determined the horse died of an anaphylactic reaction to an undetermined allergen and also had cancerous tumors in multiple organs. The veterinarians were convinced the cancer did not kill Easy Goer and probably would not have been fatal for a long time.
Easy Goer | Stud record
Millar owned racehorses, including the 1915 King's Plate-winning horse "Tartarean." At the time of his death, he owned seven horses, including "Troutlet", which went on to win the 1927 King's Plate, under different ownership. By then the executors of his Millar estate had sold his horses including Troutlet. In the 1910s, Millar had planned to build a racetrack in Kingston, Jamaica, where he holidayed, but abandoned the idea. In 1912, he had made arrangements with the builder of the Belmont Park racetrack, C. W. Leavitt to design the track.
Charles Vance Millar | Horse racing
Fred kept it in the office until the MRA was sold. Abraham and Isabella were the parents of nine children. At the time of Orpen's death, his wife, two sons, Abraham Jr and Fred, and a daughter, Mrs T. Ambrose Woods, survived him. The two sons took over the racing businesses and operated them until they were sold in 1955 to the Ontario Jockey Club. The Orpen home at 380 Sherbourne Street is a designated heritage property. It has been converted into an apartment building.
Abe Orpen | Death
Following a successful stud career where he sired 25 stakes winners (including Skating and Al Mansour). He died in 1995 from a suspected heart attack...
At Talaq (racehorse) | Stud record
According to some accounts, he would have started at even longer odds if his memorable name and the publicity attracted by his eighteen-year-old jockey Lester Piggott had not made him a popular choice with many members of the public. The colt was always well-placed and was sent into the lead early in the straight by Piggott. He won comfortably by two lengths from Arabian Night and Darius. Clark was ill in New York hospital and unable to attend the race, which saw Never Say Die becoming the first American-bred Derby winner since Iroquois in 1881. Never Say Die next contested the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot Racecourse.
Never Say Die (horse) | 1954:three-year-old season
He was retired to his owner's stud farm, where he sired thirteen stakes race winners. The best of his progeny was millionaire and 1989 Canadian Champion Older Horse Steady Power, a versatile runner at short and long distances whose wins included the Canadian and Manitoba Derbys, and the mile and three quarter Valedictory Handicap. Steady Growth died of a heart attack on September 20, 1995, at Kinghaven Farms.
Steady Growth | Stud career
Canadian Bound, however, was a complete failure in racing, and for several years, the value of Secretariat's offspring declined considerably, especially given the rising popularity of Northern Dancer's offspring in the sales ring. Secretariat eventually sired a number of major stakes winners, including:
Secretariat (horse) | Stud career
The Seagram Stables of Waterloo, Ontario were owned by the brothers Edward, Norman and Thomas Seagram. At age two, Sir Harry was raced at tracks in the Toronto area but had most of his success at two tracks in Montreal. At Blue Bonnets Raceway where he won the Kindergarten Stakes and on July 31, 1926 set a new track record of 0:59 1/5 for 5 furlongs on dirt. At Dorval Park, the track where the great Exterminator won his last race on June 21, 1924, Sir Harry won the 1926 Juvenile Stakes. Sir Harry died in September 1930 when a Seagram barn caught fire.
Sir Harry (Canadian horse) | Racing career
Otto Wonderly (c.1878 - April 2, 1905) was a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey from Ontario who competed in his native Canada and in the United States where he died from a racetrack accident. Before embarking on a riding career, Otto Wonderly worked as a newsboy for the Grand Trunk Railway. He was riding at a track in Windsor, Ontario when some prominent Canadian horsemen recognized his natural talent and arranged for him to go to the United States. There, he was placed under contract by James Ben Ali Haggin, one of America's preeminent horsemen and owner of the renowned Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.
Otto Wonderly | Introduction
In the early 1950s, Mooney was hired by E. P. Taylor and George C. Hendrie to join the management team of the Ontario Jockey Club while the organization was working to reorganize Ontario racing. This reorganization culminated with the opening of Woodbine Racetrack on June 12, 1956. In 1957 he was named general manager of the Ontario Jockey Club. From 1971 to 1975 he was the OJC's president. During his tenure, the Canadian International Stakes became a race of worldwide importance. Its 1973 running served as the farewell race for Secretariat. In 1962 Mooney was named president of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society, a Toronto-based organization that assists thoroughbred horse breeders.
John J. Mooney (horse racing) | Ontario Jockey Club
As a gelding, Kelso could not be retired to stud. Instead, he went on to a second career as a hunter and show jumper. In 1967, he was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. On October 15, 1983, the 26-year-old Kelso paraded prior to the start of the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park along with champion horse Forego and the still active John Henry in front of a crowd of over 32,000 spectators. It was Kelso's final public appearance - he died the next day on October 16, 1983. He is buried in the equine cemetery at Allaire du Pont's Woodstock Farm in Chesapeake City, Maryland.
Kelso (horse) | Retirement
On April 4, 1961, at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York, Gilbert was thrown from his horse Plenty Papaya, during the fourth race, and struck his head on the concrete base of a rail post. He died on the way to hospital. He was a few months shy of his 23rd birthday.
Roy L. Gilbert | Death
A horse lover and Thoroughbred racing enthusiast, Bowman was president of the United Hunts Racing Association and the National Horse Show and for a time served as the president of the Havana-American Jockey Club that operated the Oriental Park Racetrack in Marianao, Cuba. Bowman died in Manhattan, New York, at the age of 56, after an operation to remove gallstones.
John McEntee Bowman | Biography
While in his paddock on February 22, 2007, he reportedly suffered a heart attack and died.
Is It True (horse) | Death
Coleman had a lifelong love for horse racing. In his early years, he criticized the Ontario Jockey Club which did not allow entrants into the King's Plate from Quebec or Western Canada until 1944. He regularly published columns about people involved in horse racing in Canada. Coleman entered his own horse, Leonforte, into the King's Plate in 1947, and wrote columns of his experiences as an owner in horse racing. Coleman began working at Thorncliffe Park Raceway in 1950, until E. P. Taylor consolidated horse raceways in 1952. Coleman then served as press secretary of the Ontario Jockey Club from 1952 to 1962.
Jim Coleman (journalist) | Horse racing
During the running of the fourth race at Santa Anita Park on January 3, 1946, Woolf fell from his horse, Please Me, as he rounded the clubhouse turn. Suffering from a concussion, he was taken to the hospital, where he died the following day. The jockeys in the race and the track stewards reported that they had not witnessed any incident during the race to have caused such a fall. Most observers think his diabetic condition may have resulted in his suffering a dizzy spell or fainting. Woolf was buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in The Great Mausoleum, Gardenia Terrace, the Sanctuary of Providence, Mausoleum Crypt 9707 in Glendale, California.
George Woolf | Death
Christopher Chenery (September 16, 1886 – January 3, 1973) was an American engineer, businessman, and the owner/breeder of record for Thoroughbred horse racing's U.S. Triple Crown champion Secretariat.
Christopher Chenery | Introduction
Elizabeth's Hospital. On July 7, 1960, O'Connell died at St. Elizabeth's Hospital following a four-week illness.
Joseph E. O'Connell | Horse racing
Widely recognized for his talent, dedication, and important contributions to Secretariat's racing career, Sweat was the subject of a 2006 book by Lawrence Scanlan, titled "The Horse God Built: Secretariat, His Groom, Their Legacy". There is a life-size statue at the Kentucky Horse Park of Eddie Sweat leading Secretariat and jockey Ron Turcotte to the winner's circle after winning the 1973 Kentucky Derby.
Eddie Sweat | Legacy
He died in 1964 at the age of 24.
Persian Gulf (horse) | Stud record
Pensioned at Keane Stud, in Armenia, New York in 2006, in 2009 he was sent to Joann and Mark Pepper's farm in Greenfield Center, New York, who operate Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division. The Thoroughbred retirement facility is a satellite operation of Old Friends Equine in Georgetown, Kentucky. Part of the New York Stallion Series, the Thunder Rumble Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack is named in his honor. On January 6, 2015, Thunder Rumble died of complications from colic, at Old Friends, Saratoga. He was 26.
Thunder Rumble | Introduction
On retirement, Clark, gave him to the British National Stud. He was champion sire in 1962, thanks to Larkspur's Derby victory. He also sired The Oaks and 1,000 Guineas winner Never Too Late and other good winners in Die Hard and Sostenuto, stayers who both won the Ebor Handicap. Never say Die was put down in 1975, by when his stock had won 309 races worth more than £400,000 in Great Britain. He is buried in The National Stud's horse cemetery.
Never Say Die (horse) | Stud record
During his preparation for the Grade I Donn Handicap, Horse Chestnut fractured a piece of his splint bone on his near foreleg, resulting in his early retirement from racing. The Oppenheimers subsequently sold the majority of shares in Horse Chestnut to Seth Hancock's Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, where he went to stud. He was subsequently purchased by the Horse Chestnut Syndicate and relocated back to South Africa in 2009 and stood at Drakenstein Farm Stud where he stood 6 seasons until his death. He has produced a number of stakes winners but nothing remotely comparable to himself. Horse Chestnut died on 19 February 2015 in his stall at Drakenstein Stud in South Africa.
Horse Chestnut (horse) | Background
He won that country's most prestigious race, the Queen's Plate, three times: with Epic in 1949, McGill in 1950 and Cosllisteo in 1954. In 1958 Rogers guided longshot Lincoln Road to victory in the Jersey Derby and to second place finishes in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes behind the future U.S. Hall of Fame colt, Tim Tam. Chris Rogers died of lung cancer in 1976 and the following year was inducted in Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. In 1988 he was also recognized with the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award for his significant contributions to the sport of horse racing.
Chris Rogers (jockey) | Introduction
Brian Swatuk (9 July 1949 – 13 December 2014) was a Canadian jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He won several Canadian classics, most notably the Queen's Plate in 1979, and the Prince of Wales Stakes in 1987. Swatuk died from cancer on 13 December 2014 in an Ontario hospice. He was 65.
Brian Swatuk | Introduction
"I was learning then that anything could happen in horse racing," said Chenery. "We knew he had a low-grade infection. But we decided he was strong enough to win anyway, and we were wrong." Secretariat lost his appetite and acted sluggishly for several days. Charles Hatton wrote: "He seemed distressingly ill walking off, and he missed the Travers. Returned to Belmont to point for the $250,000 Marlboro, the sport's pin-up horse looked bloody awful, rather like one of those sick paintings which betoken an inner theatre of the macabre. It required supernatural recuperative powers to recover as he did. He was subjected to four severe preps in two weeks.
Secretariat (horse) | Whitney Stakes
His final preparatory race for the Kentucky Derby was the Wood Memorial, where he finished a surprising third to Angle Light and Santa Anita Derby winner Sham. Laurin was crushed, even though he had trained the winner, Angle Light, who set a slow pace and "stole" the race. Secretariat's loss was later attributed to a large abscess in his mouth, which made him sensitive to the bit. Before and after the race, there was some ill feeling between Laurin and the trainer of Sham, Pancho Martin, fanned by comments in the press. The dispute concerned the use of coupled entries as Martin had entered two horses in addition to Sham, all with the same owner.
Secretariat (horse) | 1973: Three-year-old season
When Secretariat first retired to Claiborne Farm, his sperm showed some signs of immaturity, so he was bred to three non-Thoroughbred mares in December 1973 to test his fertility. One of these, an Appaloosa named Leola, produced Secretariat's first foal in November 1974. Named First Secretary, the foal was a chestnut like his sire, but spotted like his dam. Secretariat's first official foal crop, arriving in 1975, consisted of 28 foals, the best of which was Dactylographer, who won the William Hill Futurity in October 1977. The first crop also included Canadian Bound, who at the 1976 Keeneland July sale was the first yearling to break the $1 million barrier, selling for $1.5 million.
Secretariat (horse) | Stud career
The track opened in 1946 and Iselin served as treasurer of the Monmouth Park Jockey Club until 1968 when he was appointed President. While at work in the New York Jets Manhattan offices, Iselin died after suffering his second heart attack in three months.
Philip H. Iselin | Introduction
In 1887 Machell lost his friend jockey Fred Archer who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Machell had been angry with Archer when they last met and he suffered guilt and remorse for months after the death. In the 1890s Machell's health began to fail him and in 1893 he suffered a breakdown. In 1896 he relinquished his interest in the Gatwick Racecourse (he had joined the syndicate in 1890). When his friend and trainer, James Jewitt, died in 1899, he sold the Bedford Cottage stables to Harry McCalmont, wealthy owner of "Isinglass". He retained some horses at his Chetwynd House stables, trained by George Chaloner, and continued to run horses in Ireland.
James Octavius Machell | Final years
Three days after that, he was sent to the track again and suffered the only loss of his career when he finished second by a nose in the William Hendrie Memorial Handicap. In his final race in June 1934, Horometer won the Canadian Breeders' Handicap at the now-defunct Long Branch Racetrack in Toronto but came out of the race with an injury and, after apparently recovering, went lame following a training workout. According to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, in 1935 jockey Frankie Mann said, "In those days they weren't able to repair a horse's foot like they can today, so he'd had it.
Horometer | Introduction
Among its thoroughbred races, the track notably hosted the Prince of Wales Stakes, the My Dear Stakes, and the Clarendon Cup. The track operated until 1952 when it was sold to the Ontario Jockey Club who shut down thoroughbred racing on June 23, 1952 and harness racing on the site on August 12, 1953. The property was sold to a newly formed real estate development company. The raceway was demolished in 1954. Today, the old racetrack site is commemorated by two streets named Grandstand Place and Milepost Place and the number of residential and commercial buildings that took on racetrack stable names like Churchill, Maple Glen and Willow Glen.
Thorncliffe Park Raceway | History
Quiz was retired from racing to stand as a breeding stallion at Henham Hall near Wangford in Suffolk. He began his time at Henham at a stud fee of ten guineas for Thoroughbreds and five guineas for "hunting mares". In 1816 his fee rose to sixteen guineas, after he had sired a number of good winners despite attracting "very few mares". By 1822 his fee had fallen back to eleven guineas, and he was being advertised as "the only stallion living out of a Matchem mare". Quiz remained in apparently perfect health until 14 June 1826 when he died at the age of twenty-eight, immediately after covering a mare.
Quiz (horse) | Stud career
Cazalet died at Fairlawne on 29 May 1973. He was buried at St. Giles' Church; four of his jockeys carried his coffin. A memorial service was held at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London on 15 June. Following his death, Fulke Walwyn was appointed trainer to the Queen Mother. Fairlawne was inherited by Edward Cazalet. He was unable to continue the racing stable due to his career as a barrister, and later a High Court judge. In 1979, Fairlawne was sold to racehorse owner Khalid Abdullah.
Peter Cazalet (racehorse trainer) | Death
In 2004, he was designated as a brilliant/intermediate chef-de-race. He died in July 1996 due to kidney failure.
Buckaroo (horse) | Stud record
Whiskery's time of death was not officially reported to The Jockey Club, but it is assumed that he died around 1936 as the result of a catastrophic leg injury, either sustained by colliding with a tree while fulfilling his duty as the night watchman's horse or as a result of a track injury.
Whiskery (horse) | Introduction
Racehorse injuries and fatalities are a side effect of training and competition. The problem with equine injuries is that they so often result in death. A 2005 study by the United States Department of Agriculture found that injuries are the second leading cause of death in horses, second only to old age. Nureyev's recovery from a broken leg while retired at stud in 1987 typifies the struggle horses have after being injured. Two years after Secretariat's recordbreaking US Triple Crown took the sport in the United States to a new level of popularity, the breakdown and death of Ruffian brought on a new era of safety concerns.
Racehorse injuries | Introduction
Joseph McLennan (died December 21, 1933) was an American racing secretary. He was born in Scotland and came to the U.S. when he was eight years old. He worked at many different racing tracks, including Arlington Park in Chicago, Bowie and Havre de Grace in Maryland, Hialeah Park, and Aqueduct and Jamaica in New York. He died of influenza on December 21, 1933, in Miami. After he died, the Joseph McLennan Memorial Handicap race was named for him; it was first run on March 11, 1934.
Joseph McLennan | Introduction
His win in the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (a dead heat with Fiddle Isle) was his last victory. Although he recovered following an operation to repair a cracked sesamoid bone that occurred when he kicked the wall in his stall, he developed a case of enteritis and died in his stall at Santa Anita Park on October 22, 1970. He was buried next to Lamb Chop near the mile and a quarter chute at Santa Anita Park.
Quicken Tree (horse) | Injury and death
On June 17, 1984, eight days after the Belmont Stakes, Swale collapsed and died en route to his stall following a bath. He was buried at Claiborne Farm.
Swale (horse) | Death
Princequillo's descendants include, Secretariat, Triple Crown Winner in 1973, Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew and U.S. Horse of the Year winners A.P. Indy and Cigar, the second greatest money winner of all time. Zenyatta, John Henry, California Chrome and American Pharoah are also in his line of progeny. He garnered the nickname Mr. Fixit at stud thanks to his ability to sire foals with good confirmation and soundness. Princequillo died of a heart attack in 1964 and is buried at Claiborne Farm.
Princequillo | Stud career
Eclipse died due to an attack of colic on 1789, at the age . His skeleton is now housed at the Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, in the Learning Resource Centre named after him, although it cannot be said for certain whether all the bones displayed are really from Eclipse. His hooves were made into inkstands, although the fact that there are at least five Eclipse-hoof inkstands casts some doubt on the authenticity of some. Hairs from his tail have also been used for decorations. A necropsy on Eclipse found that he had an abnormally large heart (weighing ). This trait has been referred to in the context of thoroughbreds as the "X Factor" Theory.
Eclipse (horse) | Death
Yates' words were to prove prophetic. At the Monument fence, today known as The Chair, Ede and Chippenham parted company and although the initial fall did no damage it was when the horse tried to rise that Ede suffered his fatal injuries when Chippenham stumbled and crashed heavily onto his rider's body. George was taken unconscious from the course, suffering crush injuries to his chest and died three days later at the home of racing trainer Ben Land without regaining consciousness. He was thirty-six years old and was survived by his mother, sister and twin brother.
George Ede | Death
When her racing career ended, Deceit was sent to stand at the Windfields Farm Maryland division. She was bred first to E. P. Taylor's super-stallion, Northern Dancer then to other important stallions such as Herbager, Graustark, The Minstrel, Nijinsky, Assert and Deputy Minister, among others. However, it was a match with Taylor's Vice Regent which produced Deceit Dancer, the 1984 Canadian Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. Deceit was buried at E.P. Taylors Oshawa Ontario Windfields Farm which is now defunct. The status of the gravesite area, shared with other important Windfields horses, remains in question since a residential subdivision is to be built in close proximity to the gravesite area.
Deceit (horse) | Dam of a Champion
His best galloper was Jock (1924 from Kathleen by *Sempronius; 17 wins and $95,255). His son Neddie was the paternal grandsire of Alsab. Another was On Watch, the broodmare sire Stymie. Colin died in 1932 at the age of twenty-seven on Belray Farm near Middleburg, Virginia. His lifetime earnings amounted to $180,912. Kent Hollingsworth admired Colin's career as a racehorse and observed the horses' potential in his book, "The Great Ones". He said, "Great horses have been beaten by mischance, racing luck, injury and lesser horses running the race of their lives. None of these, however, took Colin. He was unbeatable."
Colin (horse) | Stud record
Approaching his 80th birthday, he resigned in 1988 and was named a director emeritus. He also served as a chairman of The Jockey Club for twenty years and at the time of his death was the club's longest-reigning member. Ogden Phipps owned and bred Reviewer, who sired Ruffian for his sister, Barbara Phipps Janney. He inherited the stallion Bold Ruler from his mother's estate, who was mated with the mare Somethingroyal in 1969. Through the toss of a coin, Penny Chenery, on behalf of her father Christopher Chenery, got the red chestnut colt Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown Winner.
Ogden Phipps | Thoroughbred racing
His 1973 performances earned him Canadian Horse of the Year honors. Kennedy Road died in 1995. In 2000, he was inducted posthumously into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
Kennedy Road (horse) | 1973 American career
His jockey Don MacBeth said the colt felt sound, but Tammaro subsequently withdrew him from the Flamingo. Deputy Minister would not return to racing until October 28 when he won an allowance race at Woodbine. He finished the year with a seventh place finish in the Sports Page Handicap at Aqueduct on November 21.
Deputy Minister (horse) | 1982: Three-year-old campaign
"To us, he was Big Red, and he had a personality. He was a clown and was always cutting up, always into some devilment." Some time later, Chenery got her first look at the foal and made a one word entry in her notebook: "Wow!" That fall, Chenery and Elizabeth Ham, the Meadow's longtime secretary, worked together to name the newly weaned colt. The first set of names submitted to the Jockey Club (Sceptre, Royal Line, and Something Special) played on the names of his sire and dam, but were rejected. The second set, submitted in January 1971, were Games of Chance, Deo Volente ("God Willing"), and Secretariat, the last suggested by Ham based on her previous job associated with the secretariat of the League of Nations (the predecessor of the United Nations).
Secretariat (horse) | Early years
Autopsy revealed that heart failure was the cause of his death.
Horse Chestnut (horse) | Background
On his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion and had some success as a sire of winners. He died in Turkey in 2005 at the age of nineteen.
Distant Relative (horse) | Introduction
For example, Secretariat was nominated in 2013 in recognition of his appearance in the 1973 Canadian International, an appearance that brought worldwide attention to the race.
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame | Background
Neil Milbert of the "Chicago Tribune" wrote that Secretariat "ran what may have been the greatest horse race in history." When asked about Secretariat's margin of victory, trainer Lucien Laurin stated: "Naturally, not that big!" He further commented on Sham's performance saying "The horse we had to kill, we did." My Gallant's jockey Ángel Cordero Jr. said Secretariat was "just like a car." Secretariat's jockey Ron Turcotte told the press that he saw the timer on the track hit 2:20 and he told himself "Oh I can make it" and continued to press Secretariat forward to break the course record.
1973 Belmont Stakes | Analysis
After compiling a 29-9-1 record in 44 races, Strike Out was retired to stud at the end of the 1972 season. While retaining a half interest in him, Beejay Stables sold the $15,000 bargain-basement colt for $1.5 million. His son, Striking Image became the first 2 year old Standardbred Horse ever to run a mile in the time of 1:55. Strike Out also went on to sire 1979 Jug winner Hot Hitter. In 1976 Strike Out was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Strike Out died on July 4, 1998 and was buried in the horse cemetery at Castleton Farms.
Strike Out | Stud career
For his first start on July 4, 1972 at Aqueduct Racetrack, Secretariat was made the lukewarm favorite at 3–1. At the start, a horse named Quebec cut in front of the field, causing a chain reaction that resulted in Secretariat being bumped hard. According to jockey Paul Feliciano, he would have fallen if he hadn't been so strong. Secretariat recovered, only to run into traffic on the backstretch. In tenth position at the top of the stretch, he closed ground rapidly and finished fourth, beaten by only lengths. In many of his subsequent races, Secretariat hung back at the start, which Laurin later attributed to the bumping he received in his debut.
Secretariat (horse) | 1972: Two-year-old season
Fourstardave died of a heart attack in October 2002 at the age of 17 and is buried in Clare Court at Saratoga Race Course. This is a rare honor since only three horses are buried there.
Fourstardave Handicap | History
John J. Mooney (September 7, 1924 - December 3, 1994) was a Canadian horse racing executive and breeder who served as president of the Ontario Jockey Club, Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society, Laurel Park Racecourse, and Arlington Park.
John J. Mooney (horse racing) | Introduction
International at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. Mercer died on 26 September 1959 when a filly named Priddy Fair threw him before the start of the Red Deer Stakes at Ascot Racecourse. Mercer was fatally kicked in the head as he fell to the ground. Reporting on his death, "The Age" newspaper in Melbourne called Mercer "one of Britain's most brilliant race riders". In a 2009 "Racing Post" article by John Cobb marking the fiftieth anniversary of Mercer's death, he was called "one of its [racing's] brightest stars".
Manny Mercer | Introduction
Charles William Boland (c.1939 – May 5, 1961) was a Canadian jockey in thoroughbred horse racing who died as a result of a racing accident. Born in Old Chelsea, Quebec, he competed at racetracks in his native Province as well as in Ontario. Among his racing wins, in the 1960 Durham Cup Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack, Charles Boland notably rode Windy Ship to victory over the Canadian Triple Crown champion, New Providence. On May 5, 1961, Boland was competing at Fort Erie Race Track. After winning the feature race of the day he suffered a fatal head injury during a race as a result of an accident that saw him thrown from his horse, Wyvern.
Charles W. Boland | Introduction
After his death, his family continued the horse-racing businesses until the 1950s, when they sold their tracks during a time of consolidation of racetracks in Ontario.
Abe Orpen | Introduction
A native of Ermita de Guadalupe, a community near Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico, Gonzalez died instantly from a broken neck when his horse fell on another horse that had stumbled and fallen in front of him. He died on the track where his career began in front of his wife Maria and their two young daughters. A funeral service was held for Juan Gonzalez on July 7 in San Mateo, California after which his remains were returned to his native Jerez for burial. In his memory, the Pleasanton Racetrack annually runs the Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes.
Juan Gonzalez (jockey) | Death and memorial
After retiring from the saddle, Hales turned his attention to breeding at his "Haleswood Stud", on portion of Henry Bowler's estate at Eskdale, Victoria on the Mitta Mitta River. His success as a jockey did not however transfer to the stud, and apart from a Newmarket Handicap win by Carlton in 1897, he had little luck. On the advice of a veterinarian, he relinquished the stallion Lochiel, which later proved one of the most successful sires in the country. Hales died rather suddenly at home. He had suffered asthma all his life, and died of "congestion of the lungs" (possibly pulmonary edema) following a severe cold.
Tom Hales (jockey) | Later career
On May 31, 1999, Biederman died suddenly of a brain aneurysm at his home in Brantford, Ontario at the age of 59. Since 2000 the OSCAAR Racing series has held a race in his honour entitled "The Don Biederman Memorial" at Flamboro Speedway in Millgrove, Ontario.
Don Biederman | Death and legacy
Then, in the 1992 Breeders' Cup Sprint, the five-year-old European horse Mr Brooks fractured his cannon bone and fell on top of his jockey, Lester Piggott. Piggott had told fellow European jockey Walter Swinburn before the race that the horse did not warm up well. Mr Brooks had also been reluctant to go in the starting gate before the race. There was so much controversy over the handling of Mr Brooks that the Breeders' Cup implemented rigid pre-race inspections in 1993. The resulting media pressure from the deaths of Go for Wand and Mr Brooks prompted racing industries around the world to make a concerted effort at determining the extent of the problem and the causes.
Racehorse injuries | International Thoroughbred fatality rates
Dienst built almost all concrete block with tin roof barns from then on—having a full- time construction crew just for that purpose. Horsemen and Horsewomen appreciated the care that was taken towards their horses. Robert Y. was a true horseman and loved the sport just for the sport's sake. He had a small stable, River Divide Farm, of about a dozen horses that he raced with the guidance of Trainer & Starter Don Rose up until his death on Nov. 7, 1996 (when Robert Y. was hours shy of his 80th birthday). Robert Y. Dienst's son, "Bob M." Dienst, left working at Beulah in the Spring of 1981 because of a management style disagreement with the then general manager, Mr.
Beulah Park racetrack | History
Edward Sweat (August 29, 1939 – April 17, 1998) was an American groom in Thoroughbred horse racing who was the subject of the 2006 book by Lawrence Scanlan titled "The Horse God Built: Secretariat, His Groom, Their Legacy".
Eddie Sweat | Introduction
Retired to stud duty, Windfields made his real contribution to racing as a stallion. He sired fifteen stakes winners, including 1956 Canadian Triple Crown winner and Hall of Fame inductee Canadian Champ. Through his daughter Victoriana, who produced seven winners, Windfields was the damsire of the good filly Northern Queen, and Canadian Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee Victoria Park. Through another daughter, Windfields was the damsire of Cool Reception, the 1996 Canadian Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and a Hall of Fame inductee. Windfields died in 1971 at age twenty-eight and was buried in the equine cemetery at Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario.
Windfields | As a sire
He collapsed and died after finishing fourth at Leopardstown Racecourse on 30 December 1992.
Royal Gait | Introduction
Both horses were posthumously inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979. On July 9, 1967, in recognition of Midnight, Jim McNab officially opened the Midnight Stadium in Fort MacLeod, Alberta.
Midnight (horse) | Death
When in full stride, his hind legs were able to reach far under himself, increasing his drive. His ample girth, long back and well-made neck all contributed to his heart-lung efficiency. The manner in which Secretariat's body parts fit together determined the efficiency of his stride, which affected his acceleration and endurance. Even very small differences in the length and angles of bones can have a major effect on performance. Secretariat was well put together even as a two-year-old, and by the time he was three, he had further matured in body and smoothed out his gait. The New York Racing Association's Dr.
Secretariat (horse) | Appearance and conformation
After retiring from politics, Connell became involved with the horse racing industry. He set about to develop a horse racing facility in the Flamborough area, north of Hamilton, Ontario. He secured three large investors and, in 1972, work began on the construction of what came to be known as Flamboro Downs racetrack. Connell served as President of the company until the mid-1980s. He died November 14, 1986 in Hamilton.
Ray Connell | Later life
Never Say Die (1951–1975) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning only once from his first nine races, he demonstrated much improved form in the summer of 1954 to win The Derby, becoming the first American colt to win the race in seventy-three years. Later that year he added a second British Classic when winning the St. Leger Stakes by a record margin of twelve lengths. He was later retired to a successful stud career.
Never Say Die (horse) | Introduction
At age four Linkage seemed to slow down a bit. He only managed to place third in the grade one Monmouth Handicap (now renamed the Philip H. Iselin Stakes) at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Linkage died of natural causes in early September 2006, at Horizon Farm, Alberta, Canada.
Linkage (horse) | Late career
He was retired from racing shortly afterwards and died from a suspected brain haemorrhage in December 2005. On hearing of the horses's death John Dunlop recalled "He made you laugh because he didn't do a tap and it was funny to watch him and our other senior stayer, Orchestra Stall, coming up the gallops like two old gents".
San Sebastian (horse) | Later career, retirement and death
Tinners Way (May 25, 1990 – July 5, 2017) was an American Thoroughbred best known as the last colt from his sire Secretariat's final crop. He began running on European turf in 1992 and concluded three and a half seasons later with strong performances against top-rated fields on American dirt courses, including back-to-back wins in the Pacific Classic. His earnings exceeded $1.8 million, which established him, along with Risen Star, Lady's Secret, and General Assembly, as one of his sire's top performers. After standing at stud for many years in Kentucky, California and Texas, he was retired to Old Friends Equine near Lexington, Kentucky in 2010, where he died in 2017.
Tinners Way | Introduction
While the theory has yet to be proven, it has gained popularity due to the large hearts seen occasionally in his descendants, including Secretariat and Phar Lap.
Eclipse (horse) | Death
Dominick Bellizzi (ca. 1912 – 17 May 1934) was an American jockey who died at age 21 as a result of a horse racing accident. He was known as "The Duke." Bellizzi was born in New York to Albanian immigrants Samuel and Teresa Bellizzi. An up-and-coming young jockey in Thoroughbred racing, during 1933 Dominick Bellizzi rode to victory in the Futurity at Chicago's Arlington Park for Charles T. Fisher's Dixiana Farm. Competing on the New York circuit, he won the Adirondack Stakes and for the prominent Brookmeade Stable, owned by heiress Isabel Dodge Sloane, he captured both the Toboggan Handicap and the Whitney Handicap.
Dominick Bellizzi | Introduction
Oliver Sherwood commented, "I always said he'd die for you, and he has today, doing what he loved most. He wanted to win that race, by God he wanted to win it – he was beat at the last and he fought the last 50 yards to get up and win. I've trained for 32 years now and horses like that don't come along very often". A post-mortem examination revealed that he had died as a result of a "severe" exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. The vets who carried out the post-mortem also concluded there were no underlying health issues and no connection with incidents where he was unsteady on his feet after previous races.
Many Clouds | 2016–17 National Hunt season
Her jockey, John Charlton, died of consumption a few months after Blink Bonny on 31 July. I'Anson donated her skeleton to York Museum where it was mounted and displayed. Two of her hooves are displayed in a glass cabinet at the Blink Bonny pub at Christon Bank, near Embleton, Northumberland.
Blink Bonny | Stud career
Diesis (23 April 1980 – 18 November 2006) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. An outstanding two-year-old in 1982, he failed to live up to expectations at three, but went on to become an extremely successful breeding stallion, based in the United States.
Diesis (horse) | Introduction
Alexis le Trotteur was killed by a train while working on the construction site of the Isle-Maligne hydroelectric plant. Opinions vary as to the exact cause of his death. Some believe he tripped while trying to outrace the train; others say that, due to his physical decline, he decided to commit suicide. One of his co-workers on the site, cited by the historian Serge Gauthier, hinted as much: "I saw him ten years later in Matapédia, where he was only a construction worker like you or I. He was still well spoken of, but like a faded star. They said he could no longer run any faster than a regular horse." Another man named Jeen Sherman witnessed Alexis racing against a car.
Alexis Lapointe | Death
Taylor was the founder of the Jockey Club of Canada and served as the president of the Thoroughbred Racing Association in the United States. Taylor and his wife began breeding thoroughbreds in the 1950s. He first purchased a property in Toronto that he named Windfields Farm. He then acquired Parkwood Stable in Oshawa, which he first renamed as the National Stud and which was later called Windfields Farm. Determined to raise the standard of Canadian breeding stock, Taylor imported several stallions from the United States. The most notable of these was Chop Chop, who went on to sire four Queen's Plate winners for Taylor including Canadiana and Victoria Park, who also became a leading Canadian sire.
E. P. Taylor | Thoroughbred racing