Spendthrift (foaled 1876 in Kentucky – 21 October 1900) was a successful American Thoroughbred racehorse who fathered a large and successful dynasty of racehorses.
| Spendthrift | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sire | Australian (GB) |
| Grandsire | West Australian |
| Dam | Aerolite |
| Damsire | Lexington |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1876 |
| Died | October 21, 1900 (aged 23–24) |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | A. J. Alexander |
| Owner | 1) Daniel Swigert 2) James R. Keene |
| Trainer | 1) Edward D. Brown 2) Thomas Puryear |
| Record | 16: 9–5–0 |
| Earnings | $27,250 |
| Major wins | |
| Sanford Stakes (1878) Young America Stakes #1 (1878) Young America Stakes #2 (1878) Jersey Derby (1879) Champion Stakes (1879)American Classics wins: Belmont Stakes (1879) | |
| Awards | |
| American Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (1878) | |
Breeding
editBred by A. J. Alexander and foaled at his Woodburn Stud, he was sired by the English-bred stallion, Australian, who was in turn the son of West Australian, England's first Triple Crown winner, out of Aerolite by Lexington. He was a brother to Fellowcraft and half brother to Addie C. (the dam of the 1894 Kentucky Derby winner Chant (by Falsetto). They were from the old American family number, A3.[1]
Spendthrift was bought by Daniel Swigert for $1,000 (equal to about $29,000 today) at the Woodburn yearling sale and named for Swigert's wife's extravagant spending habits in New York.[2]
Racing record
editThe widely respected African-American trainer and future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Edward Brown race conditioned the two-year-old Spendthrift for Daniel Swigert. After leading the colt through an undefeated year that would retrospectively see him named the American Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Colt of 1878, he was then sold to James R. Keene for $15,000 (based on inflation only equal to about $470,000 today).
At three, trained for his new owner by Col. Thomas Puryear, Spendthrift was sent east; finishing second to a stablemate in the Withers Stakes before going on to easily win the 1879 Belmont Stakes. He then won the Jersey Derby despite being kicked at the start.
In 1880, Spendthrift was one of a group of horses, which included Lord Murphy and Foxhall, that were sent by Keene to be trained in England.[3]
Spendthrift was retired as a five-year-old to the farm of William Kenney near Lexington, Kentucky. In all, his record stands as 16 starts, with 9 wins and 5 places.
Stud record
editHe was sold by Keene in 1884 and spent some time first at Dr. E. M. Norwood's farm near Lexington, then Hartland Stud, then Spendthrift Stud, before ending up at Overton Chenault's farm.
Some of his outstanding progeny were
- Bankrupt-won 86 races from 348 starts
- Hastings-leading sire and sire of Fair Play (three times leading sire and sire of Man o' War and Chance Play).
- Kingston-had 138 starts and won a record 89 races, including 30 stakes-races, scoring the most victories of any Thoroughbred racehorse on record, for $139,652.
- Lamplighter-won multiple stakes, successful sire[4]
Spendthrift-died of old age at 24, on October 21, 1900.
Sire line tree
edit- Spendthrift[5][6][7]
- Bankrupt
- Kingston
- Ildrim
- Kings Courier
- Hurst Park
- Brousseau
- Novelty
- Lamplighter[8]
- Arsenal
- Holscher
- Assignee
- Lazzarone
- Hastings[9]
- Leonid
- Lytle
- Masterman
- Glorifier
- Don Enrique
- Fair Play[10]
- Stromboli
- Earlocker
- Mad Hatter[11]
- The Nut
- Cocked Hat
- Cresta Run
- Man o' War[12]
- American Flag[13]
- Gun Boat[14]
- Crusader[14]
- Mars
- Scapa Flow
- Clyde Van Dusen
- Hard Tack
- Battleship[15][16]
- Fleet Flag[13]
- Blockade
- Ship Executive[13]
- Tsukitomo
- War Admiral[17]
- War Relic[18]
- Chatterton[19]
- My Play[20]
- Dunlin
- Fairmount
- Ladkin
- Ladder
- Mad Play
- Chance Play[22]
- Psychic Bid
- Grand Slam
- Some Chance
- Pot O'Luck
- Display[23]
- Chance Shot[25]
- Peace Chance[26]
- Chance Sun
- Shot Put
- Your Chance
- Bushwhacker
- Best Play
- Leonid
Pedigree
edit| Sire Australian (GB) 1858 |
West Australian (GB) 1850 |
Melbourne | Humphrey Clinker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cervantes Mare | |||
| Mowerina | Touchstone | ||
| Emma | |||
| Emilia (GB) 1840 |
Young Emilius | Emilius | |
| Shoveller | |||
| Persian | Whisker | ||
| Variety | |||
| Dam Aerolite (USA) 1861 |
Lexington (USA) 1850 |
Boston | Timoleon |
| Sister to Tuckahoe | |||
| Alice Carneal | Sarpedon | ||
| Rowena | |||
| Florine (USA) 1854 |
Glencoe | Sultan | |
| Trampoline | |||
| Melody | Medoc | ||
| Haxall's Moses mare (Family: A3) |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Bloodlines: Spendthrift Retrieved 2010-9-2
- ^ Montgomery, E. S. (1973). The Thoroughbred. New York: Arco. ISBN 0-668-02824-6.
- ^ http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NEM18800528.2.8 [bare URL]
- ^ Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), Thoroughbred Breeding of the World, Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970
- ^ Godolphin Arabian Jump Sires
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: Spendthrift
- ^ The Godolphin Arabian & his descendants
- ^ Lamplighter: "Co-Champion Handicap Horse" of 1893
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: Hastings
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: Fair Play
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: Mad Hatter
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: Man o' War
- ^ a b c American Classic Pedigree: American Flag
- ^ a b American Classic Pedigree: Crusader
- ^ National Museum of Racing: Battleship
- ^ Portrait: Battleship
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: War Admiral
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: War Relic
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: Chatterton
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: My Play
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: Head Play
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: Chance Play
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: Display
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: Display
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: Chance Shot
- ^ American Classic Pedigree: Peace Chance