Fenian (horse)

For other uses, see Fenian.
Fenian
Sire Mickey Free
Grandsire Irish Birdcatcher
Dam Spiletta
Damsire Stockwell
Sex Stallion
Foaled 1866
Country United States
Colour Chestnut
Breeder August Belmont
Owner August Belmont
Trainer Jacob Pincus
Jockey Charlie Miller
Major wins
1869 Belmont Stakes

Fenian (born 1866) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1869 Belmont Stakes.

Fenian was bred in 1866 by August Belmont and was a chestnut stallion. His sire was Mickey Free.[1] His dam was the imported mare Spiletta by Stockwell, and his second dam was Olivia Augusta by Cowl. Fenian was Spiletta's only stakes winning foal.[2] Mickey Free was an imported stallion, sired by Irish Birdcatcher and out of the mare Annie by Wanderer. Fenian was his only stakes winning foal.[3]

Fenian raced as a two-year-old, and was held to be a good racehorse then.[4]

He won the third running of the Belmont Stakes in 1869 for his owner August Belmont.[5] His trainer was Jacob Pincus and he won the race in a time of 3 minutes and 4.25 seconds.[1][6] The track was rated as heavy, and the race was at a distance of 1 5⁄8 miles (i.e. 13 furlongs (2,600 metres)) on June 5. The race was worth $3500 to the winner,[1] who was ridden by Charlie Miller.[7] Although there is no official record of the margin of victory, contemporary accounts noted that Fenian won the race easily, and finished the race while being pulled up.[1] The race was run at Jerome Park.[7] His stablemate, Glenelg, was also entered in the race, and there is some indication that Glenelg was held back to allow Fenian to win.[6] Glenelg, also owned by Belmont, came in second in the race. Fenian, however, had been bred by Belmont, and Glenelg, who was imported to the United States in his mother's womb, had not, so Belmont preferred for a horse he had bred to win.[8] There were 6 other horses in the race, but none of them came close to beating either Fenian or Glenelg.[4]

He reportedly never raced again, due to bad legs.[1] This was a fault of all of his dam's foals.[4] However, Belmont sold Fenian in October 1870 to Dr. D. Kerwin for $70.[9] He later raced under Kerwin's name as a gelding until 1872 when he was sent to England.[10][11]

Fenian won no other stakes races,[2] and sired no stakes winners.[12]

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 New York Racing Association "1869 Belmont Stakes" The Belmont Stakes
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 460
  3. ↑ Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 622
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Vosburgh "Belmont Stakes" Daily Racing Form
  5. ↑ New York Racing Association "Belmont Stakes" The Belmont Stakes
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hewitt Great Breeders of the Past p. 24
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Staff "Glory of Belmont Stakes" Daily Racing Form
  8. ↑ Robertson History of Thoroughbred Racing pp. 105–106
  9. ↑ Staff. "Sale of horses at Jerome Park" (PDF). The Evening Post.
  10. ↑ Staff. "American Jockey Club handicaps" (PDF). The American Gentleman's Newspaper.
  11. ↑ Staff. "Racing and trotting notes" (PDF). The New York Clipper.
  12. ↑ Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 580

References

  • Hewitt, Abram S. (1982). The Great Breeders and Their Methods. Lexington, KY: Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. OCLC 12739523.
  • Hogan, Clio D. (n.d.). Index to Stakes Winners 1865–1967. Solvang, CA: Flag Is Up Farms.
  • New York Racing Association (2010). "1869 Belmont Stakes" (PDF). The Belmont Stakes. New York Racing Association. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  • New York Racing Association (2010). "Belmont Stakes". The Belmont Stakes. New York Racing Association. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  • Robertson, William H. P. (1964). The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America. New York: Bonanza Books. OCLC 64-17364.
  • Staff (June 1, 1921). "Glory of Belmont Stakes". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  • Staff (October 14, 1870). "Sale of horses at Jerome Park" (PDF). The Evening Post. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  • Staff (1871). "American Jockey Club handicaps" (PDF). The American Gentleman's Newspaper. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  • Staff (May 4, 1872). "Racing and trotting notes" (PDF). The New York Clipper. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  • Vosburgh, W. S. (April 9, 1922). "The Belmont Stakes". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved January 31, 2011.

External links