Polynesian (horse)

Polynesian (March 8, 1942 – 1959) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.

Background

He was owned by Gertrude T. Widener, of the prominent Widener family of Philadelphia, and bred by her father-in-law Joseph E. Widener at his Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He was trained by Morris H. Dixon.^[1]

Racing career

1944: two-year-old season

At age two, Polynesian lost his first three races, then bucked his shins.

1945: three-year-old season

Back in training at age three, Polynesian won five of his next seven starts, one of which was a division of the Sagamore Stakes. In the Experimental Free Handicap he came in third to Jeep and Greek Warrior, and fourth in a division of the Wood Memorial won by Hoop Jr.. He skipped the Kentucky Derby (won by Hoop Jr.), instead competing in one mile Withers Stakes where he defeated Pavot. Polynesian then took the mile and three sixteenths second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes, in a front running victory.^[2] Because of its demanding one and a half miles, Polynesian was not entered in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes. Later that year he won the Saranac Handicap.

Later career

Polynesian developed into a champion sprinter, winning a number of important sprint races in 1946 and in 1947 and was named the U.S. Champion Sprint Horse.^[3] In his last year of racing, he went through a streak of five wins, 10 seconds, and 10 thirds.

Stud career

Retired to stud duty, Polynesian sired 37 stakes winners including one of the greatest horses in American racing history, Native Dancer. Some of Polynesian's offspring were:

• Barbizon (1954-1983) - American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, 1956
• Imbros (f. 1950) - multiple stakes winner who set or equaled five track records including a world record for 7 furlongs
• Native Dancer - U.S. Racing Hall of Fame, rated No. 7 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century, sired Raise a Native, damsire of Northern Dancer, damsire of Ruffian the greatest racing filly
• Polly's Jet - won Christiana Stakes, National Stallion Stakes and Saratoga Special Stakes etc. Damsire of Right Tack.

Polynesian was also the damsire of 1963 Kentucky Derby winner, Chateaugay, and 1978 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, Primonetta.

At age seventeen, Polynesian died in 1959 from colic and was buried at Gallaher Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.

Breeding

References

• Polynesian's pedigree and partial racing stats