This Week in Horse History - July 19th Through July 25th

July 20th, 1946 - Misty of Chincoteague, the mare after which Marguerite Henry wrote her famous book, was born. Misty was born on Assateague Island and was a palomino pinto with a marking in the shape of the United States on her side. Marguerite Henry traveled to Chincoteague in search of inspiration for a children’s book and…

This Week in Horse History - July 12th Through July 18th

July 14th, 1959 - Thoroughbred trainer Rodney Rash was born in Frederick, Maryland. Rash worked under Charlie Wittingham until 1991, when he applied for a training license. He trained horses such as Blues Traveler and Celtic Arms, and he won the Santa Anita Handicap with Urgent Request. During his career, Rash…

This Week in Horse History - July 5th Through July 11th

July 6th, 1975 - The filly Ruffian ran in the famous match race against Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. Held at Belmont Park, the match race was a battle of the sexes of the racing world. Ruffian led for most of the race and was pulling away when she shattered her front right leg. Although…

Horse History - June 29th Through July 4th

June 30th, 1917 - The Thoroughbred racehorse Exterminator ran in his first race. The race was six furlongs, held at the Old Latonia Racecourse located in Covington, Kentucky, and Exterminator won it by three lengths. Exterminator was a gelding and during his career he would race 100 times, winning 50 of them. Perhaps most impressive of all is the fact that Exterminator would…

This Week in Horse History - June 21st Through June 28th

June 21, 1998 - Tulip, the Morab gelding who holds the title of endurance riding's most enduring equine, was born. Tulip is the first horse recorded by the American Endurance Ride Conference to ever travel more than 20,000 miles in endurance competition. He is owned by Dr. Les Carr of…

This Week in Horse History - June 14th Through June 20th

June 16th, 2009 - Thoroughbred racehorse Strike The Tiger became the first American-trained and bred horse to ever win the Windsor Castle Stakes held at Royal Ascot. The horse won the five-furlong race with jockey John Velazquez aboard. Wesley Ward, Strike The Tiger's trainer, hoped that the win would prove that it is possible to train a horse in…

This Week in Horse History - June 7th Through June 13th

June 9th, 1973 – Thoroughbred racehorse Secretariat became the Triple Crown winner in twenty five years when he won the Belmont Stakes. He only faced four horses for the race - Sham, Twice a Prince, Private Smiles, and My Gallant. Secretariat crossed the wire thirty one lengths ahead of the next horse and…

This Week in Horse History - May 31st Through June 6th

June 1st, 1946 - The Thoroughbred racehorse Assault won the Belmont Stakes, completing his sweep of the Triple Crown and making him the seventh horse in history to do so. Assault had been born on a Texas ranch known for its Quarter Horses, where he pierced his right front hoof with a…

This Week in Horse History - May 24th Through May 30th

May 27, 1823 - A match race was held pitting the racehorse American Eclipse against any horse owned by Colonel William R. Johnson. American Eclipse, being from North America, would race against a Southern horse in the match race of four heats. It was attended by more than 60,000 people and offered a purse of $20,000 to the winner.…

This Week in Horse History - May 17th Through May 23rd

May 17, 1875 - The Kentucky Derby was first run. The Derby is held on the first Saturday each May, and is the first race of the Triple Crown. The Derby is run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The winner is traditionally awarded with a blanket of red roses.

Information courtesy of…

This Week in Horse History - May 10th Through May 16th

May 12, 1909 - The Preakness Stakes was held at Pimlico Racecourse in Maryland after being run in New York sixteen times. The Preakness Stakes is the second leg of the Triple Crown, a prestigious series of three races for three-year old Thoroughbreds. In celebration of the return of the Preakness Stakes to Pimlico…

This Week in Horse History - May 3rd Through May 9th

May 3, 1952 - The Kentucky Derby first received nation-wide television coverage. The Derby is held annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The first Kentucky Derby was held on May 17, 1875. The field for that race consisted of fifteen horses, though today the field has been increased…

This Week in Horse History - April 26th Through May 2nd

April 29, 2003 – Barbaro, the famous Thoroughbred racehorse, was born at Springmint Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky. His sire was Dynaformer and his dam was La Ville Rouge. He was owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson. Barbaro was foaled and raised by Bill Sanborn. In 2006 Barbaro would go on to win the Kentucky Derby before breaking his leg in…

This Week in Horse History - April 19th Through April 25th

April 19, 1969 - The Lady Godiva Stakes was originally run today. Bill Veek, the President of Suffolk Downs, created the race to feature all female jockeys. The race offered a $10,000 purse, and was won by Penny Ann Early.…

This Week in Horse History - April 12th Through April 18th

April 14, 1936 - Today the first race result decided by a photo finish camera in Maryland took place. The race took place in Havre de Grace, Maryland, and a horse named Alit was declared to be the winner. Today, digital cameras are used at the finish lines of…

This Week in Horse History - April 5th Through April 11th

April 6, 1974 - The current facilities of W. K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center were dedicated on this day. The Kellogg Arabian Horse Center is an educational facility dedicated to promoting the Arabian breed. Its horses are shown by equine studies…

This Week in Horse History - March 29th Through April 4th

March 30th, 2005 - Reining Quarter Horse Hollywood Dun It was euthanized because of health problems resulting from testicular cancer. Hollywood Dun It was the All Time Leading Sire in National Reining Horse history. At the end of the 2004 NRHA Futurity, his foals had earned…

This Week in Horse History - March 22nd Through March 28th

March 23, 1962 - Jacqueline Kennedy received a horse named Sardar from Ayub Khan, Pakistan's governor. Governor Khan, a horseman himself, learned of Jackie Kennedy's love of horses when he first

visited the White House. He gave her Sardar, a gelding, who she nicknamed Black Jack.…

This Week in Horse History - March 15th Through March 21st

March 16th, 1936: Today, the New Hampshire Jockey Club was formed. Lou Smith controlled the club, which took over control of the Rockingham Park track. Rockingham Park was the first racetrack and opened on June 28, 1906 in Salem Depot, New Hampshire. The clubhouse at…

This Week in Horse History - March 8th Through March 14th

March 9, 1975 - Thoroughbred racehorse John Henry was born today. He acquired his name, named after the legendary steel driver John Henry, because while young he (the horse) used to pull his steel buckets off of the walls and flatten them. He was…