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 Racecourse, the colors of the race's winning horse were painted onto the weather vane at Pimlico. This is a tradition which is still honored today.

Information courtesy of A Look Back at the History of the Preakness

Photo courtesy of Painting the Weather Vane

May 14, 1989 - E.P. Taylor, Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder, died at the age of 88. Taylor owned Windfields Farm and was the breeder of Northern Dancer. Taylor was hugely successful as a breeder and was voted Racing's Man of the Year in 1973. In 1974, he was elected to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Taylor also won the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Eclipse Award in both 1977 and 1983.

Information courtesy of E.P. Taylor Biography

Photo courtesy of Jockey Bill Hartack dies

May 16, 1931 - Racehorse owner Helen Hay Whitney became the first woman racehorse owner to win the Kentucky Derby twice. Her horse Twenty Grand won the Derby in 1931, and in 1942 her horse, Shut Out, won the Derby again. She married Payne Whitney in 1902 and they created Greentree Stable which became hugely powerful in Thoroughbred racing. Along with two victories in the Kentucky Derby, Greentree Stable's horses won the American Grand National in 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1937.