Bersan
Encyclopedia
Bersan was an American Thoroughbred
Champion racehorse
. Foaled in Kentucky and bred by Frank B. Harper, who also owned his sire Ten Broeck
and dam, Sallie M. Green B. Morris purchased Bersan as a yearling for $10,000.
Trained by Morris, as a three-year-old Bersan was one of the best Thoroughbreds racing in the United States. He ran second to Joe Cotton
in the 1885 Kentucky Derby
but won the Phoenix Hotel Stakes
, Clark Handicap
, Latonia Derby
, and Travers Stakes
, among others. His 1885 performances earned Bersan retrospective American Co-Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse honors.
At age four he was not as successful as he had the previous year but still had a good year in racing. In May he was sent to race at the Ivy City Racetrack in Washington, D.C.
where won the one and one eight mile National Hotel Handicap and Riggs Rouse Stakes. Then, at the Maryland Jockey Club course in Baltimore
, he won a mile and a quarter race for horses of all ages.
On December 18, 1886, Morris sold Bersan at a Lexington, Kentucky
sale to prominent breeder Daniel Swigert who stood him at his Elmendorf Farm
. In 1894 Berson was sold to Capt. Kidd. Bersan only produced a few offspring, the most successful of which was Sacket (b. 1895) who won the 1901 American Grand National Steeplechase. He died on July 9, 1904.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
Champion racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. Foaled in Kentucky and bred by Frank B. Harper, who also owned his sire Ten Broeck
Ten Broeck
Ten Broeck was an American U.S. Racing Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse whose 1878 match race win in Louisville against the great California mare, Mollie McCarty was immortalized in the Kentucky folk song commonly called Molly and Tenbrooks.Bred by John Harper at his farm near Midway,...
and dam, Sallie M. Green B. Morris purchased Bersan as a yearling for $10,000.
Trained by Morris, as a three-year-old Bersan was one of the best Thoroughbreds racing in the United States. He ran second to Joe Cotton
Joe Cotton (horse)
Joe Cotton was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that is best known as the winner of the 1885 Kentucky Derby. He was by King Alfonso who was the sire of the 1880 winner Fonso...
in the 1885 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
but won the Phoenix Hotel Stakes
Phoenix Stakes (United States)
The Phoenix Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of six furlongs and currently offers a purse of $250,000...
, Clark Handicap
Clark Handicap
The Clark Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November/early December at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Among the oldest races in the United States, it was first run in 1875, the year the racetrack opened for business...
, Latonia Derby
Latonia Derby
The Latonia Derby was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1883 through 1937 at Latonia Race Track in Latonia, Kentucky. Open to three-year-old horses, for its first 52 years the Latonia Derby was contested at a mile and a half; in 1935, the race was shortened to a mile and a...
, and Travers Stakes
Travers Stakes
The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.First held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers...
, among others. His 1885 performances earned Bersan retrospective American Co-Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse honors.
At age four he was not as successful as he had the previous year but still had a good year in racing. In May he was sent to race at the Ivy City Racetrack in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
where won the one and one eight mile National Hotel Handicap and Riggs Rouse Stakes. Then, at the Maryland Jockey Club course in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, he won a mile and a quarter race for horses of all ages.
On December 18, 1886, Morris sold Bersan at a Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
sale to prominent breeder Daniel Swigert who stood him at his Elmendorf Farm
Elmendorf Farm
Elmendorf Farm is a Kentucky Thoroughbred horse farm in Fayette County, Kentucky, and has been involved with horse racing since the early 19th century...
. In 1894 Berson was sold to Capt. Kidd. Bersan only produced a few offspring, the most successful of which was Sacket (b. 1895) who won the 1901 American Grand National Steeplechase. He died on July 9, 1904.