Carotene (horse)
Encyclopedia
Carotene is a Canadian
Thoroughbred
Hall of Fame
racehorse
who holds the filly or mare record for winning the most Sovereign Award
s. Bred by David Willmot's Kinghaven Farms
, she was a daughter of the British
sire Great Nephew who also sired Epsom Derby
winners Grundy
and Shergar
. Carotene's dam was Carrot Top, a mare David Willmot purchased in foal from the Whitney family
at the 1982 dispersal sale of their bloodstock in the United Kingdom
.
inductee Roger Attfield
and raced from a base at Woodbine Racetrack
in Toronto
. In 1985, the two-year-old filly won her only start. The following year, she won the Toronto Cup Stakes
, and the Wonder Where Stakes
. She ran second in the 1986 E. P. Taylor Stakes
and after going to California
to race, finished third in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes
at Santa Anita Park
.
In the 1986 Canadian Triple Crown
races for three-year-olds dominated by males, she finished second to Golden Choice
in the Prince of Wales Stakes
on dirt, then under jockey Richard Dos Ramos
, won the third and longest leg of the series run on turf
, the 1½ mile Breeders' Stakes
. Sent to Japan
for the 1986 Japan Cup
, Carotene finished ninth to winner Jupiter Ireland.
Carotene's 1986 performances earned her two Sovereign Award
s for Canadian Champion 3-Yr-Old Filly
and the first of her three consecutive Canadian Champion Turf Horse
titles.
and was second in the Niagara Handicap
and the King Edward Stakes. In the United States she beat males in the New Hampshire Sweepstakes Handicap
at Rockingham Park
, won the Matchmaker Handicap
at Atlantic City Race Course
and topped one of the best field of fillies ever assembled for the Yellow Ribbon Stakes
at Santa Anita Park.
Carotene's performances earned her two more Sovereign Awards as the 1987 Canadian Champion Turf Horse and Canadian Champion Older Female Horse
.
for the winter racing season where jockey Don Seymour
rode the five-year-old to victory in the 1988 Grade I Pan American Handicap
at Gulfstream Park
. In that race she again defeated males and did it in a winning time that was just one-fifth of a second off the course record.
At home at Woodbine Racetrack, Carotene's best result was a second place finish in the Jockey Club Cup Handicap
. In other races in the United States, she ran second in the Santa Barbara Handicap
and third in the 1988 San Juan Capistrano, the Matchmaker Handicap and the Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap
s. At the end of the 1988 racing season she was voted her third straight Sovereign Award for Champion Female Turf Horse and her second straight Canadian Champion Older Female Horse.
As a broodmare, Carotene had the first of her eight foals in 1990 and her last in 2003.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Thoroughbred
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...
Hall of Fame
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was established in 1976 at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario to honor those who have made a significant contribution to the sport of harness and thoroughbred horse racing in Canada....
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...
who holds the filly or mare record for winning the most Sovereign Award
Sovereign Award
The Sovereign Award is given annually since 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada to the outstanding horses and people in Canadian Thoroughbred racing.The most prestigious award for horses is Sovereign Horse of the Year....
s. Bred by David Willmot's Kinghaven Farms
Kinghaven Farms
Kinghaven Farms is a thoroughbred horse racing stable founded in 1967 by Donald G. "Bud" Willmot. Located in King City, Ontario, north of Toronto, the success of the stable would see it expand to the United States with the acquisition of a farm and training center near Ocala, Florida. Kinghaven...
, she was a daughter of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sire Great Nephew who also sired Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winners Grundy
Grundy (horse)
Grundy was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. He was a leading two-year-old in 1974 and went on to win the Epsom Derby in 1975...
and Shergar
Shergar
Shergar was an acclaimed Irish racehorse, and winner of the 1981 Epsom Derby by a record 10 lengths, the longest winning margin in the race's 226-year history. This victory earned him a spot in The Observer newspaper's 100 Most Memorable Sporting Moments of the Twentieth Century...
. Carotene's dam was Carrot Top, a mare David Willmot purchased in foal from the Whitney family
Whitney family
The Whitney family is an American family notable for their social prominence, wealth, business enterprises and philanthropy, founded by John Whitney who came from London, England to Watertown, Massachusetts in 1635.-Rise to prominence:...
at the 1982 dispersal sale of their bloodstock in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
- 1985 & 1986 Racing Seasons -
Carotene was trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of FameCanadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was established in 1976 at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario to honor those who have made a significant contribution to the sport of harness and thoroughbred horse racing in Canada....
inductee Roger Attfield
Roger Attfield
Roger L. Attfield is a Canadian thoroughbred horse trainer and owner.In his native England, Attfield had become an accomplished international-level equestrian competitor when he emigrated to Canada in 1970...
and raced from a base at Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack is a Canadian racetrack for Thoroughbred horse races located at 555 Rexdale Blvd. in the city of Toronto, Ontario. It is the only horseracing track in North America which stages, or is capable of staging, thoroughbred and standardbred horseracing programs on the same day...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. In 1985, the two-year-old filly won her only start. The following year, she won the Toronto Cup Stakes
Toronto Cup Stakes
The Toronto Cup Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually on turf at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Run in early July, the race is open to Three-year-olds and is run over a distance of 1⅛ miles on turf....
, and the Wonder Where Stakes
Wonder Where Stakes
The Wonder Where Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1965 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Held during the end of July/first week in August, it is the third leg of Canadian Triple Tiara series for Canadian-foaled three-year-old fillies.Raced on Turf, the Wonder...
. She ran second in the 1986 E. P. Taylor Stakes
E. P. Taylor Stakes
The E. P. Taylor Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares held annually since 1956 in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario run on the and the E. P. Taylor turf course at a distance of 1¼ miles....
and after going to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to race, finished third in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes
Yellow Ribbon Stakes
The Yellow Ribbon Stakes is a Grade I race for thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three-years-old and upwards. It is raced during the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting at Santa Anita Park in late September / early October. It is a major prep race for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and is...
at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
.
In the 1986 Canadian Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
races for three-year-olds dominated by males, she finished second to Golden Choice
Golden Choice
Golden Choice is a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning Canada's most prestigious horse race, the Queen's Plate. Sired by Val de l'Orne, the 1975 Prix du Jockey Club winner, his damsire was Barachois, a son of Northern Dancer...
in the Prince of Wales Stakes
Prince of Wales Stakes
The Prince of Wales Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario. Restricted to three-year-old horses bred in Canada, it is contested on dirt over a distance of a mile and three sixteenths . In 1959, the Prince of Wales Stakes became the...
on dirt, then under jockey Richard Dos Ramos
Richard Dos Ramos
Richard Anthony Dos Ramos is a Canadian jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He grew up in Malton, Ontario where his family emigrated when he was young...
, won the third and longest leg of the series run on turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
, the 1½ mile Breeders' Stakes
Breeders' Stakes
The Breeders' Stakes is a Canadian stakes race for Thoroughbred race horses first run in 1889. Since 1959 it has been the third race in the Canadian Triple Crown for three-year-olds...
. Sent to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
for the 1986 Japan Cup
Japan Cup
The is the most prestigious horse race run in Japan. It is contested at the end of November at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters over the grass. With a purse of ¥476 million , the Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world.The Japan Cup is an invitational event...
, Carotene finished ninth to winner Jupiter Ireland.
Carotene's 1986 performances earned her two Sovereign Award
Sovereign Award
The Sovereign Award is given annually since 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada to the outstanding horses and people in Canadian Thoroughbred racing.The most prestigious award for horses is Sovereign Horse of the Year....
s for Canadian Champion 3-Yr-Old Filly
Sovereign Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly
The Canadian Champion Three-Year-Old Filly is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honor created in 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada. It is part of the Sovereign Awards program and is awarded annually to the top 3-Year-Old Filly Thoroughbred horse competing in Canada.-References:*...
and the first of her three consecutive Canadian Champion Turf Horse
Sovereign Award for Champion Female Turf Horse
The Canadian Champion Female Turf Horse is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honor that is part of the Sovereign Awards program awarded annually to the top female Thoroughbred horse competing in Canada in races on turf. Created in 1975, by the Jockey Club of Canada as a single award for Champion...
titles.
- 1987 Racing Season -
At her home base at Woodbine Racetrack, Carotene won the 1987 Nassau StakesNassau Stakes (Canada)
The Nassau Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. A Grade II event raced in early June, it is open to horses aged three and older and run over a distance of one mile on turf...
and was second in the Niagara Handicap
Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf
The Northern Dancer Turf Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. A Grade I event with a current purse of $750,000 , it is held in the third week of July and run at a distance of 1½ miles on Woodbine's E. P...
and the King Edward Stakes. In the United States she beat males in the New Hampshire Sweepstakes Handicap
New Hampshire Lottery
Begun in 1964, the New Hampshire Lottery is the oldest US mainland-based lottery. New Hampshire's games include Mega Millions, Powerball, Hot Lotto, and numerous scratch tickets.New Hampshire is part of the Multi-State Lottery Association , which it joined in 1995...
at Rockingham Park
Rockingham Park
Rockingham Park is a horse racing establishment in Salem, New Hampshire, in the United States. First built in 1906, it was used as an area for many to gamble on the weekends. Seabiscuit raced there in 1935 and 1936, and Mom's Command ran in her first race and gained her first victory there in...
, won the Matchmaker Handicap
Matchmaker Stakes
The Matchmaker Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. The Grade III race is open to Fillies and Mares, Three-years-old & up and is run on turf over a distance of 1⅛ miles ....
at Atlantic City Race Course
Atlantic City Race Course
The Atlantic City Race Course , formerly the Atlantic City Race Track, is a thoroughbred horse race track located in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township, in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The track is located off the Black Horse Pike next to the Hamilton Mall...
and topped one of the best field of fillies ever assembled for the Yellow Ribbon Stakes
Yellow Ribbon Stakes
The Yellow Ribbon Stakes is a Grade I race for thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three-years-old and upwards. It is raced during the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting at Santa Anita Park in late September / early October. It is a major prep race for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and is...
at Santa Anita Park.
Carotene's performances earned her two more Sovereign Awards as the 1987 Canadian Champion Turf Horse and Canadian Champion Older Female Horse
Sovereign Award for Champion Older Female Horse
The Canadian Champion Older Female Horse is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honor created in 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada. It is part of the Sovereign Awards program and is awarded annually to the top Thoroughbred Filly four years of age and older competing in Canada.Past winners:...
.
- 1988 Racing Season -
After her 1987 season in Canada, Carotene's handlers sent her south to FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
for the winter racing season where jockey Don Seymour
Don Seymour
Donald J. Seymour is a Canadian jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing who is the only jockey in history to win two Canadian Triple Crowns....
rode the five-year-old to victory in the 1988 Grade I Pan American Handicap
Pan American Handicap
The Pan American Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of March at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida...
at Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
. In that race she again defeated males and did it in a winning time that was just one-fifth of a second off the course record.
At home at Woodbine Racetrack, Carotene's best result was a second place finish in the Jockey Club Cup Handicap
Sky Classic Stakes
The Sky Classic Stakes is a Canadian Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Raced in mid to late September on turf over a distance of 1¼ miles , it is open to horses three years of age and older...
. In other races in the United States, she ran second in the Santa Barbara Handicap
Santa Barbara Handicap
The Santa Barbara Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade II event open to fillies and mares, age four and older, it is contested of turf over a distance of one and a quarter miles.Inaugurated in 1935, through...
and third in the 1988 San Juan Capistrano, the Matchmaker Handicap and the Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap
Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap
The Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap is an American race for thoroughbred horses, aged three and up, run annually in mid August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. A prep for the Breeders' Cup Turf, it is set at a distance of one and one-half miles on the turf...
s. At the end of the 1988 racing season she was voted her third straight Sovereign Award for Champion Female Turf Horse and her second straight Canadian Champion Older Female Horse.
As a broodmare, Carotene had the first of her eight foals in 1990 and her last in 2003.