Cavan (horse)
Encyclopedia
Cavan was an Irish
Thoroughbred
racehorse
who won an American Classic Race in 1958. He was named for the town of Cavan
in Ireland.
A half brother to 1964 St. Leger Stakes
winner, Indiana, Cavan's dam, Willow Ann, was a daughter of Champion Sire
, Solario
. Cavan was sired by Mossborough, a son of Nearco
, the patriarch of the most dominant sire line in Thoroughbred history. In addition to his status as a sire, Thoroughbred Heritage
says that Nearco was "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century". http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Pharos.html
Cavan was purchased by Boston
, Massachusetts
banker Joseph O'Connell at the suggestion of Irish-born trainer Tom Barry
who believed that an Irish horse was better suited for longer distances and had an edge in such American races as the prestigious Belmont Stakes
. Racing in the United States in 1958, Cavan won the Leonard Richards Stakes
at Delaware Park Racetrack then won the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park
in Elmont, New York
, spoiling the Kentucky Derby
and Preakness Stakes
winner Tim Tam's
bid to capture the U.S. Triple Crown
.
After his victory in the Belmont Stakes, Cavan next won the Peter Pan Handicap on the same track but came out of the race with an injury that ended his career. Retired to stud
, Cavan met with modest success as a sire. Of his progeny, the most notable was a daughter, Miss Cavandish
, who in 1964 won the Monmouth Oaks, Delaware Oaks
, Alabama Stakes
and Coaching Club American Oaks
.
Two years after Cavan won the Belmont Stakes, Tom Barry and Joseph O'Connell came back with another Irish purchase, a colt named Celtic Ash
who gave them their second Belmont Stakes win in 1960.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
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...
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 won an American Classic Race in 1958. He was named for the town of Cavan
Cavan
Cavan is the county town of County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The town lies in the north central part of Ireland, near the border with Northern Ireland...
in Ireland.
A half brother to 1964 St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
winner, Indiana, Cavan's dam, Willow Ann, was a daughter of Champion Sire
Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1751. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
, Solario
Solario
Solario was a very good British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Bred in Ireland by the 4th Earl of Dunraven, he was by the 1918 English Triple Crown champion, Gainsborough. His dam Sun Worship, was a daughter of the outstanding sire Sundridge who was the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland in...
. Cavan was sired by Mossborough, a son of Nearco
Nearco
Nearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
, the patriarch of the most dominant sire line in Thoroughbred history. In addition to his status as a sire, Thoroughbred Heritage
National Sporting Library
The National Sporting Library & Museum The National Sporting Library and Museum, located in beautiful, historic Middleburg, Virginia, is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and sharing the literature, art, and culture of horse and field sports...
says that Nearco was "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century". http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Pharos.html
Cavan was purchased by Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
banker Joseph O'Connell at the suggestion of Irish-born trainer Tom Barry
Thomas J. Barry
Thomas J. "Tom" Barry was a trainer of Thoroughbred racehorse who won two American Classic Races with foreign-bred horses...
who believed that an Irish horse was better suited for longer distances and had an edge in such American races as the prestigious Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
. Racing in the United States in 1958, Cavan won the Leonard Richards Stakes
Barbaro Stakes at Delaware Park
The Barbaro Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid July at Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton, Delaware. Previously known as the Leonard Richards Stakes, in 2007 it was renamed in honor of Barbaro, the horse who won the Kentucky Derby in 2006 but who eventually died after...
at Delaware Park Racetrack then won the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
in Elmont, New York
Elmont, New York
Elmont is an unincorporated census-designated place located in the northwest corner of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, along its border with the borough of Queens in New York City...
, spoiling the 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...
and Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
winner Tim Tam's
Tim Tam (horse)
Tim Tam was an American thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Tom Fool and out of the great racing mare Two Lea , the dark bay colt was owned and bred by Calumet Farm...
bid to capture the U.S. Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
.
After his victory in the Belmont Stakes, Cavan next won the Peter Pan Handicap on the same track but came out of the race with an injury that ended his career. Retired to stud
Stud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
, Cavan met with modest success as a sire. Of his progeny, the most notable was a daughter, Miss Cavandish
Miss Cavandish
Miss Cavandish was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. of the renowned King Ranch, she was sired by the 1958 Belmont Stakes winner, Cavan...
, who in 1964 won the Monmouth Oaks, Delaware Oaks
Delaware Oaks
The Delaware Oaks Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid July at Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton near Wilmington, Delaware....
, Alabama Stakes
Alabama Stakes
The Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1872, the Grade I race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at Saratoga Race Course. Held in mid August, it currently offers a purse of $500,000...
and Coaching Club American Oaks
Coaching Club American Oaks
The Coaching Club American Oaks is a race for thoroughbred three-year old fillies and the second leg of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. Originally run at Belmont Park, the Grade I $250,000 stakes race was moved to Saratoga Race Course in 2010....
.
Two years after Cavan won the Belmont Stakes, Tom Barry and Joseph O'Connell came back with another Irish purchase, a colt named Celtic Ash
Celtic Ash
Celtic Ash was an English-bred Thoroughbred racehorse raised in Ireland who is best known for winning an American Classic Race. Bred by Lord Harrington, he was out of the mare Ash Plant and sired by Sicambre, the Leading sire in France in 1966. On the advice of Irish-born trainer Tom Barry, Celtic...
who gave them their second Belmont Stakes win in 1960.