Coaltown
Encyclopedia
Coaltown was an American
Hall of Fame
Champion
Thoroughbred
racehorse
of whom the New York Times http://horseracing.about.com/library/blcitation.htm said "was probably the most underrated Thoroughbred of the 20th Century."
Coaltown was nicknamed "The Goose" by the stable employees at Calumet Farm
for his way of outstretching his long, thin neck when he ran. Racing at age three in 1948, he was overshadowed by stablemate Citation
, finishing second to him in the Kentucky Derby
. Citation became the 8th U.S. Triple Crown Champion
. Coaltown, meanwhile, won eight of his thirteen starts. He won the Blue Grass Stakes
in track record time and at the end of the year was voted 1948's U.S. Champion Sprint Horse
.
In 1949, injuries kept Citation from racing, allowing Coaltown to show how good he really was. He won twelve of his fifteen races, and set or matched several U.S. and world records including:
In his final race of 1949, Coaltown was a badly beaten 2nd to 1949 arch-rival Capot
in the Pimlico Special
. Nonetheless, his performances that year earned him Handicap Horse of the Year
honors and he shared the United States Horse of the Year
title with Capot.
After mediocre performances in 1950 and '51, Coaltown was retired to stud
at Calumet Farm, where he had only limited success as a sire
. In 1955, he was sold to Haras de Jardy
in Marnes-la-Coquette
, France
where he died at the age of 20 in 1965.
Coaltown was inducted into the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in 1983.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
Champion
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
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...
of whom the New York Times http://horseracing.about.com/library/blcitation.htm said "was probably the most underrated Thoroughbred of the 20th Century."
Coaltown was nicknamed "The Goose" by the stable employees at Calumet Farm
Calumet Farm
Calumet Farm is a Thoroughbred breeding and training farm established in 1924 in Lexington, Kentucky, United States by William Monroe Wright, founding owner of the Calumet Baking Powder Company. Calumet is located in the heart of Lexington's blue grass country, the finest horse breeding region in...
for his way of outstretching his long, thin neck when he ran. Racing at age three in 1948, he was overshadowed by stablemate Citation
Citation (horse)
Citation was the eighth American Triple Crown winner, and one of three major North American Thoroughbreds to win at least 16 consecutive races in major stakes race competition...
, finishing second to him in 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...
. Citation became the 8th U.S. Triple Crown Champion
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...
. Coaltown, meanwhile, won eight of his thirteen starts. He won the Blue Grass Stakes
Blue Grass Stakes
The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, currently sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is an American Grade 1 horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in mid April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky....
in track record time and at the end of the year was voted 1948's U.S. Champion Sprint Horse
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Sprint Horse
The American Champion Sprint Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. Created in 1947, in 1971 it became part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to the top horse in sprint races usually run at a distance of under one mile)....
.
In 1949, injuries kept Citation from racing, allowing Coaltown to show how good he really was. He won twelve of his fifteen races, and set or matched several U.S. and world records including:
- A new world record for the mile at Washington Park Racetrack
- Equaled the world record and set a new track record for 1 1/4 miles at Gulfstream ParkGulfstream ParkGulfstream 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....
- Equaled the world record and set a new track record for 1 1/8 miles at Hialeah Park
- Set a new track record for 1 1/8 miles at Arlington ParkArlington ParkArlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
- Equaled the track record for six furlongs at Hollywood Park Racetrack
In his final race of 1949, Coaltown was a badly beaten 2nd to 1949 arch-rival Capot
Capot
Capot was an American Thoroughbred racehorse sired by Menow out of the mare Piquet. Owned and bred by Greentree Stable, Capot was trained by John M...
in the Pimlico Special
Pimlico Special
The Pimlico Special is an American thoroughbred horse race held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland in mid May. It is raced on dirt over a distance of 1³/16 miles . The race is currently open to horses age three and older and offers a purse of $250,000.The Pimlico Special was first run in...
. Nonetheless, his performances that year earned him Handicap Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
The title of American Champion Older Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a stallion or gelding, four years old and up. Prior to 1971, this award was referred to as "Champion Handicap Male Horse", and was open to any horse, three years old and up...
honors and he shared the United States Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding....
title with Capot.
After mediocre performances in 1950 and '51, Coaltown was retired to stud
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
at Calumet Farm, where he had only limited success as a sire
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
. In 1955, he was sold to Haras de Jardy
Haras de Jardy
Haras de Jardy was a Thoroughbred horse breeding operation established in 1890 in Marnes-la-Coquette France by the prominent French statesman and horseman Edmond Blanc...
in Marnes-la-Coquette
Marnes-la-Coquette
Marnes-la-Coquette is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. Located from the center of Paris, the town is situated between the Parc de Saint-Cloud and the Forest of Fausses-Reposes...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
where he died at the age of 20 in 1965.
Coaltown was inducted into the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
in 1983.