Determine
Encyclopedia
Determine was a multiple stakes
winning American
Thoroughbred
race horse. By Alibhai (who also sired Your Host
and whose own sire, Hyperion
won the 1933 Epsom Derby
and the 1933 St. Leger Stakes
). Determine's dam was Koubis, born with a cleft palate. Her breeder, Dr. Eslie Asbury, using specially designed instruments, repaired her palate in a unique operation, but she was never raced.
Bred to Alibhai, Koubis produced a colt so small that the man who bought him for $12,000, a California
automobile dealer named Andrew J. Crevolin
, said he "…must have been standing in a hole when he inspected the colt
." His breeder offered to take him back, but Crevolin refused, explaining that he might be letting a Kentucky Derby
winner get away.
Determine, a soft gray in color, grew to a little over fifteen hands and never weighed more than 900 pounds, but in his two-year-old season he won double his purchase price. Overall, it was a modest year, but when he turned three, with no break in training from the year before, Determine was always in stakes
company and was never out of the money. In more than one race, his small size got him through holes, and his light weight made him nimble in cramped situations.
After winning the Santa Anita Derby
as well as a few other important West Coast stakes races, Crevolin wanted to send him to Kentucky
for the Derby. But his trainer, Wille Molter
, with a large stable to manage, was reluctant to take the risk, believing that the race was too hard on a young horse so early in the year. Trainer and owner went back and forth over this decision until Determine made it for them by winning more races. He was flown to Kentucky, and in the space of four days ran in two grueling races. On April 17, 1954, he competed in the Derby Trial
, running side by side with Hasty Road
in the stretch. Little Determine looked half the size of Hasty Road but matched him stride for stride. Hasty Road won by a head in a new track record time of 1:35 for the mile. The show horse was eleven lengths back.
On May 1, Determine was ridden by Ray York
in the 1954 Kentucky Derby. Right out of the gate, York was almost unseated. Timely Tip, who had won the Arkansas Derby
, cut over badly from the outside. In what Churchill Downs
describes as one of the roughest Derbys ever run, Determine stayed on his feet and York stayed in the saddle. Hasty Road was well in the lead, but Determine caught him and won by a length and a half. Determine was the first gray to win the Derby. (Hasty Road went on to win the Preakness Stakes
.)
Back in California, Determine was sent out against older horses. Losing a few races, he was found to have an abscessed jaw and was taken out of training. When he came back, he was heavily weighted, which took its toll on him. Even so, he won four stakes races and retired with winnings of almost $600,000.
Determine proved to be a good sire. His son Decidedly
won the 1962 Kentucky Derby. Warfare, out of War Whisk, proved himself a fine campaigner. And Determine was damsire to the great Hall of Fame
filly
Bold 'n Determined
.
Determine died in September, 1972, and is buried in the Metcalfe family cemetery at Forest Retreat, located in Nicholas County, Kentucky
.
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
winning American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
race horse. By Alibhai (who also sired Your Host
Your Host (horse)
Your Host was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Foaled in California, he was by the imported British stallion Alibhai out of the Irish mare Boudoir by the French stallion Mahmoud. Bred in the stables of Louis B. Mayer , Your Host was owned by Mayer's son-in-law and trained by Harry L. Daniels...
and whose own sire, Hyperion
Hyperion (horse)
Hyperion was a British bred Thoroughbred, a dual classic winner and an outstanding sire. Owned by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, Hyperion won £29,509 during his career - a considerable sum at the time. His victories included the Epsom Derby and St...
won the 1933 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...
and the 1933 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...
). Determine's dam was Koubis, born with a cleft palate. Her breeder, Dr. Eslie Asbury, using specially designed instruments, repaired her palate in a unique operation, but she was never raced.
Bred to Alibhai, Koubis produced a colt so small that the man who bought him for $12,000, a 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...
automobile dealer named Andrew J. Crevolin
Andrew J. Crevolin
Andrew Joseph Crevolin was an American businessman and Thoroughbred racehorse owner in California whose horse won the 1954 Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbys....
, said he "…must have been standing in a hole when he inspected the colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
." His breeder offered to take him back, but Crevolin refused, explaining that he might be letting a 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...
winner get away.
Determine, a soft gray in color, grew to a little over fifteen hands and never weighed more than 900 pounds, but in his two-year-old season he won double his purchase price. Overall, it was a modest year, but when he turned three, with no break in training from the year before, Determine was always in stakes
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
company and was never out of the money. In more than one race, his small size got him through holes, and his light weight made him nimble in cramped situations.
After winning the Santa Anita Derby
Santa Anita Derby
The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $1 million. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby...
as well as a few other important West Coast stakes races, Crevolin wanted to send him to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
for the Derby. But his trainer, Wille Molter
William Molter
William "Willie" Molter was an American Hall of Fame horse trainer in the sport of Thoroughbred racing.A native of Fredericksburg, Texas, Willie Molter began his career in horse racing as a jockey at racetracks across the Texas border in Mexico...
, with a large stable to manage, was reluctant to take the risk, believing that the race was too hard on a young horse so early in the year. Trainer and owner went back and forth over this decision until Determine made it for them by winning more races. He was flown to Kentucky, and in the space of four days ran in two grueling races. On April 17, 1954, he competed in the Derby Trial
Derby Trial
The Derby Trial Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of April at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Held one week before the Kentucky Derby, it was first run in 1924 and every year since, with the exception of 1928...
, running side by side with Hasty Road
Hasty Road
Hasty Road was an American thoroughbred racehorse best remembered for winning the 1954 Preakness Stakes and coming in a close second to Determine in the 1954 Kentucky Derby. Hasty Road was a very large bay thoroughbred with a distinctive white blaze...
in the stretch. Little Determine looked half the size of Hasty Road but matched him stride for stride. Hasty Road won by a head in a new track record time of 1:35 for the mile. The show horse was eleven lengths back.
On May 1, Determine was ridden by Ray York
Raymond York
Raymond York is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey who rode in a record seven consecutive decades.During his long career, Ray York rode primarily in California where he won the 1964 Hollywood Gold Cup and twice won the West Coast's most important race for three-year-old horses,...
in the 1954 Kentucky Derby. Right out of the gate, York was almost unseated. Timely Tip, who had won the Arkansas Derby
Arkansas Derby
The Arkansas Derby is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt....
, cut over badly from the outside. In what Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
describes as one of the roughest Derbys ever run, Determine stayed on his feet and York stayed in the saddle. Hasty Road was well in the lead, but Determine caught him and won by a length and a half. Determine was the first gray to win the Derby. (Hasty Road went on to win the 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...
.)
Back in California, Determine was sent out against older horses. Losing a few races, he was found to have an abscessed jaw and was taken out of training. When he came back, he was heavily weighted, which took its toll on him. Even so, he won four stakes races and retired with winnings of almost $600,000.
Determine proved to be a good sire. His son Decidedly
Decidedly
Decidedly was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known for winning the 1962 Kentucky Derby.Ridden by Bill Hartack, Decidedly set a new Churchill Downs track record for 1¼ miles in winning the 1962 Derby. In the second leg and third legs of the U.S...
won the 1962 Kentucky Derby. Warfare, out of War Whisk, proved himself a fine campaigner. And Determine was damsire to the great 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...
filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
Bold 'n Determined
Bold 'n Determined
Bold 'n Determined , was an American Thoroughbred race horse born and bred in Kentucky. Her dam was the unraced mare Pidi, by Determine. Determine won the 1954 Kentucky Derby. Her sire was Bold And Brave by the great Bold Ruler...
.
Determine died in September, 1972, and is buried in the Metcalfe family cemetery at Forest Retreat, located in Nicholas County, Kentucky
Nicholas County, Kentucky
Nicholas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 6,813. Its county seat is Carlisle. The county is named for George Nicholas, the "Father of the Kentucky Constitution".- Geography :...
.