Empire Maker
Encyclopedia
Empire Maker is an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. Owned and bred by Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms
, he was sired by champion
Unbridled
, winner of the 1990 Kentucky Derby
and Breeders' Cup Classic
. Empire Maker's dam, Toussaud
, was the daughter of British champion and Classic Race winner El Gran Senor
, who in turn was a son of the great Northern Dancer
. Toussaud was a multiple stakes winner in England
and a Blue Hen broodmare who would produce five Grade I
winners from five different stallions.
At age two, Empire Maker made two starts, winning his maiden debut in October 2002 at Belmont Park
then taking third in the Remsen Stakes
, some 5½ lengths back of the winner. As a three-year-old, he would make six starts, winning three and finishing second three times.
In February 2003, Empire Maker began his three-year-old season with a second-place finish in the Sham Stakes
at Santa Anita Park
in California
. For his next start, trainer Bobby Frankel put blinkers on the colt in an effort to make him concentrate and he responded with a win in the important Grade I
Florida Derby
. He followed this up with another important win in the Grade I Wood Memorial Stakes
. These two performances resulted in Empire Maker being made the solid betting
favorite in the 2003 Kentucky Derby
.
jockey, Jerry Bailey, Empire Maker ran second in the Kentucky Derby to Funny Cide
whom he had beaten by a diminishing head in the Wood Memorial. His handlers then chose to rest the colt and did not run him in the Preakness Stakes
, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series, which is a common racing tactic when a horse does not win the first leg. Funny Cide won the Preakness Stakes by a huge margin and headed to New York's
Belmont Park
favored to become the first Triple Crown champion in twenty-five years.
Heavy rains left the racetrack at Belmont Park officially rated as sloppy for the 2003 running of the Belmont Stakes
. In an attempt to control the pace, Funny Cide's handlers changed his racing tactics and he took the lead early. Empire Maker was running a length back to the outside when at the mile mark, jockey Jerry Bailey made his move. Although Funny Cide fought back, the fact that for some reason he was ridden close to the rail in the deepest slop was too much for him and he was passed in the homestretch by Illinois Derby
winner Ten Most Wanted. The fresh Empire Maker won by the race with Ten Most Wanted a strong second and Funny Cide finishing third, more than five lengths back.
In what would be Empire Maker's final race, as a 3-10 favorite he ran second by half a length in the Jim Dandy Stakes
at Saratoga Race Course
. Empire Maker was retired to stand at stud
beginning in 2004 at his owner's Juddmonte Farms in Lexington, Kentucky
.
In November 2010 Empire Maker was sold to the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders’ Association and currently stands at the Shizunai Stallion Station
for the 2011 season.
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...
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...
. Owned and bred by Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms
Juddmonte Farms
Juddmonte Farms is a famous and award-winning horse breeding farm, owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. A member of the Saudi Arabian royal family the successful businessman presides over the massive conglomerate Mawared...
, he was sired by champion
Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Male Horse
The American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971....
Unbridled
Unbridled
Unbridled was a Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse.The colt was sired by Fappiano , by Mr. Prospector, and his dam Gana Facil, by Le Fabuleux. Unbridled retired with a career record of 8 wins, 6 places and 6 shows in 24 starts, and $4,489,475 in career earnings...
, winner of the 1990 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 Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
. Empire Maker's dam, Toussaud
Toussaud
Toussaud was a bay mare breed and raced by Juddmonte Farms. Sired by El Gran Senor out of an In Reality mare, Image of Reality, Toussaud achieved much on the track and in the breeding shed.- Race Career :...
, was the daughter of British champion and Classic Race winner El Gran Senor
El Gran Senor
El Gran Senor was an American-bred Thoroughbred race horse, foaled at Windfields Farm in Maryland.An outstanding two-year-old who went on to win European classics over a mile and over 12 furlongs, El Gran Senor received a Timeform rated 136...
, who in turn was a son of the great Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
. Toussaud was a multiple stakes winner in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and a Blue Hen broodmare who would produce five Grade I
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...
winners from five different stallions.
At age two, Empire Maker made two starts, winning his maiden debut in October 2002 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...
then taking third in the Remsen Stakes
Remsen Stakes
The Remsen Stakes is an American Grade II race for Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York...
, some 5½ lengths back of the winner. As a three-year-old, he would make six starts, winning three and finishing second three times.
In February 2003, Empire Maker began his three-year-old season with a second-place finish in the Sham Stakes
Sham Stakes
The Sham Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Sham Stakes is open to three-year-olds and is held at one and one-eighth miles on the dirt...
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 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...
. For his next start, trainer Bobby Frankel put blinkers on the colt in an effort to make him concentrate and he responded with a win in the important Grade I
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...
Florida Derby
Florida Derby
The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on the Saturday closest to the end of March or the first of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade 1 race is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt...
. He followed this up with another important win in the Grade I Wood Memorial Stakes
Wood Memorial Stakes
The Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, New York. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt....
. These two performances resulted in Empire Maker being made the solid betting
Parimutuel betting
Parimutuel betting is a betting system in which all bets of a particular type are placed together in a pool; taxes and the "house-take" or "vig" is removed, and payoff odds are calculated by sharing the pool among all winning bets...
favorite in the 2003 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...
.
2003 Triple Crown
Under his regular rider, the U.S. Racing Hall of FameNational 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...
jockey, Jerry Bailey, Empire Maker ran second in the Kentucky Derby to Funny Cide
Funny Cide
Funny Cide is a Thoroughbred race horse who won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in 2003. He is the first New York-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby and the first gelding to win since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.-Bloodlines:...
whom he had beaten by a diminishing head in the Wood Memorial. His handlers then chose to rest the colt and did not run him in 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...
, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series, which is a common racing tactic when a horse does not win the first leg. Funny Cide won the Preakness Stakes by a huge margin and headed to New York's
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
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...
favored to become the first Triple Crown champion in twenty-five years.
Heavy rains left the racetrack at Belmont Park officially rated as sloppy for the 2003 running of the 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...
. In an attempt to control the pace, Funny Cide's handlers changed his racing tactics and he took the lead early. Empire Maker was running a length back to the outside when at the mile mark, jockey Jerry Bailey made his move. Although Funny Cide fought back, the fact that for some reason he was ridden close to the rail in the deepest slop was too much for him and he was passed in the homestretch by Illinois Derby
Illinois Derby
The Illinois Derby is a race for Thoroughbred horses held in early April each year. First run in 1923, the Derby takes place at Hawthorne Race Course located in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois, just west of Chicago...
winner Ten Most Wanted. The fresh Empire Maker won by the race with Ten Most Wanted a strong second and Funny Cide finishing third, more than five lengths back.
In what would be Empire Maker's final race, as a 3-10 favorite he ran second by half a length in the Jim Dandy Stakes
Jim Dandy Stakes
The Jim Dandy Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race. The Grade II race has been held annually since 1964 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is open to horses age three, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt. It carries a purse of $500,000. Prior...
at Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
. Empire Maker was retired to stand at 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...
beginning in 2004 at his owner's Juddmonte Farms in 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...
.
In November 2010 Empire Maker was sold to the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders’ Association and currently stands at the Shizunai Stallion Station
Shizunai Stallion Station
Shizunai Stallion Station is a Japanese Thoroughbred horse farm was opened in 1963 and is located on the island of Hokkaidō. Operated by the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association , it is located in Shizunai whose sister city is Lexington, Kentucky...
for the 2011 season.