George Smith (horse)
Encyclopedia
George Smith was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse and was the winner of the 1916 Kentucky Derby
. George Smith was a jet black colt by the imported British Stallion
Out of Reach by the imported British mare
, Consuelo II. His grandsire, Persimmon
, was a son of the great English
racer and sire, St. Simon
.
George Smith was named after noted turfman George E. Smith
, also known as "Pittsburg Phill", who was once an owner of the colt's dam, Consuelo II. The colt was bred by Fred Forsythe and Jack Chinn and foaled at their Fountain Blue Farm in Harrodsburg, Kentucky
. George Smith was purchased as a yearling for $1,600 by Ed Mcbride, who trained him as a yearling and raced him as a two-year-old. George Smith was a promising two-year-old, winning many major stakes races including the Victoria Stakes
at Old Woodbine Race Course
in Toronto
, Canada
. George Smith was then bought by noted Eastern horseman John Sanford
for $22,500 as a two-year-old.
The 1916 Kentucky Derby was run on a clear day with a field of nine horses. George Smith was ridden by American Racing Hall of Fame
jockey Johnny Loftus
and was the clear contender of the race from the start. The only competition for the win came from Star Hawk, who lost the race by a neck after an impressive rally on the home stretch.[1}
In 1918, George Smith won the Bowie Handicap at Pimlico Race Course
by defeating two other Kentucky Derby winners. The 1917 winner, Omar Khayyam
, finished second and 1918 winner, Exterminator
, ran third.
George Smith was retired from racing at age five and stood at stud at Sanford's Hurricana Stud farm near Amsterdam, New York. George Smith was a disappointing sire, producing few notable offspring. On August 5, 1926, Sanford donated George Smith and another stallion called Nassovian to the Breeding Bureau of the The Jockey Club
. By the following year, George Smith was in the possession of the United States Army
cavalry remount service, where he sired military horses for his remaining years.
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 and was the winner of the 1916 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...
. George Smith was a jet black colt by the imported British Stallion
Stallion (horse)
A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
Out of Reach by the imported British mare
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
, Consuelo II. His grandsire, Persimmon
Persimmon (horse)
Persimmon was an outstanding British-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred race horse and sire who won the Epsom Derby in 1896. This was the first horse race ever filmed, by Robert W. Paul and Birt Acres....
, was a son of the great English
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...
racer and sire, St. Simon
St. Simon (horse)
St. Simon was an undefeated British Thoroughbred racehorse and one of the most successful sires in the history of the Thoroughbred. In May 1886 The Sporting Times carried out a poll of one hundred experts to create a ranking of the best British racehorses of the 19th Century. St...
.
George Smith was named after noted turfman George E. Smith
George E. Smith (gambler)
George Elsworth Smith was an American gambler and Thoroughbred horse racing enthusiast who became a multi-millionaire during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Smith was given the nickname "Pittsburgh Phil" in 1885 by Chicago gambler William "Silver Bill" Riley to differentiate him...
, also known as "Pittsburg Phill", who was once an owner of the colt's dam, Consuelo II. The colt was bred by Fred Forsythe and Jack Chinn and foaled at their Fountain Blue Farm in Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Harrodsburg is a city in and the county seat of Mercer County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,014 at the 2000 census. It is the oldest city in Kentucky.-History:...
. George Smith was purchased as a yearling for $1,600 by Ed Mcbride, who trained him as a yearling and raced him as a two-year-old. George Smith was a promising two-year-old, winning many major stakes races including the Victoria Stakes
Victoria Stakes
The Victoria Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Held in mid June, it has been raced on Polytrack since 2006 over a distance of five furlongs...
at Old Woodbine Race Course
Greenwood Raceway
Greenwood Raceway is a defunct horse racing facility in Toronto.Inaugurated in 1874 as Woodbine Race Course at the foot of Woodbine Avenue and Lake Ontario, it was owned and operated by two gentlemen named Pardee and Howell. Within a few years financial problems resulted in the property reverting...
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...
, Canada
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...
. George Smith was then bought by noted Eastern horseman John Sanford
John Sanford (1851)
John Sanford was an American businessman, a prominent owner/breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses, and a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York's 20th congressional district.-Early life:...
for $22,500 as a two-year-old.
The 1916 Kentucky Derby was run on a clear day with a field of nine horses. George Smith was ridden by American Racing 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...
jockey Johnny Loftus
Johnny Loftus
John P. Loftus was an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey.Born in Chicago, Illinois, Johnny Loftus was the first jockey to win the United States United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. During his career, between 1909 and 1919, he won 580 races out of the 2,449 he...
and was the clear contender of the race from the start. The only competition for the win came from Star Hawk, who lost the race by a neck after an impressive rally on the home stretch.[1}
In 1918, George Smith won the Bowie Handicap at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
by defeating two other Kentucky Derby winners. The 1917 winner, Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyam (horse)
Omar Khayyam was a British-born Thoroughbred racehorse who was sold as a yearling to an American racing partnership and who became the first foreign-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby...
, finished second and 1918 winner, Exterminator
Exterminator (horse)
Exterminator was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and the winner of the 1918 Kentucky Derby, and in 1922 won Horse of the Year honors....
, ran third.
George Smith was retired from racing at age five and stood at stud at Sanford's Hurricana Stud farm near Amsterdam, New York. George Smith was a disappointing sire, producing few notable offspring. On August 5, 1926, Sanford donated George Smith and another stallion called Nassovian to the Breeding Bureau of the The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club, formed on February 9, 1894, is the keeper of The American Stud Book. It came into existence after James R. Keene spearheaded a drive in support of racehorse trainers who had complained about the Board of Control that governed racing in New York State.-History:On its formation, The...
. By the following year, George Smith was in the possession of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
cavalry remount service, where he sired military horses for his remaining years.