Head Play
Encyclopedia
Head Play was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
best known for winning the 1933 Preakness Stakes
, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
series of races and as the horse on the losing end of the "Fighting Finish" of the 1933 Kentucky Derby.
in December at Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, Illinois
before being freshened over the winter. In his three year-old season he won the Derby Trial Stakes at one mile at Churchill Downs
on opening weekend.
That win convinced his connections; trainer Thomas Hayes and owner Mrs. Mason to enter Head Play in the "Second Jewel of the Triple Crown
the $25,000 Preakness Stakes
run at a mile and three sixteenth at Baltimore
's Pimlico Race Course
. In the time leading up to the race he began uneasy in the paddock bucking and exhibiting fractious behavior and was unabled to be placed in the stall for saddleing. In the race itself he broke from gate four as the post time 2-1 favorite. He was immediately sent by his jockey Charles Kurtsinger
to the outside shifting across several other paths to the middle of the track. He began fastest of all and out ran all others including Kentucky Derby
winner Brokers Tip
to the first turn completing the first quarter mile in :23-3/5. He rated by slowing down the pace on the back stretch but was still in front comfotably. He shook off several bold challenges from Ladysman and then drew off easily in the last quarter mile to win by four full lengths. He won the Preakness in a final time of 2:02 flat paying $5.60 to win. The beaten Derby winner Brokers Tip finished dead last in the field of ten.
in the first week of February at one and one eighth mile on the dirt and then turned around and won the San Juan Capistrano Handicap in the second half of April at 1-3/4 miles on the turf both at Santa Anita Park
outside Los Angeles in California. On the fourth of July weekend Head Play went on to win the prestigious Suburban Handicap
at 1¼ miles on the dirt at Belmont Park
in New York. In late September he won another turf race, the Bay Meadows Handicap at one and one eighth miles in the San Francisco Area in Northern California at Bay Meadows Racetrack.
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...
best known for winning the 1933 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
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...
series of races and as the horse on the losing end of the "Fighting Finish" of the 1933 Kentucky Derby.
Early racing career
At age two Head Play broke his maiden in his second start. He went on to win the one and one sixteenth mile Hawthorne Juvenile StakesHawthorne Juvenile Stakes
The Hawthorne Juvenile Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1927 through 1999 at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois...
in December at Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, Illinois
Cicero, Illinois
Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator....
before being freshened over the winter. In his three year-old season he won the Derby Trial Stakes at one mile at 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...
on opening weekend.
That win convinced his connections; trainer Thomas Hayes and owner Mrs. Mason to enter Head Play in the "Second Jewel of the 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...
the $25,000 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...
run at a mile and three sixteenth at Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
's 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...
. In the time leading up to the race he began uneasy in the paddock bucking and exhibiting fractious behavior and was unabled to be placed in the stall for saddleing. In the race itself he broke from gate four as the post time 2-1 favorite. He was immediately sent by his jockey Charles Kurtsinger
Charles Kurtsinger
Charles E. Kurtsinger was an American Hall of Fame jockey who won the Triple Crown in 1937.Known as "Charley" but in racing received the nickname "The Flying Dutchman", Kurtsinger was born in Shepherdsville, Kentucky and learned race riding from his jockey father and from veteran rider Mack Garner...
to the outside shifting across several other paths to the middle of the track. He began fastest of all and out ran all others including 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 Brokers Tip
Brokers Tip
Brokers Tip , by Black Toney out of the French mare Forteresse, was a Thoroughbred racehorse and the only horse in history whose sole win was in the Kentucky Derby...
to the first turn completing the first quarter mile in :23-3/5. He rated by slowing down the pace on the back stretch but was still in front comfotably. He shook off several bold challenges from Ladysman and then drew off easily in the last quarter mile to win by four full lengths. He won the Preakness in a final time of 2:02 flat paying $5.60 to win. The beaten Derby winner Brokers Tip finished dead last in the field of ten.
Later racing career
Head Play was injured and did not win another race in the remainder of his three year-old or four year-old seasons. As a five year old he came back into form from his injury and won four stakes races on separate coasts of the country. Early in 1935 he showed his versatility by winning both the inaugural running of the San Antonio HandicapSan Antonio Handicap
The San Antonio Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
in the first week of February at one and one eighth mile on the dirt and then turned around and won the San Juan Capistrano Handicap in the second half of April at 1-3/4 miles on the turf both 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...
outside Los Angeles in California. On the fourth of July weekend Head Play went on to win the prestigious Suburban Handicap
Suburban Handicap
The Suburban Handicap is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is run at the classic one-and-one-quarter mile distance on dirt for a $400,000 purse....
at 1¼ miles on the dirt 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 New York. In late September he won another turf race, the Bay Meadows Handicap at one and one eighth miles in the San Francisco Area in Northern California at Bay Meadows Racetrack.