High Quest
Encyclopedia
High Quest was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
best known for winning the 1934 Preakness Stakes
, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
series of races.
Sir Gallahad III
, the sire of High Quest, had been purchased in 1926 from his owner in France
by an American breeding syndicate made up of Robert A. Fairbairn, William Woodward, Sr.
, Arthur B. Hancock
, and High Quest's breeder, Marshall Field III
.
Bob Smith, a trainer
with a history of spotting talent, had been hired by heiress Isabel Dodge Sloane
to stock her newly formed Brookmeade Stable
. Smith purchased High Quest for $3,500 at the Saratoga Yearling Sales
and that same year bought Time Clock for $700 and Cavalcade
for $1,200. Time Clock won the Flamingo Stakes
in 1934 while Cavalcade won the Kentucky Derby
, Horse of the Year
honors, and would be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
.
Racing at age two, High Quest won an allowance race at Saratoga Race Course
, in the process defeating future Hall of Famer, Discovery
. In the prestigious race for two-year-olds, the Hopeful Stakes, High Quest again defeated Discovery but finished second to a filly
named Bazaar. In the Eastern Shore Handicap at Havre de Grace Racetrack
in Maryland
, High Quest beat Discovery for the third time as well as stablemate Cavalcade.
In 1934, en route to the U.S. Triple Crown races, the three-year-old High Quest won the important Wood Memorial Stakes
. His stablemates Cavalcade and Time Clock were entered in the Kentucky Derby, finishing first and seventh respectively. High Quest then replaced Time Clock in the Preakness Stakes
and under California
jockey
Bobby Jones
, scored the most important win of his career by defeating stablemate Cavalcade by a nose.
High Quest went on to compete in the third leg of the Triple Crown series, finishing second in the Belmont Stakes
to the Joseph E. Widener
colt, Peace Chance
. A wrenched foot forced him out of racing. Retired to stud
duty, unlike his prominent father, High Quest was less than successful in producing stakes winners with 1946 Santa Anita Handicap
winner War Knight probably the best of the lot.
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 1934 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.
Sir Gallahad III
Sir Gallahad III
Sir Gallahad III was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and a very important Sire in the United States.Racing at age two in France for his British breeder/owner, Jefferson Davis Cohn, Sir Gallahad earned victory in three of his five starts but was overshadowed by the 1922 Champion colt, Epinard...
, the sire of High Quest, had been purchased in 1926 from his owner in 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...
by an American breeding syndicate made up of Robert A. Fairbairn, William Woodward, Sr.
William Woodward, Sr.
William Woodward, Sr. was an American banker and major owner and breeder in thoroughbred horse racing.-Background:...
, Arthur B. Hancock
Arthur B. Hancock
Arthur Boyd Hancock was an American breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses who established the renowned Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky....
, and High Quest's breeder, Marshall Field III
Marshall Field III
Marshall Field III was an American investment banker, publisher, racehorse owner/breeder, philanthropist, heir to the Marshall Field department store fortune and a leading financial supporter and founding board member of Saul Alinsky's community organizing network Industrial Areas Foundation.Born...
.
Bob Smith, a trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
with a history of spotting talent, had been hired by heiress Isabel Dodge Sloane
Isabel Dodge Sloane
Isabel Cleves Dodge Sloane was an American heiress and socialite who owned a major Thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm....
to stock her newly formed Brookmeade Stable
Brookmeade Stable
Brookmeade Stable was a successful thoroughbred horse racing stable owned by heiress and socialite Isabel Dodge Sloane. Sloane first won using the name Brookmeade Stable at the Manly Memorial Steeplechase at Pimlico in 1924....
. Smith purchased High Quest for $3,500 at the Saratoga Yearling Sales
Fasig-Tipton
The Fasig-Tipton Company, Inc. is an auction house for Thoroughbred horses founded in 1898 by William B. Fasig and Edward A. Tipton. It is the oldest auction company of its kind in North America....
and that same year bought Time Clock for $700 and Cavalcade
Cavalcade (horse)
Cavalcade was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse.In the early 1930s, Bob Smith, a trainer with a history of spotting talent, had been hired by heiress Isabel Dodge Sloane to stock her newly formed Brookmeade Stable. A descendant of the 1893 English Triple Crown champion...
for $1,200. Time Clock won the Flamingo Stakes
Flamingo Stakes
The Flamingo Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in March at the Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida. Run over a distance of nine furlongs, the inaugural race took place in 1926 at the Tampa, Florida racetrack...
in 1934 while Cavalcade won 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...
, 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....
honors, and would be inducted into the 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...
.
Racing at age two, High Quest won an allowance race 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...
, in the process defeating future Hall of Famer, Discovery
Discovery (horse)
Discovery was an American Thoroughbred racehorse about whom the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame said: "...considered one of the greatest horses of the 20th century."...
. In the prestigious race for two-year-olds, the Hopeful Stakes, High Quest again defeated Discovery but finished second to a 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....
named Bazaar. In the Eastern Shore Handicap at Havre de Grace Racetrack
Havre de Grace Racetrack
The Havre de Grace Racetrack was an American horse racing track on Post Road in Havre de Grace, Harford County, Maryland which operated from August 24, 1912 to 1950...
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, High Quest beat Discovery for the third time as well as stablemate Cavalcade.
In 1934, en route to the U.S. Triple Crown races, the three-year-old High Quest won the important 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....
. His stablemates Cavalcade and Time Clock were entered in the Kentucky Derby, finishing first and seventh respectively. High Quest then replaced Time Clock 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...
and under 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...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
Bobby Jones
Robert Jones (jockey)
Robert "Bobby" Jones was an American Champion jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing.From San Ysidro, California, Bobby Jones was the son of Alfred L. Jones, who was involved in horse racing and who raised Thoroughbreds....
, scored the most important win of his career by defeating stablemate Cavalcade by a nose.
High Quest went on to compete in the third leg of the Triple Crown series, finishing second in 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...
to the Joseph E. Widener
Joseph E. Widener
Joseph Early Widener was a wealthy American art collector who was a founding benefactor of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C...
colt, Peace Chance
Peace Chance
Peace Chance was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1934 Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series....
. A wrenched foot forced him out of racing. 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...
duty, unlike his prominent father, High Quest was less than successful in producing stakes winners with 1946 Santa Anita Handicap
Santa Anita Handicap
The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season...
winner War Knight probably the best of the lot.