Kingston (horse)
Encyclopedia
Kingston was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. He won 89 races, the most in the history of the sport of Thoroughbred racing
. Of his 138 starts, he was out of the money only on four occasions. He was later inducted into the United States Racing Hall of Fame
.
at his Castleton Stud
near Lexington, Kentucky
. Kingston was by Spendthrift
out of Kapanga (GB) by Victorious, 2nd dam Kapunda, by Stockwell
. Kingston's line goes back through Spendthrift to three significant sires: Lexington
, Glencoe, and Boston
.
Keene only sold him because he was having financial difficulties. As a yearling, Kingston was purchased by the trainer, Evert Snedecker
, and his partner J. F. Cushman. They raced him as a two-year-old, during which time he proved himself a colt
of quality, though he was beaten by both Hanover
and the noted Tremont
.
As a three-year-old, Kingston was bought by two Brooklyn
ex-butchers, Phil and Mike Dwyer
for $12,500. The Dwyer Brothers typically bought horses rather than breeding them, their chosen strategy for building a successful stable. They hoped that owning both Kingston and Hanover would prevent Hanover from racing a horse which might defeat him.
. The colt then went on a winning streak almost unprecedented in racing. At three, he won 13 of his 18 starts. At four, he won 10 of 14. At five, he won 14 times from 15 starts. At six, he won nine of his ten starts. At seven, he started 21 times and won 15. When he was seven he also set a time record at the old Futurity course at Sheepshead Bay of 1:08 for six furlong
s. At the age of eight, he won 13 of his 20 races. At nine, 9 out of 25, but in most of these 25 races he took home money. In his last year of racing, when he was 10 years old, he won four of his nine starts against much younger horses.
As an entire Kingston still raced way past the age when intact horses are retired to stud. Many experts believe a stallion
sours if he’s raced too long, but as a sire, Kingston was as good as he was a race horse.
Kingston was already a leading sire. He led the American
sire list in 1900 and 1910.
Kingston's progeny included: Ely (Gold Cup Stakes), Ildrim
(Belmont Stakes
), Novelty (Belmont Futurity Stakes etc.) and King's Courier (Doncaster Cup
).
He died in Kentucky on December 6, 1912.
Following the creation of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in 1955, Kingston was one of the first group of horses inducted.
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...
. He won 89 races, the most in the history of the sport of Thoroughbred racing
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
. Of his 138 starts, he was out of the money only on four occasions. He was later inducted into the United States 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...
.
Breeding
He was bred by James R. KeeneJames R. Keene
James Robert Keene was a Wall Street stock broker and a major thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder.-Biography:He was born in London, England in 1838. He was fourteen years of age when his family emigrated to the United States in 1852...
at his Castleton Stud
Castleton Lyons
Castleton Lyons near Lexington, Kentucky, is an American horse racing stable and breeding business best known by the name Castleton Farm....
near 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...
. Kingston was by Spendthrift
Spendthrift (horse)
Spendthrift was a successful American Thoroughbred racehorse and an outstanding sire.-Breeding:...
out of Kapanga (GB) by Victorious, 2nd dam Kapunda, by Stockwell
Stockwell (horse)
Stockwell was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland seven times; he was second on the sires' list a further four times during a 14-year period.-Breeding:...
. Kingston's line goes back through Spendthrift to three significant sires: Lexington
Lexington (horse)
Lexington was a United States Thoroughbred race horse who won six of his seven race starts. Perhaps his greatest fame came however as the most successful sire of the second half of the nineteenth century; he was the Leading sire in North America 16 times, and of his many brood mare and racer...
, Glencoe, and Boston
Boston (horse)
Boston , was an outstanding chestnut Thoroughbred racehorse and a Leading sire in North America three times from 1851 to 1853. He started in about 45 races, winning 40 of these, including 15 in succession...
.
Keene only sold him because he was having financial difficulties. As a yearling, Kingston was purchased by the trainer, Evert Snedecker
Evert V. Snedecker
Evert V. "Eph" Snedecker was an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer and owner.Born on Long Island, New York, Evert Snedecker grew up in a family involved with the sport of horse racing.His grandparents owned racehorses and one of his uncles was a trainer. In 1852 he went to work at the...
, and his partner J. F. Cushman. They raced him as a two-year-old, during which time he proved himself a 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....
of quality, though he was beaten by both Hanover
Hanover (thoroughbred horse)
Hanover was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse that won his first 17 race starts. He was the only American stallion to head the Leading sire in North America list for four consecutive years until Bold Ruler did so in 1965.-Background:...
and the noted Tremont
Tremont (horse)
Tremont an American Thoroughbred racehorse who, according to the New York Racing Association, was acclaimed by 19th Century Thoroughbred Horse Racing historians as the best two-year-old ever bred in the United States....
.
As a three-year-old, Kingston was bought by two Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
ex-butchers, Phil and Mike Dwyer
Dwyer Brothers Stable
Dwyer Brothers Stable was an American thoroughbred horse racing operation owned by Brooklyn, New York businessmen, Phil and Mike Dwyer.The Dwyer brothers hired trainer Evert Snedecker and purchased their first Thoroughbred, Rhadamanthus, in 1874. In October of that same year they acquired Vigil...
for $12,500. The Dwyer Brothers typically bought horses rather than breeding them, their chosen strategy for building a successful stable. They hoped that owning both Kingston and Hanover would prevent Hanover from racing a horse which might defeat him.
Racing record
Once under the Dwyer's roof, Kingston's conditioning was taken over by future Hall of Fame member Frank McCabeFrank McCabe
Frank Reilly McCabe was an American basketball player who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics. McCabe played collegiately at Marquette University....
. The colt then went on a winning streak almost unprecedented in racing. At three, he won 13 of his 18 starts. At four, he won 10 of 14. At five, he won 14 times from 15 starts. At six, he won nine of his ten starts. At seven, he started 21 times and won 15. When he was seven he also set a time record at the old Futurity course at Sheepshead Bay of 1:08 for six furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s. At the age of eight, he won 13 of his 20 races. At nine, 9 out of 25, but in most of these 25 races he took home money. In his last year of racing, when he was 10 years old, he won four of his nine starts against much younger horses.
As an entire Kingston still raced way past the age when intact horses are retired to stud. Many experts believe a 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...
sours if he’s raced too long, but as a sire, Kingston was as good as he was a race horse.
Stud record
Two years after he went to studHorse 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...
Kingston was already a leading sire. He led the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sire list in 1900 and 1910.
Kingston's progeny included: Ely (Gold Cup Stakes), Ildrim
Ildrim (horse)
Ildrim was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1900 Belmont Stakes at Morris Park Racecourse in The Bronx, New York under future U.S...
(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...
), Novelty (Belmont Futurity Stakes etc.) and King's Courier (Doncaster Cup
Doncaster Cup
The Doncaster Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 2 miles and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
).
He died in Kentucky on December 6, 1912.
Following the creation of 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...
in 1955, Kingston was one of the first group of horses inducted.