Lamb Chop (horse)
Encyclopedia
Lamb Chop was an American Thoroughbred
Champion racehorse
. Bred by Bull Hancock's
renowned Claiborne Farm
, she was sired by the great Bold Ruler
, an eight-time Leading sire in North America
and grandson of Nearco
. Her dam, Sheepsfoot, was a daughter of the 1943 U.S. Triple Crown
champion Count Fleet
.
Purchased by prominent horseman William Haggin Perry
, at age three Lamb Chop won almost every major American Graded stakes race
for fillies in her age group and was voted the 1963 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. Among her wins were races from six furlong
s to one and a quarter miles, which included a new Garden State Park
track record for 11/16 miles on dirt in winning the Jersey Belle Stakes.
In 1964, Lamb Chop took on her male counterparts in the San Fernando Stakes and finished second to the future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee Gun Bow
. She went up against Gun Bow and other males again in the 1964 Strub Stakes
at Santa Anita Park
but broke down during the race and had to be euthanized
. She was buried in the Santa Anita infield. In 1970, Quicken Tree
was buried next to her.
Following its formation, in 1977 Lamb Chop was inducted into the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame
.
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...
Champion 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...
. Bred by Bull Hancock's
Arthur B. Hancock, Jr.
Arthur B. "Bull" Hancock, Jr. was a breeder and owner of thoroughbred racehorses at Claiborne farm in Kentucky. He acquired European horses to breed in the United States, in particular Nasrullah and Princequillo, and gained great standing in the racing world as a result.-Early life:Hancock was...
renowned Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...
, she was sired by the great Bold Ruler
Bold Ruler
Bold Ruler was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse.Bred by the Wheatley Stable of Gladys Mills Phipps, Bold Ruler was foaled on April 6, 1954 at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky to Nasrullah and Miss Disco by Discovery...
, an eight-time Leading sire in North America
Leading sire in North America
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the year...
and grandson of Nearco
Nearco
Nearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
. Her dam, Sheepsfoot, was a daughter of the 1943 U.S. 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...
champion Count Fleet
Count Fleet
Count Fleet was born and died at Stoner Creek Stud farm in Paris, Kentucky, United States. He was a Thoroughbred racehorse and Triple Crown champion in 1943....
.
Purchased by prominent horseman William Haggin Perry
William Haggin Perry
William Haggin Perry was a prominent owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses. He was the son of Henry Pierrepont Perry, a Wall Street broker, and Edith Lounsbery, the daughter of Richard P...
, at age three Lamb Chop won almost every major American Graded stakes race
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...
for fillies in her age group and was voted the 1963 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. Among her wins were races from 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 to one and a quarter miles, which included a new Garden State Park
Garden State Park
Garden State Park was a harness and thoroughbred race track in Cherry Hill, Camden County, New Jersey. It is now the site of a high-end, mixed-use "town center" development of stores, restaurants, apartments, townhouses, and condominiums...
track record for 11/16 miles on dirt in winning the Jersey Belle Stakes.
In 1964, Lamb Chop took on her male counterparts in the San Fernando Stakes and finished second to the future U.S. 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...
inductee Gun Bow
Gun Bow
Gun Bow was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. Owned and bred by cosmetics tycoon Elizabeth Arden at her Maine Chance Farm, Gun Bow was sired by Gun Shot, a son of Hyperion, the 1933 Epsom Derby winner and a six-time leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland. He was out of the mare...
. She went up against Gun Bow and other males again in the 1964 Strub Stakes
Strub Stakes
The Strub Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California each year.Currently a Grade II stakes race with a purse of $300,000, it is open to horses, age four, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the synthetic surface of Santa Anita and offers...
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...
but broke down during the race and had to be euthanized
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
. She was buried in the Santa Anita infield. In 1970, Quicken Tree
Quicken Tree (horse)
Quicken Tree was an American Thoroughbred racehorse known for his dramatic come-from-behind style of running and his ability to win at classic and marathon distances...
was buried next to her.
Following its formation, in 1977 Lamb Chop was inducted into the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame
Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum
The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1977 as a tribute to the famous flat racing and steeplechase Thoroughbred horses that trained in Aiken, South Carolina....
.