Pensive
Encyclopedia
Pensive was a bright chestnut
thoroughbred
racehorse who in 1944 came closer than any other horse at the time to winning the U.S. Triple Crown. He was also the first to win the first two legs and then lose the third.
A son of England
's Hyperion
(who himself had won two thirds of England's Triple Crown), out of Penicuik II (by Buchan), Pensive, ridden by Conn McCreary
, won the Kentucky Derby
going away by four and a half lengths. A week later, he took the Preakness
. The Belmont Stakes
looked to be Pensive's for the taking. That year, the Belmont (at the time the least of the three races), had finally upped its purse to $50,000. Pensive was in the lead and headed for the wire and the winner's circle, when seemingly out of the blue, Bounding Home inched by to take the race by less than half a length.
Pensive was brought to the United States still forming in his mother's womb by Arthur B. Hancock
who then sold the mare to the owner of Calumet Farm
, Warren Wright. Wright had inherited Calumet from his father, William Monroe Wright, president of the Calumet Baking Powder Company
. In time, Warren Wright was also president of the baking powder company, and he took it to the financial heights of the business world. When he also took over Calumet in 1931, he sold off the trotters
his father favored and began buying Thoroughbreds for flat racing
. Under Warren Wright, Calumet enjoyed years of racing dominance.
When he was old enough, Pensive began his training under Calumet's future Hall of Fame
trainerr, Ben A. Jones
.
At two, Pensive raced five times, winning only twice. He lost the three which were stakes races. At three, he ran a checkered season, winning and losing fairly equally. He beat older horses in the Rowe Memorial Handicap, but lost to a great older horse, Tola Rose, in the Bowie Handicap. Tola Rose had whipped Whirlaway
. But when it came to the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, even the Belmont, Pensive was on top of his game. For want of a short burst of speed, often thought to be his jockey's fault who was known for his closing style, Pensive would have won the Triple Crown.
For some reason, after that Pensive lost his form altogether. He ran another eight races, and won none.
At this point he was retired to stud, producing the winner of the 1949 Kentucky Derby, Ponder
. He died in 1949, just after his son won the Derby. Pensive is buried at Calumet Farm.
Chestnut (coat)
Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
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 who in 1944 came closer than any other horse at the time to winning the U.S. Triple Crown. He was also the first to win the first two legs and then lose the third.
A son of England
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...
's Hyperion
Hyperion (horse)
Hyperion was a British bred Thoroughbred, a dual classic winner and an outstanding sire. Owned by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, Hyperion won £29,509 during his career - a considerable sum at the time. His victories included the Epsom Derby and St...
(who himself had won two thirds of England's Triple Crown), out of Penicuik II (by Buchan), Pensive, ridden by Conn McCreary
Conn McCreary
Conn N. McCreary was a United States Hall of Fame jockey and trainer in Thoroughbred horse racing who won four American Classic Races....
, 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...
going away by four and a half lengths. A week later, he took the Preakness
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 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...
looked to be Pensive's for the taking. That year, the Belmont (at the time the least of the three races), had finally upped its purse to $50,000. Pensive was in the lead and headed for the wire and the winner's circle, when seemingly out of the blue, Bounding Home inched by to take the race by less than half a length.
Pensive was brought to the United States still forming in his mother's womb by 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....
who then sold the mare to the owner of Calumet Farm
Calumet Farm
Calumet Farm is a Thoroughbred breeding and training farm established in 1924 in Lexington, Kentucky, United States by William Monroe Wright, founding owner of the Calumet Baking Powder Company. Calumet is located in the heart of Lexington's blue grass country, the finest horse breeding region in...
, Warren Wright. Wright had inherited Calumet from his father, William Monroe Wright, president of the Calumet Baking Powder Company
Calumet Baking Powder Company
Calumet Baking Powder Company was an American food company established in 1889 in Chicago, Illinois, by baking powder salesman, William Monroe Wright. His newly formulated double-acting baking powder took its name from the Native American name for a peace pipe given to the lands now known as...
. In time, Warren Wright was also president of the baking powder company, and he took it to the financial heights of the business world. When he also took over Calumet in 1931, he sold off the trotters
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
his father favored and began buying Thoroughbreds for flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
. Under Warren Wright, Calumet enjoyed years of racing dominance.
When he was old enough, Pensive began his training under Calumet's future 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...
trainerr, Ben A. Jones
Ben A. Jones
Benjamin Allyn Jones was a thoroughbred horse trainer.Born in Parnell, Missouri, Ben Jones went into the business of breeding and training of thoroughbreds during the first decade of the 20th century, racing his horses on small circuits in the American West and in Mexico...
.
At two, Pensive raced five times, winning only twice. He lost the three which were stakes races. At three, he ran a checkered season, winning and losing fairly equally. He beat older horses in the Rowe Memorial Handicap, but lost to a great older horse, Tola Rose, in the Bowie Handicap. Tola Rose had whipped Whirlaway
Whirlaway
Whirlaway was an American champion thoroughbred racehorse.The chestnut horse was sired by English Derby winner Blenheim II, out of the broodmare Dustwhirl. Whirlaway was bred at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky....
. But when it came to the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, even the Belmont, Pensive was on top of his game. For want of a short burst of speed, often thought to be his jockey's fault who was known for his closing style, Pensive would have won the Triple Crown.
For some reason, after that Pensive lost his form altogether. He ran another eight races, and won none.
At this point he was retired to stud, producing the winner of the 1949 Kentucky Derby, Ponder
Ponder (horse)
Ponder , an American Thoroughbred racehorse, was the son of the 1944 Kentucky Derby winner, Pensive and sire of the winner of the 1956 Kentucky Derby, Needles. Ponder, himself, won the Derby in 1949...
. He died in 1949, just after his son won the Derby. Pensive is buried at Calumet Farm.