Private Terms
Encyclopedia
Private Terms was a millionaire American Thoroughbred
racehorse and successful stallion. He was the son of Private Account, who in turn was the son of the great Damascus
. Bred in Kentucky
by Stuart Janney, Jr., he finished racing with a record of 13-0-0 in 17 starts with career earnings of $
1,243,947. Private Terms was best known for his wins in the grade one Wood Memorial Stakes
and the grade two General George Handicap
.
at 1-1/16 miles at Aqueduct Racetrack
. In that race he beat Seeking the Gold
and Perfect Spy under jockey Chris Antley
. Then he won most impressive race of his career in the $500,000 grade one Wood Memorial Stakes
. In that race he defeated Seeking the Gold again and ignited the beginning of a heated rivalry with his foe that would last two years.
He went into the gate in the 1988 Kentucky Derby
unbeaten in seven starts and the second favorite in the race behind only Winning Colors
. He was not the most perfect physical specimen in the world. Minutes before the race on the Derby broadcast, Charlsie Cantey once said, "that while his legs were not set on perfectly that he put one in front of the other faster than all of his opponents to date.” Obviously, Private Terms’ unbeaten record fell in the Kentucky Derby, where he ran ninth behind Winning Colors, Forty Niner and Risen Star beaten just under six lengths.
Private Terms returned in the $500,000 grade one Preakness Stakes
as a 3-1 third choice in a field of ten graded stakes winners. In the "Run for the Black-Eyed Susan," he had no excuses and had the perfect trip in a stalking position within easy striking distance. At the top of the stretch he rallied late and moved from seventh to fourth but lacked enough punch and ended fourth behind Risen Star
, Brian's Time
and Winning Colors just four lengths back.
He did not contest the Belmont, which Risen Star won, but did win the listed Governor’s Handicap at Pimlico Race Course
. He then ran fourth behind Forty Niner and Seeking the Gold in the grade one Haskell Invitational Handicap
. Later that year it looked like he might be a threat in the grade one Super Derby
when he won a prep race in the Prelude Stakes, but he ran fourth in the big race behind Seeking the Gold
, Happyasalark Tomas and Lively One. That event marked the end of his sophomore year as finished with a record of 9-0-0 in 13 starts.
at Suffolk Downs. His other two wins came in listed stakes, the appropriate named Damascus Handicap at Laurel Park Racecourse after his grandsire and the Never Bend at Pimlico.
The almost black colt retired with 12 wins in 17 starts and earnings of $1,243,947. He never hit the board except for his wins, and owned not a single second or third. He was a true “all or nothing horse”. And as such, though in a far less tragic way, he called to mind his dam’s sister Ruffian.
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 and successful stallion. He was the son of Private Account, who in turn was the son of the great Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
. Bred in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
by Stuart Janney, Jr., he finished racing with a record of 13-0-0 in 17 starts with career earnings of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1,243,947. Private Terms was best known for his wins in the grade one 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....
and the grade two General George Handicap
General George Handicap
The General George Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually on Presidents' Day in mid February at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. A Grade II event, it is open to horses age three and older...
.
Three year-old season
At age three, Private Terms began to show great promise as he won one race after another. In his fifth start he won the grade two Gotham StakesGotham Stakes
The Gotham Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run in early March at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A Grade III event with a purse of $250,000, it is set at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt...
at 1-1/16 miles at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
. In that race he beat Seeking the Gold
Seeking The Gold
Seeking The Gold is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by the leading stud, Mr. Prospector, who in turn was a son of Raise a Native, out of the mare, Con Game....
and Perfect Spy under jockey Chris Antley
Chris Antley
Christopher Wiley Antley was a champion American jockey.He was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida but grew up in Elloree, South Carolina. He left school at sixteen to ride horses professionally at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. His first win was on a horse named Vaya Con Dinero...
. Then he won most impressive race of his career in the $500,000 grade one 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....
. In that race he defeated Seeking the Gold again and ignited the beginning of a heated rivalry with his foe that would last two years.
He went into the gate in the 1988 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...
unbeaten in seven starts and the second favorite in the race behind only Winning Colors
Winning Colors
Winning Colors is the third novel in the space opera, military science fiction Familias Regnant fictional universe written by Elizabeth Moon; it continues the plot centered on the adventures of captain Heris Serrano and the maturation of several wealthy Families' scions, which was begun in Hunting...
. He was not the most perfect physical specimen in the world. Minutes before the race on the Derby broadcast, Charlsie Cantey once said, "that while his legs were not set on perfectly that he put one in front of the other faster than all of his opponents to date.” Obviously, Private Terms’ unbeaten record fell in the Kentucky Derby, where he ran ninth behind Winning Colors, Forty Niner and Risen Star beaten just under six lengths.
Private Terms returned in the $500,000 grade one 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...
as a 3-1 third choice in a field of ten graded stakes winners. In the "Run for the Black-Eyed Susan," he had no excuses and had the perfect trip in a stalking position within easy striking distance. At the top of the stretch he rallied late and moved from seventh to fourth but lacked enough punch and ended fourth behind Risen Star
Risen Star
Risen Star, , was a champion thoroughbred race horse.The dark bay colt was the son of the great Triple Crown winner Secretariat out of the mare Ribbon. Bred by Arthur B. Hancock III and Leone J. Peters, Risen Star was bought by Louisianans Ronnie Lamarque and Louie Roussel III at the 1987 Calder...
, Brian's Time
Brian's Time
Brian's Time was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by Roberto by breeder Joan Phillips. Brian's Time was a grade one stakes winning millionaire that will be remembered most for his striking win in the Florida Derby and a solid runner-up finish to Dual Classic winner Risen Star in...
and Winning Colors just four lengths back.
He did not contest the Belmont, which Risen Star won, but did win the listed Governor’s Handicap at 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...
. He then ran fourth behind Forty Niner and Seeking the Gold in the grade one Haskell Invitational Handicap
Haskell Invitational Handicap
The Resorts Casino & Hotel Haskell Invitational is an American Grade I race for thoroughbred horses. In 1968, the Board of Directors of Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey honored its former President and Chairman Amory L. Haskell with the Amory L. Haskell Handicap, a race for older...
. Later that year it looked like he might be a threat in the grade one Super Derby
Super Derby
The Super Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in September at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana.Inaugurated in 1980, the Super Derby is open to 3-year-olds and the distance is 1 1/8 miles on the dirt. A Grade II event, it's the richest race held at Louisiana Downs...
when he won a prep race in the Prelude Stakes, but he ran fourth in the big race behind Seeking the Gold
Seeking The Gold
Seeking The Gold is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by the leading stud, Mr. Prospector, who in turn was a son of Raise a Native, out of the mare, Con Game....
, Happyasalark Tomas and Lively One. That event marked the end of his sophomore year as finished with a record of 9-0-0 in 13 starts.
Four year-old season
Private Terms ran fantastic at age four, making four starts and winning all but one of them. One of those wins was the grade two Massachusetts HandicapMassachusetts Handicap
The Massachusetts Handicap, frequently referred to as the "MassCap", is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and up held annually at Suffolk Downs in Boston, Massachusetts. It is currently an Ungraded stakes race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt. The race received...
at Suffolk Downs. His other two wins came in listed stakes, the appropriate named Damascus Handicap at Laurel Park Racecourse after his grandsire and the Never Bend at Pimlico.
The almost black colt retired with 12 wins in 17 starts and earnings of $1,243,947. He never hit the board except for his wins, and owned not a single second or third. He was a true “all or nothing horse”. And as such, though in a far less tragic way, he called to mind his dam’s sister Ruffian.