Sagamore Farm
Encyclopedia
Sagamore Farm is an American
Thoroughbred
horse breeding
farm
on Belmont Avenue in Reisterstown, Baltimore County, Maryland
. Established in 1925, it was owned by Margaret Emerson Vanderbilt who gave it to her son Alfred G. Vanderbilt II
for his twenty-first birthday. As a member of New York's
wealthy Vanderbilt family
, Alfred would become the owner and president of Baltimore's
Pimlico Race Course
. As well, he served at various times as head of the New York Racing Association
and the United States Jockey Club
.
In 1941, Vanderbilt teamed up with Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. and other investors to acquire for breeding services the 1935 English Triple Crown
winner Bahram
from the Aga Khan III
. Bahram stood at stud at Sagamore Farm then was sent to Chrysler's North Wales Stud in Warrenton, Virginia
. In 1966, Vanderbilt was part of another syndicate that bought Kentucky Derby
and Preakness Stakes
winner Kauai King
who would also stand at stud at Sagamore Farm.
Vanderbilt/Sagamore Farms' best known racehorses were Discovery
, Bed o'Roses
, and Native Dancer
, all of whom were inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
.
Vanderbilt sold the farm to developer James Ward in 1986. In 2007 Maryland native Kevin Plank
, CEO of Under Armour
apparell company, bought the farm with a long term plan for a major restoration. Equestrian architect, John Blackburn of Blackburn Architectshttp://www.blackburnarch.com in Washington, D.C.
is renovating the farm that includes a historic 90-stall training barn with a quarter-mile interior track. The facilities, are across the way of the Maryland Stallion Station. The back of the facilities are visible from Tufton Avenue.
On November 5, 2010, a Sagamore Farms owned horse named Shared Account won the $2 million Breeders Cup Fillies and Mares race. She defeated one of the best horses in the world, Midday.
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...
horse breeding
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...
farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
on Belmont Avenue in Reisterstown, Baltimore County, 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...
. Established in 1925, it was owned by Margaret Emerson Vanderbilt who gave it to her son Alfred G. Vanderbilt II
Alfred G. Vanderbilt II
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II was a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family, a son of the first Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt who died a hero in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. His mother, Margaret Emerson, was one of America's wealthiest women and most sought-after hostesses, operating at least...
for his twenty-first birthday. As a member of New York's
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
wealthy Vanderbilt family
Vanderbilt family
The Vanderbilt family is an American family of Dutch origin prominent during the Gilded Age. It started off with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy...
, Alfred would become the owner and president of Baltimore's
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
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...
. As well, he served at various times as head of the New York Racing Association
New York Racing Association
The New York Racing Association, Inc. is the not-for-profit corporation that operates the three largest thoroughbred horse-racing tracks in the state of New York. It runs Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens, Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island , and Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga...
and the United States Jockey Club
Jockey Club
The Jockey Club is the largest commercial organisation in British horseracing. Although no longer responsible for the governance and regulation of the sport, it owns 14 of Britain's famous racecourses, including Aintree, Cheltenham and Newmarket, amongst other concerns such as the National Stud and...
.
In 1941, Vanderbilt teamed up with Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. and other investors to acquire for breeding services the 1935 English 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...
winner Bahram
Bahram (horse)
Bahram was an Irish-bred English-trained racehorse who was undefeated in his racing career winning the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, St. Leger Stakes and Epsom Derby which earned him the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.-Breeding:...
from the Aga Khan III
Aga Khan III
Sir Sultan Muhammed Shah, Aga Khan III, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GCVO, PC was the 48th Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. He was one of the founders and the first president of the All-India Muslim League, and served as President of the League of Nations from 1937-38. He was nominated to represent India to...
. Bahram stood at stud at Sagamore Farm then was sent to Chrysler's North Wales Stud in Warrenton, Virginia
Warrenton, Virginia
Warrenton is a town in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census, and 14,634 at the 2010 estimate. It is the county seat of Fauquier County. Public schools in the town include Fauquier High School, Warrenton Middle School, Taylor Middle School and two...
. In 1966, Vanderbilt was part of another syndicate that bought 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...
and 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...
winner Kauai King
Kauai King
Kauai King was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was born on Pine Brook Farm in Maryland by the champion sire Native Dancer. In 1966 he won the first two legs of the U.S. Triple Crown races. To date Kauai King is one of only two horses born in the state of Maryland to cross the Kentucky Derby...
who would also stand at stud at Sagamore Farm.
Vanderbilt/Sagamore Farms' best known racehorses were 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."...
, Bed o'Roses
Bed o'Roses
Bed o' Roses was an American thoroughbred racehorse.Bed o' Roses was a bay filly by Rosemont out of the mare Good Thing, by Discovery, owned and bred by Alfred G. Vanderbilt II's Sagamore Farm. Trained by Bill Winfrey and ridden by Eric Guerin, she won the 1949 Grade 1 Matron Stakes for...
, and Native Dancer
Native Dancer
Native Dancer , nicknamed the Grey Ghost, was one of the most celebrated and accomplished Thoroughbred racehorses in history, the first horse made famous through the medium of television. He was one of the best horses produced in USA after the war...
, all of whom were 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...
.
Vanderbilt sold the farm to developer James Ward in 1986. In 2007 Maryland native Kevin Plank
Kevin Plank
Kevin A. Plank is an American CEO and founder of Under Armour, Inc., a leading manufacturer of sports performance apparel, footwear and accessories based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.-Early life:...
, CEO of Under Armour
Under Armour
Under Armour is an American sports clothing and accessories company. The company is a supplier of a wide range of sportswear and casual apparel mainly focusing on hi-tech sportswear for professional athletes...
apparell company, bought the farm with a long term plan for a major restoration. Equestrian architect, John Blackburn of Blackburn Architectshttp://www.blackburnarch.com in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
is renovating the farm that includes a historic 90-stall training barn with a quarter-mile interior track. The facilities, are across the way of the Maryland Stallion Station. The back of the facilities are visible from Tufton Avenue.
On November 5, 2010, a Sagamore Farms owned horse named Shared Account won the $2 million Breeders Cup Fillies and Mares race. She defeated one of the best horses in the world, Midday.