War Cloud
Encyclopedia
War Cloud was a British-bred
Thoroughbred
racehorse
who was the first horse to compete in all three U.S.Triple Crown
races. Bred by Jack Barnato Joel
, one of Britain's most prominent Thoroughbred owner/breeders, War Cloud was sold as a yearling and brought to race in the United States.
after the U.S. Two-yr-Old Champion Colt
Sun Briar was sidelined with ringbone
disease. Ridden by Johnny Loftus
, War Cloud however finished a disappointing fourth to longshot Exterminator
.
attracted a very large field and as such had to be run in two divisions. In the $17,500 Preakness, War Cloud went off as the second favorite at post time at roughly (8-5)carrying 117 pounds (seven more than any other runner) behind Lanius who was the betting favorite at (7-5) acarrying only 110 pounds. Starting from post position five War Cloud broke fair and settled in third stalking the leaders George Starr and Flags passing the stands for the first time. War Cloud then did something a little unusual, he moved to the outside and passed the leaders going around the club house turn turning the clock at :48 flat for the first half mile. He widened his lead to two full lengths down the back stretch completing 3/4 mile in 1:13 flat. Then
as he barreled down the home stretch 53-1 longshot Sunny Slope came from out of the clouds to whittle War Clouds lead down. War Cloud had to be ridden hard by jockey Johnny Loftus
just to outstay the pursuer and held on to win by 3/4 of a length. After War Cloud and Sunny Slope it was another ten lengths back for favorite Lanius who had to settle for third.
, War Cloud finished second to Harry Payne Whitney's
colt, Johren
. After racing successfully at age four, War Cloud was shipped to France
to race in his five-year-old season but did not perform well. He was brought back to stand at stud
at Claiborne Farm
in Paris, Kentucky
but broke a leg in 1923 and had to be euthanized
. He is buried in Claiborne's equine cemetery.
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...
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...
who was the first horse to compete in all three U.S.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...
races. Bred by Jack Barnato Joel
Jack Barnato Joel
Jack Barnato Joel was a South African mining magnate and a champion horse breeder.-Biography:He was born on 29 September 1862. He had two brothers, Solomon Barnato Joel and Woolf Joel.-References:...
, one of Britain's most prominent Thoroughbred owner/breeders, War Cloud was sold as a yearling and brought to race in the United States.
Racing Career
Successful racing at age two, War Cloud was the heavy favorite going into the 1918 Kentucky DerbyKentucky 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...
after the U.S. Two-yr-Old Champion Colt
Eclipse Award for Outstanding 2-Year-Old Male Horse
The American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971....
Sun Briar was sidelined with ringbone
Ringbone
Ringbone is exostosis in the pastern or coffin joint of a horse. In severe cases, the growth can encircle the bones, giving ringbone its name...
disease. Ridden by Johnny Loftus
Johnny Loftus
John P. Loftus was an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey.Born in Chicago, Illinois, Johnny Loftus was the first jockey to win the United States United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. During his career, between 1909 and 1919, he won 580 races out of the 2,449 he...
, War Cloud however finished a disappointing fourth to longshot Exterminator
Exterminator (horse)
Exterminator was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and the winner of the 1918 Kentucky Derby, and in 1922 won Horse of the Year honors....
.
Preakness Stakes win
The Preakness StakesPreakness 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...
attracted a very large field and as such had to be run in two divisions. In the $17,500 Preakness, War Cloud went off as the second favorite at post time at roughly (8-5)carrying 117 pounds (seven more than any other runner) behind Lanius who was the betting favorite at (7-5) acarrying only 110 pounds. Starting from post position five War Cloud broke fair and settled in third stalking the leaders George Starr and Flags passing the stands for the first time. War Cloud then did something a little unusual, he moved to the outside and passed the leaders going around the club house turn turning the clock at :48 flat for the first half mile. He widened his lead to two full lengths down the back stretch completing 3/4 mile in 1:13 flat. Then
as he barreled down the home stretch 53-1 longshot Sunny Slope came from out of the clouds to whittle War Clouds lead down. War Cloud had to be ridden hard by jockey Johnny Loftus
Johnny Loftus
John P. Loftus was an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey.Born in Chicago, Illinois, Johnny Loftus was the first jockey to win the United States United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. During his career, between 1909 and 1919, he won 580 races out of the 2,449 he...
just to outstay the pursuer and held on to win by 3/4 of a length. After War Cloud and Sunny Slope it was another ten lengths back for favorite Lanius who had to settle for third.
Later Career
In the final leg of the Triple Crown races, the Belmont StakesBelmont 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...
, War Cloud finished second to Harry Payne Whitney's
Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney was an American businessman, thoroughbred horsebreeder, and member of the prominent Whitney family.- Early years :...
colt, Johren
Johren
Johren was a Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in the United States. His most important win came in the 1918 Belmont Stakes.-Background:...
. After racing successfully at age four, War Cloud was shipped to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to race in his five-year-old season but did not perform well. He was brought back to stand at stud
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...
at 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:...
in Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
but broke a leg in 1923 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...
. He is buried in Claiborne's equine cemetery.