Whirlaway
Encyclopedia
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
.
On his bare record, Whirlaway was a very good horse but not great because he lost nearly half his races. However, the qualities that made Whirlaway great and that endeared him to the racing public were not those of consistency but of great ability combined with a wayward streak. Jimmy Jones, son of the colt's trainer, recalled that "Whirlaway was a creature of habit. You had to create habits for him. So we created the habits we wanted him to do." [Keeneland Magazine, Oct. 1998]
The champion colt had a habit of bearing out, drifting toward the middle of the racetrack, during the latter part of his races and getting himself beaten. In preparing Whirlaway for the Kentucky Derby, this had been such a problem that trainer Ben A. Jones
fitted the colt with a full-cup blinker over his right eye, and then in the colt's final work before the Derby, he cut a small hole in the blinker so that Whirlaway had a tiny field of vision, positioned himself ten feet off the inner rail, and told jockey Eddie Arcaro
to ride the horse through that space. Whirlaway was able to see his trainer, Arcaro was able to keep him on a straight path, and Whirlaway won the Kentucky Derby.
Trained by Ben A. Jones and ridden by Arcaro, Whirlaway won the U.S. Triple Crown
in 1941. He also won the Lawrence Realization Stakes
and the Travers Stakes
that year. He was voted the Horse of the Year
for 1941 and repeated as Horse of the Year in 1942.
Arcaro was the sole rider for Whirlaway in all his 3-year-old victories, yet was forced to stand down for the 1942 season due to racing infractions that resulted in a year-long suspension. [1] Jockey George Woolf
took the reins for most of the 1942 season.
Woolf, who had previously won the Pimlico Special
in 1938 on Seabiscuit
and in 1940 on Challedon
, rode this 1941 Triple Crown winner at a leisurely pace during the 1942 Pimlico Special in a walkover victory. No opponent had been found to challenge Whirlaway for the race. On December 12, more than twenty thousand people turned out to watch Whirlaway win the inaugural Louisiana Handicap
at the Fair Grounds Race Course
. The newly formed Thoroughbred Racing Association staged this event as a war relief effort.
Whirlaway entered stud at Calumet Farm in the spring of 1944 at age six, and among his best offspring were Scattered (winner of the Coaching Club American Oaks), Whirl Some (Selima Stakes), and Dart By (All American Handicap). In August 1950, Calumet Farm leased Whirlaway to French breeder Marcel Boussac
, who stood Whirlaway at his breeding farm, Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
. Boussac purchased Whirlaway from Calumet in September 1952 [Thoroughbred Record 27September1952], and the horse died at Boussac's French stud in 1953 [Thoroughbred Record 11April1953].
Whirlaway was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in 1959. In The Blood-Horse magazine
's ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century, Whirlaway was No. 26.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
champion 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.
The chestnut horse was sired by English Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winner Blenheim II
Blenheim II
Blenheim II was a good British-bred Thoroughbred race horse who won the Epsom Derby in 1930. As sire he had a major influence on pedigrees around the world.-Pedigree:...
, out of the broodmare Dustwhirl. Whirlaway was bred at 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...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
.
On his bare record, Whirlaway was a very good horse but not great because he lost nearly half his races. However, the qualities that made Whirlaway great and that endeared him to the racing public were not those of consistency but of great ability combined with a wayward streak. Jimmy Jones, son of the colt's trainer, recalled that "Whirlaway was a creature of habit. You had to create habits for him. So we created the habits we wanted him to do." [Keeneland Magazine, Oct. 1998]
The champion colt had a habit of bearing out, drifting toward the middle of the racetrack, during the latter part of his races and getting himself beaten. In preparing Whirlaway for the Kentucky Derby, this had been such a problem that trainer 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...
fitted the colt with a full-cup blinker over his right eye, and then in the colt's final work before the Derby, he cut a small hole in the blinker so that Whirlaway had a tiny field of vision, positioned himself ten feet off the inner rail, and told jockey Eddie Arcaro
Eddie Arcaro
George Edward Arcaro , known professionally as Eddie Arcaro, was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who won more American classic races than any other jockey in history and is the only rider to have won the U.S. Triple Crown twice...
to ride the horse through that space. Whirlaway was able to see his trainer, Arcaro was able to keep him on a straight path, and Whirlaway won the Kentucky Derby.
Trained by Ben A. Jones and ridden by Arcaro, Whirlaway won the 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...
in 1941. He also won the Lawrence Realization Stakes
Lawrence Realization Stakes
The Lawrence Realization Stakes was an American horse race first run on the turf in 1889. The race, for three-year-old Thoroughbred colts, geldings and fillies, was last run in 2005.-History:...
and the Travers Stakes
Travers Stakes
The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.First held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers...
that year. He was voted the Horse of the Year
Horse of the Year
Horse of the Year is an honor given by various organizations worldwide in harness racing and thoroughbred horse racing.Some of the awards include:* Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year* Breeders' Cup World Championships Poll* European Horse of the Year...
for 1941 and repeated as Horse of the Year in 1942.
Arcaro was the sole rider for Whirlaway in all his 3-year-old victories, yet was forced to stand down for the 1942 season due to racing infractions that resulted in a year-long suspension. [1] Jockey George Woolf
George Woolf
George Monroe Woolf , nicknamed "The Ice Man", was a Canadian-born thoroughbred race horse jockey and the namesake of the annual jockey's award given by the United States Jockeys' Guild....
took the reins for most of the 1942 season.
Woolf, who had previously won the Pimlico Special
Pimlico Special
The Pimlico Special is an American thoroughbred horse race held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland in mid May. It is raced on dirt over a distance of 1³/16 miles . The race is currently open to horses age three and older and offers a purse of $250,000.The Pimlico Special was first run in...
in 1938 on Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States. From an inauspicious start, Seabiscuit became an unlikely champion and a symbol of hope to many Americans during the Great Depression...
and in 1940 on Challedon
Challedon
Challedon was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred in Maryland by William L. Brann and Robert S. Castle, he raced under the colors of their Branncastle Farm....
, rode this 1941 Triple Crown winner at a leisurely pace during the 1942 Pimlico Special in a walkover victory. No opponent had been found to challenge Whirlaway for the race. On December 12, more than twenty thousand people turned out to watch Whirlaway win the inaugural Louisiana Handicap
Louisiana Handicap
The Louisiana Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week of January at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana...
at the Fair Grounds Race Course
Fair Grounds Race Course
Fair Grounds Race Course, often known as New Orleans Fair Grounds, is a thoroughbred racetrack and racino in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is operated by Churchill Downs Louisiana Horseracing Company, LLC....
. The newly formed Thoroughbred Racing Association staged this event as a war relief effort.
Whirlaway entered stud at Calumet Farm in the spring of 1944 at age six, and among his best offspring were Scattered (winner of the Coaching Club American Oaks), Whirl Some (Selima Stakes), and Dart By (All American Handicap). In August 1950, Calumet Farm leased Whirlaway to French breeder Marcel Boussac
Marcel Boussac
Marcel Boussac was a French entrepreneur best known for his ownership of the Maison Dior and one of the most successful thoroughbred race horse breeding farms in European history....
, who stood Whirlaway at his breeding farm, Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard was a Thoroughbred horse breeding farm in Neuvy-au-Houlme in the Orne department in Lower Normandy purchased by Marcel Boussac in 1919. Widely respected, Marcel Boussac was called "the greatest of French breeders" by John P. Sparkman, an editor with Thoroughbred Times....
. Boussac purchased Whirlaway from Calumet in September 1952 [Thoroughbred Record 27September1952], and the horse died at Boussac's French stud in 1953 [Thoroughbred Record 11April1953].
Whirlaway was elected to 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...
in 1959. In The Blood-Horse magazine
The Blood-Horse magazine
The Blood-Horse is an international weekly news magazine about Thoroughbred horses, horse breeding, and horseracing. It was founded in 1916, the oldest continually published North American Thoroughbred magazine. The magazine is based in Lexington, Kentucky, the Horse Capital of the World...
's ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century, Whirlaway was No. 26.