Aristides (horse)
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Aristides | |
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Jerome Handicap (1875) (1875)Withers Stakes U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt (1875) (historic) | |
Honours | |
Life-sized statue at Churchill Downs Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (2024) | |
Last updated on December 21, 2006 |
Aristides (1872–1893) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that won the first Kentucky Derby in 1875.
In 1875, the Derby was raced at a mile and a half, the distance it would remain until 1896, when it was changed to its present mile and a quarter. Aristides also had a relative racing in the first Kentucky Derby in 1875.
Lineage
A chestnut Thoroughbred with a white star and two hind stockings, Aristides was bred by H. Price McGrath and foaled in 1872. He was sired by the great English stud Leamington, which made him a half brother to another great sire, Hall of Famer Longfellow, who, during his racing career, was called "King of the Turf". McGrath did not consider Aristides first rate, though his dam (Sarong) was by one of the United States' greatest sires, Lexington, whose bloodline went back to Glencoe and Hall of Famer Boston.
Aristides (named for his breeder's good friend and fellow horse breeder, Pennsylvanian Aristides Welch, who owned Erdenheim Stud and had imported Leamington into the United States) was foaled late in the season and was small, never standing taller than about 15 hands. His stablemate the bay Chesapeake, also sired by Lexington, was expected to do well at the races.[1]
Price McGrath was born to poverty in
Both Aristides and Chesapeake were born and bred on the McGrathiana Farm in Fayette County, Kentucky, a short distance from Lexington.
Kentucky Derby
African-American success
Fifteen horses were entered in the
The race
Just as McGrath had planned, Aristides broke in front and took the lead, but McCreery quickly overtook him near the end of the first quarter. Aristides fought back to lead again, followed by McCreery, Ten Broeck, Volcano, and Verdigris. Chesapeake, meanwhile, was almost the last to break and was not doing much at the back of the pack. As the "rabbit", Aristides kept increasing his lead until there was virtually no chance that Chesapeake could catch up. Aristides's jockey, Oliver Lewis, knowing he was not supposed to win, looked to owner McGrath, who waved him on. Both Volcano and Verdigris challenged Aristides in the stretch, but Aristides won by a length and took the $2850 pool.[2] Ten Broeck finished fifth and Chesapeake eighth.
The
Further races, stud career, breeding record and death
Aristides, again ridden by Oliver Lewis, came in second in the
On May 10, 1876, Aristides set the fastest time on record for two and an eighth miles at 3:45 1/2 at Lexington, Kentucky. Ten Broeck finished second in this race for four-year-olds.[3]
Aristides raced 21 times with 9 wins, five places, and one show.
Aristides died on June 21, 1893, at the fairgrounds in Chicago. He was sold twice in the two weeks preceding his death.
Honors
In 2024 Aristides was selected for induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame by its Historic Review Committee.[5]
Pedigree
Sire Leamington 1853 |
Faugh-a-Ballagh
1841 |
Sir Hercules | Whalebone |
---|---|---|---|
Peri | |||
Guiccioli | Bob Booty | ||
Flight | |||
Pantaloon Mare
1841 |
Pantaloon | Castrel | |
Idalia | |||
Daphne | Laurel | ||
Maid Of Honor | |||
Dam Sarong 1867 |
Lexington
1850 |
Boston | Timoleon |
Florizel Mare | |||
Alice Carneal | Sarpedon | ||
Rowena | |||
Greek Slave
1855 |
Glencoe | Sultan | |
Trampoline | |||
Margaret Hunter | Margrave | ||
Mary Hunt |
See also
References
- ^ Portraits: Aristides Retrieved December 1, 2011.
- ^ 1875 Kentucky Derby Retrieved December 1, 2011.
- newspapers.com.
- ^ Staff (June 22, 1893). "Death of old Aristides". Chicago Tribune. No. page 6.
- ^ Grening, David (April 23, 2024). "Rosario, Gun Runner, Justify top 2024 Racing Hall of Fame inductees". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ "Aristides pedigree". equineline.com. May 8, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
Further reading
- Robertson, William H. P. (1964), The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America, New York: Bonanza Books.