Byron McClelland
Encyclopedia
Byron McClelland was an American Thoroughbred horse racing
owner
and trainer
. An African American
, he was one of the best known horsemen of his era who won the three races that would eventually constitute the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
series.
Born in Lexington, Kentucky
, Byron McClelland's father trained horses and his brother, John W. McClellan (1849–1911), also trained horses in California
. Young McClelland worked as a stable boy but, urged into a different career by his mother, left his job to go to work for a local newspaper
. Nevertheless, the newspaper's owner operated a horse racing stable and offered the knowledgeable twenty-year-old McClelland a chance to train his horses. Five years later, success led McClelland being hired by H. Price McGrath, owner of the prominent McGrathiana Stud. Within a short time he left to set up his own racing stable in partnership with Mr. Dick Roche. McClelland proved to be not only a very capable trainer, but also an astute judge of horse talent. For the new partnership he turned an August Belmont
castoff named Badge into a significant winner. McClelland purchased Badge for a "song" after the prominent owner had given up on the colt
. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9406E5DC163BE033A25754C2A9649D94699FD7CF Having accumulated sufficient capital, McClelland chose to go his own way and in November 1889 the McClelland-Roche stable was sold at auction at the Elizabeth, New Jersey
race track. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A04E6DA143AEF33A25754C1A9679D94689FD7CF
such as McClelland faced numerous problems including widespread racism
, but in the early post-slavery
era a lack of capital put him at a severe disadvantage from the start. As such, he and other African Americans, such as Edward D. Brown
, had no choice but to adopt a different strategy. They used their skills to make a living training horses for others plus their knowledge of horses to buy young unraced Thoroughbreds for themselves at a price they could afford. Once then developed a young horse into a top runner, they could sell it at a substantial price both as a racer and for its eventual stallion
/broodmare value. Profits from the sale of a top racehorse would go to expanding their racing and breeding operation by acquiring new young bloodstock.
he named for his wife, Sallie, once again demonstrated his knowledge of breeding and conformation. Among her wins, Sallie McClelland captured the 1890 Spinaway Stakes
and set an earnings record for two-year-old fillies of $53,969. She was retrospectively chosen the 1890 American Co-Champion Filly. An injury on May 2, 1891, when she stumbled and fell at the racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky, severely hampered her performance that year with her only major win coming in a two-horse race in the 1891 Alabama Stakes
. At the same time, another of his horses named Bermuda won several important races in 1891 including the United States Hotel Stakes
and the Manhattan Handicap
. After their racing careers were over, both Sallie McClelland and Bermuda were retained by Byron McClelland for breeding purposes.
. Purchased as a yearling, McClelland trained the colt to six wins in ten starts at age two, then to nine straight wins at age three and 1894 American Horse of the Year honors. Henry of Navarre's 1894 triumphs included the Belmont Stakes
and Travers Stakes
. Wealthy horse owners such as Pierre Lorillard IV
made numerous attempts to buy the horse and in August 1895 McClelland accepted an offer of $25,000 from August Belmont, Jr.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C05E5D6103DE433A25757C1A96E9C94649ED7CF Following its formation, Henry of Navarre was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in 1985.
When McClelland sold Henry of Navarre, the shrewd horseman had already bought Halma
as a yearling and in 1895 the colt won the Kentucky Derby
and the Phoenix Hotel Stakes
. After the colt won the Clark Handicap
, McClelland sold him for a reported $25,000 to the wealthy yeast
manufacturer, Charles Fleischmann. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D04E0DC1E31E033A25754C1A9629C94679ED7CF.
Now a wealthy man, as a sideline from his horse racing business, in December 1895 Byron McClelland founded and was first president of a newspaper
he named The Evening Argonaut.
In 1896, Byron McClelland completed his wins in each of what later became the U.S. Triple Crown series by capturing the Preakness Stakes
. Held that year at the Gravesend Race Track
, in Brooklyn, New York, his Preakness win came as the trainer of Margrave for owner August Belmont, Jr.'s Blemton Stable.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E05E5DE1038E533A65754C0A9609C94679ED7CF
The State of New Jersey
enacted legislation in 1894 which banned betting
. As a result, the state's racetracks closed but nonetheless pressure mounted from anti-gambling groups and politicians in New York State to implement the same laws. The net effect was that racing stable owners began sending their horses to race in England
and in its January 11, 1897 issue, the Chicago Daily Tribune
reported that McClelland had entered horses in races at Newmarket Racecourse
in England. As well, one of the paper's headlines said that "Byron McClelland May Go to Europe with Some Youngsters in 1899." However, Byron McClelland was only forty-one years old when his life and brilliant career came to an end. According to his New York Times obituary, he already had an estimated wealth of between $300–500,000 when he fell ill and died of pneumonia
at his Lexington home on June 11, 1897. He was interred in the Lexington Cemetery. http://www.lexcem.org/index.cfm/genealogy.html
On July 3, 1898 the New York Times further reported that a $10,000 sarcophagus had been constructed on his grave. Earlier, a June 27, 1889 issue of the Chicago Daily Tribune about McClelland's success in racing in Chicago
and elsewhere also mentioned his character saying he "is a good natured little fellow who possessed a big heart and a lot of friends."
For a few years after his death, McClelland's widow and her brother, John D. Smith, continued racing horses. Sallie McClelland died in 1911 and is buried next to her husband in the Lexington, Cemetery.
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
owner
Ownership
Ownership is the state or fact of exclusive rights and control over property, which may be an object, land/real estate or intellectual property. Ownership involves multiple rights, collectively referred to as title, which may be separated and held by different parties. The concept of ownership has...
and trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
. An African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, he was one of the best known horsemen of his era who won the three races that would eventually constitute the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
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...
series.
Born 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...
, Byron McClelland's father trained horses and his brother, John W. McClellan (1849–1911), also trained horses in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Young McClelland worked as a stable boy but, urged into a different career by his mother, left his job to go to work for a local newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
. Nevertheless, the newspaper's owner operated a horse racing stable and offered the knowledgeable twenty-year-old McClelland a chance to train his horses. Five years later, success led McClelland being hired by H. Price McGrath, owner of the prominent McGrathiana Stud. Within a short time he left to set up his own racing stable in partnership with Mr. Dick Roche. McClelland proved to be not only a very capable trainer, but also an astute judge of horse talent. For the new partnership he turned an August Belmont
August Belmont
August Belmont, Sr. was an American politician.-Early life:August Belmont was born in Alzey, Hesse, on December 8, 1813--some sources say 1816--to Simon and Frederika Elsass Schönberg, a Jewish family. After his mother's death, when he was seven, he lived with his uncle and grandmother in Frankfurt...
castoff named Badge into a significant winner. McClelland purchased Badge for a "song" after the prominent owner had given up on the colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9406E5DC163BE033A25754C2A9649D94699FD7CF Having accumulated sufficient capital, McClelland chose to go his own way and in November 1889 the McClelland-Roche stable was sold at auction at the Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
race track. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A04E6DA143AEF33A25754C1A9679D94689FD7CF
The Sport of Kings
Competing in the "Sport of Kings" was difficult it was dominated by the extremely wealthy who could afford to spend vast sums to purchase the best-bred horses. An African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
such as McClelland faced numerous problems including widespread racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, but in the early post-slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
era a lack of capital put him at a severe disadvantage from the start. As such, he and other African Americans, such as Edward D. Brown
Edward D. Brown
Edward Dudley Brown was an African American born as a slave who rose to become a Belmont Stakes-winning jockey, a Kentucky Derby-winning horse trainer, and an owner of several of the top racehorses during the last decade of the 19th century, earning him induction into the United States Racing Hall...
, had no choice but to adopt a different strategy. They used their skills to make a living training horses for others plus their knowledge of horses to buy young unraced Thoroughbreds for themselves at a price they could afford. Once then developed a young horse into a top runner, they could sell it at a substantial price both as a racer and for its eventual stallion
Stallion (horse)
A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
/broodmare value. Profits from the sale of a top racehorse would go to expanding their racing and breeding operation by acquiring new young bloodstock.
The McClelland Stable
By the time Byron McClelland had struck out on his own for the 1890 racing season, he was already gaining national attention. His immediate $2,500 purchase of a yearling fillyFilly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
he named for his wife, Sallie, once again demonstrated his knowledge of breeding and conformation. Among her wins, Sallie McClelland captured the 1890 Spinaway Stakes
Spinaway Stakes
The Spinaway Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to two-year-old fillies, it is a Grade I event contested at a distance of seven furlongs on dirt...
and set an earnings record for two-year-old fillies of $53,969. She was retrospectively chosen the 1890 American Co-Champion Filly. An injury on May 2, 1891, when she stumbled and fell at the racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky, severely hampered her performance that year with her only major win coming in a two-horse race in the 1891 Alabama Stakes
Alabama Stakes
The Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1872, the Grade I race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at Saratoga Race Course. Held in mid August, it currently offers a purse of $500,000...
. At the same time, another of his horses named Bermuda won several important races in 1891 including the United States Hotel Stakes
United States Hotel Stakes
The United States Hotel Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in the late summer or early autumn until 1955 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It was run on dirt over a distance of six furlongs...
and the Manhattan Handicap
Manhattan Handicap
The Manhattan Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race raced annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is named for Manhattan, the principal borough of the City of New York...
. After their racing careers were over, both Sallie McClelland and Bermuda were retained by Byron McClelland for breeding purposes.
American Horse of the Year
Byron McClelland's next great success came with Henry of NavarreHenry of Navarre (horse)
Henry of Navarre was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Sired by the 1884 Preakness Stakes winner Knight of Ellerslie he was named for the Huguenot king, Henry IV of France....
. Purchased as a yearling, McClelland trained the colt to six wins in ten starts at age two, then to nine straight wins at age three and 1894 American Horse of the Year honors. Henry of Navarre's 1894 triumphs included the Belmont Stakes
Belmont 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...
and 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...
. Wealthy horse owners such as Pierre Lorillard IV
Pierre Lorillard IV
Pierre Lorillard IV was an American tobacco manufacturer and thoroughbred race horse owner.-Biography:...
made numerous attempts to buy the horse and in August 1895 McClelland accepted an offer of $25,000 from August Belmont, Jr.
August Belmont, Jr.
August Belmont, Jr. was an American financier, the builder of New York's Belmont Park racetrack, and a major owner/breeder of thoroughbred racehorses.-Early life:...
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C05E5D6103DE433A25757C1A96E9C94649ED7CF Following its formation, Henry of Navarre was inducted in 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 1985.
When McClelland sold Henry of Navarre, the shrewd horseman had already bought Halma
Halma (horse)
Halma was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred in Kentucky by Eastin & Larabie, he was a son of Hanover, a three-time Leading sire in North America and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee. Grandsire Hindoo, was a Champion runner who also was inducted in the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame. Halma was...
as a yearling and in 1895 the colt won the 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 the Phoenix Hotel Stakes
Phoenix Stakes (United States)
The Phoenix Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of six furlongs and currently offers a purse of $250,000...
. After the colt won the Clark Handicap
Clark Handicap
The Clark Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November/early December at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Among the oldest races in the United States, it was first run in 1875, the year the racetrack opened for business...
, McClelland sold him for a reported $25,000 to the wealthy yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
manufacturer, Charles Fleischmann. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D04E0DC1E31E033A25754C1A9629C94679ED7CF.
Now a wealthy man, as a sideline from his horse racing business, in December 1895 Byron McClelland founded and was first president of a newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
he named The Evening Argonaut.
In 1896, Byron McClelland completed his wins in each of what later became the U.S. Triple Crown series by capturing the 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...
. Held that year at the Gravesend Race Track
Gravesend Race Track
Gravesend Race Track at Gravesend on Coney Island, New York was a Thoroughbred horse racing facility built by the Brooklyn Jockey Club as a result of the backing of the wealthy racing stable owners, the Dwyer Brothers. Philip J...
, in Brooklyn, New York, his Preakness win came as the trainer of Margrave for owner August Belmont, Jr.'s Blemton Stable.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E05E5DE1038E533A65754C0A9609C94679ED7CF
The State of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
enacted legislation in 1894 which banned betting
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
. As a result, the state's racetracks closed but nonetheless pressure mounted from anti-gambling groups and politicians in New York State to implement the same laws. The net effect was that racing stable owners began sending their horses to race in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and in its January 11, 1897 issue, the Chicago Daily Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
reported that McClelland had entered horses in races at Newmarket Racecourse
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
in England. As well, one of the paper's headlines said that "Byron McClelland May Go to Europe with Some Youngsters in 1899." However, Byron McClelland was only forty-one years old when his life and brilliant career came to an end. According to his New York Times obituary, he already had an estimated wealth of between $300–500,000 when he fell ill and died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at his Lexington home on June 11, 1897. He was interred in the Lexington Cemetery. http://www.lexcem.org/index.cfm/genealogy.html
On July 3, 1898 the New York Times further reported that a $10,000 sarcophagus had been constructed on his grave. Earlier, a June 27, 1889 issue of the Chicago Daily Tribune about McClelland's success in racing in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and elsewhere also mentioned his character saying he "is a good natured little fellow who possessed a big heart and a lot of friends."
For a few years after his death, McClelland's widow and her brother, John D. Smith, continued racing horses. Sallie McClelland died in 1911 and is buried next to her husband in the Lexington, Cemetery.