Cafe Prince
Encyclopedia
Cafe Prince was an American
Thoroughbred
Champion
steeplechase
racehorse
. A descendant through his dam and his sire of the great runner and sire, Nearco
, he was bred by "Donut King" Verne Winchell
and purchased as a yearling at the Saratoga Yearling sales by George W. Strawbridge, Jr.
who raced him throughout his career under his Augustin Stable colors.
Trained by future Hall of Fame trainer, Jonathan Sheppard
, in 1977 Café Prince won the first of two Colonial Cups and earned that year's Eclipse Award for Outstanding Steeplechase horse
. In 1978 he won his second consecutive Colonial Cup plus he won the American Grand National, performances which helped earn him another Eclipse Award for Outstanding Steeplechase horse. The following year Café Prince continued to win and set course records at Fair Hill, Maryland
and at the Saratoga Race Course
.
Cafe Prince raced through age ten before being retired at the end of the 1980 season. In 1985, he was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
.
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...
Champion
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
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...
. A descendant through his dam and his sire of the great runner and sire, Nearco
Nearco
Nearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
, he was bred by "Donut King" Verne Winchell
Verne Winchell
Vernon Hedges "Verne" Winchell was the founder of Winchell's Donuts.On October 8, 1948 he opened his first donut shop in Temple City, California and earned the nickname "The Donut King" while making a fortune with a chain of Winchell's-branded donut shops in the western United States during the...
and purchased as a yearling at the Saratoga Yearling sales by George W. Strawbridge, Jr.
George W. Strawbridge, Jr.
George W. Strawbridge, Jr. is an American educator, historian, investor, sportsman, and philanthropist.-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania he was the son of Margaret Dorrance and stockbroker George W. Strawbridge, Sr.. He studied at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut where he...
who raced him throughout his career under his Augustin Stable colors.
Trained by future Hall of Fame trainer, Jonathan Sheppard
Jonathan E. Sheppard
Jonathan E. Sheppard is a Hall of Fame trainer in American Thoroughbred horse racing....
, in 1977 Café Prince won the first of two Colonial Cups and earned that year's Eclipse Award for Outstanding Steeplechase horse
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Steeplechase horse
The American Champion Steeplechase Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded as part of the Eclipse Award program since its inception in 1971. It is awarded annually to the top horse in steeplechase racing....
. In 1978 he won his second consecutive Colonial Cup plus he won the American Grand National, performances which helped earn him another Eclipse Award for Outstanding Steeplechase horse. The following year Café Prince continued to win and set course records at Fair Hill, 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...
and at the Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
.
Cafe Prince raced through age ten before being retired at the end of the 1980 season. In 1985, he 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...
.