Chief's Crown
Encyclopedia
Chief's Crown was an American-bred
Thoroughbred
race horse
who won the 1984 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
and was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Two-Year-Old Male Horse. He later became a successful sire.
Danzig
and Six Crowns by Secretariat
, from the 1974 U.S. Filly Triple Crown
winner Chris Evert
. Owned by the Star Crown Stable of the family of the late Carl Rosen who had owned Chris Evert, they syndicated a half-interest in Chief's Crown to Three Chimneys Farm
prior to his Breeders' Cup
victory plus another quarter-interest to Claiborne Farm
on his retirement.
in the Kentucky Derby
, then in the Preakness Stakes
set a record for the fastest first mile but finished a head behind Tank's Prospect
who won in a record time that in 2006 still has not been beaten. In the Belmont Stakes
, Chief's Crown finished 3rd to Creme Fraiche
. He came back later that year to win the Travers Stakes
and the Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap
.
at Three Chimneys Farm
in Kentucky where he died in 1997. He served two seasons in Australia in the 1990s where he sired 93 foals, including 11 stakeswinners with 20 stakeswins.
Among his progeny was the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
colt, Chief Bearhart
and the 1994 Epsom Derby
winner Erhaab
. He is also the grandsire of Sinndar
, who in 2000 became the only horse to ever win the Epsom Derby
, Irish Derby Stakes
and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
in the same year.
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...
race horse
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 won the 1984 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Breeders' Cup Juvenile
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships....
and was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Two-Year-Old Male Horse. He later became a successful sire.
Background
The son of leading sireFather
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
Danzig
Danzig (horse)
Danzig was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known as a leading sire. He was purchased for $310,000 by Henryk de Kwiatkowski at the 1978 Saratoga Yearling Sale...
and Six Crowns by Secretariat
Secretariat (horse)
Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby , and the Belmont Stakes —records that still stand today.Secretariat was sired by Bold...
, from the 1974 U.S. Filly Triple Crown
Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, formerly known as the Filly Triple Crown, is a set of three horse races in the United States which is open to three year old fillies...
winner Chris Evert
Chris Evert (horse)
Chris Evert was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred filly racehorse. Carl Rosen , owner of clothing manufacturer Puritan Fashions Corp., purchased the filly at a Keeneland yearling sale. He named her for the rising young star tennis player Chris Evert, whom he had signed to endorse his...
. Owned by the Star Crown Stable of the family of the late Carl Rosen who had owned Chris Evert, they syndicated a half-interest in Chief's Crown to Three Chimneys Farm
Three Chimneys Farm
Three Chimneys Farm is an American thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Midway, Kentucky established in 1972 by Mr. & Mrs. Robert N. Clay. Widely known as one of the world's preeminent horse farms, Three Chimneys has been home to a number of famous horses including U.S. Triple Crown champion...
prior to his Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
victory plus another quarter-interest to 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:...
on his retirement.
Racing career
Chief's Crown is one of only three horses in history to lose all three U.S. Triple Crown races while being the betting favorite for all three races. He finished 3rd to Spend A BuckSpend A Buck
Spend A Buck was an American thoroughbred race horse.-Background:Spend A Buck was sired by Buckaroo out of the dam Belle de Jour...
in 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...
, then in 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...
set a record for the fastest first mile but finished a head behind Tank's Prospect
Tank's Prospect
Tank's Prospect was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes. Bred by Edward A. Seltzer, he was purchased for $625,000 at the 1983 Keeneland July Selected Yearling sale by trainer D. Wayne Lukas for his client,...
who won in a record time that in 2006 still has not been beaten. In 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...
, Chief's Crown finished 3rd to Creme Fraiche
Creme Fraiche (horse)
Creme Fraiche was an American thoroughbred gelding racehorse. He was sired by Rich Cream, co-holder of the world record of 1:19.40 for 7 furlongs on dirt in the 1980 Triple Bend Handicap, out of the Terrible Tiger mare, Likely Exchange.Bred by Pamela Firman and her nephew, G...
. He came back later that year to win 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...
and the Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap
Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap
The Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap was a Thoroughbred horse race first run in September 1973 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. A Grade 1 race for horses 3 years old and up, it was raced over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on a dirt track....
.
Stud career
At the end of the 1985 racing season, Chief's Crown was retired to stand at studHorse 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 Three Chimneys Farm
Three Chimneys Farm
Three Chimneys Farm is an American thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Midway, Kentucky established in 1972 by Mr. & Mrs. Robert N. Clay. Widely known as one of the world's preeminent horse farms, Three Chimneys has been home to a number of famous horses including U.S. Triple Crown champion...
in Kentucky where he died in 1997. He served two seasons in Australia in the 1990s where he sired 93 foals, including 11 stakeswinners with 20 stakeswins.
Among his progeny was the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was established in 1976 at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario to honor those who have made a significant contribution to the sport of harness and thoroughbred horse racing in Canada....
colt, Chief Bearhart
Chief Bearhart
Chief Bearhart is a retired Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. A turf specialist, he won six Sovereign Awards and was voted American Champion Male Turf Horse for 1997.-Background:...
and the 1994 Epsom 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 Erhaab
Erhaab
Erhaab is a retired Thoroughbred race horse and active sire, bred in the United States but trained in the United Kingdom. He is best known as the winner of the Epsom Derby in 1994...
. He is also the grandsire of Sinndar
Sinndar
Sinndar, is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He is notable for his unique achievement in winning the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the same year.-Background:...
, who in 2000 became the only horse to ever win the Epsom 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...
, Irish Derby Stakes
Irish Derby Stakes
The Irish Derby is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.It is Ireland's equivalent of the Epsom Derby,...
and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
in the same year.