Coretta
Encyclopedia
Coretta is a Thoroughbred
racemare
who competed in the United States
. She was bred and raced by Gerald Leigh, proprietor of England's Eydon Hall Stud
. Leigh owned and bred her dam, Free At Last, who was a daughter of the 1978 Epsom
and Irish Derby winner, Shirley Heights
. A philanthropist
with a strong social conscience
who was a member of the Council of Management for the Animal Health Trust
, Gerald Leigh named Free At Last for those words contained in Martin Luther King's August 28, 1963, I Have a Dream
speech. Leigh named Free At Last's first foal, Coretta, for Martin Luther King's widow, Coretta Scott King
. Gerald Leigh later gave another of Free At Last's foals the name of the African American
civil rights
activist
, Rosa Parks
.
Coretta's sire was Caerleon
, the 1983 Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in France
who was a son of the English Triple Crown champion, Nijinsky
.
Gerald Leigh maintained racing stables in the United Kingdom
, France
, and the United States. Coretta raced once at age two in England and in 1997 at age three made five starts with her best performance a win in the Breitling Handicap at Newmarket Racecourse
under jockey Frankie Dettori
.
In 1998 Coretta was sent to the United States where she was conditioned by French
trainer
, Christophe Clement
who is established in Florida, New-York, Kentucky and California. At age four she won Graded stakes race
s on turf
including the then Grade II Long Island Handicap
at Aqueduct Racetrack
in New York
and the La Prevoyante Handicap
at Florida's Gulfstream Park
. In 1999 Coretta won her second consecutive La Prevoyante Handicap as well as the Orchid Handicap
. At New York's Belmont Park
, she finished second to Soaring Softly
in the Grade I Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap
. Entered in the inaugural running of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
, the parimutuel betting
public made Coretta the seventh choice at 16:1 odds. In the 1⅜ miles race, she ran near the leaders until the top of the homestretch when she moved into the lead only to be caught near the finish line to finish second again to Soaring Softly.
Retired to broodmare duty, among her matings Gerald Leigh bred Coretta two times to Ogden Phipps'
stallion Seeking The Gold
, naming the foals "Civil Rights" and "Shared Dreams".
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...
racemare
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 competed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She was bred and raced by Gerald Leigh, proprietor of England's Eydon Hall Stud
Eydon Hall
Eydon Hall is a Palladian stately home near the village of Eydon, in Northamptonshire. It is a Grade I listed building, and is currently in use as a private residence.-Architecture:...
. Leigh owned and bred her dam, Free At Last, who was a daughter of the 1978 Epsom
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...
and Irish Derby winner, Shirley Heights
Shirley Heights
Shirley Heights was a British-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred race horse, winner of the Epsom Derby in 1978. He is the last Epsom Derby winner to be both the son of a previous winner , and the sire of a subsequent winner . Shirley Heights was also the sire of Darshaan.- References :...
. A philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
with a strong social conscience
Conscience
Conscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong. Moral judgement may derive from values or norms...
who was a member of the Council of Management for the Animal Health Trust
Animal Health Trust
The Animal Health Trust is a veterinary charity in the United Kingdom dedicated to improving the health and welfare of horses, dogs, and cats. It was founded in 1942 and was awarded a Royal Charter on 29 July 1963...
, Gerald Leigh named Free At Last for those words contained in Martin Luther King's August 28, 1963, I Have a Dream
I Have a Dream
"I Have a Dream" is a 17-minute public speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered on August 28, 1963, in which he called for racial equality and an end to discrimination...
speech. Leigh named Free At Last's first foal, Coretta, for Martin Luther King's widow, Coretta Scott King
Coretta Scott King
Coretta Scott King was an American author, activist, and civil rights leader. The widow of Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King helped lead the African-American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.Mrs...
. Gerald Leigh later gave another of Free At Last's foals the name of the 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...
civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
activist
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
, Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement"....
.
Coretta's sire was Caerleon
Caerleon II
Caerleon was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was a Champion runner in France and a two-time Champion sire in Great Britain & Ireland. Bred by Seth Hancock at his famous Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, he was out of the mare Foreseer, a daughter of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Round Table...
, the 1983 Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
who was a son of the English Triple Crown champion, Nijinsky
Nijinsky II
The racehorse Nijinsky was one of the greatest horses in Thoroughbred horse-racing history. He won the U.K. Triple Crown of racing. Retired to stud he became the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland and the Leading broodmare sire in North America.He was bred at E. P...
.
Gerald Leigh maintained racing stables in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and the United States. Coretta raced once at age two in England and in 1997 at age three made five starts with her best performance a win in the Breitling Handicap 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...
under jockey Frankie Dettori
Frankie Dettori
Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing...
.
In 1998 Coretta was sent to the United States where she was conditioned by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
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...
, Christophe Clement
Christophe Clement
Christophe Clement is a Thoroughbred horse trainer in the United States.- Racing background :Christophe Clement initially acquired his training skills from father Miguel, a leading trainer in France, Christophe later worked for the prominent French racing family of trainer Alec Head...
who is established in Florida, New-York, Kentucky and California. At age four she won Graded stakes race
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
s on turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
including the then Grade II Long Island Handicap
Long Island Handicap
The Long Island Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack, in Ozone Park, Queens, New York...
at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and the La Prevoyante Handicap
La Prevoyante Handicap
The La Prevoyante Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida. The race is open to filles and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-half miles on turf...
at Florida's Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
. In 1999 Coretta won her second consecutive La Prevoyante Handicap as well as the Orchid Handicap
Orchid Handicap
The Orchid Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The Grade III turf race is open to fillies and mares, aged four and up...
. At New York's Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
, she finished second to Soaring Softly
Soaring Softly
Soaring Softly is an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. She was bred and raced by Joan Phillips and her son John of the renowned Darby Dan Farm. Her sire is Darby Dan's outstanding stallion Kris S., a son of the Darby Dan European star grass racer Roberto...
in the Grade I Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap
Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes
The Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes is an American Grade I race for thoroughbred fillies and mares run in early October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York...
. Entered in the inaugural running of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for fillies and mares, three years old and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships....
, the parimutuel betting
Parimutuel betting
Parimutuel betting is a betting system in which all bets of a particular type are placed together in a pool; taxes and the "house-take" or "vig" is removed, and payoff odds are calculated by sharing the pool among all winning bets...
public made Coretta the seventh choice at 16:1 odds. In the 1⅜ miles race, she ran near the leaders until the top of the homestretch when she moved into the lead only to be caught near the finish line to finish second again to Soaring Softly.
Retired to broodmare duty, among her matings Gerald Leigh bred Coretta two times to Ogden Phipps'
Ogden Phipps
Ogden Phipps was an American stockbroker, court tennis champion and Hall of Fame member, thoroughbred horse racing executive and owner/breeder, and an art collector and philanthropist...
stallion Seeking The Gold
Seeking The Gold
Seeking The Gold is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by the leading stud, Mr. Prospector, who in turn was a son of Raise a Native, out of the mare, Con Game....
, naming the foals "Civil Rights" and "Shared Dreams".