Falsetto (horse)
Encyclopedia
Falsetto was an American Thoroughbred
Champion racehorse
and outstanding sire
. Bred and raced by J. W. Hunt Reynolds of Lexington, Kentucky
, his dam
was Farfaletta and his sire was General Abe Buford's
very good runner, Enquirer.
Conditioned for racing by African American
trainer
, Eli Jordan, as a three-year-old in 1879 Falsetto won four of his five starts and was the dominant horse of his age group in the United states. Under African American star jockey, Isaac Murphy
, he ran second to Lord Murphy
in the Kentucky Derby
but won the Phoenix Hotel Stakes
and the Clark Handicap
, plus he defeated the great Spendthrift
in winning the Kenner
and Travers Stakes
.
Owner J. W. Hunt Reynolds died in September 1880 and the horse was sent to Pierre Lorillard IV
who raced him in England
along with several other American horses including Horse
and Iroquois
. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/588070372.html?dids=588070372:588070372&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+21%2C+1880&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=THE+TURF.&pqatl=google
Returned to the United States and retired to stud
duty, Falsetto stood at A. J. Alexander's Woodburn Stud
in Woodford County, Kentucky
. Falsetto became one of only four stallions to sire three Kentucky Derby winners and another of his sons, Sir Cleges, ran second in the 1908 Derby. Among his progeny, Falsetto was the sire of:
Falsetto died of pneumonia
in August 1904 at age twenty-eight.
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 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...
and outstanding sire
Sire
Sire may refer to:* Father, the counterpart of a dam, particularly in animal breeding. See also stallion* James W. Sire, author on worldviews* Sire Records, a record label* Sire Advertising, an advertising agency...
. Bred and raced by J. W. Hunt Reynolds of 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...
, his dam
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
was Farfaletta and his sire was General Abe Buford's
Abraham Buford II
Brigadier General Abraham "Abe" Buford II was a soldier and Thoroughbred horse breeder. Born in Woodford County, Kentucky, his origins were a Huguenot family named Beaufort who fled persecution in France and settled in England before emigrating to America in 1635.Abraham Buford was the son of...
very good runner, Enquirer.
Conditioned for racing by 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...
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...
, Eli Jordan, as a three-year-old in 1879 Falsetto won four of his five starts and was the dominant horse of his age group in the United states. Under African American star jockey, Isaac Murphy
Isaac Burns Murphy
Isaac Burns Murphy was an African-American Hall of Fame jockey, who is considered one of the greatest riders in American Thoroughbred horse racing history. Murphy won three Kentucky Derbies.-Early life:...
, he ran second to Lord Murphy
Lord Murphy
Lord Murphy was an American thoroughbred racehorse that was bred in Tennessee and is best known for winning the 1879 Kentucky Derby. He was originally named Patmus and was a grandson of Lexington. He descended from the Byerly Turk....
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...
but won 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...
and 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...
, plus he defeated the great Spendthrift
Spendthrift (horse)
Spendthrift was a successful American Thoroughbred racehorse and an outstanding sire.-Breeding:...
in winning the Kenner
Kenner Stakes
The Kenner Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run from 1870 through 1942 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to three-year-old horses, it was last contested at a distance of a mile and three sixteenths on dirt. It was run as the Miller Stakes from 1920 through...
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...
.
Owner J. W. Hunt Reynolds died in September 1880 and the horse was sent to Pierre Lorillard IV
Pierre Lorillard IV
Pierre Lorillard IV was an American tobacco manufacturer and thoroughbred race horse owner.-Biography:...
who raced him 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...
along with several other American horses including Horse
Parole (horse)
Parole was a Thoroughbred race horse bred by Pierre Lorillard, a scion of the tobacco family. Lorillard and his brother George were both horsemen and competed throughout their careers...
and Iroquois
Iroquois (horse)
Iroquois , was the first American-bred Thoroughbred race horse to win the prestigious Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom, Surrey, England. He then went on to win the St...
. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/588070372.html?dids=588070372:588070372&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+21%2C+1880&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=THE+TURF.&pqatl=google
Returned to the United States and retired to stud
Stud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
duty, Falsetto stood at A. J. Alexander's Woodburn Stud
Woodburn Stud
Woodburn Stud was an American horse breeding farm located in Woodford County, Kentucky about ten miles from the city of Lexington. It was established in the 18th century as an original land grant property of General Hugh Mercer to whom it had been granted for his military services during the...
in Woodford County, Kentucky
Woodford County, Kentucky
Woodford County is a county located in the heart of the Bluegrass region of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 23,208. Its county seat is Versailles. The county is named for General William Woodford, who was with General George Washington at Valley Forge...
. Falsetto became one of only four stallions to sire three Kentucky Derby winners and another of his sons, Sir Cleges, ran second in the 1908 Derby. Among his progeny, Falsetto was the sire of:
- Dew Drop/Dewdrop (b. 1883) - American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, won Champagne Stakes, Monmouth Oaks
- ChantChant (horse)Chant was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1894 Kentucky Derby, Phoenix Stakes, and Clark Handicap. He was related through his damsire, King Alfonso, to Kentucky Derby winners Fonso and Joe Cotton and through his sire, Falsetto, to His Eminence and Sir Huon .Chant was sold in...
(b. 1891) - won 1894 Kentucky DerbyKentucky DerbyThe 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... - His EminenceHis Eminence (horse)His Eminence was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that was bred in Kentucky and is best known for winning the 1901 Kentucky Derby. He was a bay colt sired by the great turf-racer Falsetto out of the mare Patroness. His dam was sold to O. H. Chenault at the 1897 Woodburn Stud dispersal sale for...
- won 1901 Kentucky Derby, Clark HandicapClark HandicapThe 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... - Sir HuonSir HuonSir Huon was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that was the winner of the 1906 Kentucky Derby and Latonia Derby. Sir Huon was named after a character in the German opera Oberon and was bred at George J. Long's stud farm, Bashford Manor Stable...
- won Kentucky Derby, Latonia DerbyLatonia DerbyThe Latonia Derby was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1883 through 1937 at Latonia Race Track in Latonia, Kentucky. Open to three-year-old horses, for its first 52 years the Latonia Derby was contested at a mile and a half; in 1935, the race was shortened to a mile and a...
Falsetto 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...
in August 1904 at age twenty-eight.