Hill Rise
Encyclopedia
Hill Rise was an American
Thoroughbred
Champion
racehorse
. He was bred at El Peco Ranch in Madera, California
by George A. Pope, Jr. (1901–1979) who also owned and bred 1962 Kentucky Derby winner Decidedly
. The winner of California Breeders' Champion Stakes
at age two, in his three-year-old campaign Hill Rise scored the widest margin of victory in the fastest Santa Anita Derby
ever run and was undefeated in 8 starts going into the 1964 Kentucky Derby
.
For the Derby, trainer Horatio Luro
, who had trained Decidedly, offered Bill Shoemaker the chance to ride his colt Northern Dancer
. However, the future Hall of Fame
jockey
chose to ride the favored Hill Rise instead and wound up 2nd in the Derby and 3rd in the Preakness Stakes
to Northern Dancer.
At age four Hill Rise won the Man O' War Stakes
on grass
and the following year, after racing in the U.S. and winning the San Antonio Handicap
, he was sent to race on the grass in England
. Of his four races there he won the Rous Memorial Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
at Ascot Racecourse
. His victory made him the first California-bred horse to win a major stakes in the United Kingdom since 1908. The effort earned Hill Rise 1966 Champion Miler honors in the UK.
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...
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...
. He was bred at El Peco Ranch in Madera, California
Madera, California
Madera is a city in and the county seat of Madera County, California, United States. It is a principal city of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Madera County, and Metropolitan Fresno. It is located in California's San Joaquin Valley. As of the 2010...
by George A. Pope, Jr. (1901–1979) who also owned and bred 1962 Kentucky Derby winner Decidedly
Decidedly
Decidedly was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known for winning the 1962 Kentucky Derby.Ridden by Bill Hartack, Decidedly set a new Churchill Downs track record for 1¼ miles in winning the 1962 Derby. In the second leg and third legs of the U.S...
. The winner of California Breeders' Champion Stakes
California Breeders' Champion Stakes
California Breeders' Champion Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1935 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. In 2011 it will be in its 72nd running....
at age two, in his three-year-old campaign Hill Rise scored the widest margin of victory in the fastest Santa Anita Derby
Santa Anita Derby
The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $1 million. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby...
ever run and was undefeated in 8 starts going into the 1964 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...
.
For the Derby, trainer Horatio Luro
Horatio Luro
Horatio A. Luro was a thoroughbred horse racing trainer in the United States.Born in Argentina into a wealthy family that had been involved with horses for several generations, a suave young Horatio Luro grew up as something of a playboy and maintained this lifestyle after moving to the United...
, who had trained Decidedly, offered Bill Shoemaker the chance to ride his colt Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
. However, the future 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...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
chose to ride the favored Hill Rise instead and wound up 2nd in the Derby and 3rd 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...
to Northern Dancer.
At age four Hill Rise won the Man O' War Stakes
Man O' War Stakes
The Man o' War Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Now Raced in July, it is a Grade I event offering a purse of $500,000 and is open to horses three-years-old and up. Run at one and three-eighths mile on the grass, the race sometimes attracts top European horses...
on grass
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 ...
and the following year, after racing in the U.S. and winning the San Antonio Handicap
San Antonio Handicap
The San Antonio Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
, he was sent to race on the grass in England
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...
. Of his four races there he won the Rous Memorial Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is now scheduled to take place each year in October. As of 2011, it is run on Champions Day as the final race...
at Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
. His victory made him the first California-bred horse to win a major stakes in the United Kingdom since 1908. The effort earned Hill Rise 1966 Champion Miler honors in the UK.