King's Swan
Encyclopedia
King's Swan was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
nicknamed "The King of Aqueduct" who was so popular with New York City
area fans that on his retirement from racing at age ten, he was honored with a retirement ceremony at Aqueduct Racetrack
.
inductee Round Table
, and out of the mare Royal Cygnet. His damsire, Sea Bird
holds the record for the highest Timeform
rating in history.
Richard Dutrow, Sr.
, one of Maryland racing's Big Four
trainers, recognized the gelding's racing potential and in mid December 1985 organized a partnership to purchase King's Swan. The change in trainer had an instantaneous impact and the horse began winning important graded stakes race
s in his first season under Dutrow.
King's Swan became one of the best-loved horses on the New York racing circuit
. At age ten in 1990, he was still campaigning and winning stakes events, notably capturing his second Aqueduct Handicap
.
, King's Swan was not able to serve as a sire
and following his December 22, 1990 retirement he was given to Jean Lazio, his longtime exercise rider. In early December 2005, he shattered a bone in his right front leg that was aggravated after treatment. On February 7, 2006, at the age of twenty-six, King's Swan was humanely euthanized
at the Mid-Atlantic Equine Center in Ringoes, New Jersey
.
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...
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...
nicknamed "The King of Aqueduct" who was so popular with New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
area fans that on his retirement from racing at age ten, he was honored with a retirement ceremony 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:...
.
Background
Sired by King's Bishop, a son of the U.S. Racing Hall of FameNational 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...
inductee Round Table
Round Table (horse)
Round Table was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. He is considered the greatest turf horse in American racing history. He was foaled at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, on the night of April 6, 1954...
, and out of the mare Royal Cygnet. His damsire, Sea Bird
Sea Bird II
Sea Bird II is considered by many to be the greatest post-war European flat racehorse. His Timeform rating of 145 is still the highest ever flat figure awarded by that publication. Sea Bird II is most famous for his breathtaking victories in two of Europe's most prestigious races: the Epsom Derby...
holds the record for the highest Timeform
Timeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
rating in history.
Racing Career
Despite his breeding, by age five when the racing career of most top Thoroughbreds is over, King's Swan was a horse who had accomplished little on the racetrack and was put up for sale in claiming races. TrainerHorse 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...
Richard Dutrow, Sr.
Richard E. Dutrow, Sr.
Richard E. "Dick" Dutrow, Sr. Richard E. "Dick" Dutrow, Sr. Richard E. "Dick" Dutrow, Sr. (March 8, 1937 - February 19, 1999 was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. Dutrow, along with King T. Leatherbury, John J. Tammaro, Jr. and Hall of Fame inductee Bud Delp, were known as Maryland...
, one of Maryland racing's Big Four
Big Four of Maryland Thoroughbred racing
The Big Four of Maryland Thoroughbred racing were four American Thoroughbred horse trainers who dominated horse racing in the state of Maryland in the 1960 and 70s and who helped modernize flat racing training....
trainers, recognized the gelding's racing potential and in mid December 1985 organized a partnership to purchase King's Swan. The change in trainer had an instantaneous impact and the horse began winning important 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 in his first season under Dutrow.
King's Swan became one of the best-loved horses on the New York racing circuit
New York Racing Association
The New York Racing Association, Inc. is the not-for-profit corporation that operates the three largest thoroughbred horse-racing tracks in the state of New York. It runs Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens, Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island , and Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga...
. At age ten in 1990, he was still campaigning and winning stakes events, notably capturing his second Aqueduct Handicap
Aqueduct Handicap
The race is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. It was called the Aqueduct Handicap, but beginning in 2009, the name was changed to the Evening Attire Stakes in honor of the great grey gelding Evening Attire. He raced until he was 10 years...
.
Retirement
As a geldingGelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
, King's Swan was not able to serve as a sire
Father
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...
and following his December 22, 1990 retirement he was given to Jean Lazio, his longtime exercise rider. In early December 2005, he shattered a bone in his right front leg that was aggravated after treatment. On February 7, 2006, at the age of twenty-six, King's Swan was humanely euthanized
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
at the Mid-Atlantic Equine Center in Ringoes, New Jersey
Ringoes, New Jersey
Ringoes is an unincorporated area located within East Amwell Township, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The community is served by the United States Postal Service as ZIP Code 08551. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 08551 was 5,082.-History:Ringoes is...
.