Midway Road
Encyclopedia
Midway Road was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. A descendant of Mr. Prospector
, he was sired by Jade Hunter by breeder Will Farish. Midway Road was a multiple graded stakes winner but will be remembered most for his two grade one runner-up finishes in important stake races
during his career. Most notably Midway Road had a solid second place performance in the 2003 Preakness Stakes
.
, Midway Road won four of six races that he ran in early in his career. He broke his maiden at Arlington Park
in Chicago, Illinois at age two. As a sophomore he won two allowance races at Keeneland
before his connections decided to take a big step up in class by running in an American Classic. Midway Road was entered into the 2003
Preakness Stakes
to take on an all-star field of stakes winners but was listed as the longest shot in the field on the morning line at 20-1 along with New York Hero and Kissin Saint.
Midway Road broke in good order and settled in sixth of ten runners going into the first turn of the Preakness. He was squeezed in tight and then piloted by jockey Robby Albarado
along the inside path early. Just after the five-eighths pole Midway Road made his move to engage the top three. With only one furlong to go Midway Road took a bold move and skimmed the rail just to the inside of Louisiana Derby
winner Peace Rules
and hooked up with him in a head-to-head battle. In the mean time Kentucky Derby
winner Funny Cide pulled away from the rest of the field like they were stopped. Funny Cide finished 9-3/4 lengths in front of the rest of the field (the second largest margin in 128 years at that time). Midway Road ended the race finishing second to dual classic winner Funny Cide
and earned a check of $200,000 for the place spot. He ended up defeating Peace Rules
by 3/4 of a length but also beat Scrimshaw, Senor Swinger, local favorite Cherokee's Boy, Foufa's Warrior, New York Hero, Kissin Kris and Ten Cents a Shine. His trainer Neil Howard said, "He had a good trip but he may have been in a little too tight. He was forced to take the inside path about mid-race."
Later that summer Midway Road also placed in the 2003 grade two Ohio Derby
at Thistledown Racecourse outside Cleveland, Ohio to Wild and Wicked.
and Sir Cherokee. Later that year he finished second to Southern Image in the grade one Pimlico Special Handicap in his subsequent start. There he finished a head of the reast of a quality field that included Bowman's Band, Evening Attire, Dynever and Ole Faunty.
Midway Road then scored consecutive stakes wins in the grade three Fayette Stakes at Keeneland Race Course and Tenacious Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course
in New Orleans, Louisiana.
in Versailles, Kentucky
. His first season breeding was in early spring of 2006 for a stud fee of $7,500. He was transferred to Lane's End Farm
Farm Texas in Hempstead, Texas for a stud fee of $4,000. His first foals were yearlings of 2008 and will be racing as three year-olds in 2010.
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...
. A descendant of Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
, he was sired by Jade Hunter by breeder Will Farish. Midway Road was a multiple graded stakes winner but will be remembered most for his two grade one runner-up finishes in important stake races
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...
during his career. Most notably Midway Road had a solid second place performance in the 2003 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...
.
Three year-old season
Trained by Neil HowardNeil J. Howard
Neil J. Howard is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer.Howard began working for a racing stable in 1969 and went on to spend seven years as an assistant and stable foreman to future Hall of Fame trainer MacKenzie Miller before going out on his own in 1979.With Summer Squall, in 1990 Neil...
, Midway Road won four of six races that he ran in early in his career. He broke his maiden at Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
in Chicago, Illinois at age two. As a sophomore he won two allowance races at Keeneland
Keeneland
Keeneland is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and sales complex in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Operated by the Keeneland Association, Inc., it is also known for its reference library on the sport, which contains more than 10,000 volumes, an extensive videocassette collection, and a substantial...
before his connections decided to take a big step up in class by running in an American Classic. Midway Road was entered into the 2003
2003 Preakness Stakes
The 2003 Preakness Stakes was the 128th running of the Preakness Stakes. The race took place on May 17, 2003, and was televised in the United States on the NBC television network. Funny Cide, who was jockeyed by Jose Santos, won the race. Approximate post time was 6:14 p.m. Eastern Time...
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 take on an all-star field of stakes winners but was listed as the longest shot in the field on the morning line at 20-1 along with New York Hero and Kissin Saint.
Midway Road broke in good order and settled in sixth of ten runners going into the first turn of the Preakness. He was squeezed in tight and then piloted by jockey Robby Albarado
Robby Albarado
Robby J. Albarado is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding at the age of 12 at bush tracks in his native Louisiana and after turning professional, earned his first win at Evangeline Downs in 1990...
along the inside path early. Just after the five-eighths pole Midway Road made his move to engage the top three. With only one furlong to go Midway Road took a bold move and skimmed the rail just to the inside of Louisiana Derby
Louisiana Derby
The Louisiana Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. Usually run in early March, the race is open to horses, age three, willing to race 11/8 miles on the dirt. A Grade II event, it currently offers a purse of...
winner Peace Rules
Peace Rules
Peace Rules , is a multiple Grade I winning American Thoroughbred race horse. By Jules Peace Rules (bred and foaled in Florida at Newchance Farm on April 26, 2000), is a multiple Grade I winning American Thoroughbred race horse. By Jules Peace Rules (bred and foaled in Florida at Newchance Farm on...
and hooked up with him in a head-to-head battle. In the mean time 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...
winner Funny Cide pulled away from the rest of the field like they were stopped. Funny Cide finished 9-3/4 lengths in front of the rest of the field (the second largest margin in 128 years at that time). Midway Road ended the race finishing second to dual classic winner Funny Cide
Funny Cide
Funny Cide is a Thoroughbred race horse who won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in 2003. He is the first New York-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby and the first gelding to win since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.-Bloodlines:...
and earned a check of $200,000 for the place spot. He ended up defeating Peace Rules
Peace Rules
Peace Rules , is a multiple Grade I winning American Thoroughbred race horse. By Jules Peace Rules (bred and foaled in Florida at Newchance Farm on April 26, 2000), is a multiple Grade I winning American Thoroughbred race horse. By Jules Peace Rules (bred and foaled in Florida at Newchance Farm on...
by 3/4 of a length but also beat Scrimshaw, Senor Swinger, local favorite Cherokee's Boy, Foufa's Warrior, New York Hero, Kissin Kris and Ten Cents a Shine. His trainer Neil Howard said, "He had a good trip but he may have been in a little too tight. He was forced to take the inside path about mid-race."
Later that summer Midway Road also placed in the 2003 grade two Ohio Derby
Ohio Derby
The Ohio Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early June at Thistledown in North Randall, Ohio.The Grade III Stakes race for three-year-olds is run on dirt over a distance of 1 and 1/16 miles....
at Thistledown Racecourse outside Cleveland, Ohio to Wild and Wicked.
Four year-old season
In his four year-old season Midway Road set a track record at Keeneland Race Course when he covered 1-1/8 miles in 1:46.78 in winning the grade three Ben Ali Stakes in 2004 by a record 11¼ lengths. That day he defeated respected stakes winners Evening AttireEvening Attire (horse)
Evening Attire is a Kentucky bred Thoroughbred racehorse, foaled on February 14, 1998, though most of his racing career has taken place in New York.-A little history, early and late:Bred by Joseph M. Grant and Hall of Famer Thomas J...
and Sir Cherokee. Later that year he finished second to Southern Image in the grade one Pimlico Special Handicap in his subsequent start. There he finished a head of the reast of a quality field that included Bowman's Band, Evening Attire, Dynever and Ole Faunty.
Midway Road then scored consecutive stakes wins in the grade three Fayette Stakes at Keeneland Race Course and Tenacious Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course
Fair Grounds Race Course
Fair Grounds Race Course, often known as New Orleans Fair Grounds, is a thoroughbred racetrack and racino in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is operated by Churchill Downs Louisiana Horseracing Company, LLC....
in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Retirement
Midway Road had not raced since fracturing a cannon bone in a January workout in 2005. After eight months of rehabilitation Midway Road was not progressing to the satisfaction of his trainer and was retired and stood at owner-breeder William S. Farish's Lane's End FarmLane's End Farm
Lane's End Farm is a thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Versailles, Kentucky established in 1979. The original land was part of Bosque Bonita Farm which means beautiful woods and was originally owned by Abraham Buford, a Confederate Army General. The land was later bought by leading...
in Versailles, Kentucky
Versailles, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.18% White, 8.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35%...
. His first season breeding was in early spring of 2006 for a stud fee of $7,500. He was transferred to Lane's End Farm
Lane's End Farm
Lane's End Farm is a thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Versailles, Kentucky established in 1979. The original land was part of Bosque Bonita Farm which means beautiful woods and was originally owned by Abraham Buford, a Confederate Army General. The land was later bought by leading...
Farm Texas in Hempstead, Texas for a stud fee of $4,000. His first foals were yearlings of 2008 and will be racing as three year-olds in 2010.