Reginald N. Webster
Encyclopedia
Reginald N. Webster was an American
businessman and Thoroughbred
racehorse
owner.
Born in Dublin, Ireland
, Reginald Webster's family emigrated to the United States when he was a small boy. Pursuing a career in business, he was president of precision parts manufacturer Standard-Thomson Corp. of Waltham, Massachusetts
. Following the company's 1974 takeover by Allegheny International Inc., he retired.
to oversee the conditioning of his horses. With the future Hall of Fame
trainer, Webster had his best successes in American racing when in 1966 they won the Belmont Stakes
.
Webster also raced horses in England
and Ireland
. His Irish-bred colt Martial
, trained by legendary Irish horseman Paddy Prendergast, won the 1960 2,000 Guineas at England's Newmarket Racecourse
making Webster one of only a few Americans to ever win both an American Classic and a British Classic race.
Reginald Webster's notable horses included:
Reginald Webster was a member of The Jockey Club
and served as president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
. He was living in Palm Beach, Florida
when he died at age eighty-five of heart failure.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and 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...
owner.
Born in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Reginald Webster's family emigrated to the United States when he was a small boy. Pursuing a career in business, he was president of precision parts manufacturer Standard-Thomson Corp. of Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, was an early center for the labor movement, and major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning,...
. Following the company's 1974 takeover by Allegheny International Inc., he retired.
Thoroughbred horse racing
Reginald Webster became involved in Thoroughbred racing in 1945. In 1947 he hired Lucien LaurinLucien Laurin
Lucien Laurin was a French-Canadian jockey and Hall of Fame Thoroughbred horse trainer.-Life and career:...
to oversee the conditioning of his horses. With 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...
trainer, Webster had his best successes in American racing when in 1966 they won the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
.
Webster also raced horses 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...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. His Irish-bred colt Martial
Martial (horse)
Martial was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1960 British Classic, the 2,000 Guineas Stakes. He was out of the mare Discipliner and sired by the 1952 Kentucky Derby winner, Hill Gail...
, trained by legendary Irish horseman Paddy Prendergast, won the 1960 2,000 Guineas at England's 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...
making Webster one of only a few Americans to ever win both an American Classic and a British Classic race.
Reginald Webster's notable horses included:
- QuillQuill (horse)Quill was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 1958 Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in the United States.-References:*...
- fillyFillyA filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
who was voted the 1958 U.S. Champion 2-year-old FillyEclipse Award for Outstanding 2-Year-Old FillyThe American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a female horse in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971....
and whose wins included the MatronMatron Stakes (USA)The Matron Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race once held annually during the second week of September at Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island, New York, but is now a Spring/Summer event along with the Futurity Stakes. Open to two-year-old fillies, it is contested on dirt at a distance at...
, AcornAcorn StakesThe Acorn Stakes is an American Grade I race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies. It is raced on dirt over a distance of one mile with a current purse of $250,000. It is the first leg of the US Triple Tiara and is followed by the Coaching Club American Oaks...
and Mother Goose StakesMother Goose StakesThe Mother Goose Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Raced on dirt, the Grade I race offers a purse of $250,000. Inaugurated in 1957 at a mile and a sixteenth, it was lengthened to a mile and an eighth in 1959... - MartialMartial (horse)Martial was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1960 British Classic, the 2,000 Guineas Stakes. He was out of the mare Discipliner and sired by the 1952 Kentucky Derby winner, Hill Gail...
- son of 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...
winner Hill GailHill GailHill Gail was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by the renowned Calumet Farm of Lexington, Kentucky, the son of Champion sire, Bull Lea, Hill Gail is best known as the winner of the 1952 Kentucky Derby....
, he won the 2,000 Guineas, Coventry StakesCoventry StakesThe Coventry Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.... - Traffic - won the 1963 Hopeful Stakes
- National - won the 1964 Ohio DerbyOhio DerbyThe 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....
, 1965 Roseben HandicapRoseben HandicapThe Roseben Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1940 through 1995. Hosted by Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, it was open to horses age three and older. A Grade III event at the time of its cancellation, it was contested on dirt over a distance of six... - AmberoidAmberoidAmberoid was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1966 American Classic, the Belmont Stakes....
- won the 1966 Wood Memorial, Belmont StakesBelmont StakesThe Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds... - Artfully - won the 1976 Maskette HandicapGo For Wand HandicapThe Go For Wand Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race established in 1954 for fillies and mares age three and up. Raced at the end of July/early August, it is a Grade II race on dirt at a distance of one and one-eighth miles .Inaugurated in 1954 at Belmont Park as the Maskette Stakes in...
- Pearl NecklacePearl Necklace (horse)Pearl Necklace was an American Thoroughbred racing mare bred and raced by Reginald N. Webster. He was sired by Ambernash, a son of U.S...
- won the 1978 New York HandicapNew York HandicapThe New York Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week of June at Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island, New York. A Grade II event open to fillies and mares age three and older, it is contested on turf at a distance of one and one-quarter miles .Prior to 1962...
and Maskette HandicapGo For Wand HandicapThe Go For Wand Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race established in 1954 for fillies and mares age three and up. Raced at the end of July/early August, it is a Grade II race on dirt at a distance of one and one-eighth miles .Inaugurated in 1954 at Belmont Park as the Maskette Stakes in...
Reginald Webster was a member of The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club, formed on February 9, 1894, is the keeper of The American Stud Book. It came into existence after James R. Keene spearheaded a drive in support of racehorse trainers who had complained about the Board of Control that governed racing in New York State.-History:On its formation, The...
and served as president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
The American Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association based in Lexington, Kentucky is a trade organization for Thoroughbred racehorse owners and breeders...
. He was living in Palm Beach, Florida
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
when he died at age eighty-five of heart failure.