Here's another photo, courtesy of Rancho San Antonio, of the beautiful, handsome, crowd-pleasing, hard-working, dutiful Stymie. He was born April 14, 1941 at King Ranch in Texas. His parents were Equestrian and Stop Watch by On Watch. Between the ages of 2-8, he ran and won races from anywhere of 1 to 2 1/2 miles! He was the Eclipse Champion Handicap Horse in 1945. He ended up racing 131 times for a final record of 35(25), 33(19), 28(19). He earned $918,485 and remained the highest earner until the first milionaire, Citation.
His first owner, Max Hirsch, put him in a $1,500 claiming race very early in his career and he was claimed by his trainer and then lifetime owner, Hirsch Jacobs, who transferred his ownership to his good wife, Ethel. Ethel was Stymie's mom for the rest of his days until he passed in 1962.
From 1945-1947, he won 24 races and finished in the top 3 in 50 of his 58 starts! He ran 28 times as a 2 year-old and 29 times as a 3 year-old. He got a small breather, a chance to rest, because of a racing ban during World War II. And when they finally lifted the ban after his rest, he started to win like crazy!
During his career, he set 3 track records, and twice each he won the Metropolitan, Saratoga Cup, Gallant Fox, Grey Lag, Aqueduct, and Sussex Handicaps. He earned #41 on the Top 100 thoroughbreds of the 20th century and was inducted into the National Museum and Racing Hall of Fame in 1975!
As a stud, he was pretty good, producing 6% stakeswinners! Among his progeny, he can count my little Violet, such a good solid sweet girl. I hope she has his stamina!