Gallant Fox' Winner Kid, Omaha!

Omaha, born in 1932 and passing in 1959 at age 27 was the son of the second Triple Crown winner, Gallant Fox. Omaha was in a field of 18 horses when he won the Kentucky Derby, and his win in the Belmont Stakes sealed the concept of a "Triple Crown" as reporters sought a shorthand to describe what he and his dad had done, and, of course, Sir Barton too as the first!

He was bred and owned by William Woodward, Sr. and foaled at Claiborne Farms. His trainer was also his dad's trainer, Jim "Sunny" Fitzsimmons, and his jockey was Willie Saunders.

His final record was 22: 9-7-2, and he won the Wood Memorial and Travers Stakes, among others, and was sent to England at age 4 where he won the Victor Wild Stakes and Queen's Plate and did well in other races. He was a late bloomer, not coming into his own until age 3, probably because he was so long backed and grew to 16.3 hands! He earned the Champion 3-year-old colt Eclipse Award and eventually was inducted into the National Racing and Museum Hall of Fame. He was voted #61 of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th century.

He wasn't a real success as a stud at Claiborne, so he ended up in Nebraska where he stood at stud for $25! He wasn't a total bust -- he produced a filly who was the great-granddam, of the granddam, of the dam of Nijinsky! Not too shabby!! When he passed, he was buried near the entrance of the now-closed Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha, Nebraska -- his namesake town!!

In a related story, when I was a youngster with my freshly-minted Ph.D., I lived in Lincoln and took riding lessons from a woman named Allison. She brought horses for me to try on the odd occasion, and once had me try a chestnut filly fresh off the track from Ak-Sar-Ben. I had hopes of one day adopting a retired track horse from Omaha, but even then didn't have quite the stomach and was looking for a solid riding horse! My girls are primarily related to Omaha through Sir Gallahad and the Ajax line!

You can read more about him at the following links, and even see footage of his Triple Crown races:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SinMwpXmpjQ
or
http://www.thoroughbredchampions.com/biographies/omaha.htm
or
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/triple-crown/winners.aspx
or
http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=114
or
http://www.spiletta.com/UTHOF/omaha.html

Flying Fox and my girls!

My girls are related to Flying Fox, born in 1896. His race record was 11:9-2-0 for $203.200. He won the English Triple Crown, but only raced 2 seasons because he was sort of mean. He was sold and retired in France where he had a great stud career, but died young at the age of 15! He is related to my girls several ways. But here's a cool line for Violet: Flying Fox, Ajax, Teddy, Bull Dog! And here's a cool line for Hailee: Flying Fox, Ajax, Teddy, and Sir Gallahad!. You can read more about this Triple Crown winner at the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Fox_(horse)

or

http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Orme.htm

Gallorette and My Girls!!

Gallorette was foaled in 1942 out of Challenger and Gallette. She was voted top filly in a 1955 training poll. She had 72 starts, won 21, placed 20, and was third 13 times. She was retired in 1948, the richest filly of her day! In her best season, she defeated the boys, including Stymie who she beat twice!! She was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame the year before my birth, 1962. My girls are related to this macho girl through several lines, including Sir Gallahad, Swynford, Ajax, Orme, Vampire, Galopin, Isonomy, Stockwell, Pocahontas, and Hindoo. You can read more about this big-moving girl at the following links:

http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=79

or

http://www.spiletta.com/UTHOF/gallorette.html