Okay, so this story is long and shows how my Violet is related to the Astor family through her direct relation to their baby, Winkipop, the trim filly shown in this photo. Okay, so let's start with Winkipop herself. Winkipop was born in 1907, and raced 18 times, winning 10! She won the 1,000 Guinea Stakes at Newmarket in 1910, and the Coronation Stakes, Sussex Stakes, Nassau Stakes, and Yorkshire Oaks. She appears in Violet's Po'Chile line through Winkipop's kid, Plymstock. Winkipop had two kids, Blink is the other. Winkipop is responsible for the Pensive (Kentucky Derby winner) in Violet's family.Okay, so check this out. Winkipop's kid, Plymstock, became a Blue Hen, being the dam of the Oaks winner in Violet's heritage, Pennycomequick. She was also the mom of Coronation Stakes winner, Sunny Devon, and the American Broodmare of the Year, Alpenstock III. And get this, Winkipop's full brother, Winkie, folaed in 1912 was shipped to New Zealand where he grandsired Phar Lap, an amazing horse over 17.1 hands who was nicknamed "The Red Terror," so you can just imagine! He was beloved by the Australians and the rest of the racing enthusiasts of the world frankly and was a Champion 3-year-old. He died under extremely mysterious circumstances at a young age, after a career of 51 races.
Okay, so that itself is cool about Violet's pedigree. More story than any one little horse should bring to the family table. BUT! But! Winkipop brings the Astors to the table! Winkipop's dad was Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount of Astor, a businessman and lifelong politician from the New York Astor family who relocated permanently to Great Britain and was trained at Eton and Oxford. He lived from 1879-1952 and his wedding gift was the Cliveden Estates where he and his lovely wife entertained many important people, including, get this, Winston Churchill and Rudyard Kipling. No lie. They visited Cliveden for partying and foxhunting. Lucky bastards.
Anyway, when Winkipop's grandpa died, Waldorf lost his seat in the House of Commons because he became an immediate member of the House of Lords. His wife ended up earning his vacated seat in the House of Commons where she served many consecutive terms. Okay, here's the negative part. Though they were cool and ran governments and bred great race horses, Waldorf was an anti-semite.
Okay, so who are the Astors? Let's step back. In the late 18th century, John Jacob Astor immigrated to the United States from Walldorf, Germany and by the 19th century he and his wife and offspring became the wealthiest family in the United States! Yowza! They are patrons of so many wonderful things, including one of my favorite places on earth, the New York Public Library. No lie. One of my favorite places to sit in front of while smoking cigarettes and people watching. Ah, those NY Public Library Lions, Patience and Fortitude. They were originally nicknamed after the primary benefactors, Leo Astor and Leo Lenox, later called Lady Astor and Lord Lenox, until finally earning the names of virtues during the Great Depression by NY's Mayor LaGuardia.
Anyway, John Jacob Astor's brother, Henry, was a horse lover too, and imported a thoroughbred from England in 1788 named Messenger who is a foundation sire for Standardbreds in the United States. The Astors are all over America, including on Mackinac Island where the Grand Hotel has two suites named after them, The Lord Astor Suite and the Lady Astor Suite, as well as a salon called The Astors.
Okay, so how is Violet tied to the RMS Titanic? Well, her dad's cousin was John Jacob Astor IV who was 47 years old and travelling the world with his new 18-year-old second wife. She became pregnant, so they were jetting home in first class style on the Titanic, so she could give birth in the United States. Astor IV was quite the bon vivant! He wrote science fiction, he earned megal0-money through real estate, including founding the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and he fought in the Spanish-American War. But when he dumped his first wife and got his young wife, his eccentricity was finally frowned upon. BUT! Molly Brown, the wealthy socialite who we all know as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" stayed his friend. She was fine with his wild living, free choosing ways. Anyway, he helped his wife to the life boat, and then became the stuff of legends. He was without doubt the richest man on the Titanic. So, you can bet that each time a movie is made or story is told, he is referred to. Some attribute very great valour to him, involving his helping children to lifeboats, releasing dogs from kennels, etc. Others note that he was calm and resigned to his dire circumstances, but took time to smoke and toss some gloves to his departing wife. Regardless of what he really did, he was found in the waters with a coat with his initials embroidered into the lapel and LOTS of money on him. The son from his first marriage claimed the gold watch found on Astor IV's body and wore that gold watch his entire life.
Can you believe this stuff? I mean, you can't make this stuff up! I am related through my young red filly to the Astors! Through Violet I am tied to the New York Public Library through her cutie pie Winkipop!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldorf_Astor,_2nd_Viscount_Astor
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http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/WilliamtheThird.html#Winkipop
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astor_family
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Jacob_Astor_IV
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http://www.nypl.org/pr/lions.cfm
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http://www.grandhotel.com/
