Stakes Winners
Runnymede-bred Stakes Winners alone or in partnership up to Sept. 3, 2007. *
| Name |
Year |
Stakes |
| Divine Park |
2004 |
Withers Stakes |
| Loose Leaf |
2004 |
|
| Awesome Gem |
2003 |
San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes |
| Jalisco Light |
2003 |
Keisei Hai Stakes |
| Meribel |
2003 |
Valley View Stakes |
| Palace Episode |
2003 |
Racing Post Stakes |
| Greeley's Galaxy |
2002 |
Illinois Derby |
| Knox |
2001 |
|
| Marylebone |
2001 |
Matron Stakes |
| Shell Game |
2001 |
|
| Midnight Cry |
2000 |
Forward Gal Stakes |
| Savorthetime |
1999 |
First Lady Handicap |
| Agnes Digital |
1997 |
Hong Kong Cup (Japanese Champion Older Horse) |
| Grand Forks |
1997 |
|
| Boomerang |
1993 |
|
| More Royal |
1993 |
Jersey Derby |
| Changing Ways |
1992 |
Schuylerville Stakes |
| Miss Brite Eyes |
1992 |
|
| Tejano Run |
1992 |
Breeders' Futurity |
| Jacodra's Devil |
1991 |
Santa Anita Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap |
| Polish Laughter |
1991 |
Rokeby Farms Mill Reef Stakes |
| Stella Cielo |
1991 |
|
| Wild Gale |
1990 |
|
| Groovy Feeling |
1989 |
|
| Azi Lee |
1988 |
|
| Captain Drake |
1987 |
|
| Jacodra |
1987 |
Potrero Grande Handicap |
| Magestad |
1986 |
|
| Moment |
1986 |
|
| Simply Brave |
1985 |
|
| Jacque L'Heureux |
1982 |
|
| Gyoko San |
1981 |
|
| Domac's Dream |
1980 |
|
| Fiesty Belle |
1980 |
|
| Dear Ducky |
1979 |
|
| Full Extent |
1979 |
Gimcrack Stakes |
| Partez |
1978 |
|
| Plankton |
1976 |
|
| Incorporator |
1975 |
|
| Frank T. |
1974 |
|
| John U to Berry |
1974 |
|
| Royal Ski |
1974 |
Laurel Futurity |
| Just a Memory |
1973 |
|
| Bobby Murcer |
1971 |
|
| Spirit Son |
1971 |
|
| Angle Light |
1970 |
Wood Memorial Stakes |
| Piamem |
1970 |
|
| Buper Duper |
1968 |
|
| Sir Dagonet |
1968 |
|
| Star of Kuwait |
1968 |
|
| Lady Vi-E |
1967 |
Kentucky Oaks |
| Evening Bag |
1965 |
|
| Terrible Tiger |
1965 |
|
| Phantom Shot |
1961 |
|
| Mems |
1958 |
|
| Roamer |
1917 |
Aqueduct Handicap |
| Belle of Runnymede |
1882 |
Alabama Stakes |
* There are a total of 55 stakes winners bred by Runnymede Farm alone or in partnership with Catesby Clay, Black Chip Stable, Calumet Farm, Peter J. Callahan, James Clay, Howard B. Noonan, Stone Farm, and William Talbott.
Today Runnymede Farm is highly regarded as one of the select breeding operations in the world. It continues to raise a unique number of top-flight runners, among them 2001 Japanese Champion Agnes Digital, 2003 Matron Stakes (G1) winner Marylebone, 2005 Triple Crown contender Greeley’s Galaxy and 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic runner Awesome Gem.
Below is an ever-growing list of notable stakes performers with Runnymede Farm ties from the past 140 years:
AGNES DIGITAL: Champion of $8,095,160
(Crafty Prospector—Chancey Squaw, by Chief’s Crown)
Among the most accomplished Runnymede-bred horses from the modern era is AGNES DIGITAL, who won stakes in Japan five consecutive years from his juvenile season in 1999 to 2003. The son of Crafty Prospector was crowned Japan’s Horse of the Year in 2001 after dominating in three major stakes. He added a victory in the Grade I Hong Kong Cup for good measure the same season.
Despite his mid-May foaling date, Agnes Digital proved immediately his heart and determination. His career line of 11 wins in 29 starts included 10 stakes victories and another six stakes places. He now resides as a sire at Big Red Farm in Japan.
AGILE:
(Sir Dixon—Alpena, by King Alfonzo)
Bred by Runnymede Farm, AGILE won the Kentucky Derby by an easy 3 lengths. The son of Sir Dixon was one of only three horses, along with fellow Runnymede connection HINDOO, to be considered odds-on (1-3) prior to pari-mutuel wagering being introduced. His stellar career included 66 Starts, 14 Wins, 12 Places, and 9 Shows for earnings of $39,800
ANGLE LIGHT:
(Quadrangle—Pilot Light, by Jet Action)
In 1973, the racing world evolved around the incomparable SECRETARIAT. But his stablemate, ANGLE LIGHT, bred by Runnymede Farm and Howard B. Noonan, made the headlines in the Wood Memorial Stakes by defeating both “Big Red” and the heralded Sham. It would be one of only four times Secretariat did not cross the wire first in a 21-race career.
AWESOME GEM:
(Awesome Again—Piano, by Pentelicus)
AWESOME GEM has been a major force in the handicap division since 2007 when he posted a determined win in the Grade 2 San Fernando Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita and three consecutive close seconds in the Grade I Goodwood Stakes, the Grade I Pacific Classic and the Grade II San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. He capped his 2007 season off with a rallying third in the $5M Breeders’ Cup Classic G1. Bred by Runnymede Farm and Peter Callahan, Awesome Gem began his 2008 season with a third in the GII San Antonio Handicap, but nearly missed half the season before returning on grass for a second-place finish in Del Mar’s Wickerr Handicap. He has continued his consistent form in 2009 with runner-up finishes in the Eddie Read H. (G1) and Long Acres Mile (G3).
BEN BRUSH: inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1955.
(Bramble—Roseville, by Reform)
Ben Brush won his first five races in the Midwest, then was shipped to New York where he won his last six racesas a juvenile, including the Prospect Handicap, Nursery, Albany and Champagne Stakes. He was named champion two-year-old.
Midway through his first season of racing, Ben Brush was purchased by Mike Dwyer. For his new owner Ben Brush won the Kentucky Derby and the Latonia Derby.
At four, Ben Brush demonstrated his racing prowess by defeating top handicap horses in a number of races, including the Suburban, Brighton and Citizen's Handicaps.
Ben Brush was then retired to stud and sold to James R. Keene. A successful sire, Ben Brush led the sire list in 1909. He sired champions Delhi, Sweep and Pebbles, and founded a significant American sire line represented by stallions Broomstick, Sweep, The Porter, Whisk Broom II, Jack High and Rosemont.
*BILLET:
(Voltigeur—Calcutta, by Flatcatcher)
The first stallion to stand at Runnymede Farm was an English import named *BILLET. Not a tremendous athlete himself, winning just 5-of-18 starts, *Billet first caught the attention of Col. Ezekiel Clay with his precocious individuals from his Illinois crops. At age 13, *Billet was bought for $5,000 by Col. Clay, moved his residence to Runnymede and became a foundation horse for the farm. From his first Kentucky crop came Kentucky Derby runner-up RUNNYMEDE. *Billet quickly ascended the sire’s list and by 1883, he was the leading sire in America. Among his most important progeny include MISS WOODFORD (see our Hall of Fame section), Belmont Stakes winner and leading sire SIR DIXON, champion RACELAND - winner of 70 races, and Kentucky Oaks winner PURE RYE.
BRONZE POINT:
(Tobin Bronze—Summer Point, by Summer Tan)
A tenacious filly on the track, BRONZE POINT finished first or second in 15-of-23 starts and earned $151,215 in the mid-70s. Among her five stakes victories were the Grade 3 Suwannee River Handicap and the Fair Grounds Oaks. However, she accomplished even more as a broodmare when she produced multiple graded stakes winner and respected sire AIR FORBES WON, winner of the Grade 1 Wood Memorial and Grade 2 Gotham Stakes.
COUNT TURF:
(Count Fleet—Delmarie, by Pompey)
The 1951 Kentucky Derby winner COUNT TURF was bred at Runnymede Farm. His sire Count Fleet won the Derby in 1943 on his way to become the sixth Triple Crown winner, and his grandsire, Reigh Count, was the 1928 Derby hero. It marked the first of only two times in history that three consecutive tail-male individuals won the most coveted race in America. (Pensive-1944, Ponder-1949, and Needles-1956 are from the other family to accomplish this feat).
DIVINE PARK:
(Chester House—High in the Park, by Ascot Knight)
DIVINE PARK, a 4-year-old colt bred by Runnymede Farm, won the 2008 Metropolitan Handicap (GI) to become the fourth Grade I winner from Runnymede this decade. He also has victories in the 2008 Grade III Westchester Handicap and the prestigious Grade III Withers Stakes as a three-year-old. Divine Park is scheduled to begin stud duties at Airdrie Stud at the conclusion of his racing career.
FULL EXTENT:
(Full Out—Mary Biz, by T.V. Lark)
Full Extent was among the top two-year-olds in England in 1981, winning four of six starts. The son of Full Out is best known for his tally in the prestigious Group II Gimcrack Stakes.
GREELEY’S GALAXY:
(Mr. Greeley—Ascot Starre, by Ascot Knight)
Runnymede-bred GREELEY’S GALAXY entered the national spotlight in 2005 with his tremendous 9 ½-length win in the Grade II Illinois Derby. A classic contender, the son of Mr. Greeley also earned a third-place finish in the San Fernando BC Stakes (GII) and is currently at stud in New York.
HANOVER: inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1955.
(Hindoo—Bourbon Belle, by Bonnie Scotland)
Hanover was bred at Runnymede Farm and then sold to Phil and Mike Dwyer for $1,350. The Dwyer brothers' new chestnut colt was trained by Frank McCabe.
In his first two years of racing, Hanover won 17 races in a row, at varied distances, against his peers and older horses. During a two-and-a-half-week period at two, Hanover won the Hopeful, July, and Sapling Stakes.
At three, Hanover won the Withers Mile, and then won the Belmont and the Brooklyn Derby, both by 15 lengths. Four days after the Brooklyn, he won the Swift by 10 lengths; three days later he won the Tidal by six, and two days later the Coney Island Derby by 10. Hanover won 5-of-6 stakes in July and ultimately retired as America's greatest money winner for that time.
Hanover spent several successful years at stud and topped the sire list four consecutive years before his early death in 1899. His best progeny included Hamburg, David Garrick, Halma, Handspring, Half Time, and Yankee.
HINDOO:
(Virgil—Florence, by Lexington)
One of the most noted racehorses of the 19th century was HINDOO, winner of 30-of-35 races. After winning 7-of-9 starts at age 2, HINDOO put together a win skein of 18 consecutive races during a 20-race 3-year-old campaign, including the 1881 Kentucky Derby. He was hailed as champion both years and is a member of the Hall of Fame. Hindoo, whose dam was by the immortal Lexington, stood his later years at Runnymede and is buried on the Paris farm. He and his tail-male descendents accounted for nine American Classic winners from 1884 to 1910.
LADY VI-E:
(Swaps—Simona, by *Princequillo)
Runnymede Farm bred the 1970 Kentucky Oaks winner LADY VI-E, the farm’s third winner in the storied filly classic. The daughter of Swaps also finished second in the Fair Grounds Oaks and third in the La Troienne before entering a brief broodmare career that produced just two foals, both winners.
MARYLEBONE:
(Unbridled’s Song—Desert Queen, by Wavering Monarch)
Another top-flight two-year-old from the hills of Runnymede is MARYLEBONE, winner of the Grade I Matron Stakes at Belmont Park. The gray daughter of Unbridled’s Song won two of her three juvenile starts in 2003 and ended her brief career with four-of-six in-the-money tries.
MERIBEL:
(Peaks and Valleys—Count to Six, by Saratoga Six)
In 2007, MERIBEL, whom Runnymede Farm bred, owns and races in partnership with Arthur Hancock, won back-to-back Belmont Park stakes, the Foresta and Steal a Kiss Stakes. She earned a third-place finish to champion Wait A While in Saratoga's Grade II Ballston Spa Handicap and a third in Woodbine's Grade 2 Canadian Stakes. In 2006, Meribel won the Grade III Valley View Stakes at Keeneland and the Dynasty Stakes at Saratoga.
MISS WOODFORD: inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967.
(*Billet—Fancy Jane, by Neil Robinson)
Racing in the 1880s, Miss Woodford was the first horse in America to win $100,000, a feat she accomplished over five seasons, against the best colts of her day, at distances up to 2 ½ miles. She won two of her three career match races.
At three, four and five, Miss Woodford won 16 consecutive races. Highlights of her three-year-old campaign were many, and they included her victory in the Pimlico Stakes, where she defeated George Kinney, the best colt of her crop.
OCEAN BOUND:
(Star Shoot—Flying Ship, by Flying Dutchman)
Bred by Mr. Woodford Clay, OCEAN BOUND won all the major races for fillies, including the Spinaway and Astoria at age 2, the Alabama, Gazelle and Ladies H. at age 3, and the Louisville and National Handicaps as an older mare. The daughter of Star Shoot was the consensus champion 3-year-old in 1910, and then was exported to France in 1912.
PALACE EPISODE:
(Machiavellian—Palace Weekend, by Seattle Dancer)
As a juvenile, PALACE EPISODE won or placed in four of his five starts, including victories in the Group I Racing Post Trophy Stakes and Acomb Stakes, and he was third in the Group II Royal Lodge Stakes. After having just one start at three, Palace Episode returned to form in 2007 with a tough Saratoga allowance win and a third in the Grade II Kelso Breeders’ Cup Handicap.
ROAMER: inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1981.
(Knight Errant—Rose Tree, by Bona Vista)
Roamer was sired by a farm teaser out of a blind mare. Legend has it that the mating resulted when either the sire or the mare jumped a fence - giving rise to the name Roamer. In either case, perseverance was clearly in his pedigree.
Roamer had excellent speed and weight-carrying abilities. As the leading money earner of 1914, he placed in the money in 15 out of his 16 starts and set five track records. Notable wins included the Washington and the Carter Handicaps, Brooklyn Derby, and the Travers Stakes.
Roamer went on to win the Saratoga Cup three times. At seven, he broke Salvator's mile record to become the first horse to run a mile in under 1:35 (1:34 4/5).
In 1919, Roamer's owner, Andrew Miller, died of a heart attack. In a strange coincidence, a few hours later Roamer slipped on a patch of ice, broke his leg and had to be put down.
ROYAL SKI:
(Raja Baba—Coz O’Nijinsky, by Involvement)
Another Runnymede-bred with ultimate Japanese connections is ROYAL SKI. In the same year Seattle Slew was named Champion Two-year-old, Royal Ski excelled in the U.S. with wins in the Grade I Laurel Futurity, Grade II Remsen Stakes and the Grade III Heritage Stakes. He ended his racing days with an 8-for-14 record and enjoyed a successful sire career in Japan, most significantly as the broodmare sire of undefeated Japanese star Agnes Tachyon.
SIR DIXON:
(*Billet—Jaconet, by Leamington)
SIR DIXON was among the yearling crop sold by Runnymede in 1886. He earned his way back onto the farm for stud duty after winning such premiere races as the Belmont Stakes, Travers, and Withers and being crowned champion two- and three-year-old. Sir Dixon was the country’s leading sire in 1901, and his following crop in 1902 included his Runnymede-bred son AGILE, who won the Kentucky Derby. Other top runners by Sir Dixon were champion fillies The Butterflies (1892), Blue Girl (1899), and Running Water (1903); champion colt Kilmarnock (1897), Travers winner Blues (1898), and Kentucky Oaks winner Audience (later dam of the important runner and sire Whisk Broom II).
STAR SHOOT:
(Isinglass—Astrology, by Hermit)
Ezekiel Clay was responsible for the importation of STAR SHOOT, an Irish-bred colt who nearly died as a foal. He turned out to be a precocious juvenile and was classically bred, however, the European breeders dismissed him because of an affected wind problem and his soft feet. Col. Clay brought Star Shoot to Runnymede for stud duty, and he did not disappoint, ranging in the top 20 on the American sires’ list each and every year from 1908 through 1923. Star Shoot led all sires in 1911 while at Runnymede, then was sold to Mr. John Madden at Hamburg Place Farm. Overall, he was the Leading Sire five times. His most notable runner was SIR BARTON, America’s first Triple Crown winner.
TEJANO RUN:
(Tejano—Royal Run, by Wavering Monarch)
A model of consistency, TEJANO RUN racked up Graded earnings each year from his two-year-old season through age five. The Grade II winning millionaire flashed brilliance in the nation’s premiere events, with a third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) and a runner-up effort to Thunder Gulch in the Kentucky Derby (GI). He is penned the “fastest sire in Canada” by Ascot Farm, his residence for stud duty.
WILD GALE:
(Wild Again—Meander, by Little Current)
Winner of the Grade III Kentucky Jockey Club S., WILD GALE finished third behind Sea Hero in the 1993 Kentucky Derby. He was bred by Runnymede Farm and Calumet Farm and racked up more than $400,000 with an 11-for-22 on-the-board record.