Category Archives: History

George Washington was a Revolutionary War hero, a Founding Father, and the first President of the United States. But what you might not know is that he was also a...

James H. Fairclough II takes us back to the year 1958 with this postcard to his grandfather, Dr. Robert Rost, from famed American show jumper Frank Chapot. Rost and Chapot were business partners and...

Born in 1886, Tenny was the son of French stallion Rayon d’Or and American mare Belle of Maywood. He was born with unconventional conformation, and as a consequence, was sold...

A wolverine is a small, ferocious mammal with strength out of proportion to its size. Legend has it, these solitary scavengers would break into abandoned trapper’s cabins on the Hudson’s Bay,...

Let’s take a minute to talk about this race, shall we? War Admiral’s performance in the 1937 Belmont Stakes is almost certainly the high point of his amazing career. Beyond...

Count Fleet, racing's sixth Triple Crown champion, was always known to be an enthusiastic stud who never really outgrew his love for the ladies. This preoccupation sometimes got him into trouble, such...

In its nearly 120-year history, the Devon Horse Show in Pennsylvania has worn many hats. Founded at the turn-of-the-century by a pragmatic group of country gentlemen looking to improve their carriage...

I must admit, I am a bit obsessed with the horse’s part in the history of film. Little pleases me more than the fact that the film industry owes its...

Frank Hayes, stableman and trainer by trade, and maiden racer Sweet Kiss, hold a bizarre distinction in racing history. The pair competed in only one race, and though they won,...

The year was 1972. Ian Millar, already an Olympian at age 25, had just bought a rundown property in Perth, Ontario with his young wife, Lynn. They were struggling to...

For as long as most of us can remember, there's been ShowSheen® to detangle our horses' tails, Liniment to soothe weary muscles, and Hooflex® products to keep their feet healthy...

If there is a debate about the best Kentucky Derby entry ever, there surely must be a flip-side. And a strong contender for the title of “Worst Derby Starter” was...

The name Barbaro will forever conjure a sharp sense of tragedy. The image of the champion colt pulled up just a few strides from the starting gate in the Preakness...

For all of their majestic qualities, thoroughbreds have historically been given some awfully wretched names. Here's a few of my favorites. Spanker (1670) - Also known as Pelham’s Bay Arabian...

Grantland Rice, the great early-20th Century American sportswriter once wrote, "For when the One Great Scorer comes, To write against your name, He marks—not that you won or lost—But how...

Never has a groom been so completely beloved by his charge. Never has a groom meant so much to his horse. Never has there been another Man o' War and...

He arrived 30 years ago today. Undersized and bow-legged, no one could have predicted back then this charcoal son of Halo would soon reach the pinnacle of his sport. That...

One of horse racing's most beloved modern stars is back in the news this week. 2004 dual classic winner Smarty Jones is leaving his native Pennsylvania to stand at Kentucky's...

It could have been bad. Real bad. Two horses hitting the ground simultaneously, their jockeys going down with them. This frightening scene played out during a novice hurdle race last Saturday...

[caption id="attachment_2980" align="alignleft" width="395"] Mary Ida Young (Courtesy of Absorbine®)[/caption] Whether the men of yore like to admit it or not, women have always played an important role in horse...