Spendthrift (USA)
 
 


Spendthrift

 

 

Sire Line


Matchem

 

Sire


Australian

 

 

 


Kingston, by Spendthrift

 

 

 Spendthrift ch c 1876 (Australian* - Aerolite, by Lexington). Sire Line Matchem. Family A3.

Bred at the Woodburn Stud in Kentucky by A J Alexander he was a full brother to Fellowcraft (ch c 1870), the damsire of Hamburg (b c 1895 Hanover), and half brother to Addie C. (b f 1883 King Alfonso), the dam of the Kentucky Derby and Clark Handicap winner Chant (b c 1891 Falsetto). He was described as a "fine-tempered horse and easy to ride," with a "beautiful, clean-cut head, deep neck, short back," although his shoulders were "a trifle heavy" and he had "very thin-soled feet" which caused him trouble on hard ground.

He ran as an undefeated two year old for Mr Daniel Swigert in the west (Kentucky) and was purchased for $15,000 in order to provide opposition to Mr George Lorillard's eastern colts the following year. He was the first racehorse to carry the spotted jacket of James R Keene, and was followed by others such as Domino (bl c 1891 Himyar), Foxhall (b c 1878 King Alfonso), Commando (b c 1898 Domino), Colin (br c 1905 Commando), Sysonby (b c 1902 Melton) and Peter Pan (b c 1904 Commando).

Although he was made favourite to win both the Withers and the Belmont he was pulled in the former to allow his stablemate Dan Sparling to win as he had been heavily backed by his owner. This resulted in the instigation of a provision in the Rules of Racing for the following year to permit a "declaration to win". In the Belmont Spendthrift easily defeated Dan Sparling by six lengths. His best race was thought to be the Lorillard Stakes when he was kicked by Magnetism and left standing at the post with fifty yards between himself and the rest of the field. He managed to get within range before they had travelled a mile and then caught them one by one, racing "like a dead-game colt" until he finally collared Harold, who "was staggering," and beat him by a length. His sensitive feet prompted a rest prior to a voyage to England in March of 1880. Unfortunately he caught a cold which affected his wind and he went unplaced for the Cambridgeshire. Sent back to America in 1881 he started twice more without success and entered the stud in 1882.

A very successful stallion he is perhaps best remembered as the great grandsire of Man o' War (ch c 1917 Fair Play). His name is borne by the modern Spendthrift Farm, formerly owned by Leslie Combs II, which included part of his birthplace, the Elmendorf Farm owned by Combs's great grandfather, Daniel Swigert. Spendthrift died in the Castleton Stud of James R Keene in 1900.

 
Pedigree
Spendthrift Australian* West Australian Melbourne
Mowerina
Emilia Young Emilius
Persian
Aerolite Lexington Boston
Alice Carneal
Florine Glencoe*
Melody
Race Record

In 1878 he won a sweepstakes at Lexington over 1 mile, beating Montreal [ex-Fireman] (ch g 1876 Monarchist), Scully and 3 others. Won the Sanford Stakes at Louisville over 1 mile, beating Montreal, Trinidad [ex-Chimneysweep] (br c 1876 Australian*) and 5 others, including Goodnight (b c 1876 Enquirer) and Strathmore (b c 1876 Waverly). Won a sweepstakes at the same place over 1 mile in 1:45. Won the Young America Stakes, No 1, at Nashville over 3/4 mile, beating Lord Murphy [ex-Patmus] (b c 1876 Pat Malloy), Charlemagne [ex-Lamar] (ch g 1876 Pat Malloy) and Cal. Morgan [ex-Equator] (b g 1876 War Dance). Won a sweepstakes at the same place over 1 mile, beating Lord Murphy.

In 1879 he finished 2nd for the Withers Stakes at Jerome Park over 1 mile, won by stablemate Dan Sparling (b c 1876 Glenelg*), beating Report (ch g 1876 King Ernest), Harold (ch c 1876 Leamington*), Plevna (b c 1876 Warminster*) and Mulrooney [ex-Statesman] (b c 1876 Kingfisher). Said to deserve credit for this race as he "was almost pulled to a standstill to allow his companion Sparling" to win. Won the Belmont Stakes at the same meeting, beating Monitor (ch g 1876 Glenelg*), Jericho [ex-Grandcourt] (ch c 1876 Revolver), Pawnee (ch g 1876 Leamington*) and Harold. Won the Lorillard Stakes at the same meeting, beating Harold by 2 lengths, Magnetism (b f 1876 Kingfisher), Report, Dan Sparling, Monitor, Rochester (b g 1876 Vauxhall), Jericho, Boardman (b g 1876 Bonnie Scotland*), Plevna and Eunice (b f 1876 Vauxhall). Won the Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park, beating Wilful (ch c 1876 Australian*) "with ease". Finished 2nd for the Travers Stakes at Saratoga, won by Falsetto (b c 1876 Enquirer), beating Harold, Jericho and Dan Sparling. Finished 2nd for the Kenner Stakes at the same meeting, won by Falsetto, beating Jericho, Monitor and Harold. Won the Champion Stakes at Monmouth Park, beating Report, Bramble (b c 1875 Bonnie Scotland*), Volturno (b c 1876 Billet*), Harold and Bonnie Oaks (b c 1876 Billet*). Finished 2nd for the Jerome Stakes at Jerome Park, won by Monitor, beating Report and Jericho; Spendthrift was said to be unfit.

In 1880 Spendthrift was unplaced for the Cambridgeshire in England.

In 1881 finished 2nd for a race at Jerome Park, won by Barrett (b c 1878 Bonnie Scotland*). Was unplaced for another race at the same place.

 

Notable Spendthrift Mares
 
1. Eva Rogers (b f 1885), bred in New York by Jas R Keene, dam of the Clipsetta Stakes winner Eva Russell (ch f 1900 Russell). Family 2-l.
2. Grenadine (br f 1885), bred in Kentucky by J R Keene, dam of the Manhattan Handicap winner Broadcloth (b c 1902 Woolsthorpe). Family 6-b.
3. Puritan Lass (b f 1888), bred in the Spendthrift Stud, dam of the Suburban Handicap winner Tillo (b c 1894 Leonatus). Family 2-l.
4. Excellent (ch f 1889), bred in the Spendthrift Stud, dam of the Matron Stakes winner Adoration (ch f 1904 Ornament) and 2nd dam of Falls City Handicap winner King Gorin (ch c 1913 Transvaal). Family 9-c.
5. Spark (ch f 1890), bred in the Spendthrift Stud and owned in Canada by J E Seagram and later William Hendrie, dam of Queen's Plate and Breeders' Stakes winner Lyddite (ch f 1899 Derwentwater), the latter the dam of Queen's Plate winner Shimonese (ch f 1905 Martimas) and Breeders' Stakes winner Amberite (ch f 1909 Martimas). Family 14-e.
6. Selika (b f 1891), bred at the Bashford Manor Stud in Kentucky by G J Long, won the Kentucky Oaks. Family A12.
7. La Creole (ch f 1892), bred in Kentucky by Dr D J Neet, dam of the Grand Union Hotel Stakes winner Sighlight (b c 1902 Plaudit). Family 11-g.
8. Lady Inez (ch f 1893 by Albert* or Spendthrift), bred by F K Thompson, dam of the Debutante Stakes winner Miss Inez (bl f 1902 Pirate of Penzance). Family A22.
9. Katy of the West (br f 1895), bred by Hiram Berry, dam of the Travers Stakes, Jerome Handicap and Suburban Handicap winner Hermis (ch c 1899 Hermence). Family A2.
10. Stamping Ground (br f 1900), winner of the Alabama Stakes. Family 12-b.
 
Other Notable Offspring
 
Kingston (USA)
br c 1884 (Spendthrift - Kapanga*, by Victorious). Sire Line Matchem. Family 13. Bred by James R Keene, he stood about 15 hands 3 inches with a "sweet head, showing high breeding, and rather upright shoulders, which were heavy, like his sire's" and was said to be "very well balanced, with excellent feet and legs". His jockey noted that he was "the gamest, most honest horse I ever rode". He won the Camden Stakes and the Select Stakes as a two year old, finishing second to the Dwyer Brothers' Hanover (ch c 1884 Hindoo) for the Sapling Stakes and to Tremont (bl c 1884 Virgil) for the Junior Champion Stakes. At three he won 13 of 18 starts, partly due to Hanover, however when Hanover began to train off the Dwyer Brothers purchased him for $12,500 to "get him out of Hanover's way". He went on to win 10 of 14 starts as a four year old , 14 of 15 as a five year old, 10 of 10 as a six year old and 15 of 21 as a seven year old. He continued to race until he was ten years old, his tally being 89 victories from 138 starts. In the stud he got A P Goodring's Belmont Stakes winner Ildrim (bl c 1897), and King's Courier (ch c 1897) who was sent to England and there won the Doncaster Cup and the Jockey Club Cup. He was a Leading Sire in 1900 and 1910 and inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1955. Kingston died at Keene's Castleton Stud in 1912.
 
Assignee (USA)
ch c 1891 (Spendthrift - Maid of Athol*, by Clanronald). Sire Line Matchem. Family 2. Bred by R T Holloway, winner of the Preakness Stakes.
 
Brother to Kingston (USA)
ch c 1891 (Spendthrift - Kapanga*, by Victorious). Sire Line Matchem. Family 13. Bred in Kentucky by O H Chenault, sent to Canada and there sired Robert Davies' Coronation Futurity and Maple Leaf Stakes winner Loupania (ch f 1901) and Coronation Futurity winner Zelinda (b f 1903).
 
Lazzarone (USA)
ch c 1891 (Spendthrift - Spinaway, by Leamington*). Sire Line Matchem. Family 11. Said to be be blessed with upright pasterns and straight shoulders which "interfered with continuous training" he nevertheless won the Suburban Handicap and numbered Domino (bl c 1891 Himyar) among his victims. In the stud he sired the dam of the 1912 Preakness Stakes winner Colonel Holloway (br c 1909 Ethelbert).
   
   
Hastings (USA) br c 1893 (Spendthrift - Cinderella*, by Tomahawk). Sire Line Matchem. Family 21-a.