Flying Ebony

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Flying Ebony


caption =
sire = The Finn
grandsire = Ogden
dam = Princess Mary
damsire = Hessian
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1922
country = United States flagicon|USA
colour = Black
breeder = John E. Madden
owner = Gifford A. Cochran
trainer = William B. Duke
record = 13: 6-1-2
earnings = $62,420
race = Initial Handicap (1925)
American Classic Race wins:
Kentucky Derby (1925)
awards =
honours = Flying Ebony Drive, Lexington, Kentucky
Flying Ebony Place, Havre De Grace, Maryland
updated=

Flying Ebony (foaled in Kentucky in 1922) was an American thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by John E. Madden, who had already bred four Kentucky Derby winners, and was raced by New York carpet manufacturer, Gifford A. Cochran.

In 1925, Flying Ebony's training was handled by future U.S. Hall of Fame member William B. Duke who had returned from France that year where he had been training Thoroughbreds since 1888, notably for the Haras du Quesnay racing stable of Willie K. Vanderbilt.

Top jockey Earl Sande was aboard for the Kentucky Derby in which good luck was on his side. An excellent runner on muddy racetracks, a downpour just before racetime turned Churchill Downs into a quagmire that perfectly suited Flying Ebony who won the 51st running of the Derby by one and a half lengths.

Flying Ebony raced three more times after the Derby but without winning and was retired to stud duty. Successful as a sire, his son, Flying Heels, who raced for owner Gifford Cochran, won multiple top races such as the Pimlico Futurity, Remsen Handicap, Manhattan Handicap and two editions of the Carter Handicap. Flying Ebony was also the sire of Dark Secret, the Wheatley Stable's colt who too won several important races including two editions of the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Flying Ebony was eventually sold to Californian Charles Elliot Perkins who stood him at his stud at his Alisal Ranch near Santa Barbara.

Flying Ebony's 1925 Kentucky Derby Trophy is on display at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/flying+ebony Pedigree for Flying Ebony]
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,927725,00.html "Time" magazine story on the 1925 Kentucky Derby]
*Hunter, Avalyn "American Classic Pedigrees (1914-2002)" Eclipse Press (2003) ISBN 9781581500950