Aristides (horse)

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Aristides


caption = - Aristides -
sire = Leamington
grandsire = Faugh-a-Ballagh
dam = Sarong
damsire = Lexington
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1872
country = United States flagicon|USA
colour = Chestnut
breeder = Hal Price McGrath
owner = Hal Price McGrath
trainer = Ansel Williamson
record = 21: 9-5-1
earnings = $18,325
race = Kentucky Derby (1875)
Jerome Handicap (1875)
Withers Stakes (1875)
awards= U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt (1875) (historic)
honours = Life-sized statue at Churchill Downs
Aristides Breeders' Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs
updated= December 21, 2006

Aristides (1872-1893) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the first Kentucky Derby in 1875.

In 1875 the Derby was raced at a mile and a half, the distance it would remain until 1896 when it was changed to its present mile and a quarter. There were no roses for Aristides; roses weren't introduced until Hall of Famer Ben Brush won in 1896.

Lineage

A chestnut thoroughbred with a white star and two hind socks, Aristides was bred by Hal Price McGrath and born in 1872. He was sired by the great English stud Leamington, which made him a half brother to another great sire, Hall of Famer Longfellow, who, during his racing career, was called "King of the Turf." And yet, Hal McGrath did not consider Aristides as being first rate, even though his dam (Sarong) was out of one of the United States' greatest sires Lexington, whose bloodline went back to Glencoe and Hall of Famer Boston. Indeed, Aristides's bloodlines could be traced all the way back to the Godolphin Arabian through Fearnought.

Aristides (named for his breeder's good friend and fellow horse breeder, the Pennsylvanian Aristides Welch who had imported Leamington into the US) was foaled late in the season, and was small, never standing taller than about 15 hands. But his stablemate and half-brother, the bay Chesapeake, was bigger and born months earlier. He was also a mean-spirited cuss. It was Chesapeake who was expected to do well at the races.

Price McGrath was himself no prince. Born to poverty in Woodford County, Kentucky, he'd gone west for the great California Gold Rush. He did well enough to open a gambling house in New York. In a single night he won $105,000, which allowed him to return to Kentucky and establish a stud farm.

Both Aristides and Chesapeake were born and bred on the McGrathiana Farm in Fayette County, Kentucky, a short canter from Lexington.

Kentucky Derby

Fifteen horses were entered into the first Kentucky Derby, two of them fillies. The track was fast, the weather was fine, and ten thousand people were in attendance. Aristides was one of two horses entered by Hal McGrath. The other, of course, was Chesapeake. Both horses wore the green and orange silks of H.P. McGrath. Trained by future Hall of Famer,
Ansel Williamson, an African American, Aristides was ridden by Oliver Lewis, also African American. (In those days, African-American jockeys dominated the sport.) McGrath expected the smaller speedball Aristides to be the "rabbit." He was to go out front fast and force the pace so that Chesapeake, ridden by Bobby Swim (a celebrated jockey, and white), could stalk the front runners, and when they and Aristides tired, would come from behind to vanquish the exhausted field.

Just as McGrath had planned, little Aristides broke in front and took the lead, but a horse called McCreery quickly overtook him near the end of the first quarter. Aristides fought back to lead again, followed by McCreery, Ten Broeck, Volcano, and Verdigris. Chesapeake, meanwhile, was almost the last to break and wasn't doing much at the back of the pack. As the "rabbit," the willing Aristides kept gradually increasing his lead until there was really no chance that Chesapeake could ever catch up. Chesapeake wasn't that kind of horse...and this McGrath did "not" plan. Aristides's jockey, Oliver Lewis, knowing he wasn't supposed to win, looked to owner McGrath...but McGrath wisely waved him on. Both Volcano and Verdigris challenged Aristides in the stretch but it was no use—Aristides won by a long length and took the $2850 pool. Chesapeake came in 8th. (A horse who would go on to greatness came in fifth that day: Hall of Famer Ten Broeck owned by Uncle John Harper.)

The Louisville Courier-Journal wrote: "It is the gallant Aristides, heir to a mighty name, that strides with sweeping gallop toward victory...and the air trembles and vibrates again with the ringing cheers that followed."

Further races

Aristides, again ridden by Oliver Lewis, came in second in the Belmont Stakes, the race that today is the third race in the triple crown of American thoroughbred horse racing. He also took the Jerome Handicap, the Withers Stakes, the Breckinridge, and won a match race over the great Ten Broeck. He came in second in the Thespian Stakes and the Ocean Hotel Stakes and was third in the Travers Stakes.

All in all, Aristides raced twenty one times with nine Wins, five Places, and one Show. His career earnings were $18,325, a considerable sum at the time.

In 1875, he was the American Champion Three Year Old Male.

Aristides died on June 21, 1893. In 1988, the Aristides Stakes was inaugurated at Churchill Downs to honor him. A life-sized bronze statue of Aristides by Carl Regutti stands in the Clubhouse Gardens as a memorial.

References

* The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America by William H. P. Robertson, Bonanza Books, New York, 1964.
* [http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2003/derby_history/derby_charts/years/1875.html Aristides's Kentucky Derby]
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/aristides Aristides's pedigree]
* [http://www.tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/Champs/AmChamp3yoMale.html America's Champion Three-Year-Old Males]
* [http://ultimatehorsesite.com/dictionary/dictionary.html The Ultimate Horse Dictionary]
* [http://www.allaboutraces.com/kentucky_derby_history_a_.html History of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby]