Polynesian (horse)

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Polynesian


caption =
sire = Unbreakable
grandsire = Sickle
dam = Black Polly
damsire = Polymelian
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1942
country = United States flagicon|USA
colour = Brown
breeder = Elmendorf Farm
owner = Gertrude T. Widener
trainer = Morris Dixon
record = 58: 27-10-10
earnings = $310,410
race = Withers Stakes (1945)
Roseben Handicap (1946)
Toboggan Handicap (1946)
Long Branch Stakes (1947)
Camden Handicap (1947)
Oceanport Handicap (1947)

American Classic Race wins:
Preakness Stakes (1945)
awards= United States Champion Sprint Horse (1947)
honours =
updated= July 27, 2007

Polynesian (1942-1959) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse owned by Gertrude T. Widener, of the prominent Widener family of Philadelphia, and bred by her father-in-law Joseph E. Widener at his Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.

At age two, Polynesian lost his first three races, then bucked his shins. From that he developed azoturia (horsemen call it "tie-up" which is a tenseness of the loin muscles which makes urination difficult). Polynesian, in order to recover, was allowed out in a paddock, but became frightened of moving a muscle in case of more pain, so the horse stood there. It took a lot of tugging to get him into his stable at night. His trainer, ex-steeplechase rider Morris Dixon was reduced to thinking he might have to crack him over the rump with a whip, but was saved when a swarm of hornets stung the colt and Polynesian knew he could run again.

1945 Triple Crown races

Back in training at age three, Polynesian won five of his next seven starts, one of which was a division of the Sagamore Stakes. In the Experimental Free Handicap he came in third to to Jeep and Greek Warrior, and fourth in Hoop, Jr.s division of the Wood Memorial. He skipped the Kentucky Derby (won by Hoop, Jr.), instead competing in one mile Withers Stakes where he defeated Pavot. Polynesian then took the mile and three sixteenths second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes, in a front running victory. Because of its demanding one and a half miles, Polynesian was not entered in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes. Later that year he won the Saranac Handicap.

Polynesian developed into a champion sprinter, winning a number of important sprint races in 1946 and in 1947 and was named the U.S. Champion Sprint Horse. In his last year of racing, he went through a streak of five wins, 10 seconds, and 10 thirds.

Retired to stud duty, Polynesian sired several very good horses plus one of the greatest horses in American racing history, Native Dancer. Some of Polynesian's offspring were:
* Barbizon (1954-1983) - U.S. Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, 1956
* Imbros (f. 1950) - multiple stakes winner who set or equaled five track records including a world record for 7 furlongs
* Native Dancer - U.S. Racing Hall of Fame, rated No. 7 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century, sired Raise a Native, damsire of Northern Dancer

Polynesian was also the damsire of 1963 Kentucky Derby winner, Chateaugay, and 1978 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, Primonetta.

At age seventeen, Polynesian died in 1959 from colic and was buried at Gallaher Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/polynesian Polynesian's pedigree and partial racing stats]
* [http://www.tbcprojects.com/career.php?search=728 Polynesian's offspring at the Triple Crown database by Kathleen Irwin and Joy Reeves]