Hastings (horse)

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Hastings


caption =
sire = Spendthrift
grandsire = Australian
dam = Cinderella
damsire = Tomahawk
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1893
country = USA flagicon|USA
colour = Brown
breeder = Dr. J. D. Neet
owner = August Belmont, Jr.
trainer = John J. Hyland
record = 21: 10-8-0
earnings= $16,340
race = Surf Stakes (1895)
Toboggan Handicap (1896)
Kearney Stakes (1896)
Kearney Handicap (1897)
Westchester Highweight Handicap (1897)

American Classic Race wins:
Belmont Stakes (1896)
awards=Leading sire in North America (1902, 1908)
honours =
updated= August 27, 2007

Hastings (foaled 1893 in Versailles, Kentucky-17 June 1917) was an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse. Bred by Dr. J. D. Neet, he was sired by Belmont Stakes winner Spendthrift out of the Tomahawk mare, Cinderella.

Originally, Hastings was bought by David Gideon and John Daly at auction as a yearling for $2800. He was sent to New York and raced for the partners successfully as a two-year-old, winning several until the partnership was dissolved by public auction and Hastings was purchased by August Belmont, Jr. for a record $37,000.

He was shipped to Saratoga Race Course but unfortunately fell ill. It is believed that his illness may have compromised his form for he finished fifth in his next race, the Futurity at Sheephead Bay.

At three, Hastings came into his own. He placed second in the Withers Stakes behind Handspring by a head. He went on to defeat older horses in the Toboggan Handicap. Then, following in his sire's hoofprints, he won the Belmont Stakes beating his rival, Handspring by a head.

His record at four was 12 starts, 4 wins and 6 places, carrying weights as high as 140 pounds.

Retirement

Hastings was known not only for his speed, but also, unfortunately, for his nasty temper. Handlers and grooms had to carry large sticks in his presence to control him.

He was retired to Nursury Stud outside Lexington, Kentucky and became one of the most successful sires of 1902 and 1908. Of his crops, he sired graded stakes race winners Gunfire, Field Mouse, Masterman, and Fair Play, sire of the great, Man o' War.

On June 17, 1917, at age 24, severely crippled with paralysis, Hastings had to be euthanized.

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/hastings Pedigree & Partial Stats]
* [http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Hastings.html TB Heritage Portraits Hastings]