Africander was not a big horse, but he was “big enough.” The best American 3-year-old of 1903, he won a number of important races including the Belmont Stakes and was the first horse of his age to win the Suburban Handicap; he also set two world records over staying distances. He was a better racer than sire and was exported to Argentina in 1910, but he was not a great success there either.
Race record
59 starts, 19 wins, 14 seconds, 10 thirds, US$101,345
1902:
1903:
1904:
Honors
American champion 3-year-old male (1903)
As an individual
A deep-girthed, short-coupled bay horse with his hocks somewhat out behind him, Africander was on the small side but filled out substantially from 2 to 3. He was reported to have attacked his groom on several occasions, though this was while he was stall-bound after being pin-fired for a leg injury suffered in September of his 3-year-old season and he was reportedly in better temper after being allowed to leave his stall. He suffered from repeated leg problems during his 4-year-old season. He was at his best over off going.
As a stallion
Africander did not sire any stakes winners in the United States. His best South American runner was Dreadnought, who won the 1915 Gran Premio de Honor in Uruguay and was sent to Brazil for stallion duty.
Connections
Africander was bred by James Ben Ali Haggin at his Rancho del Paso, California. He began his racing career as the property of Julius Fleischmann. At the end of June 1902, he was sold privately to Sim Deimel and Charles F. Dwyer for a reported US$10,000 and afterward raced for their Hampton Stable under the training of Richard Miller. The day after his victory in the Holly Handicap, he was sold to Sim Deimel for US $14,500 at the September 1902 Gravesend sale of horses in training, apparently a buy-back as the colt continued to be campaigned by Deimel and Dwyer. On July 5, 1904, the Hampton Stable dispersed in a paddock sale at Sheepshead Bay and Africander was sold to C. Fox (acting on behalf of Deimel) for US$15,000; afterward, the colt campaigned solely for Deimel. In August 1904, Africander moved to the barn of Frank Weir after Richard Miller accepted a private training position. In late 1904, Africander was sold back to his breeder, Haggin, in a private sale. He remained in training in 1905, apparently under lease to Sydney Paget, but failed to win and in July of that year was sent to Haggin’s Elmendorf Stud in Kentucky. In 1910, he was sent to Argentina, where he was owned by Manuel Torres Cabrera and stood at Haras San Antonio Buena Vista. His last Argentine foals were registered in 1925.
Pedigree notes
Africander is inbred 5x4 to two-time English champion sire Melbourne and 5x5 to seven-time English champion sire Stockwell, winner of the 1852 Two Thousand Guineas and St. Leger Stakes. He is a full brother to Sally Cohen, dam of stakes winner Cloth Hall (by Sobieski).
Afric Queen, the dam of Africander, is out of Cleo (by The Ill-Used) and is out of Cleopatra, a daughter of Lexington’s high-class son Kentucky. Produced from the English import Babta (by 1852 Goodwood Cup winner Kingston), Cleopatra is a half sister to four-time American champion sire Glenelg (by Citadel), winner of the 1869 Travers Stakes, and to Elsie (by Leamington), winner of the 1871 Hunter Handicap.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: October 5, 2023
Race record
59 starts, 19 wins, 14 seconds, 10 thirds, US$101,345
1902:
- Won Winged Foot Handicap (USA, 5.5FD, Brighton Beach; equaled track record 1:06-3/5)
- Won Holly Handicap (USA, about 6FD, Gravesend)
- Won Bedford Sstakes (USA, 5FD, Gravesend)
- 2nd Spring Stakes (USA, 6FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 2nd Great Eastern Handicap (USA, 6FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 3rd Neptune Stakes (USA, 6FD, Brighton Beach)
1903:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 11FD, Morris Park)
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga; new world record 2:58)
- Won Champlain Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Lawrence Realization S. (USA, 13FD, Sheepshead Bay; new world record 2:45-1/5)
- Won Advance Stakes (USA, 11FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 2nd September Stakes (USA, 11FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 2nd Fulton Stakes (USA, 8F+70yD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Standard Stakes (USA, 12FD, Gravesend)
- 3rd Montague Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
1904:
- Won Brighton Cup (USA, 18FD, Brighton Beach)
- Won Cup Preliminary (USA, 12FD, Brighton Beach)
- 2nd Parkway Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Gravesend)
- 2nd Standard Stakes (USA, 10FD, Gravesend)
- 2nd Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Brookdale Handicap (USA, 9FD, Gravesend)
- 3rd Occidental Handicap (USA, 9FD, Gravesend)
Honors
American champion 3-year-old male (1903)
As an individual
A deep-girthed, short-coupled bay horse with his hocks somewhat out behind him, Africander was on the small side but filled out substantially from 2 to 3. He was reported to have attacked his groom on several occasions, though this was while he was stall-bound after being pin-fired for a leg injury suffered in September of his 3-year-old season and he was reportedly in better temper after being allowed to leave his stall. He suffered from repeated leg problems during his 4-year-old season. He was at his best over off going.
As a stallion
Africander did not sire any stakes winners in the United States. His best South American runner was Dreadnought, who won the 1915 Gran Premio de Honor in Uruguay and was sent to Brazil for stallion duty.
Connections
Africander was bred by James Ben Ali Haggin at his Rancho del Paso, California. He began his racing career as the property of Julius Fleischmann. At the end of June 1902, he was sold privately to Sim Deimel and Charles F. Dwyer for a reported US$10,000 and afterward raced for their Hampton Stable under the training of Richard Miller. The day after his victory in the Holly Handicap, he was sold to Sim Deimel for US $14,500 at the September 1902 Gravesend sale of horses in training, apparently a buy-back as the colt continued to be campaigned by Deimel and Dwyer. On July 5, 1904, the Hampton Stable dispersed in a paddock sale at Sheepshead Bay and Africander was sold to C. Fox (acting on behalf of Deimel) for US$15,000; afterward, the colt campaigned solely for Deimel. In August 1904, Africander moved to the barn of Frank Weir after Richard Miller accepted a private training position. In late 1904, Africander was sold back to his breeder, Haggin, in a private sale. He remained in training in 1905, apparently under lease to Sydney Paget, but failed to win and in July of that year was sent to Haggin’s Elmendorf Stud in Kentucky. In 1910, he was sent to Argentina, where he was owned by Manuel Torres Cabrera and stood at Haras San Antonio Buena Vista. His last Argentine foals were registered in 1925.
Pedigree notes
Africander is inbred 5x4 to two-time English champion sire Melbourne and 5x5 to seven-time English champion sire Stockwell, winner of the 1852 Two Thousand Guineas and St. Leger Stakes. He is a full brother to Sally Cohen, dam of stakes winner Cloth Hall (by Sobieski).
Afric Queen, the dam of Africander, is out of Cleo (by The Ill-Used) and is out of Cleopatra, a daughter of Lexington’s high-class son Kentucky. Produced from the English import Babta (by 1852 Goodwood Cup winner Kingston), Cleopatra is a half sister to four-time American champion sire Glenelg (by Citadel), winner of the 1869 Travers Stakes, and to Elsie (by Leamington), winner of the 1871 Hunter Handicap.
Fun facts
- At the time that Africander received his name, “Africander” was generally used to indicate a South African-born person of Dutch, German, or French Huguenot descent. The name is now more commonly applied to a cattle breed developed in South Africa.
- Africander’s Belmont Stakes trophy was among five trophies stolen from the National Museum of Racing at Saratoga in September 2013. Although the alleged perpetrators were caught and were indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023, the trophy was not recovered and is believed to have been melted down for the precious metals it contained. It was valued at US$150,000.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: October 5, 2023