Ancient Title (USA)
April 19, 1970 – September 1, 1981
Gummo (USA) x Hi Little Gal (USA), by Bar Le Duc (USA)
Family 8-f
April 19, 1970 – September 1, 1981
Gummo (USA) x Hi Little Gal (USA), by Bar Le Duc (USA)
Family 8-f
“He was what dreams are made of,” said an anonymous fan of Ancient Title—not necessarily dreams of Classic glory, but the dream of every small breeder to produce a good horse from modest resources. Bred from a stallion whose stud fee was only US$1,000 and a dam of undistinguished lineage and performance, Ancient Title exceeded every reasonable expectation to become a near-champion. Second only to Forego among the older males of 1975, Ancient Title won stakes every year from ages 2 through 8 and retired as the top California-bred money-winner of all time.
Race record
57 starts, 24 wins, 11 seconds, 9 thirds, US$1,252,791
1972:
1973:
1974:
1975:
1976:
1977:
1978:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1973, fourth behind champion Shecky Greene.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1974, 9 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Forego.
Rated at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1975, 9 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Forego but second in the division.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1976, 16 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Forego but tied for fifth in the division.
Rated at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1977, 8 pounds below divisional champion Forego but third in the division.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1978, 8 pounds below champion Seattle Slew.
As an individual
A well-made bay, Ancient Title had a rambunctious disposition and was gelded early in his juvenile year. Even after that he bore constant watching, but he was hard-trying, intelligent and honest on the track. He was a front runner by preference and was best at distances under a mile but could stretch his speed to as much as a mile and a half after learning to relax as an older horse. He stood 16 hands and was lanky as a youngster but filled out into a more muscular physique as an older horse. He had a long stride and could handle almost any footing. His career was interrupted several times by injury, and he was retired after suffering a tendon injury in the 1978 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.
Connections
Foaled at Three Rings Ranch near Beaumont, California, Ancient Title was bred and owned by William and Ethel Kirkland. After William Kirkland died in late 1972, Mrs. Kirkland raced Ancient Title in her own name until her death in 1976, after which Ancient Title campaigned in the name of Kirkland Stable. The gelding was trained by Keith Stucki. Following his retirement, Ancient Title was pensioned at Wally Dollase's Rio Vista Farm near Atascadero, California, but seemed unable to relax and proved ill-tempered and difficult when turned out with other geldings. He was given a paddock to himself but developed colic and died following emergency surgery on September 1, 1981.
Pedigree notes
Ancient Title is inbred 4x3 to Alibhai, 5x4 to Mahmoud, 5x5x5 to Bull Dog, and 5x5 to Mahmoud's sire Blenheim II. He is a half brother to stakes-placed Gaultheria (by Arbmahla High), dam of multiple stakes winner King of Lemhi (by Lemhi Gold) and second dam of multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Cervoise and Indian stakes winner Premier Classe. He is also a half brother to Aryshire Lass (by Slamruler), dam of stakes winner Rightly Noble (by Noble Decree) and second dam of stakes winner Hollywood Brat, and to Alabaster (by Vaguely Noble), second dam of Grade 2 winner Moon Catcher and restricted stakes winner Smarten Up.
Hi Little Gal, the dam of Ancient Title, is a half sister to Neeka (by Colo Colo), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Tothepoint (by Sharp Kid). She was produced from the winning Salmagundi mare Salma, whose dam Born Full (by Bull Lea) is a full sister to Miss Thrill, dam of 1962 New York Handicap winner Honey Dear (by Counterpoint), and a half sister to Impish Lynn (by Rippey), dam of 1969 Santa Ysabel Stakes winner Easter Junction (by Amerigo) and multiple stakes producer Tap the Till (by Native Charger).
Books and media
Ancient Title is profiled in Chapter 29 of Mary Simon's A History of the Thoroughbred in California (1983, The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association).
Fun facts
Last updated: February 17, 2024
Race record
57 starts, 24 wins, 11 seconds, 9 thirds, US$1,252,791
1972:
- Won California Breeders' Champion Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Sunny Slope Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won CTBA Sales Stakes (USA, 6FD, Del Mar)
- 3rd De Anza Stakes (USA, 6FD, Del Mar)
1973:
- Won Inglewood Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won San Vicente Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Felipe Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Jacinto Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Will Rogers Handicap (USA-G2, 8FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd San Miguel Stakes (USA-G3, 6FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Palos Verdes Handicap (USA-G3, 6FD, Santa Anita)
1974:
- Won Charles H. Strub Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- Won San Fernando Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Los Angeles Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Hollywood)
- Won Malibu Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Palos Verdes Handicap (USA-G3, 6FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Californian Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Hollywood Gold Cup Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
1975:
- Won Californian Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Hollywood Gold Cup Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- Won Whitney Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won San Carlos Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Caballero Handicap (USA, 8FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Governor Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd San Antonio Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Marlboro Cup (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- 3rd American Handicap (first division) (USA-G2, 9FT, Hollywood)
1976:
- Won Californian Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Caballero Handicap (USA-G3, 8FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Palos Verdes Handicap (USA, 6FD, Santa Anita)
1977:
- Won San Antonio Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Del Mar Invitational Handicap (USA-G2, about 10FD, Del Mar; new track record 1:55-2/5)
- Won Bel Air Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Oak Tree Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Californian Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
1978:
- Won San Pasqual Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita; new track record 1:40-1/5)
- 2nd San Antonio Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2008)
- Arcadia Historical Society's Racing Walk of Champions (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2014)
- California-bred Horse of the Year (1974, 1975)
- California-bred champion older male (1974, 1975, 1976)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1973, fourth behind champion Shecky Greene.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1974, 9 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Forego.
Rated at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1975, 9 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Forego but second in the division.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1976, 16 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Forego but tied for fifth in the division.
Rated at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1977, 8 pounds below divisional champion Forego but third in the division.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1978, 8 pounds below champion Seattle Slew.
As an individual
A well-made bay, Ancient Title had a rambunctious disposition and was gelded early in his juvenile year. Even after that he bore constant watching, but he was hard-trying, intelligent and honest on the track. He was a front runner by preference and was best at distances under a mile but could stretch his speed to as much as a mile and a half after learning to relax as an older horse. He stood 16 hands and was lanky as a youngster but filled out into a more muscular physique as an older horse. He had a long stride and could handle almost any footing. His career was interrupted several times by injury, and he was retired after suffering a tendon injury in the 1978 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.
Connections
Foaled at Three Rings Ranch near Beaumont, California, Ancient Title was bred and owned by William and Ethel Kirkland. After William Kirkland died in late 1972, Mrs. Kirkland raced Ancient Title in her own name until her death in 1976, after which Ancient Title campaigned in the name of Kirkland Stable. The gelding was trained by Keith Stucki. Following his retirement, Ancient Title was pensioned at Wally Dollase's Rio Vista Farm near Atascadero, California, but seemed unable to relax and proved ill-tempered and difficult when turned out with other geldings. He was given a paddock to himself but developed colic and died following emergency surgery on September 1, 1981.
Pedigree notes
Ancient Title is inbred 4x3 to Alibhai, 5x4 to Mahmoud, 5x5x5 to Bull Dog, and 5x5 to Mahmoud's sire Blenheim II. He is a half brother to stakes-placed Gaultheria (by Arbmahla High), dam of multiple stakes winner King of Lemhi (by Lemhi Gold) and second dam of multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Cervoise and Indian stakes winner Premier Classe. He is also a half brother to Aryshire Lass (by Slamruler), dam of stakes winner Rightly Noble (by Noble Decree) and second dam of stakes winner Hollywood Brat, and to Alabaster (by Vaguely Noble), second dam of Grade 2 winner Moon Catcher and restricted stakes winner Smarten Up.
Hi Little Gal, the dam of Ancient Title, is a half sister to Neeka (by Colo Colo), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Tothepoint (by Sharp Kid). She was produced from the winning Salmagundi mare Salma, whose dam Born Full (by Bull Lea) is a full sister to Miss Thrill, dam of 1962 New York Handicap winner Honey Dear (by Counterpoint), and a half sister to Impish Lynn (by Rippey), dam of 1969 Santa Ysabel Stakes winner Easter Junction (by Amerigo) and multiple stakes producer Tap the Till (by Native Charger).
Books and media
Ancient Title is profiled in Chapter 29 of Mary Simon's A History of the Thoroughbred in California (1983, The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association).
Fun facts
- Ancient Title's time of 1:20-4/5 for the 1972 Sunny Slope Stakes was the fastest seven furlongs ever run by a juvenile up to that time.
- Ancient Title became the third horse to sweep the “Strub Series” of the Malibu Stakes, the San Fernando Stakes, and the Charles H. Strub Stakes (formerly the Santa Anita Maturity) in 1974.
- Ancient Title was the 19th racehorse to reach $1 million in earnings and was leading money winner among California-breds at the time of his retirement.
- In 1982, Ancient Title was ranked third behind Swaps and Native Diver in a poll to determine the most popular California-bred horse of all time.
- The Ancient Title Handicap was inaugurated in 1985 and contested annually through 2011 before being replaced by the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. The Ancient Title was last contested at Santa Anita as a Grade 1 event for ages 3 and up over 6 furlongs on dirt.
Last updated: February 17, 2024