From the private collection of Dale Wyatt. Used by permission.
In a year in which short campaigns were the norms for the top colts, Coventry's was even shorter than most; in fact, his whole career spanned only five starts, including a one-start comeback attempt as a 6-year-old. He was a failure at stud and sired nothing of any significance.
Race record
5 starts, 1 win, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$52,825
1925:
Assessments
Ranked fourth among American 3-year-old males of 1925 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A black colt, Coventry bowed a tendon in the Preakness and broke down in the Withers Stakes, his next start.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Coventry with 61 winners (36.5%) and 2 stakes winners (1.2%) from 167 named foals.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Coventry was bred by Edward F. Simms. He was owned by Gifford A. Cochran, who purchased him for US$25,000 as a yearling at the 1923 Saratoga sale. Coventry was trained by Hall of Famer W. B. “Bill” Duke, who died of pneumonia in January 1926.
Pedigree notes
Coventry is inbred 3x4 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon, 5x4 to English and French champion sire Flageolet and Pocahontas' important producing daughter Araucaria, and 5x5 to seven-time English champion sire Hermit. His dam Sun Queen produced nothing else of importance. His second dam Souriante (by Rayon d'Or) and third dam Soubrette (by Alarm) were likewise undistinguished, but his fourth dam Susan Beane (by Lexington) was a fine producer whose foals include 1879 American champion 2-year-old male Sensation, 1877 Alabama Stakes winner Susquehanna and multiple juvenile stakes winner Onondaga, all by Leamington.
Books and media
Coventry is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Race record
5 starts, 1 win, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$52,825
1925:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
Assessments
Ranked fourth among American 3-year-old males of 1925 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A black colt, Coventry bowed a tendon in the Preakness and broke down in the Withers Stakes, his next start.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Coventry with 61 winners (36.5%) and 2 stakes winners (1.2%) from 167 named foals.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Coventry was bred by Edward F. Simms. He was owned by Gifford A. Cochran, who purchased him for US$25,000 as a yearling at the 1923 Saratoga sale. Coventry was trained by Hall of Famer W. B. “Bill” Duke, who died of pneumonia in January 1926.
Pedigree notes
Coventry is inbred 3x4 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon, 5x4 to English and French champion sire Flageolet and Pocahontas' important producing daughter Araucaria, and 5x5 to seven-time English champion sire Hermit. His dam Sun Queen produced nothing else of importance. His second dam Souriante (by Rayon d'Or) and third dam Soubrette (by Alarm) were likewise undistinguished, but his fourth dam Susan Beane (by Lexington) was a fine producer whose foals include 1879 American champion 2-year-old male Sensation, 1877 Alabama Stakes winner Susquehanna and multiple juvenile stakes winner Onondaga, all by Leamington.
Books and media
Coventry is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- In history, Coventry is an English city famous as the site of Lady Godiva's ride. According to legend, Lady Godiva was the wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and pled with her husband on behalf of the citizens to lower the city's tax burden. He agreed on condition that she ride nude through the town. After securing an agreement from the townsfolk that they would keep inside with their windows shuttered on a certain day, Lady Godiva rode through the town wearing nothing but her flowing blonde hair. The one man who broke the agreement, Tom by name, looked at her through a peephole and was supposedly struck blind, earning himself the soubriquet “Peeping Tom.”
- At 22.80-to-1, Coventry was the longest shot to win the Preakness until Master Derby won the race at 24.40-to-1 in 1975. Coventry would probably have been at still longer odds had he not been coupled with two other horses in the mutuel field.