Equipoise (USA)
May 1928 – August 4, 1938
Pennant (USA) x Swinging (USA), by Broomstick (USA)
Family 5-j
May 1928 – August 4, 1938
Pennant (USA) x Swinging (USA), by Broomstick (USA)
Family 5-j
A star in one of the deepest foal crops ever seen in North America, Equipoise had speed, stamina and unflinching courage. He was particularly brilliant at a mile, setting a world record for the distance in 1932. When at his best in 1932 and 1933, as experienced a judge as Joe Palmer estimated that Equipoise was probably at least 10 pounds better than anything in his division. The “Chocolate Soldier” sired only four crops before his death but was American leading sire posthumously in 1942, a remarkable achievement given that many of the best mares in the Whitney stud were too closely related to him to be bred to him.
Race record
51 starts, 29 wins, 10 seconds, 4 thirds, US$338,610
1930:
1932:
1933:
1934:
Honors
Assessments
Equipoise was ranked #21 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris ranked Equipoise #163 among the top 200 racehorses of the 20th century worldwide.
As an individual
A liver chestnut, Equipoise was not very big; in fact, he was undersized and unimpressive enough as a yearling that he was initially relegated to the Whitney stable's second string. Nonetheless, he was full of quality, well balanced and refined and had an excellent temperament. According to racing historian William Robertson, he was considered one of the best assistant starters in the business, exerting a calming effect on otherwise troublesome horses. John Hervey, who wrote under the pen name of “Salvator,” described Equipoise thus: “Here is a living harmony in horseflesh; an embodiment of rhythm and modulation, of point and counterpoint, that sang to the eye and made music in the heart.”
Equipoise's feet were his weak point, thin-soled and thin-walled. In what was probably his greatest race, the 1930 Pimlico Futurity, he threw both front shoes and popped a quarter crack in his charge to victory after having been left at the post. In his later seasons he suffered from tendon trouble, which eventually forced his retirement. When autopsied after his death, Equipoise proved to have a much larger than normal heart.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Equipoise sired 53 winners (71.6%) and 9 stakes winners (12.2%) from 74 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Bolingbroke (USA), Level Best (USA), Shut Out (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Assault (USA), Gaga (USA), Level Lea (USA), Myrtle Charm (USA)
Connections
Equipoise was bred by Harry Payne Whitney and was inherited by C. V. “Sonny” Whitney on his father's death in 1930. Equipoise was trained by Freddy Hopkins at 2 through 4 and by Thomas J. Healey at 5 and 6. He stood at Whitney's stud in Kentucky until his death in 1942 from an intestinal infection.
Pedigree notes
Equipoise is inbred 4x5 to the good Cup horse Hampton, the English champion sire of 1887. His full sister Schwester produced 1952 Metropolitan Handicap winner Mameluke and multiple stakes winner Recce, both by Mahmoud, and is the second dam of 1968 Travers Stakes winner Chompion and 1960 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap winner Dotted Swiss. She is also the third dam of 1968 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Quicken Tree, 1969 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Court Recess, and 1965 Brooklyn Handicap and Suburban Handicap winner Pia Star.
Equipoise's dam Swinging is a stakes-placed full sister to 1926 Empire City Derby winner Blondin (by Broomstick) and a half sister to 1928 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Distraction (by Chicle) and to Balance (by Rabelais), dam of stakes winners Flippant (by Pennant), Hornpipe (by Chantey), and Uneasy (by Royal Minstrel) and second dam of 1938 Horse of the Year Seabiscuit. Swinging is also a half sister to Hilee (by Mad Hatter), dam of 1938 Kentucky Oaks winner Flying Lee (by Pennant), and to Escarpolette (by Fitz Herbert), dam of three stakes winners and the third dam of 1959 American champion sprinter Intentionally.
Swinging is out of 1913 Prix La Flèche winner Balancoire II (by Meddler), who became a notable foundation mare for the Whitney breeding program after being imported to the United States in 1918. She, in turn, was produced from the Ayrshire mare Ballantrae, winner of the 1902 Cambridgeshire Stakes and also the dam of English stakes winners Night Raider II and Melody and American stakes winner Mediant, all by Meddler. Another daughter of Ballantrae, Coeur a Coeur (by Teddy), is the second dam of two-time French champion and four-time French champion sire Djebel (by Tourbillon), two-time Prix d'Ispahan winner Hierocles (by Abjer), Prix de Saint-Firmin winner Djask (by Tourbillon), and multiple French stakes winner Phidias (by Tourbillon).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: September 1, 2024
Race record
51 starts, 29 wins, 10 seconds, 4 thirds, US$338,610
1930:
- Won Pimlico Futurity (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Eastern Shore Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
- Won Great American Stakes (USA, 5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Juvenile Stakes (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- Won National Stallion Stakes (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- Won Keene Memorial Stakes (USA, 4.5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Junior Champion Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Champagne Stakes (USA, 7FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Saratoga Special (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Aberdeen Stakes (USA, 4.5FD, Havre de Grace)
1932:
- Won Arlington Gold Cup (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Havre de Grace Cup Handicap (USA, 9FD, Havre de Grace)
- Won Stars and Stripes Handicap (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Harford Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
- Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- Won Whitney Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Wilson Stakes (USA, 8FD, Saratoga)
- Won Delaval Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park; new world record 1:34-2/5)
- 2nd Arlington Handicap (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Washington Handicap (USA, 10FD, Laurel)
- 3rd Laurel Stakes (USA, 8FD, Laurel)
1933:
- Won Hawthorne Gold Cup (USA, 10FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Arlington Handicap (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Philadelphia Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Havre de Grace)
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Wilson Stakes (USA, 8FD, Saratoga)
- Won Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga)
- Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Havre de Grace Handicap (USA, 9FD, Havre de Grace)
- 3rd Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
1934:
- Won Philadelphia Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Havre de Grace)
- Won Dixie Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Whitney Gold Trophy Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Whitney Invitation Purse (USA, 6FD, Narragansett Park)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1957)
- Saratoga Hoofprints Walk of Fame (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2013)
- American Horse of the Year (1932, 1933)
- American co-champion 2-year-old male (1930)
- American champion handicap male (1932-1934)
Assessments
Equipoise was ranked #21 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris ranked Equipoise #163 among the top 200 racehorses of the 20th century worldwide.
As an individual
A liver chestnut, Equipoise was not very big; in fact, he was undersized and unimpressive enough as a yearling that he was initially relegated to the Whitney stable's second string. Nonetheless, he was full of quality, well balanced and refined and had an excellent temperament. According to racing historian William Robertson, he was considered one of the best assistant starters in the business, exerting a calming effect on otherwise troublesome horses. John Hervey, who wrote under the pen name of “Salvator,” described Equipoise thus: “Here is a living harmony in horseflesh; an embodiment of rhythm and modulation, of point and counterpoint, that sang to the eye and made music in the heart.”
Equipoise's feet were his weak point, thin-soled and thin-walled. In what was probably his greatest race, the 1930 Pimlico Futurity, he threw both front shoes and popped a quarter crack in his charge to victory after having been left at the post. In his later seasons he suffered from tendon trouble, which eventually forced his retirement. When autopsied after his death, Equipoise proved to have a much larger than normal heart.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Equipoise sired 53 winners (71.6%) and 9 stakes winners (12.2%) from 74 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 1942; 6th in 1940.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 1942; 4th in 1941; 6th in 1940.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1942; 4th in 1941; 6th in 1940.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1942.
Notable progeny
Bolingbroke (USA), Level Best (USA), Shut Out (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Assault (USA), Gaga (USA), Level Lea (USA), Myrtle Charm (USA)
Connections
Equipoise was bred by Harry Payne Whitney and was inherited by C. V. “Sonny” Whitney on his father's death in 1930. Equipoise was trained by Freddy Hopkins at 2 through 4 and by Thomas J. Healey at 5 and 6. He stood at Whitney's stud in Kentucky until his death in 1942 from an intestinal infection.
Pedigree notes
Equipoise is inbred 4x5 to the good Cup horse Hampton, the English champion sire of 1887. His full sister Schwester produced 1952 Metropolitan Handicap winner Mameluke and multiple stakes winner Recce, both by Mahmoud, and is the second dam of 1968 Travers Stakes winner Chompion and 1960 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap winner Dotted Swiss. She is also the third dam of 1968 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Quicken Tree, 1969 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Court Recess, and 1965 Brooklyn Handicap and Suburban Handicap winner Pia Star.
Equipoise's dam Swinging is a stakes-placed full sister to 1926 Empire City Derby winner Blondin (by Broomstick) and a half sister to 1928 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Distraction (by Chicle) and to Balance (by Rabelais), dam of stakes winners Flippant (by Pennant), Hornpipe (by Chantey), and Uneasy (by Royal Minstrel) and second dam of 1938 Horse of the Year Seabiscuit. Swinging is also a half sister to Hilee (by Mad Hatter), dam of 1938 Kentucky Oaks winner Flying Lee (by Pennant), and to Escarpolette (by Fitz Herbert), dam of three stakes winners and the third dam of 1959 American champion sprinter Intentionally.
Swinging is out of 1913 Prix La Flèche winner Balancoire II (by Meddler), who became a notable foundation mare for the Whitney breeding program after being imported to the United States in 1918. She, in turn, was produced from the Ayrshire mare Ballantrae, winner of the 1902 Cambridgeshire Stakes and also the dam of English stakes winners Night Raider II and Melody and American stakes winner Mediant, all by Meddler. Another daughter of Ballantrae, Coeur a Coeur (by Teddy), is the second dam of two-time French champion and four-time French champion sire Djebel (by Tourbillon), two-time Prix d'Ispahan winner Hierocles (by Abjer), Prix de Saint-Firmin winner Djask (by Tourbillon), and multiple French stakes winner Phidias (by Tourbillon).
Books and media
- Equipoise's rivalry with Twenty Grand was featured as the third chapter of Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries (2008, Eclipse Press), a compilation produced by the staff of The Blood-Horse.
- Equipoise is profiled in Chapter 40 of Abram Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and reprinted by Eclipse Press in 2006).
Fun facts
- Equipoise was the first winner raced by C. V. “Sonny” Whitney and was a key factor in convincing Whitney to continue the racing legacy left by his father, Harry Payne Whitney.
- Equipoise's nickname, the “Chocolate Soldier,” came from a popular Broadway play. He was also known as "Ekky" to his fans.
- According to Joe Palmer in his 1953 book This Was Racing, Equipoise's controversial disqualification in the 1934 Metropolitan Handicap was part of the inspiration behind the Broadway play and Hollywood movie Three Men on a Horse.
- Equipoise's death was the subject of the cover story for the August 13, 1938, issue of The Blood-Horse.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: September 1, 2024