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Fighting Fox (USA)

1935 – 1957?

Sir Gallahad III (FR) x Marguerite (USA), by Celt (USA)

Family 4-n


Picture
While Fighting Fox was not the equal of his elder full brother Gallant Fox, he was a good racehorse in his own right. He won at up to 9 furlongs but was best known for his abilities as a sprinter. His major contributions at stud were his son Crafty Admiral, a champion handicapper and leading broodmare sire, and his daughter Bold Irish, who made notable contributions to the breeding programs of both Wheatley Stable and the Janneys' Locust Hill Farm.


Race record

35 starts, 9 wins, 7 seconds, 8 thirds, US$122,000

1937:
  • Won Grand Union Hotel Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
  • 2nd Junior Champion Stakes (USA, @5.75FD, Gravesend)
  • 3rd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
  • 3rd Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
  • 3rd Champagne Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)

1938:
  • Won Wood Memorial Stakes (USA, 8f+70yD, Jamaica)
  • 2nd Empire City Handicap (USA, 9FD, Empire City)
  • 2nd Wilson Stakes (USA, 8FD, Saratoga)
  • 2nd Kenner Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Saratoga)
  • 3rd Travers Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
  • 3rd Aqueduct Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
  • 3rd Bay Shore Handicap (USA, 6.5FD, Aqueduct)
  • 3rd Whitney Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)

1939:
  • Won Massachusetts Handicap (USA, 9FD, Suffolk Downs)
  • Won Carter Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct; new track record 1:22-4/5)
  • Won Fleetwing Handicap (USA, 5.75FD, Empire City; new track record 1:07-2/5)
  • Won Jamaica Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
  • Won Wilmington Handicap (USA, 6FD, Delaware)
  • 2nd Excelsior Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
  • 2nd Harford Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
  • 2nd Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
  • 3rd Queens County Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)

1940:
  • Won Paumonok Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)


Assessments

Ranked fifth among American 2-year-old males of 1937 by The Blood-Horse.

Ranked ninth among American 3-year-old males of 1938 by The Blood-Horse.

Ranked fourth among American older males of 1939 by The Blood-Horse.



As an individual

A handsome, well-muscled bay horse, Fighting Fox had a good shoulder. His photographs suggests that he was slightly short and upright in his front pasterns and slightly sickle-hocked behind. According to Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form, one foreleg was significantly twisted from knee to pastern, causing soreness at times. Fighting Fox handled off going well.


As a stallion

According to Jockey Club records, Fighting Fox sired 211 winners (68.7%) and 18 stakes winners (5.9%) from 307 named foals.


Notable progeny

Bold Irish (USA), Bonnie Beryl (USA), Crafty Admiral (USA), Fighting Step (USA)


Notable progeny of daughters

Bug Brush (USA), Pixie Erin (USA)


Connections

Fighting Fox was bred and owned by Belair Stud (William Woodward, Sr.). He was trained by James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons. He entered stud at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky in 1941. His last foals were born in 1958.


Pedigree notes

Fighting Fox is inbred 5x4 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or and 4x5 to nine-time English leading sire St. Simon, an unbeaten champion on th race course. He is a full brother to 1930 American Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox and 1938 English champion 2-year-old male Foxbrough and a half brother to 1928 Travers Midsummer Derby winner Petee-Wrack (by Wrack). He is also a full brother to multiple stakes producers Maraschino, Marigal and Marguery. Fighting Fox's dam Marguerite is a half sister to the good stakes winner Cloudland (by Wrack) and is out of Fairy Ray (by Radium), a half sister to the English stakes winners Land Girl (by Spearmint), Celestial (by Sunstar) and Seraphic (by Lonawand).


Photo credit

Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.



Last updated: November 26, 2021
© 2014-2023 by Avalyn Hunter. All rights reserved. Contributors' materials remain the property of the copyright owners and are used by permission.

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