First Landing (USA)
March 7, 1956 – 1987
Turn-to (IRE) x Hildene (USA), by Bubbling Over (USA)
Family 9-b
March 7, 1956 – 1987
Turn-to (IRE) x Hildene (USA), by Bubbling Over (USA)
Family 9-b
After his outstanding juvenile season, First Landing was voted the “Disappointment of the Year” at 3. The “award” says something regarding the expectations held for him, considering that in a year marred by physical issues, he still won two stakes races and placed in four other added-money events, including the Kentucky Derby. He trained on at 4 to be one of the better members of the 1960 handicap division. He had an uneven stud career but had his moments as a sire and was a good broodmare sire as well.
Race record
37 starts, 19 wins, 9 seconds, 2 thirds, US$779,577
1958:
1959:
1960:
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1958)
Assessments
Rated at 128 pounds atop the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1958, 2 pounds above second-rated Tomy Lee.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1959, 9 pounds below divisional highweight and champion Sword Dancer.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1960, 5 pounds below divisional champion and highweight Bald Eagle.
Ranked third among American older males of 1960 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A plain, rugged bay horse with a short back, a long pelvis, and clean legs, First Landing stood 16.1 hands when measured in August of his juvenile season. He had a professional demeanor when racing and was indifferent as to track conditions.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, First Landing sired 276 winners (63.0%) and 27 stakes winners (6.2%) from 438 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Balustrade (USA), First Family (USA), First Feather (USA), Gladwin (USA), Riva Ridge (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Fall Time (USA), First Approach (USA), Run the Gantlet (USA), Southjet (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, First Landing was bred and owned by Christopher Chenery's Meadow Stud and Meadow Stable, respectively. He was trained by J. H. "Casey" Hayes. He entered stud in Virginia and Meadow Stud. He was pensioned in 1983 and died in 1987.
Pedigree notes
First Landing is inbred 5x4 to 1911 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Sunstar. He is a half brother to 1950 American Horse of the Year Hill Prince (by Princequillo), 1956 Roamer Handicap winner Third Brother (by Princequillo), and stakes winners Mangohick (by Sun Beau) and Prince Hill (by Princequillo. He is also a half brother to Satsuma (by Bossuet), dam of three-time American champion filly Cicada (by Bryan G.; dam of stakes winner Cicada’s Pride, by Sir Gaylord). In addition, First Landing is a half brother to First Flush (by Flushing II), dam of 1964 Sorority Stakes winner Bold Experience (by Bold Ruler), dam of 1972 Florida Derby and Wood Memorial Stakes winner Upper Case (by Round Table) and stakes winner Ms. Ross (by Hoist the Flag) and second dam of 1989 Irish St. Leger (IRE-G1) winner Petite Ile. First Flush is also the dam of stakes winners Virginia Delegate (by Bold Ruler) and Copper Canyon (by Bryan G.); the second dam of 1987 Hopeful Stakes (USA-G1) winner Crusader Sword, 1988 Flamingo Stakes (USA-G1) winner Cherokee Colony and 1995 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Turk Passer; and the third dam of 1995 Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Silken Cat. Another daughter of First Flush, Bold Matron (by Bold Ruler), is the second dam of four stakes winners including Grade 2 winner Ring of Light.
First Landing was produced from the blue hen mare Hildene. The 1950 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. she is a half sister to stakes winners Silas and Napoleon, both by Crucifixion. She is out of the non-winner Fancy Racket (by Wrack), whose dam Ultimate Fancy (by Ultimus) was likewise undistinguished on the track but is a half sister to Idle Tale (by Superman), dam of multiple stakes winner Idle Dell (by Delhi) and second dam of 1927 Matron Stakes and Pimlico Futurity winner Glade. Another half sister to Ultimate Fancy, Blushes (by Hurst Park) is the second dam of 1928 Champagne Stakes winner Healy and 1931 Jerome Handicap winner Ironclad, while a third half sister, Just Fancy (by Colin), is the dam of stakes winner Our Fancy (by Busy American).
Fun facts
Last updated: September 1, 2021
Race record
37 starts, 19 wins, 9 seconds, 2 thirds, US$779,577
1958:
- Won Garden State Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- Won Champagne Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga),
- Won Saratoga Special (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Great American Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Jamaica)
- Won Juvenile Stakes (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
1959:
- Won Everglades Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Derby Trial (second division) (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Wood Memorial Stakes (USA, 9FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Roamer Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Flamingo Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
1960:
- Won Monmouth Handicap (USA, 10FD, Monmouth)
- Won Santa Anita Maturity Stakes (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Laurel Maturity Stakes (USA, 9FD, Laurel; new track record 1:49-2/5)
- 2nd Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Grey Lag Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd San Fernando Stakes (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Antonio Handicap (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1958)
Assessments
Rated at 128 pounds atop the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1958, 2 pounds above second-rated Tomy Lee.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1959, 9 pounds below divisional highweight and champion Sword Dancer.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1960, 5 pounds below divisional champion and highweight Bald Eagle.
Ranked third among American older males of 1960 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A plain, rugged bay horse with a short back, a long pelvis, and clean legs, First Landing stood 16.1 hands when measured in August of his juvenile season. He had a professional demeanor when racing and was indifferent as to track conditions.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, First Landing sired 276 winners (63.0%) and 27 stakes winners (6.2%) from 438 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1971; 10th in 1968.
- 4th on the American broodmare sire list in 1983.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1971.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1971; 10th in 1968.
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 1983.
Notable progeny
Balustrade (USA), First Family (USA), First Feather (USA), Gladwin (USA), Riva Ridge (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Fall Time (USA), First Approach (USA), Run the Gantlet (USA), Southjet (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, First Landing was bred and owned by Christopher Chenery's Meadow Stud and Meadow Stable, respectively. He was trained by J. H. "Casey" Hayes. He entered stud in Virginia and Meadow Stud. He was pensioned in 1983 and died in 1987.
Pedigree notes
First Landing is inbred 5x4 to 1911 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Sunstar. He is a half brother to 1950 American Horse of the Year Hill Prince (by Princequillo), 1956 Roamer Handicap winner Third Brother (by Princequillo), and stakes winners Mangohick (by Sun Beau) and Prince Hill (by Princequillo. He is also a half brother to Satsuma (by Bossuet), dam of three-time American champion filly Cicada (by Bryan G.; dam of stakes winner Cicada’s Pride, by Sir Gaylord). In addition, First Landing is a half brother to First Flush (by Flushing II), dam of 1964 Sorority Stakes winner Bold Experience (by Bold Ruler), dam of 1972 Florida Derby and Wood Memorial Stakes winner Upper Case (by Round Table) and stakes winner Ms. Ross (by Hoist the Flag) and second dam of 1989 Irish St. Leger (IRE-G1) winner Petite Ile. First Flush is also the dam of stakes winners Virginia Delegate (by Bold Ruler) and Copper Canyon (by Bryan G.); the second dam of 1987 Hopeful Stakes (USA-G1) winner Crusader Sword, 1988 Flamingo Stakes (USA-G1) winner Cherokee Colony and 1995 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Turk Passer; and the third dam of 1995 Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Silken Cat. Another daughter of First Flush, Bold Matron (by Bold Ruler), is the second dam of four stakes winners including Grade 2 winner Ring of Light.
First Landing was produced from the blue hen mare Hildene. The 1950 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. she is a half sister to stakes winners Silas and Napoleon, both by Crucifixion. She is out of the non-winner Fancy Racket (by Wrack), whose dam Ultimate Fancy (by Ultimus) was likewise undistinguished on the track but is a half sister to Idle Tale (by Superman), dam of multiple stakes winner Idle Dell (by Delhi) and second dam of 1927 Matron Stakes and Pimlico Futurity winner Glade. Another half sister to Ultimate Fancy, Blushes (by Hurst Park) is the second dam of 1928 Champagne Stakes winner Healy and 1931 Jerome Handicap winner Ironclad, while a third half sister, Just Fancy (by Colin), is the dam of stakes winner Our Fancy (by Busy American).
Fun facts
- First Landing got his name because the 350th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown settlement took place in the year he was born.
- First Landing’s connections nicknamed him “Lazy Bones.”
Last updated: September 1, 2021