Gallant Fox (USA)
March 23, 1927 – November 13, 1954
Sir Gallahad III (FR) x Marguerite (USA), by Celt (USA)
Family 4-n
March 23, 1927 – November 13, 1954
Sir Gallahad III (FR) x Marguerite (USA), by Celt (USA)
Family 4-n
One of the best stayers of his time, the “Fox of Belair” is now remembered as the second winner of the American Triple Crown. He is also the only American Triple Crown winner to have sired another American Triple Crown winner, getting 1935 champion Omaha in his first crop. Unfortunately, Gallant Fox was unable to follow up on the bright promise of his first few crops and was only a moderate success at stud.
Race record
17 starts, 11 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$328,165
1929:
1930:
Honors
Assessments
Gallant Fox was rated #28 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Ranked sixth among American juvenile males of 1929 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A handsome, well-made bay horse of staying type, Gallant Fox stood 16.1 hands. His right eye was ringed with white, giving him a wild appearance, but he was actually easy-going and not inclined to put himself to more effort than necessary either in his morning work or while winning a race. He had endless curiosity as a juvenile and was said to have been left at the post during the running of the 1929 Tremont Stakes because he was watching a passing airplane; as a 3-year-old, he was more businesslike. He possessed excellent action and had a long, low stride.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Gallant Fox sired 172 winners (53.4%%) and 18 stakes winners (5.6%) from 322 named foals. He got off to an excellent start at stud with 1935 Triple Crown winner Omaha, 1938 Ascot Gold Cup winner Flares and 1936 Horse of the Year Granville in his first two crops but tailed off badly afterward.
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):
Notable progeny
Flares (USA), Granville (USA), Omaha (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Jay Fox (USA), Reneged (USA)
Connections
Gallant Fox was bred and owned by Belair Stud (William Woodward, Sr.). He was trained by James "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons. He stood at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky from 1931 until 1952, when he was pensioned. He died November 13, 1954, and was buried at Claiborne.
Pedigree notes
Gallant Fox is inbred 5x4 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or and 4x5 to nine-time leading English sire St. Simon, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a full brother to 1938 English champion 2-year-old male Foxbrough and the good stakes winner Fighting Fox 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. Gallant 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 English stakes winners Land Girl (by Spearmint), Celestial (by Sunstar), and Seraphic (by Lonawand).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: April 5, 2022
Race record
17 starts, 11 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$328,165
1929:
- Won Flash Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
- Won Junior Champion Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd United States Hotel Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Futurity Stakes (USA, about 7FD, Belmont)
1930:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Classic Stakes (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Dwyer Stakes (USA, 12FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
- Won Wood Memorial Stakes (USA, 8f+70yD, Jamaica)
- Won Lawrence Realization Stakes (USA, 13FD, Belmont)
- Won Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Travers Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1957)
- American Horse of the Year (1930)
- American champion 3-year-old male (1930)
Assessments
Gallant Fox was rated #28 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Ranked sixth among American juvenile males of 1929 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A handsome, well-made bay horse of staying type, Gallant Fox stood 16.1 hands. His right eye was ringed with white, giving him a wild appearance, but he was actually easy-going and not inclined to put himself to more effort than necessary either in his morning work or while winning a race. He had endless curiosity as a juvenile and was said to have been left at the post during the running of the 1929 Tremont Stakes because he was watching a passing airplane; as a 3-year-old, he was more businesslike. He possessed excellent action and had a long, low stride.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Gallant Fox sired 172 winners (53.4%%) and 18 stakes winners (5.6%) from 322 named foals. He got off to an excellent start at stud with 1935 Triple Crown winner Omaha, 1938 Ascot Gold Cup winner Flares and 1936 Horse of the Year Granville in his first two crops but tailed off badly afterward.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1935.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1935 and 1936.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1935 and 1936.
Notable progeny
Flares (USA), Granville (USA), Omaha (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Jay Fox (USA), Reneged (USA)
Connections
Gallant Fox was bred and owned by Belair Stud (William Woodward, Sr.). He was trained by James "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons. He stood at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky from 1931 until 1952, when he was pensioned. He died November 13, 1954, and was buried at Claiborne.
Pedigree notes
Gallant Fox is inbred 5x4 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or and 4x5 to nine-time leading English sire St. Simon, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a full brother to 1938 English champion 2-year-old male Foxbrough and the good stakes winner Fighting Fox 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. Gallant 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 English stakes winners Land Girl (by Spearmint), Celestial (by Sunstar), and Seraphic (by Lonawand).
Books and media
- “The 1930 Derby Was a Landmark, and Gallant Fox Was a Hero” is Chapter 11 in Jim Bolus' Derby Magic (1997, Pelican Publishing Company, Inc.).
- “Gallant Fox” is Chapter 2 of The Most Glorious Crown by Martin Drager (2005, Triumph Books).
- Gallant Fox is the second of the American Triple Crown winners profiled in Edward Bowen's The Lucky 13: The Winners of America's Triple Crown of Horse Racing (2019, Lyon Press).
- Gallant Fox is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Gallant Fox was the world's leading money-winning Thoroughbred at the time of his retirement.
- Gallant Fox's Kentucky Derby was the first to be started from a mechanical starting gate.
- Although there is no question that Gallant Fox was a true champion, the Derby field he faced was one of the worst in the race’s history. Seven of the Fox’s 14 rivals never won a stakes race at any time during their careers, and only second-place Gallant Knight (whose six lifetime stakes wins included the 1930 Latonia Derby) and two-time champion filly Alcibiades (who ran 10th) had any significant claim to being above the ordinary.
- Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, was among the attendees for Gallant Fox's Derby as the guest of Joseph Widener and made the trophy presentation to the winner.
- Gallant Fox's upset by 100-1 shot Jim Dandy in the 1930 Travers Stakes was ranked #56 in Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments, a review of racing in the 20th century compiled by The Blood-Horse and released in 2006.
- Gallant Fox was the first winner of the Preakness Stakes to sire a Preakness winner, accomplishing the feat in 1935 when Omaha took the Preakness on the way to the Triple Crown.
- The Gallant Fox Handicap was inaugurated in 1939. It was last run in 2009 as a listed stakes for ages 3 and up over 13 furlongs on dirt at Aqueduct.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: April 5, 2022