George Smith (USA)
April 13, 1913 – 1933
Out of Reach (GB) x Consuelo II (GB), by Bradwardine (GB)
Family 10-d
April 13, 1913 – 1933
Out of Reach (GB) x Consuelo II (GB), by Bradwardine (GB)
Family 10-d
A useful juvenile, George Smith showed good form in the spring of 1916 but was probably the beneficiary of a troubled trip for closing second Star Hawk in the Kentucky Derby. His record for the remainder of his 3-year-old season and at 4 and 5 suggests a horse battling physical or mental issues, though he came back well enough to rank among the better handicap horses of 1917. He was not a success at stud.
Race record
31 starts, 17 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, US$42,884
1915:
1916:
1917:
1918:
Assessments
Ranked fifth among American 3-year-old males of 1915 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked third among American older males of 1917 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
In John O'Connor's History of the Kentucky Derby 1875-1921 (published by O'Connor in 1921), George Smith is described as “a superbly made black colt of average good size and much quality, with a superior way of going. He is very sightly in appearance and has a perfect track disposition.”
As a stallion
According to Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse), George Smith sired only 2 stakes winners (3.6%) from 56 foals.
Connections
George Smith was bred by "Black" Jack Chinn and Fred Forsythe and was foaled at their Fountainblue Farm in Kentucky. He was owned and trained by Ed McBride at 2 after being purchased for US$1,600 as a yearling from Fountainblue's dispersal. McBride got an excellent return on his investment as he sold George Smith to John Sanford for US$22,500 following the colt's juvenile season. George Smith was trained by Hollie Hughes at 3 and 4 and by Preston Burch at 5. George Smith entered stud at Sanford's Hurricana Stud in 1919 but was unsuccessful and was donated to the Breeding Bureau of The Jockey Club in August 1926. From there, George Smith moved to the U.S. Army Remount Service. He remained a sire of cavalry horses until his death in 1933.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the Persimmon horse Out of Reach, George Smith is inbred 5x5 to Oxford and to 1851 St. Leger Stakes winner and two-time English champion sire Newminster. His third dam, Great Dame (Hermit—Lady Paramount, by Toxophilite) is closely related to the high-class racer Tristan, a son of 1867 Derby Stakes winner and seven-time English champion sire Hermit from Lady Paramount's half-sister Thrift. The female line traces back to the great 19th-century foundation mare Queen Mary.
Books and media
George Smith is profiled in Chapter 4 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Race record
31 starts, 17 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, US$42,884
1915:
- Won Aberdeen Handicap (USA, 4.5FD, Havre de Grace)
- Won Juvenile Stakes (CAN, 4.5FD, Woodbine)
- Won Victoria Stakes (CAN, 5FD, Woodbine
- Won Spring Brewery Stakes (CAN, 5FD, Hamilton)
- Won Annapolis Stakes (USA, 6FD, Laurel)
1916:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Latonia Derby (USA, 12FD, Latonia)
1917:
- Won Warwick Handicap (USA)
- 2nd Long Beach Handicap (USA, 9FD, Jamaica)
- 3rd Belmont Park Autumn Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
1918:
- Won Excelsior Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- Won Edgemere Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Yorktown Handicap (USA, 9FD, Empire City)
- Won Bowie Handicap (USA, 12FD, Pimlico; new track record 2:31-1/5)
- 2nd Bayview Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd October Handicap (USA, Belmont)
- 3rd Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Continental Handicap (USA, 9FD, Jamaica)
Assessments
Ranked fifth among American 3-year-old males of 1915 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked third among American older males of 1917 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
In John O'Connor's History of the Kentucky Derby 1875-1921 (published by O'Connor in 1921), George Smith is described as “a superbly made black colt of average good size and much quality, with a superior way of going. He is very sightly in appearance and has a perfect track disposition.”
As a stallion
According to Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse), George Smith sired only 2 stakes winners (3.6%) from 56 foals.
Connections
George Smith was bred by "Black" Jack Chinn and Fred Forsythe and was foaled at their Fountainblue Farm in Kentucky. He was owned and trained by Ed McBride at 2 after being purchased for US$1,600 as a yearling from Fountainblue's dispersal. McBride got an excellent return on his investment as he sold George Smith to John Sanford for US$22,500 following the colt's juvenile season. George Smith was trained by Hollie Hughes at 3 and 4 and by Preston Burch at 5. George Smith entered stud at Sanford's Hurricana Stud in 1919 but was unsuccessful and was donated to the Breeding Bureau of The Jockey Club in August 1926. From there, George Smith moved to the U.S. Army Remount Service. He remained a sire of cavalry horses until his death in 1933.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the Persimmon horse Out of Reach, George Smith is inbred 5x5 to Oxford and to 1851 St. Leger Stakes winner and two-time English champion sire Newminster. His third dam, Great Dame (Hermit—Lady Paramount, by Toxophilite) is closely related to the high-class racer Tristan, a son of 1867 Derby Stakes winner and seven-time English champion sire Hermit from Lady Paramount's half-sister Thrift. The female line traces back to the great 19th-century foundation mare Queen Mary.
Books and media
George Smith is profiled in Chapter 4 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- The equine George Smith was named for his dam's former owner George E. Smith (1862-1905), better known to racing history as gambler “Pittsburg Phil.”
- George Smith's Kentucky Derby was the first to be given front-page coverage in the Louisville Courier-Journal, an honor the great race has been accorded ever since.
- George Smith's victory in the 1918 Bowie Handicap marked the only time that Kentucky Derby winners have finished 1-2-3 in the same race. 1917 victor Omar Khayyam was second, while 1918 winner Exterminator was third.