While she was not precisely a feminine counterpart to the great Native Dancer (a member of the same crop), Grecian Queen was among the better juvenile fillies of her year and was a unanimous choice as the best American 3-year-old filly of 1953. Her form tailed off after that, and she failed to win at 4 and 5. She was not a particularly successful broodmare.
Race record
53 starts, 12 wins, 8 seconds, 8 thirds, US$323,575
1952:
1953:
1954:
Honors
American champion 3-year-old filly (1953)
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1952, 2 pounds below co-highweights Sweet Patootie (the official champion) and Bubbley.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1953, 4 pounds below top-rated Real Delight (a 4-year-old) but 3 pounds above the second-rated 3-year-old filly, Arab Actress.
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1954, 15 pounds below co-highweights Parlo (the official champion 3-year-old filly and co-champion in the handicap female division) and Miz Clementine.
As an individual
A small, rather lightly built dark bay mare of about 15.2 hands, Grecian Queen was not robust and often needed several days' recovery after a race. Nonetheless, she thrived on hard work under the careful handling of her trainer, who was known for his ability in managing fillies and mares. She was well-balanced and sound, with an excellent shoulder, short coupling, strong hindquarters, and flat, hard bone. She was not at her best over off going. She had a nasty disposition but was thoroughly game and determined when racing.
As a producer
Grecian Queen produced 10 named foals, of which seven started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Grecian Queen was bred by Ben F. Whitaker and raced in the colors of his wife. She was trained by James P. Conway and was ridden to her Coaching Club American Oaks score by Eric Guerin. Following her racing career, she was sold to Leslie Combs II and spent the remainder of her life at Spendthrift Farm. She was last reported as having slipped foal in 1973.
Pedigree notes
Grecian Queen is outcrossed through five generations. A half sister to 1952 Fall Highweight Handicap winner Hitex (by Bless Me) and to Linda Carol (by Bernborough), dam of 1966 Illinois Derby winner Michigan Avenue (by Windy City II), she was produced from Qbania, a full sister to Carolyn A., whose five stakes wins included the 1947 Louisiana Derby from males and the 1946 Demoiselle Stakes and 1948 Firenze Handicap from her own sex. Carolyn A., in turn, produced Tahitian King (by Polynesian), a good stakes winner at 2 and 3.
Albania, the dam of Qbania and Carolyn A., also produced 1945 Roamer Handicap winner Chief Barker (by Sickle) and Sugapud (by Sickle) whose son My Request (by Requested) had the misfortune to come along in Citation's crop but nonetheless managed to win the 1948 Wood Memorial Stakes and 15 other stakes events. In addition, Albania produced Tiny Request (by Requested), dam of 1965 Dwyer Handicap winner Staunchness (by Bold Ruler) and 1960 Firenze Handicap winner Clear Road (by Hasty Road) and second dam of Grade 2 winners San Juan Hill and Fuzzbuster as well as 1972 Donn Handicap winner Going Straight. Another daughter of Albania, Precious Lady (by Requested), produced 1970 Governor Nichols Stakes winner Distinctive (by Never Bend) and stakes winner Tudor Jet (by Tudor Minstrel) and is the second dam of three stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Luigi Tobin. Albania's last important daughter, Questar (by Requested), produced stakes winners Royal Rafale (by Reneged) and Star Empress (by Young Emperor) and is the second dam of 1970 Dwyer Handicap and Whitney Stakes winner Judgable and Grade/Group 3 winners Flama Ardiente, W. D. Jacks, and Star of Gdansk.
Albania is a daughter of Bull Dog and the North Star III mare Cristar, whose half sister Babe K. (by Leonardo II) produced multiple stakes winner Busy K. (by Busy American) and the fine broodmare My Auntie (by Busy American). Cristar and Busy K. were produced from the Fair Play mare Cri de Coeur, a full sister to stakes winner Tailor Maid and to Mlle. Dazie, dam of 1930 American co-champion 2-year-old male Jamestown.
Books and media
Grecian Queen is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: April 25, 2023
Race record
53 starts, 12 wins, 8 seconds, 8 thirds, US$323,575
1952:
- Won Demoiselle Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Empire City)
- Won Schuylerville Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
- Won Marguerite Stakes (1st div) (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Astarita Stakes (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Spinaway Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Frizette Stakes (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
- 3rd Matron Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
1953:
- Won New Castle Handicap (USA, 10FD, Delaware)
- Won Prioress Stakes (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
- Won Gazelle Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- Won Monmouth Oaks (USA, 9FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Delaware Oaks (USA, 9FD, Delaware)
- 3rd Sysonby Mile (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
1954:
- 2nd Maskette Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
Honors
American champion 3-year-old filly (1953)
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1952, 2 pounds below co-highweights Sweet Patootie (the official champion) and Bubbley.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1953, 4 pounds below top-rated Real Delight (a 4-year-old) but 3 pounds above the second-rated 3-year-old filly, Arab Actress.
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1954, 15 pounds below co-highweights Parlo (the official champion 3-year-old filly and co-champion in the handicap female division) and Miz Clementine.
As an individual
A small, rather lightly built dark bay mare of about 15.2 hands, Grecian Queen was not robust and often needed several days' recovery after a race. Nonetheless, she thrived on hard work under the careful handling of her trainer, who was known for his ability in managing fillies and mares. She was well-balanced and sound, with an excellent shoulder, short coupling, strong hindquarters, and flat, hard bone. She was not at her best over off going. She had a nasty disposition but was thoroughly game and determined when racing.
As a producer
Grecian Queen produced 10 named foals, of which seven started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Royal Hula (1966, by Raise a Native) was stakes-placed on the track and is the third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Canon Song.
- Eternal Queen (1969, by Fleet Nasrullah) was stakes-placed, She is the dam of 1985 Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Eternal Prince (by Majestic Prince) and English stakes winner Thakib (by Sovereign Dancer).
Connections
Grecian Queen was bred by Ben F. Whitaker and raced in the colors of his wife. She was trained by James P. Conway and was ridden to her Coaching Club American Oaks score by Eric Guerin. Following her racing career, she was sold to Leslie Combs II and spent the remainder of her life at Spendthrift Farm. She was last reported as having slipped foal in 1973.
Pedigree notes
Grecian Queen is outcrossed through five generations. A half sister to 1952 Fall Highweight Handicap winner Hitex (by Bless Me) and to Linda Carol (by Bernborough), dam of 1966 Illinois Derby winner Michigan Avenue (by Windy City II), she was produced from Qbania, a full sister to Carolyn A., whose five stakes wins included the 1947 Louisiana Derby from males and the 1946 Demoiselle Stakes and 1948 Firenze Handicap from her own sex. Carolyn A., in turn, produced Tahitian King (by Polynesian), a good stakes winner at 2 and 3.
Albania, the dam of Qbania and Carolyn A., also produced 1945 Roamer Handicap winner Chief Barker (by Sickle) and Sugapud (by Sickle) whose son My Request (by Requested) had the misfortune to come along in Citation's crop but nonetheless managed to win the 1948 Wood Memorial Stakes and 15 other stakes events. In addition, Albania produced Tiny Request (by Requested), dam of 1965 Dwyer Handicap winner Staunchness (by Bold Ruler) and 1960 Firenze Handicap winner Clear Road (by Hasty Road) and second dam of Grade 2 winners San Juan Hill and Fuzzbuster as well as 1972 Donn Handicap winner Going Straight. Another daughter of Albania, Precious Lady (by Requested), produced 1970 Governor Nichols Stakes winner Distinctive (by Never Bend) and stakes winner Tudor Jet (by Tudor Minstrel) and is the second dam of three stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Luigi Tobin. Albania's last important daughter, Questar (by Requested), produced stakes winners Royal Rafale (by Reneged) and Star Empress (by Young Emperor) and is the second dam of 1970 Dwyer Handicap and Whitney Stakes winner Judgable and Grade/Group 3 winners Flama Ardiente, W. D. Jacks, and Star of Gdansk.
Albania is a daughter of Bull Dog and the North Star III mare Cristar, whose half sister Babe K. (by Leonardo II) produced multiple stakes winner Busy K. (by Busy American) and the fine broodmare My Auntie (by Busy American). Cristar and Busy K. were produced from the Fair Play mare Cri de Coeur, a full sister to stakes winner Tailor Maid and to Mlle. Dazie, dam of 1930 American co-champion 2-year-old male Jamestown.
Books and media
Grecian Queen is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Grecian Queen became the first filly or mare to win a $100,000 race reserved exclusively for females when she took the 1953 New Castle Handicap at Delaware Park. Then the world's richest race for female Thoroughbreds, the New Castle was renamed the “Delaware Handicap” beginning with the 1955 renewal, while the name “New Castle” was given to a prep for the Delaware Handicap.
- In Hialeah Race Course’s annual poll of its racing officials, constituting six off-the-beaten-track questions centered around the previous year’s racing, longtime official Charles J. McClennan chose Grecian Queen as his "Biggest Disappointment" while colleague Marshall Cassidy chose Porterhouse. The two agreed on the other categories, choosing Summer Tan as “Most Likely to Succeed” at 3 among 1954’s 2-year-olds, Stan as “Best Grass Horse,” Fisherman as “Most Versatile,” Pet Bully as “Most Remarkable Comeback,” and Native Dancer and Turn-to as their "Hard Luck Champions."
Last updated: April 25, 2023