High Gun had the looks of a European stayer and the speed to run with any man's horse from a mile upward. The best racehorse of his crop, he was a champion at 3 and 4 but unfortunately proved all but sterile at stud.
Race record
24 starts, 11 wins, 5 seconds, 4 thirds, US$486,025
1954:
1955:
Honors
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Kentucky Derby winner Determine and the high-class runners Helioscope and Turn-to at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1954.
Highweighted at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1955, 1 pound above second-rated Helioscope.
As an individual
A brown horse, High Gun stood 16.1-1/2 hands at maturity. A trimly made animal with a deep, well-laid shoulder and straight, strong hind legs, he had excellent underpinnings and the flat musculature of a stayer. He had an even temper and could be placed as his jockey pleased during a race.
As a stallion
High Gun sired only four named foals, of which three were winners.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky at Palmeadow Farms, High Gun was bred by Kellar M. & W. Paul Little and Cary C. Boshamer. He was owned by Robert Kleberg's King Ranch after Kleberg bought him for US$10,200 at the Keeneland yearling sales. High Gun was trained by Max Hirsch. He was humanely destroyed after fracturing a leg in 1962.
Pedigree notes
High Gun's pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Roman Gun (by Roman), whose son Bridle Path (by Kennedy Road) won the 1979 Breeders' Stakes (the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown) and six other stakes races in Canada. Roman Gun is also the second dam of 1981 Premio Día de la Madre (PAN-G1) winner Katherina.
High Gun's dam Rocket Gun is a half sister to Stop Watch (by On Watch), dam of 1945 American champion handicap male Stymie. The sisters are out of the Man o' War mare Sunset Gun, whose dam Eventide (by Uncle) is out of the Colin mare Noontide, a half sister to five stakes winners including the good speed sire High Time.
Books and media
High Gun is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Last updated: December 31, 2022
Race record
24 starts, 11 wins, 5 seconds, 4 thirds, US$486,025
1954:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
- Won Dwyer Stakes (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Manhattan Handicap (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Peter Pan Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Sysonby Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd American Derby (USA, 9FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd Wood Memorial Stakes (USA, 9FD, Jamaica)
- 3rd Arlington Classic (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Jersey Stakes (USA, 9FD, Garden State)
- 3rd Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
1955:
- Won Sysonby Stakes (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Monmouth Handicap (USA, 10FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
Honors
- American champion 3-year-old male (1954)
- American champion handicap male (1955)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Kentucky Derby winner Determine and the high-class runners Helioscope and Turn-to at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1954.
Highweighted at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1955, 1 pound above second-rated Helioscope.
As an individual
A brown horse, High Gun stood 16.1-1/2 hands at maturity. A trimly made animal with a deep, well-laid shoulder and straight, strong hind legs, he had excellent underpinnings and the flat musculature of a stayer. He had an even temper and could be placed as his jockey pleased during a race.
As a stallion
High Gun sired only four named foals, of which three were winners.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky at Palmeadow Farms, High Gun was bred by Kellar M. & W. Paul Little and Cary C. Boshamer. He was owned by Robert Kleberg's King Ranch after Kleberg bought him for US$10,200 at the Keeneland yearling sales. High Gun was trained by Max Hirsch. He was humanely destroyed after fracturing a leg in 1962.
Pedigree notes
High Gun's pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Roman Gun (by Roman), whose son Bridle Path (by Kennedy Road) won the 1979 Breeders' Stakes (the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown) and six other stakes races in Canada. Roman Gun is also the second dam of 1981 Premio Día de la Madre (PAN-G1) winner Katherina.
High Gun's dam Rocket Gun is a half sister to Stop Watch (by On Watch), dam of 1945 American champion handicap male Stymie. The sisters are out of the Man o' War mare Sunset Gun, whose dam Eventide (by Uncle) is out of the Colin mare Noontide, a half sister to five stakes winners including the good speed sire High Time.
Books and media
High Gun is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Last updated: December 31, 2022