Hill Prince (USA)
February 20, 1947 – January 6, 1970
Princequillo (IRE) x Hildene (USA), by Bubbling Over (USA)
Family 9-b
February 20, 1947 – January 6, 1970
Princequillo (IRE) x Hildene (USA), by Bubbling Over (USA)
Family 9-b
A member of Princequillo's first crop, Hill Prince was conceived on a US$250 stud fee and was out of a mare that cost his owner US$750. By the time Hill Prince concluded his racing career, Princequillo was well on his way to a stud career that would see him lead the American general sire list twice and the American broodmare sire list eight times. A rugged colt who won or shared championships for three consecutive years, Hill Prince became a useful sire whose fillies were better than his colts.
Race record
30 starts, 17 wins, 5 seconds, 4 thirds, US$422,140
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
Honors
Assessments
Hill Prince was rated #75 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).
Rated at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1949, tied with the other divisional co-champion, Oil Capitol, but 2 pounds below highweighted Middleground.
As an individual
Hill Prince stood 16 hands but looked shorter than he was because of his burly physique. He was described by Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton as "a large, rather rough bay with the width of two horses." Hill Prince was generally correct but with slightly soft feet. He had a long, fluid stride and carried his head notably low when racing. His temperament was reportedly excellent.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Hill Prince sired 227 winners (66.0%) and 23 stakes winners (6.7%) from 344 named foals.
Notable progeny
Bayou (USA), Home by Dark (USA), Lebkuchen (USA), Levee (USA), Merry Hill (USA), Royal Living (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dark Mirage (USA), Miss Toshiba (USA), Nalee (USA), Shuvee (USA)
Connections
A Virginia-bred, Hill Prince was bred and owned by Christopher Chenery's Meadow Stud and Meadow Stable, respectively, and was Chenery's first Classic winner. He was trained by J. H. "Casey" Hayes. He entered stud in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1952. He was pensioned in 1969 and returned home to Meadow Stud, where he was humanely destroyed in 1970 after suffering an apparent heart attack.
Pedigree notes
Hill Prince is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to 1956 Roamer Handicap winner Third Brother and stakes winner Prince Hill, and is a half brother to 1958 American champion 2-year-old male First Landing (by Turn-To) and stake winner Mangohick (by Sun Beau). 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.
Hill Prince 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).
Books and media
Hill Prince is profiled in Chapter 7 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dake Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: August 11, 2021
Race record
30 starts, 17 wins, 5 seconds, 4 thirds, US$422,140
1949:
- Won Cowdin Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won World's Playground Stakes (USA, 6FD, Atlantic City)
- Won Babylon Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Sapling Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
1950:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
- Won American Derby (USA, 10FD, Washington Park)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Sunset Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Wood Memorial Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- Won Experimental Free Handicap No. 1 (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
- Won Jerome Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Dwyer Stakes (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Hollywood Gold Cup (USA, 10FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Thanksgiving Day Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
1951:
- Won New York Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Empire City Gold Cup (USA, 13FD, Empire City)
- 2nd Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
1952:
- Won San Marcos Handicap (USA, 8FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1991)
- American Horse of the Year (1950)
- American co-champion 2-year-old male (1949)
- American champion 3-year-old male (1950)
- American co-champion handicap male (1951)
Assessments
Hill Prince was rated #75 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).
Rated at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1949, tied with the other divisional co-champion, Oil Capitol, but 2 pounds below highweighted Middleground.
As an individual
Hill Prince stood 16 hands but looked shorter than he was because of his burly physique. He was described by Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton as "a large, rather rough bay with the width of two horses." Hill Prince was generally correct but with slightly soft feet. He had a long, fluid stride and carried his head notably low when racing. His temperament was reportedly excellent.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Hill Prince sired 227 winners (66.0%) and 23 stakes winners (6.7%) from 344 named foals.
Notable progeny
Bayou (USA), Home by Dark (USA), Lebkuchen (USA), Levee (USA), Merry Hill (USA), Royal Living (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dark Mirage (USA), Miss Toshiba (USA), Nalee (USA), Shuvee (USA)
Connections
A Virginia-bred, Hill Prince was bred and owned by Christopher Chenery's Meadow Stud and Meadow Stable, respectively, and was Chenery's first Classic winner. He was trained by J. H. "Casey" Hayes. He entered stud in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1952. He was pensioned in 1969 and returned home to Meadow Stud, where he was humanely destroyed in 1970 after suffering an apparent heart attack.
Pedigree notes
Hill Prince is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to 1956 Roamer Handicap winner Third Brother and stakes winner Prince Hill, and is a half brother to 1958 American champion 2-year-old male First Landing (by Turn-To) and stake winner Mangohick (by Sun Beau). 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.
Hill Prince 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).
Books and media
Hill Prince is profiled in Chapter 7 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Hill Prince was the third of jockey Eddie Arcaro's record six Preakness Stakes winners. The others were Whirlaway (1941), Citation (1948), Bold (1951), Nashua (1955) and Bold Ruler (1957).
- The Hill Prince Stakes was inaugurated in 1975. It is currently a Grade 2 stakes for 3-year-olds and is contested at 8 furlongs on turf at Belmont Park.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dake Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: August 11, 2021