One of the best members of a vintage American crop, Jamestown was probably the most brilliant and precocious. Of championship caliber at 2, he did not train on quite as well as rivals Equipoise, Twenty Grand and Mate. He was a useful rather than outstanding stallion, best remembered for siring 1939 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Johnstown.
Race record
19 starts, 12 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$189,635
1930:
1931:
1933:
Honors
American co-champion 2-year-old male (1930)
As an individual
A bay horse, Jamestown had much of the quality and balance that marked his maternal grandsire, Fair Play, but did not stay nearly as well.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Jamestown sired 197 winners (80.4%) and 19 stakes winners (7.8%) from 245 named foals. He was more an influence for speed than stamina although the best of his progeny could carry their speed a long way.
Notable progeny
Natchez (USA), Johnstown (USA)
Connections
Jamestown was bred and owned by George D. Widener. He was trained by Andrew J. “Jack” Joyner and later by Bert Mulholland as a 5-year-old. He retired to Widener's Erdenheim Stud in Pennsylvania in 1934 and moved to his owner's Kentucky farm, Old Kenney Farm in 1935. He remained at Old Kenney until his death in 1953 and was buried in the farm's equine cemetery.
Pedigree notes
Jamestown is inbred 5x4 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or and 5x5x5 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon, an unbeaten champion on the racetrack. He is a half brother to 1928 Youthful Stakes winner Kopeck (by Stefan the Great).
Jamestown is out of the stakes-winning mare Mlle. Dazie, whose stakes-winning full sister Tailor Maid is the second dam of 1944 Longacres Mile Handicap winner Hard Twist. Mlle. Dazie is also a half sister to Cri de Coeur, second dam of 1937 Bryan and O'Hara Memorial Handicap winner Busy K. and third dam of the good sprinters and sires Johns Joy and The Doge, 1951 Hopeful Stakes winner Cousin, 1945 Roamer Handicap winner Chief Barker and the good stakes filly Carolyn A., winner of the 1947 Louisiana Derby from the colts.
Mlle. Dazie and her siblings were produced from the minor stakes winner Toggery (by Rock Sand), a full sister to 1915 Tremont Stakes winner Tea Caddy and to Tea Biscuit, dam of 1929 Saranac Handicap winner Hard Tack (by Man o' War). Toggery is also a half sister to two-time American champion Ort Wells (by King Eric), to the top Midwestern performer Dick Welles (by King Eric) and to 1905 Great Trial Stakes winner Sorceror. Their dam Tea's Over (by Hanover) was produced from the King Alfonso mare Tea Rose. The next dam in the tail-female line, Tuberose, was sired by Virgil from the Glen Athol mare Buttercup, whose half sister Ivy Leaf (by Australian) produced 1879 American champion older male Bramble (by Bonnie Scotland).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: March 30, 2020
Race record
19 starts, 12 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$189,635
1930:
- Won Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Saratoga Special (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won United States Hotel Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Flash Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
1931:
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont; third of 3)
- 3rd Shevlin Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
1933:
- Won Capital Handicap (USA, 6FD, Laurel)
Honors
American co-champion 2-year-old male (1930)
As an individual
A bay horse, Jamestown had much of the quality and balance that marked his maternal grandsire, Fair Play, but did not stay nearly as well.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Jamestown sired 197 winners (80.4%) and 19 stakes winners (7.8%) from 245 named foals. He was more an influence for speed than stamina although the best of his progeny could carry their speed a long way.
Notable progeny
Natchez (USA), Johnstown (USA)
Connections
Jamestown was bred and owned by George D. Widener. He was trained by Andrew J. “Jack” Joyner and later by Bert Mulholland as a 5-year-old. He retired to Widener's Erdenheim Stud in Pennsylvania in 1934 and moved to his owner's Kentucky farm, Old Kenney Farm in 1935. He remained at Old Kenney until his death in 1953 and was buried in the farm's equine cemetery.
Pedigree notes
Jamestown is inbred 5x4 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or and 5x5x5 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon, an unbeaten champion on the racetrack. He is a half brother to 1928 Youthful Stakes winner Kopeck (by Stefan the Great).
Jamestown is out of the stakes-winning mare Mlle. Dazie, whose stakes-winning full sister Tailor Maid is the second dam of 1944 Longacres Mile Handicap winner Hard Twist. Mlle. Dazie is also a half sister to Cri de Coeur, second dam of 1937 Bryan and O'Hara Memorial Handicap winner Busy K. and third dam of the good sprinters and sires Johns Joy and The Doge, 1951 Hopeful Stakes winner Cousin, 1945 Roamer Handicap winner Chief Barker and the good stakes filly Carolyn A., winner of the 1947 Louisiana Derby from the colts.
Mlle. Dazie and her siblings were produced from the minor stakes winner Toggery (by Rock Sand), a full sister to 1915 Tremont Stakes winner Tea Caddy and to Tea Biscuit, dam of 1929 Saranac Handicap winner Hard Tack (by Man o' War). Toggery is also a half sister to two-time American champion Ort Wells (by King Eric), to the top Midwestern performer Dick Welles (by King Eric) and to 1905 Great Trial Stakes winner Sorceror. Their dam Tea's Over (by Hanover) was produced from the King Alfonso mare Tea Rose. The next dam in the tail-female line, Tuberose, was sired by Virgil from the Glen Athol mare Buttercup, whose half sister Ivy Leaf (by Australian) produced 1879 American champion older male Bramble (by Bonnie Scotland).
Fun facts
- Jamestown was named for a city in Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in what later became the United States.
- Jamestown's name and image were used to promote Park & Tilford, a brand of whiskey that used the slogan, “Proof of Kentucky-bred quality.”
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: March 30, 2020