Kennedy Road (CAN)
April 18, 1968 – December 15, 1995
Victoria Park (CAN) x Nearis (CAN), by Nearctic (CAN)
Family 9-b
April 18, 1968 – December 15, 1995
Victoria Park (CAN) x Nearis (CAN), by Nearctic (CAN)
Family 9-b
Although he came to hand early enough to be a juvenile champion in Canada and was a champion every year that he raced, Kennedy Road took until age 6 to peach his peak, winning two Grade 1 stakes in the United States and hanging up two track records that year. He was unable to get a successor in the stud as his multiple Grade 1-winning son Variety Road was a disappointing sire, bringing the male line of Sir Gallahad III to an end.
Race record
45 starts, 17 wins, 12 seconds, 3 thirds, US$481,007 (includes converted Canadian earnings)
1970:
1971:
1972:
1973:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1971, 10 pounds below divisional champion and highweight Hoist the Flag.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for juveniles of 1971, 4 pounds above second-rated Chatty Cavalier.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1971, 5 pounds below co-highweights Canonero II (the official divisional champion) and Bold Reason.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-old males of 1971, 2 pounds below Minsky (who did not make the requisite three starts in Canada to qualify for an official championship but won both his Canadian starts impressively).
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1972, 8 pounds below champion Autobiography.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older males of 1972, 1 pound above second-rated Monte Christo II.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1973, 10 pounds below champion Riva Ridge.
Rated at 132 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older males of 1973, 6 pounds above second-rated Nice Dancer.
As an individual
A masculine, powerful bay horse, Kennedy Road was described as "a tall, lean colt with bulging muscles" in his Canadian Hall of Fame biography. He was known for being temperamental and stubborn as well as talented and could probably have had a better race record had he not been given to sulking and refusing to put out his best effort at times. He underwent an operation to remove a piece of bone from a hind ankle following his juvenile season but was otherwise quite sound until nearing the end of his career. He bowed a tendon in his next-to-last race, a six-furlong sprint in which he set a Woodbine track record that stood for 26 years.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by the Jockey Club, Kennedy Road sired 316 winners (53.7%) and 24 stakes winners (4.1%) from 589 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per the Korean Stud Book (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/main.jsp):
Notable progeny
Variety Road (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Kennedy Road was bred by Angus Glen Farm (Arthur and Helen Stollery) and was officially owned by Helen Stollery. He was trained by J. C. Bentley in Canada; in the USA, he was trained by Charlie Whittingham and later by Clarke Whitaker. He died of old age on December 15, 1995, at Old English Rancho in California.
Pedigree notes
Kennedy Road’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Petrologist, dam of multiple stakes winners Coup de Chance (by Tentam) and Conform (by Blushing Groom) and third dam of Grade 2 winner Tactical Directive.
Kennedy Road and Petrologist are out of Nearis, whose full sister Ballistic is the dam of Grade 2 winner Glenaris (by Sassafras) and multiple stakes winner Gallant Glen (by Gallant Man) and the second dam of Grade 3 winner Pensioner. Nearis is also a half sister to multiple Canadian stakes winners Bold Scholar (by Education) and Menaris (by Ménétrier). The last-named mare is the dam of Canadian juvenile stakes winner Raising Men (by Bye and Near) and the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Schossberg. In addition, Nearis is a half sister to Cusmet (by Chop Chop), dam of stakes winners Hinemoa (by Fabius), Cusmax (by Phalanx), Taina (by Fabius), and Park Romeo (by Gallant Romeo) and third dam of French Group 3 winner Arabian Falcon.
Nearis and her siblings are out of juvenile stakes winner Bolaris (by 1942 Peter Pan Handicap winner Fairaris), whose half sister Bolesteo (by Filisteo) is the dam of 1956 Canadian Horse of the Year Canadian Champ (by Windfields) and Canadian stakes winner Festivity (by Fairaris). Bolaris, in turn, was produced from the Bull Dog mare Bold Fay, a winning half sister to 1936 Test Stakes winner Snow Fairy (by Byrd).
Fun facts
Last updated: January 3, 2023
Race record
45 starts, 17 wins, 12 seconds, 3 thirds, US$481,007 (includes converted Canadian earnings)
1970:
- Won Grey Handicap (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- Won Cup and Saucer Stakes (CAN, 8.5FT, Woodbine)
- Won Colin Stakes (CAN, 6.5FD, Fort Erie)
- 2nd Coronation Futurity (CAN, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Victoria Stakes (CAN, 5.5FD, Woodbine)
1971:
- Won Queen's Plate (CAN, 10FD, Woodbine)
- Won Plate Trial Stakes (second division) (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Marine Stakes (CAN, 7FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Prince of Wales Stakes (CAN, 11FT, Fort Erie)
1972:
- Won Dominion Day Handicap (CAN, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Californian Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Miller High Life Inglewood Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Canadian Maturity Stakes (CAN, 10FT, Woodbine)
- 3rd Lakeside Handicap (USA, 8FT, Hollywood)
- 3rd Livonian Handicap (USA, 6FD, Detroit)
1973:
- Won Hollywood Gold Cup (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- Won San Antonio Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Cabrillo Handicap (USA, about 10FD, Del Mar; equaled track record of 1:56-3/5)
- Won San Diego Handcap (USA, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Carlos Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Pasqual Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Also set a new track record of 1:08-3/5 for six furlongs at Woodbine
Honors
- Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2000)
- Canadian Horse of the Year (1973)
- Canadian champion 2-year-old male (1970)
- Canadian champion 3-year-old male (1971)
- Canadian champion older male (1972, 1973)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1971, 10 pounds below divisional champion and highweight Hoist the Flag.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for juveniles of 1971, 4 pounds above second-rated Chatty Cavalier.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1971, 5 pounds below co-highweights Canonero II (the official divisional champion) and Bold Reason.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-old males of 1971, 2 pounds below Minsky (who did not make the requisite three starts in Canada to qualify for an official championship but won both his Canadian starts impressively).
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1972, 8 pounds below champion Autobiography.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older males of 1972, 1 pound above second-rated Monte Christo II.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1973, 10 pounds below champion Riva Ridge.
Rated at 132 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older males of 1973, 6 pounds above second-rated Nice Dancer.
As an individual
A masculine, powerful bay horse, Kennedy Road was described as "a tall, lean colt with bulging muscles" in his Canadian Hall of Fame biography. He was known for being temperamental and stubborn as well as talented and could probably have had a better race record had he not been given to sulking and refusing to put out his best effort at times. He underwent an operation to remove a piece of bone from a hind ankle following his juvenile season but was otherwise quite sound until nearing the end of his career. He bowed a tendon in his next-to-last race, a six-furlong sprint in which he set a Woodbine track record that stood for 26 years.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by the Jockey Club, Kennedy Road sired 316 winners (53.7%) and 24 stakes winners (4.1%) from 589 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per the Korean Stud Book (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/main.jsp):
- 9th on the Korean broodmare sire list in 2003.
Notable progeny
Variety Road (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Kennedy Road was bred by Angus Glen Farm (Arthur and Helen Stollery) and was officially owned by Helen Stollery. He was trained by J. C. Bentley in Canada; in the USA, he was trained by Charlie Whittingham and later by Clarke Whitaker. He died of old age on December 15, 1995, at Old English Rancho in California.
Pedigree notes
Kennedy Road’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Petrologist, dam of multiple stakes winners Coup de Chance (by Tentam) and Conform (by Blushing Groom) and third dam of Grade 2 winner Tactical Directive.
Kennedy Road and Petrologist are out of Nearis, whose full sister Ballistic is the dam of Grade 2 winner Glenaris (by Sassafras) and multiple stakes winner Gallant Glen (by Gallant Man) and the second dam of Grade 3 winner Pensioner. Nearis is also a half sister to multiple Canadian stakes winners Bold Scholar (by Education) and Menaris (by Ménétrier). The last-named mare is the dam of Canadian juvenile stakes winner Raising Men (by Bye and Near) and the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Schossberg. In addition, Nearis is a half sister to Cusmet (by Chop Chop), dam of stakes winners Hinemoa (by Fabius), Cusmax (by Phalanx), Taina (by Fabius), and Park Romeo (by Gallant Romeo) and third dam of French Group 3 winner Arabian Falcon.
Nearis and her siblings are out of juvenile stakes winner Bolaris (by 1942 Peter Pan Handicap winner Fairaris), whose half sister Bolesteo (by Filisteo) is the dam of 1956 Canadian Horse of the Year Canadian Champ (by Windfields) and Canadian stakes winner Festivity (by Fairaris). Bolaris, in turn, was produced from the Bull Dog mare Bold Fay, a winning half sister to 1936 Test Stakes winner Snow Fairy (by Byrd).
Fun facts
- The Kennedy Road Stakes is a six-furlong sprint race for horses aged 3 and up at Woodbine. As of 2022, it carried Grade 2 status.
- Kennedy Road is one of a record-tying four winning Queen’s Plate mounts for the great Canadian jockey Desmond “Sandy” Hawley. The others are Almoner (1970), L’Enjoleur (1975), and Regal Embrace (1978).
Last updated: January 3, 2023