Lonesome Glory (USA)
February 18, 1988 – February 25, 2002
Transworld (USA) x Stronghold (FR), by Green Dancer (USA)
Family 16-c
February 18, 1988 – February 25, 2002
Transworld (USA) x Stronghold (FR), by Green Dancer (USA)
Family 16-c
Few American horses have so dominated the demanding sport of steeplechasing as Lonesome Glory, and none over so long a period. A surefooted jumper who only fell once during his years of racing over the jumps, he combined the stamina of the Princequillo and Nijinsky II male lines with a dash of speed contributed through the line of his great-granddam, the excellent broodmare Blue Denim. The result was a five-time American champion who raced at the highest level of his sport for eight years. He set or equaled seven course records during his career and also won races at Cheltenham and Sandown in England.
Race record
44 starts, 24 wins, 5 seconds, 6 thirds, US$1,400,068
1992:
1993:
1994:
1995:
1997:
1998:
1999:
Honors
As an individual
A strongly made chestnut gelding, Lonesome Glory was unruly as a youngster.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Lonesome Glory was bred by Walter M. Jeffords Jr. and was owned by Jeffords’s wife, Kay, who inherited the horse on her husband’s death in 1990. He was trained by Bruce Miller and was regularly ridden by Miller’s daughter, Blythe Miller. Charlie Brooks took over the training duties while Lonesome Glory was in England in 1995, with Miller resuming the horse’s training following Lonesome Glory’s return to the United States. He was pensioned at his owner’s farm after his retirement from racing but was fatally injured in a paddock accident on February 25, 2002. He is buried at the National Steeplechase Museum in Camden, South Carolina.
Pedigree notes
Lonesome Glory is inbred 4x5 to 1946 French champion sire Prince Rose and 5x4 to 1929 American Horse of the Year Blue Larkspur. He is a full brother to stakes-placed Skillogalee, dam of hurdle stakes winner Dynaskill (by Dynaformer). He is a half brother to multiple hurdle stakes winner Strawberry Angel (by Red Attack), dam of restricted stakes winner Hear No Angel (by Eavesdropper). Lonesome Glory is also a half brother to Good Wishes (by Lyphard’s Wish), dam of multiple hurdle/steeplechase stakes winner Turkish Corner (by Turkoman).
Lonesome Glory and his siblings are out of Stronghold, whose half sister Souba (by Taine) is the dam of multiple New Zealand Group 3 winner Zephyr Souba (by Zephyr Bay) and Australian Group 3 winner Tessuti (by Sackford); the second dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Naturalism, multiple New Zealand Group1 winner Star Dancer, and 1997 Qantas Queensland Oaks (AUS-G1) winner Crystal Palace; and the third dam of multiple Australian Group 2 winner Palacio de Cristal. Stronghold, in turn, is out of Serge de Nimes (by Arctic Prince), a half sister to six stakes winners produced from the excellent broodmare Blue Denim (Blue Larkspur x Judy O’Grady, by Man o’ War).
Fun facts
Last updated: December 29, 2023
Race record
44 starts, 24 wins, 5 seconds, 6 thirds, US$1,400,068
1992:
- Won Supreme Hurdle (USA, 20FT, Fair Hills)
- Won Sport of Kings Challenge Stakes (ENG, 21.5FT, Cheltenham)
- 2nd Queen Mother Supreme Hurdle Stakes (USA, 20FT, Belmont)
- 3rd Delta Airlines Supreme Steeplechase (USA, 19FT, Pine Mountain)
- Also set a new course record of 4:04.40 for about 20FT at Prospect in a steeplechase allowance
1993:
- Won Breeders' Cup Steeplechase Stakes (USA, 21FT, Belmont; equaled course record 4:53.49)
- Also set a new course record of 5:19.60 for about 3 miles at Great Meadows in a hurdle handicap
1994:
- Won Temple Gwathmey Hurdle Handicap (USA, about 21FT, Glenwood Park at Middleburg; new course record 4:41.60)
- 3rd New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 19FT, Saratoga)
- 3rd Breeders' Cup Grand National Hurdles Stakes (USA, 21FT, Fair Hills)
1995:
- Won New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 19FT, Saratoga; new course record 4:12.81)
- Won Colonial Cup Steeplechase Stakes (USA, 22FT, Camden)
- Won Iroquois Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 24FT, Percy Warner)
- Won A. P. Smithwick Hurdle Handicap. (USA, 16.5FT, SAR)
- 2nd Temple Gwathmey Hurdle Handicap (USA, about 21FT, Glenwood Park at Middleburg)
1997:
- Won Colonial Cup Steeplechase Stakes (USA, NSA-G1, 22FT, Camden)
- 2nd Iroquois Hurdle Handicap (USA, NSA-G1, 24FT, Percy Warner)
- 3rd New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase Handicap (USA, NSA-G1, 19FT, Saratoga)
1998:
- Won Hard Scuffle Steeplechase Handicap (USA, NSA-G1, about 20FT, Churchill Downs; equaled course record 4:28.55)
1999:
- Won Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings (USA, NSA-G1, about 20FT, Keeneland; equaled course record 4:36.01)
- Won Nationsbank Carolina Cup Steeplechase Stakes (USA, NSA-G1, 18FT, Camden)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2005)
- Eclipse Award, American champion steeplechaser (1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999)
As an individual
A strongly made chestnut gelding, Lonesome Glory was unruly as a youngster.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Lonesome Glory was bred by Walter M. Jeffords Jr. and was owned by Jeffords’s wife, Kay, who inherited the horse on her husband’s death in 1990. He was trained by Bruce Miller and was regularly ridden by Miller’s daughter, Blythe Miller. Charlie Brooks took over the training duties while Lonesome Glory was in England in 1995, with Miller resuming the horse’s training following Lonesome Glory’s return to the United States. He was pensioned at his owner’s farm after his retirement from racing but was fatally injured in a paddock accident on February 25, 2002. He is buried at the National Steeplechase Museum in Camden, South Carolina.
Pedigree notes
Lonesome Glory is inbred 4x5 to 1946 French champion sire Prince Rose and 5x4 to 1929 American Horse of the Year Blue Larkspur. He is a full brother to stakes-placed Skillogalee, dam of hurdle stakes winner Dynaskill (by Dynaformer). He is a half brother to multiple hurdle stakes winner Strawberry Angel (by Red Attack), dam of restricted stakes winner Hear No Angel (by Eavesdropper). Lonesome Glory is also a half brother to Good Wishes (by Lyphard’s Wish), dam of multiple hurdle/steeplechase stakes winner Turkish Corner (by Turkoman).
Lonesome Glory and his siblings are out of Stronghold, whose half sister Souba (by Taine) is the dam of multiple New Zealand Group 3 winner Zephyr Souba (by Zephyr Bay) and Australian Group 3 winner Tessuti (by Sackford); the second dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Naturalism, multiple New Zealand Group1 winner Star Dancer, and 1997 Qantas Queensland Oaks (AUS-G1) winner Crystal Palace; and the third dam of multiple Australian Group 2 winner Palacio de Cristal. Stronghold, in turn, is out of Serge de Nimes (by Arctic Prince), a half sister to six stakes winners produced from the excellent broodmare Blue Denim (Blue Larkspur x Judy O’Grady, by Man o’ War).
Fun facts
- Lonesome Glory was named for a Pennsylvania hunting ground often used by the Jeffordses.
- Lonesome Glory was the first American steeplechaser to top US$1 million in earnings. He was also the first American steeplechaser to win a race under National Hunt rules in England.
- Lonesome Glory was originally intended for a career as a show jumper but proved too nervous for that role.
- Lonesome Glory is the namesake for a steeplechase (a Grade 1 race under National Steeplechase Association rules). Inaugurated in 2007 at Belmont, the race has served as a major prep for the Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase.
Last updated: December 29, 2023