Majestic Prince (USA)
March 19, 1966 – April 22, 1981
Raise a Native (USA) x Gay Hostess (USA), by Royal Charger (GB)
Family 4-d
March 19, 1966 – April 22, 1981
Raise a Native (USA) x Gay Hostess (USA), by Royal Charger (GB)
Family 4-d
An exceptionally handsome colt, Majestic Prince was one of the few auction sales toppers to live up to both his looks and his price. Lightly raced at 2, the unbeaten colt won hard-fought victories over eventual Horse of the Year Arts and Letters in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He went into the Belmont Stakes with a chance to sweep the Triple Crown but against the advice of trainer John Longden, who felt that the Prince was tired and had lost too much weight after the previous two races. Longden's fears proved well founded as Majestic Prince was injured during the running of the Belmont Stakes, finished second, and never ran again. He proved a good sire and stands at the head of a tenuous branch of the Native Dancer/Raise a Native sire line that extends to 2010 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Super Saver.
Race record
10 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, US$414,200
1969:
Honors
Assessments
Majestic Prince was rated #46 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).
Co-highweighted with Horse of the Year Arts and Letters at 136 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1969, 10 pounds above the next-rated quartet of Al Hattab, Dike, Tell, and Top Knight.
As an individual
A chestnut, Majestic Prince stood 16.1 hands. He was considered an extremely handsome and well-made horse, beautifully balanced with a look of great quality, but a bit heavy-bodied for his underpinning and with suspicious-looking ankles. He possessed excellent tactical speed and was thoroughly game. Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form described him as “a grand mover” with “a charming disposition”; Kentucky Derby historian Jim Bolus described him as “playful” with a "majestic presence."
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Majestic Prince sired 187 winners (51.7%) and 32 stakes winners (8.8%) from 362 named foals; The Blood-Horse credits Majestic Prince with 33 stakes winners (9.1%). Unfortunately, he tended to pass on soundness issues.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Coastal (USA), Eternal Prince (USA), Impish (USA), Majestic Light (USA), Oui Mon Capitaine (USA), Sensitive Prince (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Caressing (USA), Interco (USA), Kalookan Queen (USA), Well Decorated (USA)
Connections
Majestic Prince was bred by Leslie Combs II & Frank McMahon (KY). He was owned by Frank McMahon, who effectively bought out Combs' share when purchasing the colt for a then-record US$250,000 at the 1967 Keeneland July yearling sale. Majestic Prince was trained by Johnny Longden. Following his retirement, Majestic Prince was syndicated for US$60,000 per share and entered stud in Kentucky at Spendthrift Farm, where he died of a heart attack in 1981.
Pedigree notes
Majestic Prince is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to 1971 English champion 2-year-old male Crowned Prince; to stakes-placed Our Queen, second dam of Grade 3 winner Casino Magistrate; to Caronatta, dam of restricted stakes winner Rally Run (by Dixieland Band); and to Meadow Blue, dam of stakes winner Nureyev's Best (by Nureyev), second dam of 1998 American champion 3-year-old male Real Quiet and third dam of Grade 2 winner Real Cozzy. Majestic Prince is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Lovely Gypsy (by Armageddon); to stakes-placed Betty Loraine (by Prince John), dam of 1974 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-G1) winner and French champion 3-year-old male Caracolero (by Graustark) and second dam of 1984 Derby Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Secreto; and to Rollabout (by My Babu), dam of Canadian stakes winner Lady Face (by Proud Clarion).
Majestic Prince's dam Gay Hostess is a full sister to stakes winner Royal Clipper and a half sister to 1974 Ladies Handicap (USA-G1) winner Coraggioso (by Gallant Man; dam of stakes winner Encourage, by Quack), 1963 Schuylerville Stakes winner Gallatia (by Gallant Man; dam of English Group 2 winner Gallina, by Raise a Native, and stakes winner Right Cross, by Nashua) and 1967 Arlington-Washington Futurity winner T. V. Commercial (by T. V. Lark). She is also a half sister to Etiquette (by Bernborough), dam of multiple stakes winners Command Module (by Knightly Manner) and Mr. Pomranky (by Cannonade) and second dam of 1973 French champion 2-year-old filly Hippodamia and French Group 3 winner Bad Conduct; to Lady Ambassador (by Hill Prince), dam of stakes winner Minstrel Grey (by Tudor Grey) and second dam of Grade 3 winner With a Twist; and to My Guest (by Mister Gus), dam of Grade 3 winner Native Guest (by Raise a Native) and stakes winners Raise Your Sights (by Raise a Native) and Memorable Mitch (by Mehmet). In addition, Gay Hostess is a half sister to Dancing Hostess (by Sword Dancer), dam of stakes winners Palladium (by T. V. Lark) and Loosen Up (by Never Bend), and to Votre Hotesse (by Nantallah), dam of stakes winner Auberge (by Hail to Reason) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Danville.
Your Hostess (by Alibhai x Boudoir II, by Mahmoud), the dam of Gay Hostess and her siblings, is a stakes-placed full sister to 1950 Santa Anita Derby winner Your Host and to Bowl of Roses, second dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Nichido Arashe. She is a half sister to Flower Bed (by Beau Pere), dam of 1956 Delaware Handicap winner Flower Bowl (by Alibhai), 1957 Bellerose Handicap winner Floral Park (by Alibhai) and 1965 Benjamin F. Lindheimer Handicap winner Brambles (by Beau Max) and second dam of three-time American champion Gallant Bloom, two-time American champion Bowl of Flowers and the important sires Graustark and His Majesty. She is also a half sister to Caluria (by Heliopolis), second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Yamolai.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: May 27, 2024
Race record
10 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, US$414,200
1969:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Santa Anita Derby (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won San Jacinto Stakes (USA, 8FD, Santa Anita)
- Won San Vicente Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Los Feliz Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1988)
- Arcadia Historical Society's Racing Walk of Champions (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2014)
Assessments
Majestic Prince was rated #46 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).
Co-highweighted with Horse of the Year Arts and Letters at 136 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1969, 10 pounds above the next-rated quartet of Al Hattab, Dike, Tell, and Top Knight.
As an individual
A chestnut, Majestic Prince stood 16.1 hands. He was considered an extremely handsome and well-made horse, beautifully balanced with a look of great quality, but a bit heavy-bodied for his underpinning and with suspicious-looking ankles. He possessed excellent tactical speed and was thoroughly game. Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form described him as “a grand mover” with “a charming disposition”; Kentucky Derby historian Jim Bolus described him as “playful” with a "majestic presence."
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Majestic Prince sired 187 winners (51.7%) and 32 stakes winners (8.8%) from 362 named foals; The Blood-Horse credits Majestic Prince with 33 stakes winners (9.1%). Unfortunately, he tended to pass on soundness issues.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1979.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1979.
Notable progeny
Coastal (USA), Eternal Prince (USA), Impish (USA), Majestic Light (USA), Oui Mon Capitaine (USA), Sensitive Prince (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Caressing (USA), Interco (USA), Kalookan Queen (USA), Well Decorated (USA)
Connections
Majestic Prince was bred by Leslie Combs II & Frank McMahon (KY). He was owned by Frank McMahon, who effectively bought out Combs' share when purchasing the colt for a then-record US$250,000 at the 1967 Keeneland July yearling sale. Majestic Prince was trained by Johnny Longden. Following his retirement, Majestic Prince was syndicated for US$60,000 per share and entered stud in Kentucky at Spendthrift Farm, where he died of a heart attack in 1981.
Pedigree notes
Majestic Prince is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to 1971 English champion 2-year-old male Crowned Prince; to stakes-placed Our Queen, second dam of Grade 3 winner Casino Magistrate; to Caronatta, dam of restricted stakes winner Rally Run (by Dixieland Band); and to Meadow Blue, dam of stakes winner Nureyev's Best (by Nureyev), second dam of 1998 American champion 3-year-old male Real Quiet and third dam of Grade 2 winner Real Cozzy. Majestic Prince is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Lovely Gypsy (by Armageddon); to stakes-placed Betty Loraine (by Prince John), dam of 1974 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-G1) winner and French champion 3-year-old male Caracolero (by Graustark) and second dam of 1984 Derby Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Secreto; and to Rollabout (by My Babu), dam of Canadian stakes winner Lady Face (by Proud Clarion).
Majestic Prince's dam Gay Hostess is a full sister to stakes winner Royal Clipper and a half sister to 1974 Ladies Handicap (USA-G1) winner Coraggioso (by Gallant Man; dam of stakes winner Encourage, by Quack), 1963 Schuylerville Stakes winner Gallatia (by Gallant Man; dam of English Group 2 winner Gallina, by Raise a Native, and stakes winner Right Cross, by Nashua) and 1967 Arlington-Washington Futurity winner T. V. Commercial (by T. V. Lark). She is also a half sister to Etiquette (by Bernborough), dam of multiple stakes winners Command Module (by Knightly Manner) and Mr. Pomranky (by Cannonade) and second dam of 1973 French champion 2-year-old filly Hippodamia and French Group 3 winner Bad Conduct; to Lady Ambassador (by Hill Prince), dam of stakes winner Minstrel Grey (by Tudor Grey) and second dam of Grade 3 winner With a Twist; and to My Guest (by Mister Gus), dam of Grade 3 winner Native Guest (by Raise a Native) and stakes winners Raise Your Sights (by Raise a Native) and Memorable Mitch (by Mehmet). In addition, Gay Hostess is a half sister to Dancing Hostess (by Sword Dancer), dam of stakes winners Palladium (by T. V. Lark) and Loosen Up (by Never Bend), and to Votre Hotesse (by Nantallah), dam of stakes winner Auberge (by Hail to Reason) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Danville.
Your Hostess (by Alibhai x Boudoir II, by Mahmoud), the dam of Gay Hostess and her siblings, is a stakes-placed full sister to 1950 Santa Anita Derby winner Your Host and to Bowl of Roses, second dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Nichido Arashe. She is a half sister to Flower Bed (by Beau Pere), dam of 1956 Delaware Handicap winner Flower Bowl (by Alibhai), 1957 Bellerose Handicap winner Floral Park (by Alibhai) and 1965 Benjamin F. Lindheimer Handicap winner Brambles (by Beau Max) and second dam of three-time American champion Gallant Bloom, two-time American champion Bowl of Flowers and the important sires Graustark and His Majesty. She is also a half sister to Caluria (by Heliopolis), second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Yamolai.
Books and media
- Majestic Prince's rivalry with Arts and Letters was featured as the 13th chapter of Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries (2008, Eclipse Press), a compilation produced by the staff of The Blood-Horse.
- Majestic Prince is profiled in Chapter 9 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Majestic Prince was the third horse to win the Kentucky Derby while unbeaten, following Regret (1915) and Morvich (1922). He was the first horse to win both the Derby and the Preakness while unbeaten.
- Majestic Prince's victory in the 1969 Kentucky Derby made John Longden the only person to both ride and train a Kentucky Derby winner. He had previously won the Derby as the jockey of 1943 Triple Crown winner Count Fleet. Longden's unique accomplishment was ranked #51 in Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments, a review of racing in the 20th century compiled by The Blood-Horse and released in 2006. The Prince also made Longden the second person to both ride and train winners of the Preakness Stakes following Louis Schaefer, who rode 1929 winner Dr. Freeland and trained 1939 winner Challedon.
- Majestic Prince was the fifth winning Derby mount for jockey William Hartack, tying Eddie Arcaro's record for Derby wins during a riding career.
Last updated: May 27, 2024