Like his sire, Menow was a precocious juvenile but of much higher class, topping the American 2-year-olds of 1937. While he had no pretense of staying classic distances, he could take advantage of favorable circumstances to stretch his speed up to 9 furlongs. He proved a very good sire, continuing the male line of Pharamond II through his son Tom Fool.
Race record
17 starts, 7 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds, US$140,100
1937:
- Won Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont; new world record 1:15-1/5)
- Won Champagne Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Washington Park Handicap (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
1938:
- Won Massachusetts Handicap (USA, 9FD, Suffolk)
- Won Potomac Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Havre de Grace)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Blue Grass Stakes (USA, 9FD, Keeneland)
- 3rd Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Havre de Grace Handicap (USA, 9FD, Havre de Grace)
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1937)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1937.
Ranked fourth among American 3-year-old males of 1938 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Menow was a strong, rather heavily built individual with short cannons and a good hind leg. Essentially a miler, he could stretch his speed a bit further in off going. His racing career ended in the fall of 1937 after he bowed tendons in both forelegs during the running of the Havre de Grace Handicap. He had an amiable disposition.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Menow sired 213 winners (73.2%) and 32 stakes winners (11.0%) from 291 named foals. Menow typically passed on his own good disposition.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1951; 7th in 1952; 8th in 1949; 9th in 1953.
- 8th on the American broodmare sire list in 1963.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1951.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1951; 7th in 1952; 8th in 1949; 9th in 1953.
- 8th on the American broodmare sire list in 1962 and 1963.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1951.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1951; 7th in 1952; 8th in 1949; 9th in 1953.
- 8th on the American broodmare sire list in 1962 and 1963.
Notable progeny
Askmenow (USA), Capot (USA), Flaring Top (USA), Flirtatious (USA), Ruhe (USA), Tom Fool (USA), Trymenow (USA), Vienna (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Castle Forbes (USA), Flaming Page (CAN), High Voltage (USA), Pams Ego (USA), Racing Fool (USA), Red God (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Menow was bred and owned by Hal Price Headley. He was trained by Duval Headley. He stood at Headley's Beaumont Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, throughout his stud career and died there in 1964. He is buried at Mill Ridge Farm on a parcel originally belonging to Beaumont Farm.
Pedigree notes
Menow is inbred 4x5x5 to two-time English leading sire Cyllene (also a champion sire in Argentina). Produced from two-time American champion filly Alcibiades, he is a full brother to the good stakes winner Lithe, dam of the stakes-winning filly Supple (by Mr. Trouble) and second dam of Grade II winner Gentle King and stakes winners What a Gent, Lithiot and Monolith. Another full sister to Menow, Hipparete, produced 1960 Spinster Stakes winner Rash Statement (by Ambiorix), 1957 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes winner Pillow Talk (by Mr. Trouble) and multiple stakes winner Out Talk (by Ambiorix). Rash Statement, in turn, is the second dam of 1975 Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Seraphic.
Menow is a half brother to 1936 Latonia Oaks winner Sparta (by St. Germans), second dam of stakes winner Navy Brass and Royal Fan, and to 1940 Alabama Stakes winner Salaminia (by Man o' War), dam of 1946 Ladies' Handicap winner Athenia (by Pharamond II) and stakes winner Libba (by Sir Damion) and second dam of six stakes winners including 1962 Alabama Stakes winner Firm Policy and 1954 Washington Park Futurity winner Georgian. Though Athenia, Salaminia is the third dam of 1968 Derby Stakes winner Sir Ivor and 1966 Matron Stakes winner Swiss Cheese.
Alcibiades is out of the Roi Herode mare Regal Roman and is a full sister to Regal Lady, dam of 1937 Alabama Stakes winner Regal Lily and 1939 Diana Handicap winner War Regalia (both by Man o' War). War Regalia, in turn, produced multiple stakes winners Sagittarius (by Teddy's Comet) and Masud (by Mahmoud) and is the third dam of 1985 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1) winner Proud Truth.
Books and media
Menow is profiled along with his sire Pharamond II in Chapter 31 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released by Eclipse Press in 2006).
Fun facts
- Menow got his name from the Headley children's cries for attention—“Me now!” Like Askmenow and Trymenow, many of his offspring bore related names.
- Menow was very slow to cover his mares, a quirk that many of his male-line descendants shared. The word got around among horse van drivers in the Bluegrass, who warned each other, "When you go to Beaumont, pack a lunch."
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: April 22, 2023