Personal Ensign (horse)

Won Frizette Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)

1987:

Won Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
Won Rare Perfume Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)

1988:

Won Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
Won Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
Won Whitney Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
Won Hempstead Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
Won Shuvee Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
Won Maskette Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
Won Molly Pitcher Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Monmouth)

Honors

National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1993)
Monmouth Park Hall of Champions
Eclipse Award, American champion older female (1988)

Assessments

Personal Ensign was rated #48 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). She ranked fourth among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.

Rated at 120 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1986, 3 pounds below champion filly Brave Raj.

Co-highweighted with the official divisional champion, Sacahuista, at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1987, 4 pounds above Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Fiesta Gal.

Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1988, 3 pounds above second-rated By Land By Sea.

As an individual

A rangy, attractive, good-sized bay mare with a rather angular make and a long head, Personal Ensign was strong-willed, independent and stubborn. She displayed tremendous determination at the track but was aloof at best and fractious at worst in response to human handling. She possessed a strong maternal instinct and was an alpha mare in the broodmare paddocks.

As a producer

A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Personal Ensign produced 10 named foals. Of these, nine started and won. Her important foals are as follow:

Miner's Mark (1990, by Mr. Prospector) won three graded races including the 1993 Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1). He was not a successful sire.
Our Emblem (1991, by Mr. Prospector) never won a stakes but placed in eight graded races including three Grade 1 events. He sired 2002 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) and Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner War Emblem before being sold to Brazilian interests in 2006. He reached as high as eighth on the Brazilian general sire list.
Pennant Champion (1992, by Mr. Prospector) produced 2011 Bourbon Stakes (USA-G3) winner Animal Spirits (by Arch). She is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Interactif, multiple Grade 3 winner Divine Oath, and Grade 3 winners Auntie Joy and Ocho Ocho Ocho.
My Flag (1993, by Easy Goer) won four Grade 1 races including the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and the 1996 Coaching Club American Oaks; she was also third in the Belmont Stakes against males. She produced 2002 American champion 2-year-old filly Storm Flag Flying (by Storm Cat), second dam of Grade 2 winners Dynamic One and Jouster, and stakes winner With Flying Colors (by A.P. Indy); the last-named mare is the dam of Grade 3 winner Teresa Z (by Smart Strike). Through her Storm Cat daughter On Parade, My Flag is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner Parading and the third dam of Grade 3 winner Performer.
Traditionally (1997, by Mr. Prospector) won the 2001 Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G1).
Possibility (2000, by A.P. Indy) won one of her seven starts. She is the second dam of 2023 Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun (USA-G1) winner Arabian Lion and Grade 2 winner Major Dude.
Salute (2002, by Unbridled) was Grade 2-placed as a juvenile and is the dam of 2014 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Mr. Speaker (by Pulpit), 2018 Dixie Stakes (USA-G3) winner Fire Away (by War Front), and 2021 Eatontown Stakes (USA-G3) winner Vigilantes Way (by Medaglia d'Oro). She is also the dam of Snap Decision (by Hard Spun), winner of the 2021 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes (NSA-G1).
Title Seeker (2003, by Monarchos) is the dam of Grade 1-placed 2010 Iowa Oaks (USA-G3) winner Seeking the Title (by Seeking the Gold), who in turn produced 2017 Clark Handicap (USA-G1) winner Seeking the Soul (by Perfect Soul). Title Seeker is also the dam of 2021 Louisiana Handicap (USA-G3) winner Title Ready (by More Than Ready).

Connections

Personal Ensign was bred and owned by Ogden Phipps. She was trained by Claude “Shug” McGaughey. She was pensioned from broodmare duty in September 2006 and died of natural causes at her birthplace, Claiborne Farm, in 2010.

Pedigree notes

Personal Ensign is inbred 5x4 to War Admiral. She is a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Personal Flag and to Private Colors, dam of stakes winner Private Dreams (by Johannesburg), second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner God of Chance, and third dam of 2017 Slovakian champion 2-year-old male King Heart, 2015 Gran Premio General San Martin (ARG-G1) winner Giacom, and multiple English Group 2 winner Strong Suit.

Personal Ensign's dam, Grecian Banner, is the 1988 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. A half sister to stakes winner Our Hero (by Bold Ruler), she is also a half sister to Dory (by Right of Way), second dam of 2004 Argentine champion sprinter Forty Doriana, 2000 Premio Carreras Estrellas Sprint (ARG-G1) winner Dionisio Tom, 1991 Las Oaks (CHI-G1) winner Doryanna, and Argentine Group 2 winners Grand Dory and Dorian Gray. Dory is also the third dam of Argentine Group 2 winners Forty Dorico, Dorylda, and Pure Doris and of Chilean Group 2 winner Mi Coqueta. Another half sister to Grecian Banner, Wise Viewer (by Reviewer), is the dam of multiple listed stakes winner Take Account (by Private Account) and the third dam of 2014 Gold Medallion Stakes (SAF-G1) winner Guiness and 2015 Zimbabwe Oaks winner Fig Jam.

Grecian Banner is out of two-time Argentine champion filly Dorine (by Aristophanes). A full sister to Gran Premio 25 de Mayo winner Doretta and to stakes winner Dorileo, Dorine is out of the crack Argentine sprinter Doria (by Advocate) and is a product of the same sire/broodmare sire cross that produced the great Forli. Doria, in turn, is a half sister to Donvina (by Pont l'Eveque), second dam of 1975 Vanity Handicap (USA-G1) winner Dulcia, and to Donnetta (by Pont l'Eveque), second dam of 1980 Clasico Nacional Ricardo Lyon (CHI-G1) winner Maipon and multiple Uruguayan Group 2 winner Donzettino.

Books and media

Personal Ensign is the 11th book in the Thoroughbred Legends series from Eclipse Press. It was written by Bill Heller and published in 2001.
Personal Ensign's rivalry with Winning Colors was featured as the 16th chapter of Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries (2008, Eclipse Press), a compilation produced by the staff of The Blood-Horse.
Personal Ensign is one of 50 Thoroughbreds profiled in Royal Blood: Fifty Years of Classic Thoroughbreds. Written by racing historian Jim Bolus with illustrations and commentary by noted equine artist Richard Stone Reeves, the book was released by The Blood-Horse, Inc., in 1994.
Personal Ensign was one of nearly 100 older Thoroughbreds profiled in photographs and essays in Barbara Livingston's More Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2007, Blood-Horse Publications).
Footage of Personal Ensign's final career victory in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjQhB2y3TLQ.

Fun facts

Personal Ensign's win in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff was ranked #42 in Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments, a review of racing in the 20th century compiled by The Blood-Horse and released in 2006.
As a broodmare, Personal Ensign developed peritonitis, the same inflammation of the abdominal lining that had killed her dam, Grecian Banner. The champion fought her way through it and survived.
The Personal Ensign Handicap was inaugurated in 1997, replacing the John A. Morris Handicap on the New York Racing Association's calendar. It is currently run as a Grade 1 race over 9 furlongs on dirt for fillies and mares 3 and older at Saratoga.

Last updated: September 13, 2023