Personality (USA)
May 27, 1967 – November 20, 1990
Hail to Reason (USA) x Affectionately (USA), by Swaps (USA)
Family 1-x
May 27, 1967 – November 20, 1990
Hail to Reason (USA) x Affectionately (USA), by Swaps (USA)
Family 1-x
It is doubtful that Personality was a better racehorse than either his sire Hail to Reason or his dam Affectionately, but he was a good runner whose talents over 8 to 10 furlongs were sufficient to secure him a share of American Horse of the Year honors in a rather weak year. He was a disappointing sire who failed to get anything commensurate with his own talents or with his royal pedigree and was eventually exported to Japan, where his lack of success continued.
Race record
25 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$462,603
1970:
1971:
Honors
Assessments
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1970, 2 pounds above Belmont Stakes winner High Echelon, Travers Stakes winner Loud and Florida Derby winner and dual Classic runner-up My Dad George.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1971, 15 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Ack Ack.
As an individual
A bay colt standing 15.2¾ hands as of June 1970, Personality had weak ankles that limited him to only one start as a 2-year-old. He was a smoothly made animal with a deep girth for his size and was reminiscent of his dam and granddam in his overall make. He had enough speed to make or prompt the pace but could also come from off the pace as desired. He was game and determined in a drive but may have suffered from intermittent soreness in front. His form tailed off after his busy 3-year-old season, during which he won eight of 18 starts. He was a hard puller at exercise and would run off with his rider if given the chance.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Personality sired 114 winners (36.4%) and 15 stakes winners (4.8%) from 313 named foals. None of his progeny displayed anything close to his own ability, and he failed to achieve any distinction as a broodmare sire other than through his daughter Shy Spirit, the 1990 Canadian Broodmare of the Year.
Notable progeny of daughters
Izvestia (CAN)
Connections
Personality was bred in Kentucky by the Bieber-Jacobs Stable. He was owned by Mrs. Ethel Jacobs and was trained by John W. Jacobs. Prior to the conclusion of Personality's 3-year-old season, a partnership between John R. Gaines, J. W. Hanes, J. M. Olin and James J. Houlahan purchased a half-interest in the colt, who entered stud in Kentucky at Gaines' Gainesway Farm in 1972. Personality was exported to Japan in 1979 and died there in 1990.
Pedigree notes
Personality is inbred 5x4 to Man o' War and 5x5 to Teddy. He is the only foal of any significance from three-time American champion Affectionately, a half sister to Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Admiring (by Hail to Reason) and Frizette Stakes winner Priceless Gem (by Hail to Reason). Admiring, in turn, produced multiple Grade 2 winner and 1993 Broodmare of the Year Glowing Tribute (by Graustark), dam of 1993 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Sea Hero (by Polish Navy) and six other stakes winners; she is also the second dam of Irish Group 2 winner and useful sire Magesterial (by Northern Dancer) and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Lite Light. Priceless Gem is also an important broodmare as the dam of multiple French champion Allez France (by Sea-Bird), multiple Grade 1 producer Lady Winborne (by Secretariat) and four-time New Zealand champion sire Noble Bijou (by Vaguely Noble).
Affectionately's dam Searching was a high-class race mare in her own right and is a full or half sister to four other stakes winners including 1946 champion 3-year-old filly Bridal Flower (by Challenger II). The next dam in Personality's tail-female line, Big Hurry (by Black Toney), won the 1939 Selima Stakes and is a full sister to two-time American champion Bimlelech and 1935 American champion 3-year-old filly Black Helen. Also a half sister to 1946 Selima Stakes winner Bee Ann Mac (by Blue Larkspur) and stakes winner Biologist (by Bubbling Over), Big Hurry is one of several important broodmares produced from the great matron La Troienne.
Fun facts:
Last updated: February 24, 2022
Race record
25 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$462,603
1970:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Wood Memorial Stakes (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Woodward Stakes (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Jim Dandy Stakes (USA, 8FD, Saratoga)
- Won Jersey Derby (USA, 9FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Stymie Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
1971:
- 2nd Excelsior Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Paumonok Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
Honors
- American co-Horse of the Year (1970)
- American champion 3-year-old colt (1970)
Assessments
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1970, 2 pounds above Belmont Stakes winner High Echelon, Travers Stakes winner Loud and Florida Derby winner and dual Classic runner-up My Dad George.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1971, 15 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Ack Ack.
As an individual
A bay colt standing 15.2¾ hands as of June 1970, Personality had weak ankles that limited him to only one start as a 2-year-old. He was a smoothly made animal with a deep girth for his size and was reminiscent of his dam and granddam in his overall make. He had enough speed to make or prompt the pace but could also come from off the pace as desired. He was game and determined in a drive but may have suffered from intermittent soreness in front. His form tailed off after his busy 3-year-old season, during which he won eight of 18 starts. He was a hard puller at exercise and would run off with his rider if given the chance.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Personality sired 114 winners (36.4%) and 15 stakes winners (4.8%) from 313 named foals. None of his progeny displayed anything close to his own ability, and he failed to achieve any distinction as a broodmare sire other than through his daughter Shy Spirit, the 1990 Canadian Broodmare of the Year.
Notable progeny of daughters
Izvestia (CAN)
Connections
Personality was bred in Kentucky by the Bieber-Jacobs Stable. He was owned by Mrs. Ethel Jacobs and was trained by John W. Jacobs. Prior to the conclusion of Personality's 3-year-old season, a partnership between John R. Gaines, J. W. Hanes, J. M. Olin and James J. Houlahan purchased a half-interest in the colt, who entered stud in Kentucky at Gaines' Gainesway Farm in 1972. Personality was exported to Japan in 1979 and died there in 1990.
Pedigree notes
Personality is inbred 5x4 to Man o' War and 5x5 to Teddy. He is the only foal of any significance from three-time American champion Affectionately, a half sister to Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Admiring (by Hail to Reason) and Frizette Stakes winner Priceless Gem (by Hail to Reason). Admiring, in turn, produced multiple Grade 2 winner and 1993 Broodmare of the Year Glowing Tribute (by Graustark), dam of 1993 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Sea Hero (by Polish Navy) and six other stakes winners; she is also the second dam of Irish Group 2 winner and useful sire Magesterial (by Northern Dancer) and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Lite Light. Priceless Gem is also an important broodmare as the dam of multiple French champion Allez France (by Sea-Bird), multiple Grade 1 producer Lady Winborne (by Secretariat) and four-time New Zealand champion sire Noble Bijou (by Vaguely Noble).
Affectionately's dam Searching was a high-class race mare in her own right and is a full or half sister to four other stakes winners including 1946 champion 3-year-old filly Bridal Flower (by Challenger II). The next dam in Personality's tail-female line, Big Hurry (by Black Toney), won the 1939 Selima Stakes and is a full sister to two-time American champion Bimlelech and 1935 American champion 3-year-old filly Black Helen. Also a half sister to 1946 Selima Stakes winner Bee Ann Mac (by Blue Larkspur) and stakes winner Biologist (by Bubbling Over), Big Hurry is one of several important broodmares produced from the great matron La Troienne.
Fun facts:
- When Personality was a yearling, co-breeder Hirsch Jacobs carried his picture with him in a jacket pocket, pulling it out to show friends with the comment that the colt was “perhaps the best I've ever had.” Jacobs did not live to see Personality deliver on that promise, dying in February 1970, but not before advising his son that the colt would do better wearing blinkers. (He did.)
Last updated: February 24, 2022