Airmans Guide (USA)
1957 – c. 1980
One Count (USA) x Navigating (USA), by Hard Tack (USA)
American Family 5
1957 – c. 1980
One Count (USA) x Navigating (USA), by Hard Tack (USA)
American Family 5
A blue ribbon winner as a youngster, Airmans Guide matured into a champion at 4. While quick enough to be a stakes winner at 5 furlongs at 2 and over 6 furlongs at 3 and 4—and to set or equal three track records at sprint distances—she was equally well suited to longer distances where her ability to sustain a strong pace put her at a distinct advantage. She was plagued by frequent barrenness during her reproductive career and was a disappointing broodmare.
Race record
20 starts, 13 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$315,673
1959:
1960:
1961:
Honors
American champion handicap female (1961)
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1959, 3 pounds below divisional champion My Dear Girl.
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1960, 20 pounds below divisional champion Berlo.
Highweighted at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older females of 1961, 1 pound above Shirley Jones.
As an individual
A ruggedly-made bay mare standing 16 hands, Airmans Guide had a long, well-laid shoulder, a deep chest, and good bone. She walked well and had a long, bounding stride at racing speed. She raced best when prompting or setting the pace, using a high cruising speed to gallop her rivals into the ground. She could be a considerable handful in the paddock, but this was matched by her zest for competition. She was sidelined for much of her 3-year-old season after the Acorn Stakes, in which she was kicked by another horse, resulting in a chipped knee. The knee healed to racing soundness, but the place where it had been chipped could still easily be discerned a year later and the knee required careful management.
As a producer
Airmans Guide produced seven foals, of which four started and won. Two, the 1973 Bold Lad filly Airman’s Lassie and the 1975 Hoist the Flag filly Airman’s Flag, were stakes-placed. Airman’s Guide is also the dam of Native Guide (by Raise a Native), third dam of 1994 Panamanian champion older female Usurpadora.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Airmans Guide was bred by W. P. Little. She was owned by Hugh A. Grant, who purchased her for US$7,500 from the 1959 Keeneland spring sale of 2-year-olds in training. She was trained by Burton B. “Bert” Williams. Following her racing career, she was reacquired by Little.
Pedigree notes
Airmans Guide is inbred 4x3 to 1920 American Horse of the Year and 1926 American champion sire Man o’ War. She is also inbred 4x4 to 1916 French and Spanish 3-year-old male and 1923 French champion sire Teddy. She is a full sister to Airman’s Jewel, dam of the minor stakes winner Diverse Dude (by Tara Road).
Airmans Guide is out of juvenile stakes winner Navigating, whose sire Hard Tack won the 1929 Knickerbocker Handicap and Saranac Handicap and became the sire of the great Seabiscuit. Navigating is a half sister to 1937 Matron Stakes winner Merry Lassie (by Stimulus) and to Arrogance (by Snark), dam of juvenile stakes winner Snooty (by Better Self) and second dam of 1967 Barbara Fritchie Stakes winner Holly-O.
Navigating and her siblings were produced from 1933 Acorn Stakes winner Iseult (by Sir Gallahad III), a full sister to 1939 Ardsley Handicap and Junior Championship Stakes winner Merry Knight. Produced from the stakes-placed Broomstick mare Swizzlestick, Iseult is also a half sister to Exhilarate (by Stimulus), dam of multiple stakes winner Grog (by Hard Tack) and juvenile stakes winner Teentee (by Flares). In addition, she is a half sister to Bubbless (by Hard Tack), second dam of 1970 Long Branch Stakes winner Summer Resort.
Fun facts
Last updated: June 19, 2022
Race record
20 starts, 13 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$315,673
1959:
- Won Marguerite Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Debutante Stakes (USA, 5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Also equaled the Keeneland track record of 1:16-2/5 for 6½ furlongs
1960:
- Won Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Acorn Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Ashland Stakes (USA, 6FD, Keeneland)
- 3rd Kentucky Oaks (USA, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
1961:
- Won Delaware Handicap (USA, 10FD, Delaware)
- Won New Castle Handicap (USA, 8,5FD, Delaware)
- Won Beldame Stakes (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Regret Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- Won Suwannee River Handicap (USA, 7FD, Gulfstream Park; new track record 1:22-2/5)
- 3rd Colonial Handicap (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- Also set a new track record of 1:25 for 7 furlongs at Keeneland
Honors
American champion handicap female (1961)
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1959, 3 pounds below divisional champion My Dear Girl.
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1960, 20 pounds below divisional champion Berlo.
Highweighted at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older females of 1961, 1 pound above Shirley Jones.
As an individual
A ruggedly-made bay mare standing 16 hands, Airmans Guide had a long, well-laid shoulder, a deep chest, and good bone. She walked well and had a long, bounding stride at racing speed. She raced best when prompting or setting the pace, using a high cruising speed to gallop her rivals into the ground. She could be a considerable handful in the paddock, but this was matched by her zest for competition. She was sidelined for much of her 3-year-old season after the Acorn Stakes, in which she was kicked by another horse, resulting in a chipped knee. The knee healed to racing soundness, but the place where it had been chipped could still easily be discerned a year later and the knee required careful management.
As a producer
Airmans Guide produced seven foals, of which four started and won. Two, the 1973 Bold Lad filly Airman’s Lassie and the 1975 Hoist the Flag filly Airman’s Flag, were stakes-placed. Airman’s Guide is also the dam of Native Guide (by Raise a Native), third dam of 1994 Panamanian champion older female Usurpadora.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Airmans Guide was bred by W. P. Little. She was owned by Hugh A. Grant, who purchased her for US$7,500 from the 1959 Keeneland spring sale of 2-year-olds in training. She was trained by Burton B. “Bert” Williams. Following her racing career, she was reacquired by Little.
Pedigree notes
Airmans Guide is inbred 4x3 to 1920 American Horse of the Year and 1926 American champion sire Man o’ War. She is also inbred 4x4 to 1916 French and Spanish 3-year-old male and 1923 French champion sire Teddy. She is a full sister to Airman’s Jewel, dam of the minor stakes winner Diverse Dude (by Tara Road).
Airmans Guide is out of juvenile stakes winner Navigating, whose sire Hard Tack won the 1929 Knickerbocker Handicap and Saranac Handicap and became the sire of the great Seabiscuit. Navigating is a half sister to 1937 Matron Stakes winner Merry Lassie (by Stimulus) and to Arrogance (by Snark), dam of juvenile stakes winner Snooty (by Better Self) and second dam of 1967 Barbara Fritchie Stakes winner Holly-O.
Navigating and her siblings were produced from 1933 Acorn Stakes winner Iseult (by Sir Gallahad III), a full sister to 1939 Ardsley Handicap and Junior Championship Stakes winner Merry Knight. Produced from the stakes-placed Broomstick mare Swizzlestick, Iseult is also a half sister to Exhilarate (by Stimulus), dam of multiple stakes winner Grog (by Hard Tack) and juvenile stakes winner Teentee (by Flares). In addition, she is a half sister to Bubbless (by Hard Tack), second dam of 1970 Long Branch Stakes winner Summer Resort.
Fun facts
- In 1959, Airmans Guide won the blue ribbon in the filly division of the Press Party Thoroughbred Show at Oaklawn Park.
- While being saddled for the 1961 Delaware Handicap, Airmans Guide lashed out with her hind feet and caught trainer Bert Williams right across the seat of the pants, tearing them. The trainer had to back himself into the racing secretary’s office for repairs to his clothing before he could take his place in the stands. He was undoubtedly inclined to forgive his cantankerous charge when she came home 3½ lengths in front.
- After Airmans Guide won the Regret Stakes on June 21, 1961, at Monmouth, she and her connections were presented with the winner’s trophy by Joe Notter, who had ridden Regret to victory in the 1915 Kentucky Derby and who was celebrating his 71st birthday that day.
Last updated: June 19, 2022