Athenian Idol (USA)
April 23, 1968 – March 30, 1974
Alcibiades II (GB) x Dottys Dream (USA), by Francis S. (USA)
Family 19
April 23, 1968 – March 30, 1974
Alcibiades II (GB) x Dottys Dream (USA), by Francis S. (USA)
Family 19
Never a factor in any of his three starts on the flat at ages 3 and 4, Athenian Idol was converted to jumps racing. He was a handicap winner over hurdles at 4 but did not graduate to the big fences of the steeplechases until late in his 5-year-old season, capturing the important Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase over the previous year’s champion steeplechaser, Soothsayer, and earning a championship in the steeplechase division after concluding his season with a fast-closing fourth in the Colonial Cup. Sadly, Athenian Idol would have no further chance to display his prowess among the top runners of his division; after finishing third in a season-opening allowance as a 6-year-old, he fell at the second fence of the Carolina Cup and broke his neck.
Race record
22 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 4 thirds, US$36,530
1971:
1973:
Won Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Handicap-International Gold Cup (USA, 20FT, Ligonier)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion steeplechaser (1973)
As an individual
A chestnut gelding; no further information available.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Athenian Idol was bred by Harbor View Farm. Initially owned by trainer Jonathan Sheppard, who had bought him for US$2,200, he was listed as owned by William L. Pape (who actually owned a half interest) after his 4-year-old season, with Sheppard continuing on as trainer and part-owner. Athenian Idol was ridden to his biggest wins by Jerry Fishback, the champion steeplechase jockey of 1973.
Pedigree notes
Sired by Alcibiades II (a winning son of the great English stayer Alycidon), Athenian Idol is inbred 3x4 to 1938 Goodwood Cup and Doncaster Cup winner Epigram (a champion sire in Denmark) and 4x4 to six-time English/Irish champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. He is a half brother to Native Goddess (by Raise a Native), dam of multiple stakes winner Honest to God (by Honest Pleasure).
Athenian Idol was produced from unraced Dottys Dream, whose full sister Return to Paradise is the second dam of 1999 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Gandria. Dottys Dream is also a half sister to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Bad Seed (by Stevward), dam of stakes winner and important California regional sire Pirate’s Bounty (by Hoist the Flag), second dam of 1995 Santa Monica Handicap (USA-G1) winner Key Phrase, and third dam of 2013 American champion 2-year-old male Shared Belief and Grade 3 winner Little Miss Holly.
Dottys Dream and her sisters are out of 1957 English champion 2-year-old filly Rich and Rare II. A daughter of Hyperion’s good sire son Rockefella out of Palmy Days (by Epigram), Rich and Rare II is a half sister to Smokey (by Saint Crespin III), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Lord Mark (by On Your Mark II).
Fun facts
Last updated: July 10, 2024
Race record
22 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 4 thirds, US$36,530
1971:
- Won Elkridge Hurdle Handicap (USA, 15FT, Belmont)
- Also equaled the course record of 2:57-4/5 in a 13-furlong hurdle race at Saratoga, but was disqualified and placed third.
1973:
Won Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Handicap-International Gold Cup (USA, 20FT, Ligonier)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion steeplechaser (1973)
As an individual
A chestnut gelding; no further information available.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Athenian Idol was bred by Harbor View Farm. Initially owned by trainer Jonathan Sheppard, who had bought him for US$2,200, he was listed as owned by William L. Pape (who actually owned a half interest) after his 4-year-old season, with Sheppard continuing on as trainer and part-owner. Athenian Idol was ridden to his biggest wins by Jerry Fishback, the champion steeplechase jockey of 1973.
Pedigree notes
Sired by Alcibiades II (a winning son of the great English stayer Alycidon), Athenian Idol is inbred 3x4 to 1938 Goodwood Cup and Doncaster Cup winner Epigram (a champion sire in Denmark) and 4x4 to six-time English/Irish champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. He is a half brother to Native Goddess (by Raise a Native), dam of multiple stakes winner Honest to God (by Honest Pleasure).
Athenian Idol was produced from unraced Dottys Dream, whose full sister Return to Paradise is the second dam of 1999 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Gandria. Dottys Dream is also a half sister to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Bad Seed (by Stevward), dam of stakes winner and important California regional sire Pirate’s Bounty (by Hoist the Flag), second dam of 1995 Santa Monica Handicap (USA-G1) winner Key Phrase, and third dam of 2013 American champion 2-year-old male Shared Belief and Grade 3 winner Little Miss Holly.
Dottys Dream and her sisters are out of 1957 English champion 2-year-old filly Rich and Rare II. A daughter of Hyperion’s good sire son Rockefella out of Palmy Days (by Epigram), Rich and Rare II is a half sister to Smokey (by Saint Crespin III), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Lord Mark (by On Your Mark II).
Fun facts
- Athenian Idol was the first of 15 Eclipse Award winners for National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, who had champions in the female sprinter, female turf, and steeplechase divisions. Sheppard also trained the great sire Storm Cat and the popular male turf horse With Anticipation, among other fine horses.
- Athenian Idol scored five of his six career victories during his championship season, with the class of those wins ranging from a US$7,000 claiming hurdle race to the Temple Gwathmey.
- Athenian Idol became the namesake for a race on the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup card—rather ironically, one run on the flat.
Last updated: July 10, 2024