Clifford was regarded as an ugly duckling as a youngster, but he became, if not a swan, a case of “handsome is as handsome does” on the track. The tough, consistent horse ran from 1892 through 1897 against the likes of Henry of Navarre, Domino, Yo Tambien, Ben Brush, and Hastings, among other top-class performers, and was out of the money only twice, both times when left at the post. He had little lasting impact as a sire but gained long-overdue honors when inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 2014.
Race record
62 starts, 42 wins, 10 seconds, 8 thirds, $65,143
1893:
1894:
1895:
1896:
1897:
Honors
As an individual
A brown horse, Clifford was rugged rather than elegant in make. He was slightly short-legged for his height but had an excellent shoulder and a deep girth and was short-coupled. He was a great weight carrier but could not handle muddy tracks. He became a “roarer” after suffering a respiratory illness as a 4-year-old. He was injured while in training in September 1896, forcing him out of training. He came back at 7 but was retired after pulling up lame from a third-place finish in the Omnium Handicap in September 1897. He displayed an increasingly erratic temper as he aged.
As a stallion
According to Clio Hogan’s Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967, Clifford sired eight stakes winners. His best runners were Caughnawaga, winner of the 1905 Saratoga Cup and Saratoga Handicap; Kennyetto, winner of the 1907 Alabama Stakes; and the good race mare Molly Brant, winner of several important New York stakes races.
Notable progeny
Caughnawaga (USA), Kennyetto (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Tennessee, Clifford was bred by William H. Jackson at Jackson's Belle Meade Stud. He was purchased as a yearling for US$900 by W. J. Cherry but was quickly resold to owner-trainer Clifford Porter, who raced the colt in his only start as a 2-year-old. Clifford was then sold to trainer Eugene Leigh for US$4,000 in December 1892 and raced for the partnership of Leigh and Robert L. Rose until Rose purchased the colt for US$25,000 from the partnership’s dispersal sale in September 1894 at Sheepshead Bay. While owned by the partnership, Clifford was trained by Charley Hughes and occasionally by Leigh. After assuming sole ownership, Rose turned Clifford's training over to John W. "Jack" Rogers. At the conclusion of Clifford's racing career, he was sold to John Sanford for US$7,000 to become a stallion at Sanford's New York-based Hurricana Stud, where he remained for the rest of his life. Clifford died on September 30, 1917.
Pedigree notes
Clifford is inbred 4x3 to 16-time American champion sire Lexington. He is a half brother to 1897 Grand Union Hotel Stakes winner Archduke (by Luke Blackburn).
Clifford’s dam, Duchess (by 1870 Belmont Stakes winner Kingfisher), won the 1884 Ladies’ Handicap and Monmouth Oaks and is a full sister to 1880 Champagne Stakes winner Lady Rosebery, dam of 1892 American champion 2-year-old filly Lady Violet (by The Ill-Used) and multiple juvenile stakes winner Lady Margaret (by The Ill-Used). Lady Rosebery is also the second dam of 1896 Preakness Stakes winner Margrave, 1902 Belmont Stakes winner Masterman, 1904 Saratoga Handicap winner Lord of the Vale, and 1911 Preakness winner Watervale. In addition, Lady Rosebery is the third dam of the good French racer and useful sire Vulcain, the top-flight sprinter Old Koenig, and 1904 Queens County Handicap winner Rosetint.
Returning to Duchess, she is also a half sister to stakes winner The Countess (by Kentucky), second dam of multiple stakes winner Patrician. She and her siblings were produced from Lady Blessington, whose sire was the good English stakes winner and important speed sire Eclipse (also known as Morris’s Eclipse to distinguish him from the great 18th-century racehorse and sire of that name).The next dam in Clifford’s tail-female line is Philo, by Mariner out of the Priam mare Cassandra.
Fun facts
Last updated: July 4, 2024
Race record
62 starts, 42 wins, 10 seconds, 8 thirds, $65,143
1893:
- Won Phoenix Handicap (USA, 9FD, Kentucky Association)
- Won Latonia Spring Prize Handicap (USA, 9FD, Latonia)
- Won Melrose Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Hotel Richelieu Stakes (USA, 8FD, Hawthorne; by walkover)
- Won Desplaines Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Forest Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Hawthorne; by walkover)
- Won 3-way match race against Yo Tambien and Lamplighter (USA, 10FD, Hawthorne)
- 2nd Louisville Hotel Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd American Derby (USA, 12FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd Sheridan Stakes (USA, 10FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd Austin Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hawthorne)
1894:
- Won Second Special Stakes (USA, 9FD, Gravesend)
- Won Montgomery Stakes (USA, 9FD, Memphis)
- Won Sea Foam Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
- Won Flight Stakes (USA, 7FD, Sheepshead Bay; new track record 1:25-1/5)
- Won Albany Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Moet & Chandon Handicap (USA, 8FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd match race with Domino (USA, 8FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 2nd 3-way match race with Henry of Navarre and Domino (USA, 9FD, Morris Park)
1895:
- Won Oriental Handicap (USA, 10FD, Gravesend)
- Won Second Special Stakes (USA, 9FD, Gravesend)
- Won Kearney Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Omnium Handicap (USA, 9FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Club Members' Handicap (USA, 10FD, St. Louis; new track record 2:06)
- 2nd First Special (USA, 10FD, Gravesend)
- 2nd Merchants' Stakes (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
1896:
- Won Memorial Handicap (USA, 10FD, Morris Park)
- Won Flight Stakes (USA, 7FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 2nd Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 10FD, Gravesend)
- 2nd Brighton Handicap (USA, 10FD, Brighton Beach)
- 3rd Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Sheepshead Bay)
1897:
- Won Long Island Handicap (USA, 9FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Kearney Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga; dead heat with Hastings)
- 2nd Citizens' Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Omnium Handicap (USA, 9FD, Sheepshead Bay)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2014)
- American co-champion 3-year-old male (1893)
- American co-champion handicap male (1894)
As an individual
A brown horse, Clifford was rugged rather than elegant in make. He was slightly short-legged for his height but had an excellent shoulder and a deep girth and was short-coupled. He was a great weight carrier but could not handle muddy tracks. He became a “roarer” after suffering a respiratory illness as a 4-year-old. He was injured while in training in September 1896, forcing him out of training. He came back at 7 but was retired after pulling up lame from a third-place finish in the Omnium Handicap in September 1897. He displayed an increasingly erratic temper as he aged.
As a stallion
According to Clio Hogan’s Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967, Clifford sired eight stakes winners. His best runners were Caughnawaga, winner of the 1905 Saratoga Cup and Saratoga Handicap; Kennyetto, winner of the 1907 Alabama Stakes; and the good race mare Molly Brant, winner of several important New York stakes races.
Notable progeny
Caughnawaga (USA), Kennyetto (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Tennessee, Clifford was bred by William H. Jackson at Jackson's Belle Meade Stud. He was purchased as a yearling for US$900 by W. J. Cherry but was quickly resold to owner-trainer Clifford Porter, who raced the colt in his only start as a 2-year-old. Clifford was then sold to trainer Eugene Leigh for US$4,000 in December 1892 and raced for the partnership of Leigh and Robert L. Rose until Rose purchased the colt for US$25,000 from the partnership’s dispersal sale in September 1894 at Sheepshead Bay. While owned by the partnership, Clifford was trained by Charley Hughes and occasionally by Leigh. After assuming sole ownership, Rose turned Clifford's training over to John W. "Jack" Rogers. At the conclusion of Clifford's racing career, he was sold to John Sanford for US$7,000 to become a stallion at Sanford's New York-based Hurricana Stud, where he remained for the rest of his life. Clifford died on September 30, 1917.
Pedigree notes
Clifford is inbred 4x3 to 16-time American champion sire Lexington. He is a half brother to 1897 Grand Union Hotel Stakes winner Archduke (by Luke Blackburn).
Clifford’s dam, Duchess (by 1870 Belmont Stakes winner Kingfisher), won the 1884 Ladies’ Handicap and Monmouth Oaks and is a full sister to 1880 Champagne Stakes winner Lady Rosebery, dam of 1892 American champion 2-year-old filly Lady Violet (by The Ill-Used) and multiple juvenile stakes winner Lady Margaret (by The Ill-Used). Lady Rosebery is also the second dam of 1896 Preakness Stakes winner Margrave, 1902 Belmont Stakes winner Masterman, 1904 Saratoga Handicap winner Lord of the Vale, and 1911 Preakness winner Watervale. In addition, Lady Rosebery is the third dam of the good French racer and useful sire Vulcain, the top-flight sprinter Old Koenig, and 1904 Queens County Handicap winner Rosetint.
Returning to Duchess, she is also a half sister to stakes winner The Countess (by Kentucky), second dam of multiple stakes winner Patrician. She and her siblings were produced from Lady Blessington, whose sire was the good English stakes winner and important speed sire Eclipse (also known as Morris’s Eclipse to distinguish him from the great 18th-century racehorse and sire of that name).The next dam in Clifford’s tail-female line is Philo, by Mariner out of the Priam mare Cassandra.
Fun facts
- World champion heavyweight boxer John L. Sullivan was a great fan of Clifford, following his racing career closely and visiting him several times while Clifford was standing at stud.
Last updated: July 4, 2024