Unraced as a juvenile due to respiratory and ankle problems, Coaltown made up for lost time at 3 and 4. While not a match for his stablemate Citation, he possessed blazing speed and could carry high weights. Essentially a brilliant miler, he could carry his speed up to 1¼ miles when he had things his own way. Unfortunately, he was unable to reproduce his best form at 5 and 6 and his stud career proved a sad anticlimax as he was subfertile. None of his progeny came anywhere close to reproducing his own ability.
Race record
39 starts, 23 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$415,675
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
Honors
Assessments
Coaltown was rated #47 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).
As an individual
A dappled brown horse, Coaltown stood 16 hands. He was a muscular, full-bodied horse with a strong stifle and gaskin and plenty of quality. His stride was rapid but not particularly fluent. While he possessed extreme speed, he appeared to lack heart when hooked, and he had rather thin-walled feet. He had a delicate appetite and required frequent feeding with small amounts of high-quality hay and feed to maintain his weight. His temperament was good. He had a breathing problem throughout his career, the legacy of a severe bleeding episode suffered while training as a 2-year-old.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Coaltown sired 25 winners (31.3%) and no stakes winners (0%) from 80 named foals. His one foal of significance was Miss Newcastle, a good broodmare whose family still continues to come up with good horses.
Connections
Coaltown was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. He was trained by the father-and-son training team of Ben A. Jones and Horace "Jimmy" Jones. He retired to stud in Kentucky at Calumet Farm in 1952. Coaltown was purchased by Marcel Boussac following the 1955 breeding season and sent to Haras de Jardy, France, where he died in 1965.
Pedigree notes
Coaltown is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to the stakes-winning mare Rosewood, second dam of 1978 Sapling Stakes (USA-G1) winner Tim the Tiger, and to Rippling Rythm, second dam of 1968 Dewhurst Stakes winner Ribofilio. He is a half brother to 1949 American champion 3-year-old filly Wistful (by Sun Again), dam of 1957 Florida Derby winner Gen. Duke (by Bull Lea), and to stakes winner Fanfare (by Pensive). Coaltown's dam Easy Lass was named Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 1949 and is a half sister to stakes winners Crossbow II (by Crusader), Gosum (by Hotweed) and Easy Mon (by Pharamond II). Easy Lass is also a half sister to Always (by Sun Teddy), dam of 1956 Acorn Stakes winner Beyond (by Citation).
Fun facts
Last updated: July 3, 2024
Race record
39 starts, 23 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$415,675
1948:
- Won Drexel Handicap (USA, 8FD, Washington Park)
- Won Jerome Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Swift Stakes (USA, 7FD, Belmont)
- Won Blue Grass Stakes (USA, 9FD, Keeneland; new track record 1:49-1/5)
- Won Phoenix Handicap (USA, 6FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Great Western Handicap (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd Sysonby Mile (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Skokie Handicap (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- Also equaled the 6-furlong track record of 1:09-3/5 at Hialeah in an allowance race
1949:
- Won Stars and Stripes Handicap (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park; new track record 1:48-2/5)
- Won Washington Park Handicap (USA, 10FD, Washington Park)
- Won Widener Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hialeah)
- Won Gulfstream Park Handicap (USA, 10FD, Gulfstream Park; equaled world record 1:59-4/5)
- Won Gallant Fox Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Jamaica)
- Won McLennan Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Edward Burke Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Havre de Grace; walked over)
- Won Roger Williams Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Narragansett Park)
- Won Whirlaway Handicap (USA, 8FD, Washington Park; new world record 1:34)
- 2nd Equipoise Mile (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Sysonby Mile (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Pimlico Special (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Also equaled the world record of 1:47-3/5 for 9 furlongs at Hialeah in an allowance race
1950:
- 3rd McLennan Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
1951:
- Won Children's Hospital Handicap (USA, 6FD, Bay Meadows)
- Won Art Sparks Handicap (USA, 6FD, Bay Meadows)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1983)
- American Horse of the Year (1949; co-champion with Capot)
- American champion sprinter (1948)
- American champion handicap male (1949)
Assessments
Coaltown was rated #47 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).
As an individual
A dappled brown horse, Coaltown stood 16 hands. He was a muscular, full-bodied horse with a strong stifle and gaskin and plenty of quality. His stride was rapid but not particularly fluent. While he possessed extreme speed, he appeared to lack heart when hooked, and he had rather thin-walled feet. He had a delicate appetite and required frequent feeding with small amounts of high-quality hay and feed to maintain his weight. His temperament was good. He had a breathing problem throughout his career, the legacy of a severe bleeding episode suffered while training as a 2-year-old.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Coaltown sired 25 winners (31.3%) and no stakes winners (0%) from 80 named foals. His one foal of significance was Miss Newcastle, a good broodmare whose family still continues to come up with good horses.
Connections
Coaltown was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. He was trained by the father-and-son training team of Ben A. Jones and Horace "Jimmy" Jones. He retired to stud in Kentucky at Calumet Farm in 1952. Coaltown was purchased by Marcel Boussac following the 1955 breeding season and sent to Haras de Jardy, France, where he died in 1965.
Pedigree notes
Coaltown is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to the stakes-winning mare Rosewood, second dam of 1978 Sapling Stakes (USA-G1) winner Tim the Tiger, and to Rippling Rythm, second dam of 1968 Dewhurst Stakes winner Ribofilio. He is a half brother to 1949 American champion 3-year-old filly Wistful (by Sun Again), dam of 1957 Florida Derby winner Gen. Duke (by Bull Lea), and to stakes winner Fanfare (by Pensive). Coaltown's dam Easy Lass was named Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 1949 and is a half sister to stakes winners Crossbow II (by Crusader), Gosum (by Hotweed) and Easy Mon (by Pharamond II). Easy Lass is also a half sister to Always (by Sun Teddy), dam of 1956 Acorn Stakes winner Beyond (by Citation).
Fun facts
- Coaltown was named in honor of Leslie Combs II, who took his nickname "Coletown" from a Kentucky town near Lexington.
- The entry of Citation and Coaltown for the 1948 Kentucky Derby scared off all but four rivals. The resulting field of six was the smallest since 1907, and Churchill Downs' president, Colonel Matt Winn, announced that only win betting would be permitted on the Derby. Thoroughbred historian William Robertson described the entry's 2-to-5 odds as “the biggest odds-on overlay in history.”
- Like Whirlaway, Coaltown wore a one-eyed blinker while racing.
- In 1949, Coaltown carried 130 pounds or more in eight consecutive races. He won seven of them and was second in the other.
Last updated: July 3, 2024