Count Fleet (USA)
March 24, 1940 – December 3, 1973
Reigh Count (USA) x Quickly (USA), by Haste (USA)
Family 6-a
March 24, 1940 – December 3, 1973
Reigh Count (USA) x Quickly (USA), by Haste (USA)
Family 6-a
,Count Fleet was no beauty in looks or disposition, but he could run a hole in the wind. The sixth American Triple Crown winner, Count Fleet ended an unbeaten 3-year-old campaign and his racing career with a 25-length blowout in the Belmont Stakes, the greatest margin recorded in the classic race until Secretariat's 31-length romp in 1973. An ankle injury and splint trouble prevented further racing, but the “Count of Stoner Creek” went on to become a successful sire and broodmare sire.
Race record
21 starts, 16 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$250,300
1942:
1943:
Honors
Assessments
Count Fleet was ranked #5 among the 100 greatest American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Count Fleet as the ninth best North American racehorse of the 20th century.
Rated at 132 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1942, the highest weight ever assigned in the history of the Experimental.
As an individual
A brown horse standing 16 hands, Count Fleet was a rather unlikely champion if judged by conformation. In his book Sire Lines, Abram Hewitt described Count Fleet as narrow, light-waisted, and flat-muscled with less than ideal action. Other experts judged him as being too leggy and light on bone. He was also extremely rambunctious, so much so that owner John D. Hertz feared that his contract jockey, John Longden, would get hurt trying to ride him. Hertz only agreed to keep the colt after Longden pleaded with him to do so. Count Fleet's headstrong nature was ultimately his undoing as a racer, as Longden felt him bobble in the Belmont but was unable to restrain him. It was thought that Count Fleet would be able to return to racing as his injured right front ankle recovered, but he developed splint trouble after being declared from engagements in the Arlington Classic and American Derby and was eventually retired. As a stallion, Count Fleet had a kindly disposition but was never very sociable and had a quirk of demanding to be brought into the barn at sunset regardless of the weather or what the farm's other horses were doing; according to one writer, he was apparently afraid of the dark.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club's records, Count Fleet sired 267 winners (61.5%) and 39 stakes winners (9.0%) from 434 named foals. He is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
Notable progeny
By Zeus (USA), Count Turf (USA), Counterpoint (USA), County Delight (USA), Flight Bird (USA), Juliets Nurse (USA), Kiss Me Kate (USA), One Count (USA), Quick Touch (USA), Recess (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Berkeley Springs (USA), Capelet (USA), Casaque Grise (FR), Commissary (USA), Court Recess (USA), Fleet Host (USA), Fleet Nasrullah (USA), Flit-To (USA), Furl Sail (USA), Gallant Romeo (USA), Ice Water (CAN), Kelso (USA), Lady Love (USA), Lamb Chop (USA), Loriga (PER), Lucky Debonair (USA), Prince John (USA), Quill (USA), Tompion (USA)
Connections
Count Fleet was officially listed as being bred and owned by Fannie Hertz, the wife of John D. Hertz. He was trained by Don Cameron. He stood in Kentucky at Mrs. Hertz' Stoner Creek Stud. He entered stud in 1944 and was pensioned in 1966.
Pedigree notes
Count Fleet is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Count Speed, who never won a stakes but set a track record of 1:41 for 8.5 furlongs on dirt at Golden Gate and later sired the tough handicapper Eddie Schimidt. He is also a half brother to Depth Charge (by Bold Venture), who became a top sire of racing Quarter Horses, and to Fleet Reigh, dam of multiple stakes winner Fleet Charge (by Depth Charge).
Count Fleet's dam Quickly is a half sister to stakes winner Crout au Pot (by Pot au Feu) and to Stepwisely (by Wise Counsellor), dam of multiple world record setter Bolero (by Eight Thirty), 1958 Sapling Stakes winner Watch Your Step (by Citation), and 1955 Atlantic City Turf Handicap winner County Clare (by Shannon II). Another half sister to Quickly, Poesy (by Chance Shot), is the dam of stakes winner I Appeal (by Sir Pennant).
Quickly and her siblings are out of Stephanie (by Stefan the Great), a full sister to the good steeplechaser Indigo. The next dam in Count Fleet's tail-female line, Malachite (by Rock Sand), won the 1916 Alabama Stakes. A daughter of the Hanover mare Miss Hanover, Malachite is a half sister to 1911 American champion 2-year-old male and 1912 Kentucky Derby winner Worth (by Knight of the Thistle) and 1917 King Edward Gold Cup winner Hanovia (by Fair Play).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. John Longden up. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: December 23, 2023
Race record
21 starts, 16 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$250,300
1942:
- Won Pimlico Futurity (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico; equaled track record 1:43-3/5)
- Won Champagne Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont; his new track record of 1:34-4/5 was also a new world record for a juvenile)
- Won Walden Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Wakefield Stakes (USA, 5.75FD, Empire City)
- 2nd Washington Park Futurity (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd East View Stakes (USA, 5.75FD, Empire City)
- 3rd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
1943:
- Won Wood Memorial Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1961)
- American Horse of the Year (1943)
- American champion 2-year-old male (1942)
- American champion 3-year-old male (1943)
Assessments
Count Fleet was ranked #5 among the 100 greatest American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Count Fleet as the ninth best North American racehorse of the 20th century.
Rated at 132 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1942, the highest weight ever assigned in the history of the Experimental.
As an individual
A brown horse standing 16 hands, Count Fleet was a rather unlikely champion if judged by conformation. In his book Sire Lines, Abram Hewitt described Count Fleet as narrow, light-waisted, and flat-muscled with less than ideal action. Other experts judged him as being too leggy and light on bone. He was also extremely rambunctious, so much so that owner John D. Hertz feared that his contract jockey, John Longden, would get hurt trying to ride him. Hertz only agreed to keep the colt after Longden pleaded with him to do so. Count Fleet's headstrong nature was ultimately his undoing as a racer, as Longden felt him bobble in the Belmont but was unable to restrain him. It was thought that Count Fleet would be able to return to racing as his injured right front ankle recovered, but he developed splint trouble after being declared from engagements in the Arlington Classic and American Derby and was eventually retired. As a stallion, Count Fleet had a kindly disposition but was never very sociable and had a quirk of demanding to be brought into the barn at sunset regardless of the weather or what the farm's other horses were doing; according to one writer, he was apparently afraid of the dark.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club's records, Count Fleet sired 267 winners (61.5%) and 39 stakes winners (9.0%) from 434 named foals. He is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 1951; 2nd in 1952; 5th in 1953; 8th in 1954.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1963; 2nd in 1960, 1961, and 1967; 3rd in 1962, 1965, and 1968; 4th in 1966, 1969, and 1971; 5th in 1964; 6th in 1970, 1972, and 1973.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 1951; 2nd in 1952; 5th in 1953; 7th in 1954.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1963; 2nd in 1960 and 1961; 3rd in 1962 and 1965; 5th in 1964; 9th in 1959
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1951; 2nd in 1952; 5th in 1953; 8th in 1954.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1963; 2nd in 1960 and 1967; 3rd in 1962 and 1968; 4th in 1966, 1969, and 1971; 6th in 1970 and 1973; 8th in 1964; 9th in 1959 and 1965.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1951.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1963.
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
- Led the American general sire list in 1951.
Notable progeny
By Zeus (USA), Count Turf (USA), Counterpoint (USA), County Delight (USA), Flight Bird (USA), Juliets Nurse (USA), Kiss Me Kate (USA), One Count (USA), Quick Touch (USA), Recess (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Berkeley Springs (USA), Capelet (USA), Casaque Grise (FR), Commissary (USA), Court Recess (USA), Fleet Host (USA), Fleet Nasrullah (USA), Flit-To (USA), Furl Sail (USA), Gallant Romeo (USA), Ice Water (CAN), Kelso (USA), Lady Love (USA), Lamb Chop (USA), Loriga (PER), Lucky Debonair (USA), Prince John (USA), Quill (USA), Tompion (USA)
Connections
Count Fleet was officially listed as being bred and owned by Fannie Hertz, the wife of John D. Hertz. He was trained by Don Cameron. He stood in Kentucky at Mrs. Hertz' Stoner Creek Stud. He entered stud in 1944 and was pensioned in 1966.
Pedigree notes
Count Fleet is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Count Speed, who never won a stakes but set a track record of 1:41 for 8.5 furlongs on dirt at Golden Gate and later sired the tough handicapper Eddie Schimidt. He is also a half brother to Depth Charge (by Bold Venture), who became a top sire of racing Quarter Horses, and to Fleet Reigh, dam of multiple stakes winner Fleet Charge (by Depth Charge).
Count Fleet's dam Quickly is a half sister to stakes winner Crout au Pot (by Pot au Feu) and to Stepwisely (by Wise Counsellor), dam of multiple world record setter Bolero (by Eight Thirty), 1958 Sapling Stakes winner Watch Your Step (by Citation), and 1955 Atlantic City Turf Handicap winner County Clare (by Shannon II). Another half sister to Quickly, Poesy (by Chance Shot), is the dam of stakes winner I Appeal (by Sir Pennant).
Quickly and her siblings are out of Stephanie (by Stefan the Great), a full sister to the good steeplechaser Indigo. The next dam in Count Fleet's tail-female line, Malachite (by Rock Sand), won the 1916 Alabama Stakes. A daughter of the Hanover mare Miss Hanover, Malachite is a half sister to 1911 American champion 2-year-old male and 1912 Kentucky Derby winner Worth (by Knight of the Thistle) and 1917 King Edward Gold Cup winner Hanovia (by Fair Play).
Books and media
- “Count Fleet” is chapter 6 of The Most Glorious Crown by Marvin Drager (2005, Triumph Books).
- Count Fleet is the sixth of the 13 American Triple Crown winners featured in Edward Bowen's The Lucky 13: The Winners of America's Triple Crown of Horse Racing (2019, Lyon Press).
- Count Fleet is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
- Count Fleet is profiled in Chapter 85 of Abram Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and reprinted by Eclipse Press in 2006).
- Count Fleet is profiled in Chapter 7 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Count Fleet is one of 50 Thoroughbreds profiled in Royal Blood: Fifty Years of Classic Thoroughbreds. Written by racing historian Jim Bolus with illustrations and commentary by noted equine artist Richard Stone Reeves, the book was released by The Blood-Horse, Inc., in 1994.
Fun facts
- John D. Hertz tried to sell Count Fleet for just US$4,500 as a 2-year-old. There were no takers at the price, though one trainer offered US$3,500.
- Count Fleet's Champagne Stakes time of 1:34-4/5 for the mile broke Alsab's world record for a mile by a juvenile set in the same race a year earlier.
- Count Fleet was the fourth Kentucky Derby winner to be sired by a previous Kentucky Derby winner.
- Count Fleet is part of a three-generation sequence of Kentucky Derby winners, as he was sired by 1928 winner Reigh Count and is the sire of 1951 winner Count Turf. The only other three-generation sequence in Derby history runs from Pensive (1944) to Ponder (1949) to Needles (1956).
- Following Count Fleet's victory in the 1943 Belmont Stakes, his silks were auctioned off in the unsaddling enclosure for US$50,000 in war bonds.
- Count Fleet's US$550,000 insurance policy, written in 1951, was the largest issued on a Thoroughbred stallion to that time.
- Count Fleet was the longest-lived Kentucky Derby winner on record, dying at the age of 33 years, 8 months, 9 days.
- Count Fleet's Belmont Stakes victory was ranked #33 in Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments, a review of racing in the 20th century compiled by The Blood-Horse and released in 2006.
- The Count Fleet Sprint Handicap is a Grade 3 race over 6 furlongs at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. It was inaugurated in 1974 and is open to horses 4 yeas old and up.
- The Count Fleet Stakes was traditionally the first New York stakes race of the year for 3-year-old males. Inaugurated as a one-mile race at Belmont Park in 1975, the race was last contested at Aqueduct in 2012 as a listed stakes at a distance of a mile and 70 yards.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. John Longden up. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: December 23, 2023