Counterpoint was slow in reaching his best form, but once he did there was no denying his talent, as he sealed his claim to 1951 American Horse of the Year honors by running down 1950 American Horse of the Year Hill Prince in two major late-season distance events. Unfortunately, he was not a very sound horse. It was an even greater misfortune that he proved subfertile in the stud, as the foals he did get suggested that he might have made a very good sire indeed had he possessed normal fertility.
Race record
21 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$284,575
1951:
1952:
Honors
Assessments
Ranked third among American older males of 1952 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A rather delicate-looking chestnut, Counterpoint stood 15.3 hands. Never entirely sound while racing, he had small, tender feet and was shod with felt between his hoofs and his shoes to reduce the pounding from striking the track. He was lean and lightly built with a good shoulder and hocks set notably low; his cannons were short. He had a long, low, smooth action. His disposition was quiet, but he had plenty of courage and determination when set to a drive.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Counterpoint sired 49 winners (67.1%) and 11 stakes winners (15.1%) from 73 named foals. He was an influence for stamina as a sire.
Notable progeny
Dotted Swiss (USA), Harmonizing (USA), Over the Counter (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Counterpoint was bred and owned by C. V. Whitney. He was trained by Sylvester Veitch. He entered stud at Whitney's Kentucky farm in 1953 and stood there throughout his stud career. He died in 1969 and was buried at the farm on land that later became part of Gainesway Farm.
Pedigree notes
Counterpoint is inbred 5x5 to 1903 English Triple Crown winner Rock Sand. He is a half brother to Halcyon Days (by Halcyon), second dam of 1960 Santa Anita Derby and Travers Stakes winner Tompion.
Counterpoint's dam Jabot won the 1933 Selima Stakes and the 1935 San Carlos Handicap, beating a good field of older males in the latter while setting a new track record. She is a full sister to Cravat, whose wins included the 1939 Jockey Club Gold Cup, Suburban Handicap, Brooklyn Handicap, and San Juan Capistrano Handicap, and to stakes-placed Peplum, third dam of 1965 Kentucky Oaks winner Amerivan and 1966 Schuylerville Stakes winner Vanilla. She is a half sister to stakes winner Hindu Kush (by Mahmoud) and to Equestrian (by Equipoise), the sire of the popular champion Stymie. She is also a half sister to Equilette (by Equipoise), dam of 1949 San Antonio Handicap winner Dinner Gong (by Eight Thirty) and second dam of seven stakes winners including 1959 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Silver Spoon, 1965 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Silver Bright, and 1966 Spinaway Stakes winner Silver True.
Jabot and her siblings are out of the Man o' War mare Frilette, winner of the 1926 Beldame Handicap and runner-up in the 1927 Coaching Club American Oaks and Gazelle Stakes. A half sister to stakes winners Furbelow (by Peter Pan), Bunting (by Pennant) and Overall (by Peter Pan), Frilette is out of the Broomstick mare Frillery. Aside from her descendants through Frilette, Frillery is the second dam of five stakes winners including 1927 American co-champion 2-year-old male Dice.
Books and media
Counterpoint is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: December 23, 2023
Race record
21 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$284,575
1951:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Empire City Gold Cup (USA, 13FD, Jamaica; equaled track record 2:42-4/5)
- Won Empire City Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Jamaica)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
- Won Lawrence Realization (USA, 13FD, Belmont)
- Won Peter Pan Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont; new track record 1:47-4/5)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Ben Ali Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- 3rd Blue Grass Stakes (second division) (USA, 9FD, Keeneland)
1952:
- Won San Fernando Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Whitney Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
Honors
- American Horse of the Year (1951)
- American champion 3-year-old male (1951)
Assessments
Ranked third among American older males of 1952 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A rather delicate-looking chestnut, Counterpoint stood 15.3 hands. Never entirely sound while racing, he had small, tender feet and was shod with felt between his hoofs and his shoes to reduce the pounding from striking the track. He was lean and lightly built with a good shoulder and hocks set notably low; his cannons were short. He had a long, low, smooth action. His disposition was quiet, but he had plenty of courage and determination when set to a drive.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Counterpoint sired 49 winners (67.1%) and 11 stakes winners (15.1%) from 73 named foals. He was an influence for stamina as a sire.
Notable progeny
Dotted Swiss (USA), Harmonizing (USA), Over the Counter (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Counterpoint was bred and owned by C. V. Whitney. He was trained by Sylvester Veitch. He entered stud at Whitney's Kentucky farm in 1953 and stood there throughout his stud career. He died in 1969 and was buried at the farm on land that later became part of Gainesway Farm.
Pedigree notes
Counterpoint is inbred 5x5 to 1903 English Triple Crown winner Rock Sand. He is a half brother to Halcyon Days (by Halcyon), second dam of 1960 Santa Anita Derby and Travers Stakes winner Tompion.
Counterpoint's dam Jabot won the 1933 Selima Stakes and the 1935 San Carlos Handicap, beating a good field of older males in the latter while setting a new track record. She is a full sister to Cravat, whose wins included the 1939 Jockey Club Gold Cup, Suburban Handicap, Brooklyn Handicap, and San Juan Capistrano Handicap, and to stakes-placed Peplum, third dam of 1965 Kentucky Oaks winner Amerivan and 1966 Schuylerville Stakes winner Vanilla. She is a half sister to stakes winner Hindu Kush (by Mahmoud) and to Equestrian (by Equipoise), the sire of the popular champion Stymie. She is also a half sister to Equilette (by Equipoise), dam of 1949 San Antonio Handicap winner Dinner Gong (by Eight Thirty) and second dam of seven stakes winners including 1959 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Silver Spoon, 1965 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Silver Bright, and 1966 Spinaway Stakes winner Silver True.
Jabot and her siblings are out of the Man o' War mare Frilette, winner of the 1926 Beldame Handicap and runner-up in the 1927 Coaching Club American Oaks and Gazelle Stakes. A half sister to stakes winners Furbelow (by Peter Pan), Bunting (by Pennant) and Overall (by Peter Pan), Frilette is out of the Broomstick mare Frillery. Aside from her descendants through Frilette, Frillery is the second dam of five stakes winners including 1927 American co-champion 2-year-old male Dice.
Books and media
Counterpoint is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Counterpoint was lucky to ever make it to the races as he fractured a sesamoid when still a yearling, necessitating four months of stall rest.
- Counterpoint was bred very similarly to the American champion 3-year-old filly of his year, Kiss Me Kate. Both by Count Fleet, they were out of mares by the full brothers Sickle and Pharamond II, respectively, and their second dams were both by Man o' War. Adding to the coincidence, both were chestnuts standing 15.3 hands.
- During her racing career, Counterpoint's half sister Halcyon Days showed little ability and was sold for US$1,000. After Counterpoint's emergence as a top horse, C. V. Whitney tracked her down and repurchased her for a reported US$15,000 even though she had produced nothing of any merit up to that point. The Count Fleet filly she was carrying, Sunlight, never raced but produced Tompion (by Tom Fool), who won US$545,173 while racing as a Whitney homebred.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: December 23, 2023