An extraordinarily handsome horse, Eight Thirty was unfortunate not to have won an official championship. While he was fully up to the form of the best of his contemporaries, soundness problems usually kept him from being prominent in the major fall races that often decide championships. He was as good a sire and broodmare sire as he was a racer.
Race record
27 starts, 16 wins, 3 seconds, 5 thirds, US$155,475
1938:
1939:
1940:
1941:
Honors
National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1994)
Assessments
Eight Thirty was rated #78 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).
Ranked third among North American 3yo males of 1939 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked second among North American older males of 1940 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked second among North American older males of 1941 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A beautifully molded chestnut, Eight Thirty was troubled with intermittent hind leg soreness for much of his career and was finally retired for good due to ankle trouble. He had excellent balance and a well-laid shoulder but was slightly upright in his pasterns. He had an excellent disposition.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Eight Thirty sired 236 winners (78.9%) and 45 stakes winners (15.1%) from 299 named foals. Eight Thirty is an Intermediate 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):
Notable progeny
Bolero (USA), Lights Up (USA), Make Tracks (USA), Rare Perfume (USA), Royal Coinage (USA), Sailor (USA), Sunday Evening (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Evening Out (USA), Fool’s Play (USA), Hold Your Peace (USA), Home by Dark (USA), Jaipur (USA), Jester (USA), Prayer Bell (USA), Rare Treat (USA)
Connections
Eight Thirty was bred and owned by George Widener. He was initially trained by J. Creevey as part of Widener's second string but was taken over by Widener's head trainer, W. F. “Bert” Mulholland, following his placing in the Futurity Stakes. Eight Thirty entered stud in Kentucky at Widener's Old Kenney Farm in 1942 and remained there when the tract became part of Spendthrift Farm. He was pensioned in 1958 and died of natural causes at Spendthrift in 1965.
Pedigree notes
Eight Thirty is inbred 3x5 to Rock Sand and Fairy Gold and 5x5 to the noted English speed influence Springfield. He is a half brother to stakes winner Anytime (by Reigh Count) and to Time to Dine (by Jamestown), dam of 1962 Delaware Handicap winner Seven Thirty (by Mr. Music; dam of 1966 Hopeful Stakes and Futurity Stakes winner Bold Hour, by Bold Ruler). Another half sister to Eight Thirty, Lets Dine (by Jack High), produced 1943 American co-champion 2-year-old male Platter (by Pilate).
Eight Thirty's dam Dinner Time is a full sister to stakes winner Aquaplane. His second dam Seaplane (by Man o' War) is a half sister to Annette K. (by Harry of Hereford), dam of 1933 Dwyer Stakes winner War Glory (by Man o' War) and second dam of 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: February 22, 2022
Race record
27 starts, 16 wins, 3 seconds, 5 thirds, US$155,475
1938:
- Won Christiana Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Delaware)
- Won Flash Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Saratoga Special (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd United States Hotel Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
1939:
- Won Saratoga Handicap (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Diamond State Stakes (USA, 9FD, Delaware)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Whitney Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Wilson Stakes (USA, 8FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Kent Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Delaware)
1940:
- Won Massachusetts Handicap (USA, 9FD, Suffolk Downs; equaled track record 1:49)
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- Won Wilson Stakes (USA, 8FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Butler Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Empire City)
- 3rd Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Saratoga Handicap (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
1941:
- Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
Honors
National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1994)
Assessments
Eight Thirty was rated #78 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).
Ranked third among North American 3yo males of 1939 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked second among North American older males of 1940 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked second among North American older males of 1941 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A beautifully molded chestnut, Eight Thirty was troubled with intermittent hind leg soreness for much of his career and was finally retired for good due to ankle trouble. He had excellent balance and a well-laid shoulder but was slightly upright in his pasterns. He had an excellent disposition.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Eight Thirty sired 236 winners (78.9%) and 45 stakes winners (15.1%) from 299 named foals. Eight Thirty is an Intermediate chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1949 and 1950; 7th in 1956.
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 1962; 6th in 1961.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1949 and 1950; 7th in 1956.
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 1962; 6th in 1961.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1949 and 1950; 5th in 1956.
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 1962; 6th in 1961.
Notable progeny
Bolero (USA), Lights Up (USA), Make Tracks (USA), Rare Perfume (USA), Royal Coinage (USA), Sailor (USA), Sunday Evening (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Evening Out (USA), Fool’s Play (USA), Hold Your Peace (USA), Home by Dark (USA), Jaipur (USA), Jester (USA), Prayer Bell (USA), Rare Treat (USA)
Connections
Eight Thirty was bred and owned by George Widener. He was initially trained by J. Creevey as part of Widener's second string but was taken over by Widener's head trainer, W. F. “Bert” Mulholland, following his placing in the Futurity Stakes. Eight Thirty entered stud in Kentucky at Widener's Old Kenney Farm in 1942 and remained there when the tract became part of Spendthrift Farm. He was pensioned in 1958 and died of natural causes at Spendthrift in 1965.
Pedigree notes
Eight Thirty is inbred 3x5 to Rock Sand and Fairy Gold and 5x5 to the noted English speed influence Springfield. He is a half brother to stakes winner Anytime (by Reigh Count) and to Time to Dine (by Jamestown), dam of 1962 Delaware Handicap winner Seven Thirty (by Mr. Music; dam of 1966 Hopeful Stakes and Futurity Stakes winner Bold Hour, by Bold Ruler). Another half sister to Eight Thirty, Lets Dine (by Jack High), produced 1943 American co-champion 2-year-old male Platter (by Pilate).
Eight Thirty's dam Dinner Time is a full sister to stakes winner Aquaplane. His second dam Seaplane (by Man o' War) is a half sister to Annette K. (by Harry of Hereford), dam of 1933 Dwyer Stakes winner War Glory (by Man o' War) and second dam of 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral.
Books and media
- Eight Thirty is profiled in Chapter 5 of Abram Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released in 2006 by Eclipse Press).
- Eight Thirty 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.
Fun facts
- The mating that produced Eight Thirty was actually carried out while his dam, Dinner Time, was owned by William Robertson Coe. George Widener purchased the mare with Eight Thirty in utero for US$6,000 from Coe's 1935 dispersal.
- Eight Thirty is among the notable horses sculpted by Herbert Haseltine during the artist's career.
- Although Eight Thirty was never an acknowledged champion in any field, his all-around excellence was such that noted Turf writer John Hervey said of him, “Even inveterate knockers and fault-finders had pleasant words for him. He seemed one of the happy few that all delighted to honor.”
Last updated: February 22, 2022