Faireno (USA)
1929 – Unknown
Chatterton (USA) x Minerva (USA), by Ambassador IV (GB)
American Family 11
1929 – Unknown
Chatterton (USA) x Minerva (USA), by Ambassador IV (GB)
American Family 11
A late-developing stayer who was useful but no more than that at 2, Faireno scored his first major victory of 1932 in the Belmont Stakes and went on from there to share the championship among American 3-year-old males with Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Burgoo King. He did not race at 4 due to a tendon injury incurred during the 1932 Lawrence Realization but won four good handicaps and placed in other important races as a 5-year-old. Unfortunately, he proved completely sterile when tried at stud.
Race record
24 starts, 8 wins, 3 seconds, 4 thirds, US$441,320
1931:
1932:
1934:
1935:
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old male (1932)
Assessments
Ranked third among American older males of 1934 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A rangy bay horse of the staying type, Faireno liked to run on or near the front end. He had plenty of speed to go with his stamina but could not always be relied on to run his best. He was highly temperamental and typically threw in the towel if interfered with in any way.
Connections
Faireno was bred and owned by Belair Stud, the breeding and racing operation of William Woodward, Sr. He was trained by Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons and George Tappen.
Pedigree notes
Faireno is inbred 4x5x5 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or and 5x5 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon. He is a half brother to 1938 Louisiana Derby winner Wise Fox (by Gallant Fox), to English stakes winner Aquilius (by Aga Khan) and to 1939 Delaware Oaks winner Wise Lady (by Gallant Fox), second dam of 1964 Canadian Oaks winner Later Mel and the good juvenile Melson. He is also a half brother to Dancing Dora (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of 1950 English champion 3-year-old male Prince Simon (by Princequillo) and second dam of 1970 Kentucky Oaks winner Lady Vi-E., and to Lady Wisdom (by Sir Gallahad III), second dam of 1957 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Belle Jeep and third dam of 1957 American champion 2-year-old male Jewel's Reward, Grade 2 winner Triple Crown, 1958 Louisiana Derby winner Royal Union and 1969 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Evasive Action. In addition, Faireno is a half brother to Lady Minerva (by Gallant Fox), dam of stakes winner Four Sisters (by Four Freedoms).
Faireno's dam Minerva is a half sister to multiple stakes winner William Tell (by Rock View) and is out of Arrowshaft (by Ogden), a half sister to 1901 Matron Stakes winner Heno (by Henry Young) and stakes winner Rustling Silk (by Mirthful). The next dam in the tail-female line, multiple juvenile stakes winner Quiver, is by Faustus out of the Ten Broeck mare Belle Broeck.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown; taken after the 1932 Belmont Stakes with Tommy Malley up. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 18, 2025
Race record
24 starts, 8 wins, 3 seconds, 4 thirds, US$441,320
1931:
- Won Junior Champion Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Consolation Claiming Stakes (USA)
- Won Nursery Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- Won Victoria Stakes (CAN, 5FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Suffolk Claiming Stakes (USA, 5FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Pimlico Home-Bred Stakes (USA, 4.5FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Troy Claiming Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
1932:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Lawrence Realization (USA, 13FD, Belmont)
- Won Saratoga Handicap (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Dwyer Stakes (USA, 12FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Shevlin Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Hawthorne Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hawthorne)
- 2nd Hawthorne Gold Cup (USA, 10FD, Hawthorne)
1934:
- Won Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Saratoga)
- Won Empire City Handicap (USA, 9FD, Empire City)
- Won Havre de Grace Handicap (USA, 9FD, Havre de Grace)
- Won Rochambeau Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Narragansett Park)
- 2nd Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Whitney Gold Trophy Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Wilson Stakes (USA, 8FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Saratoga Handicap (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
1935:
- 3rd Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga)
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old male (1932)
Assessments
Ranked third among American older males of 1934 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A rangy bay horse of the staying type, Faireno liked to run on or near the front end. He had plenty of speed to go with his stamina but could not always be relied on to run his best. He was highly temperamental and typically threw in the towel if interfered with in any way.
Connections
Faireno was bred and owned by Belair Stud, the breeding and racing operation of William Woodward, Sr. He was trained by Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons and George Tappen.
Pedigree notes
Faireno is inbred 4x5x5 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or and 5x5 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon. He is a half brother to 1938 Louisiana Derby winner Wise Fox (by Gallant Fox), to English stakes winner Aquilius (by Aga Khan) and to 1939 Delaware Oaks winner Wise Lady (by Gallant Fox), second dam of 1964 Canadian Oaks winner Later Mel and the good juvenile Melson. He is also a half brother to Dancing Dora (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of 1950 English champion 3-year-old male Prince Simon (by Princequillo) and second dam of 1970 Kentucky Oaks winner Lady Vi-E., and to Lady Wisdom (by Sir Gallahad III), second dam of 1957 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Belle Jeep and third dam of 1957 American champion 2-year-old male Jewel's Reward, Grade 2 winner Triple Crown, 1958 Louisiana Derby winner Royal Union and 1969 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Evasive Action. In addition, Faireno is a half brother to Lady Minerva (by Gallant Fox), dam of stakes winner Four Sisters (by Four Freedoms).
Faireno's dam Minerva is a half sister to multiple stakes winner William Tell (by Rock View) and is out of Arrowshaft (by Ogden), a half sister to 1901 Matron Stakes winner Heno (by Henry Young) and stakes winner Rustling Silk (by Mirthful). The next dam in the tail-female line, multiple juvenile stakes winner Quiver, is by Faustus out of the Ten Broeck mare Belle Broeck.
Fun facts
- The cause of Faireno's sterility was never determined, but it is interesting to note that his “nephew” Prince Simon also suffered from severe fertility problems.
- The fourth dam of Faireno, Belle Broeck, was so little thought of that at the age of 15, she was stripped of her registration papers and auctioned off for US$15.
- For a time, Aqueduct ran a purse race and a Class C handicap named in Faireno's honor.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown; taken after the 1932 Belmont Stakes with Tommy Malley up. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 18, 2025