Falsetto was rather delicate of constitution and did not appear often under silks, but when he was right he was truly first-rate. Whether he or his co-champion of 1879, Spendthrift, was the better was open to question, but over a fast track, Falsetto was superior to his tender-footed rival, whereas Spendthrift showed the better form over off going and was the more durable of the two. A venture to England at 4 proved fruitless, but Falsetto later made up for wasted time by becoming a good stallion.
Race record
5 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds
1879:
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old male (1879)
As an individual
A bay horse, Falsetto stood 16.0¾ hands; he was "as graceful as an antelope" and "of a highly nervous organization" per Walter Vosburgh. He had an excellent shoulder and a deep girth. Per Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form, he was not an easy keeper and was inclined to be delicate in constitution. He had reportedly become a roarer by the time he was shipped back to the United States from England at 4.
As a stallion
Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967 credits Falsetto with 27 stakes winners. This total does not include the minor stakes winners Chorister (a full brother to 1894 Kentucky Derby winner Chant) or Pearl Song ( a full brother to 1896 Metropolitan Handicap winner Counter Tenor).
Notable progeny
Bright Phoebus (USA), Chant (USA), Counter Tenor (USA), Dew Drop (USA), Etta (USA), His Eminence (USA), Miss Dixie (USA), Patron (USA), Sir Huon (USA), The Picket (USA)
Connections
Falsetto was bred and owned by J. W. Hunt Reynolds. He was purchased by Pierre Lorillard for US$18,000 in August 1879 following the colt's victories in the Travers Stakes and Kenner Stakes and sent to England. He was nominated to a number of good stakes and handicaps including the Gold Cup at Ascot but by June 19, 1880, had been scratched from all his engagements and was shipped back to the United States in August, arriving in poor condition. He served some mares in the spring of 1881 and was engaged for some stakes events but did not return to the races. In February 1882, he was sold to A. J. Alexander for US$7,500 and stood at Woodburn Stud. George Long purchased Falsetto from the 1897 Woodburn Stud dispersal for US$2,000 and moved the stallion to his Bashford Manor Stud, where he died of pneumonia on July 23, 1904.
Pedigree notes
Falsetto is inbred 3x3 to 16-time American champion sire Lexington. He is a full brother to Fac-Simile, second dam of 1900 Tidal Stakes winner McMeekin and third dam of 1918 Kentucky Oaks winner Viva America and the good sprinter Magazine. He is also a half brother to 1877 Kentucky Oaks winner Felicia (by Phaeton).
Farfaletta, the dam of Falsetto and his siblings, was produced from the Lexington mare Elkhorna. She, in turn, was produced from the Glencoe mare Glencona, whose dam is an unnamed daughter of Envoy.
Fun facts
Last updated: February 14, 2020
Race record
5 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds
1879:
- Won Travers Stakes (USA, 14FD, Saratoga)
- Won Kenner Stakes (USA, 16FD, Saratoga)
- Won Phoenix Hotel Stakes (USA, 10FD, Lexington)
- Won Clark Stakes (USA, 16FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Kentucky Derby (USA, 12FD, Churchill Downs)
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old male (1879)
As an individual
A bay horse, Falsetto stood 16.0¾ hands; he was "as graceful as an antelope" and "of a highly nervous organization" per Walter Vosburgh. He had an excellent shoulder and a deep girth. Per Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form, he was not an easy keeper and was inclined to be delicate in constitution. He had reportedly become a roarer by the time he was shipped back to the United States from England at 4.
As a stallion
Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967 credits Falsetto with 27 stakes winners. This total does not include the minor stakes winners Chorister (a full brother to 1894 Kentucky Derby winner Chant) or Pearl Song ( a full brother to 1896 Metropolitan Handicap winner Counter Tenor).
Notable progeny
Bright Phoebus (USA), Chant (USA), Counter Tenor (USA), Dew Drop (USA), Etta (USA), His Eminence (USA), Miss Dixie (USA), Patron (USA), Sir Huon (USA), The Picket (USA)
Connections
Falsetto was bred and owned by J. W. Hunt Reynolds. He was purchased by Pierre Lorillard for US$18,000 in August 1879 following the colt's victories in the Travers Stakes and Kenner Stakes and sent to England. He was nominated to a number of good stakes and handicaps including the Gold Cup at Ascot but by June 19, 1880, had been scratched from all his engagements and was shipped back to the United States in August, arriving in poor condition. He served some mares in the spring of 1881 and was engaged for some stakes events but did not return to the races. In February 1882, he was sold to A. J. Alexander for US$7,500 and stood at Woodburn Stud. George Long purchased Falsetto from the 1897 Woodburn Stud dispersal for US$2,000 and moved the stallion to his Bashford Manor Stud, where he died of pneumonia on July 23, 1904.
Pedigree notes
Falsetto is inbred 3x3 to 16-time American champion sire Lexington. He is a full brother to Fac-Simile, second dam of 1900 Tidal Stakes winner McMeekin and third dam of 1918 Kentucky Oaks winner Viva America and the good sprinter Magazine. He is also a half brother to 1877 Kentucky Oaks winner Felicia (by Phaeton).
Farfaletta, the dam of Falsetto and his siblings, was produced from the Lexington mare Elkhorna. She, in turn, was produced from the Glencoe mare Glencona, whose dam is an unnamed daughter of Envoy.
Fun facts
- In music, falsetto is a vocal technique which shifts a man's voice to sing above his normal range.
- Falsetto is one of four stallions to sire three Kentucky Derby winners, having begotten Chant (1894), His Eminence (1901) and Sir Huon (1906). The other stallions sharing the record of three Kentucky Derby winners are Virgil, Sir Gallahad III and Bull Lea.
- The old Latonia race track instituted a stakes race named for Falsetto in 1884.
Last updated: February 14, 2020