Fort Marcy (USA)
April 2, 1964 – 1991
Amerigo (GB) x Key Bridge (USA), by Princequillo (IRE)
Family 2-n
April 2, 1964 – 1991
Amerigo (GB) x Key Bridge (USA), by Princequillo (IRE)
Family 2-n
An indifferent performer on dirt, Fort Marcy was something else again when moved to turf. He was a three-time champion on the grass and was the first horse to be voted an American Horse of the Year title based primarily on form over turf.
Race record
75 starts, 21 wins, 18 seconds, 14 thirds, US$1,109,791
1967:
1968:
1969:
1970:
1971:
Honors
Assessments
Fort Marcy was rated #86 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).
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1967, 1 pound below highweighted War Censor (a 4-year-old) but tied for second with 1966 American champion turf male Assagai, 1967 Canadian Horse of the Year He's a Smoothie, and the fine stayer Niarkos.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1968, 12 pounds below champion Dr. Fager.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1969, 4 pounds below champion Hawaii.
Highweighted at 132 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1970, 1 pound above second-rated Fiddle Isle.
As an individual
Standing over 16 hands, Fort Marcy had a big head and a rawboned frame that lacked aesthetic appeal but was essentially correct. He had a strong shoulder and deep girth but was slightly long in the cannons. He was a good mover. He tended to loaf when on the lead and was not an enthusiastic work horse in the mornings. He was game and resolute when racing but had a quirk of preferring to run on the rail and tended to start loafing when he made the lead. Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form described him as having a "cheeky" attitude, while owner Paul Mellon thought of him as having a sense of humor.
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Fort Marcy was bred and owned by Paul Mellon, who narrowly missed losing the horse after putting him in a horses in training sale at Belmont Park in 1967. Trainer Sylvester Veitch, acting for Mellon, bid Fort Marcy back in for US$77,000. Fort Marcy raced in the colors of Mellon's Rokeby Stable and was trained by Elliott Burch. Following his racing career, Fort Marcy was pensioned at Mellon's Rokeby Farm.
Pedigree notes
Fort Marcy is outcrossed through five generations. Produced from 1980 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Key Bridge, he is a half brother to 1972 American champion 3-year-old male Key to the Mint (by Graustark), 1981 United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Key to Content (by Forli), and Grade 3 winner Key to the Kingdom (by Bold Ruler). He is also a half brother to Gliding By (by Tom Rolfe), dam of Irish Group 3 winner Clare Bridge (by Little Current) and stakes winner Song of Sixpence (by The Minstrel) and second dam of multiple European Group 1 winner Silver Patriarch, 2004 Ascot Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Papineau, Grade 2 winner Bayamo, English Group 3 winner My Patriarch, and German Group 3 winner Wessam Prince. Gliding By is also the third dam of 2010 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Wootton Bassett, Brazilian Group 2 winners Uvento and Acteon Man, Grade 3 winner No Explaining, and Italian Group 3 winner Snake Snap. In addition, Fort Marcy is a half brother to Key Link (by Bold Ruler), second dam of two-time Brazilian champion Mensageiro Alado and third dam of 2001 Grande Prêmio Linneo de Paula Machado (BRZ-G1) winner Rizzolini and Grade 3 winner Shadow of Illinois; to Seven Locks (by Jacinto), second dam of Grade 2 winners Lykatill Hil and Pat Copelan and multiple Grade 3 winner Classic Account and third dam of multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Clausen Export; and to Key to the Heart (by Arts and Letters), third dam of Italian Group 3 winner Duel.
Key Bridge is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Branford Court (by Quadrangle) and is out of multiple stakes winner Blue Banner (by War Admiral), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Risque Rouge (by Blenheim II). Blue Banner, in turn, was produced from Risque Blue (by Blue Larkspur), whose half sister Risque Reigh (by Reigh Count) produced 1945 American Handicap winner Bull Reigh (by Bull Dog), stakes winner Lucrative (by Mahmoud) and 1942 Adirondack Handicap winner La Reigh (by Count Gallahad). Through La Reigh's daughter Happy Mood (by Mahmoud), winner of the 1954 Acorn Stakes, Risque Reigh is the ancestress of a notable Canadian family that includes Canadian Triple Crown winners With Approval (1989) and Izvestia (1990) and 1997 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Touch Gold.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 16, 2022
Race record
75 starts, 21 wins, 18 seconds, 14 thirds, US$1,109,791
1967:
- Won Long Branch Handicap (second division) (USA, 8FT, Monmouth)
- Won Nashua Handicap (USA, 8.5FT, Arlington Park)
- Won Tidal Handicap (USA, 9FT, Aqueduct)
- Won Bernard Baruch Handicap (second division) (USA, 8.5FT, Saratoga)
- Won Washington, D.C., International (USA, 12FT, Laurel)
- 2nd Man o' War Stakes (USA, 13FT, Aqueduct)
1968:
- Won Stars and Stripes Handicap (second division) (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Sunset Handicap (USA, 12FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd Grey Lag Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct; moved up from third by disqualification)
- 2nd Nassau County Stakes (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Kelly-Olympic Handicap (USA, 9FT, Atlantic City)
- 2nd Man o' War Stakes (USA, 12FT, Belmont)
- 3rd United Nations Handicap (USA, 9.5FT, Atlantic City)
- 3rd Washington, D.C., International (USA, 12FT, Laurel)
1969:
- Won Bougainvillea Handicap (USA, 9.5FT, Hialeah)
- Won Hollywood Turf Invitational Handicap (USA, 12FT, Hollywood)
- Won Tidal Handicap (USA, 9FT, Aqueduct)
- Won Kelly-Olympic Handicap (USA, 9FT, Atlantic City)
- 2nd San Juan Capistrano Handicap (USA, about 14FT, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Edgemere Handicap (USA, 11FT, Belmont)
- 3rd United Nations Invitational Handicap (USA, 9.5FT, Atlantic City)
- 3rd Man o' War Stakes (USA, 12FT, Belmont)
1970:
- Won Dixie Handicap (USA, 12FT, Pimlico)
- Won Bowling Green Handicap (USA, 12FT, Belmont)
- Won United Nations Invitational Handicap (USA, 9.5FT, Atlantic City)
- Won Man o' War Stakes (USA, 12FT, Belmont)
- Won Washington, D.C., International (USA, 12FT, Laurel)
- 2nd Century Handicap (USA, 11FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd Hollywood Invitational Handicap (USA, 12FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd Kelly-Olympic Handicap (USA, 9FT, Atlantic City)
- 3rd San Juan Capistrano Handicap (USA, about 14FT, Santa Anita)
1971:
- 2nd Bougainvillea Handicap (first division) (USA, 9.5FT, Hialeah)
- 2nd Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap (USA, 12FT, Hialeah)
- 2nd Bowling Green Handicap (USA, 12FT, Belmont)
- 2nd Ford Pinto Invitational Turf Handicap (USA, 12FT, Belmont)
- 3rd Kelly-Olympic Handicap (USA, 9FT, Atlantic City)
- Also finished first in the Dixie Handicap (USA, 12FT, Pimlico) but was disqualified to fourth
- Also finished second in the San Juan Capistrano Handicap (USA, about 14T, Santa Anita) but was disqualified to sixth
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1998)
- American co-Horse of the Year (1970)
- American champion grass horse (1967, 1970)
- American co-champion grass horse (1968)
Assessments
Fort Marcy was rated #86 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).
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1967, 1 pound below highweighted War Censor (a 4-year-old) but tied for second with 1966 American champion turf male Assagai, 1967 Canadian Horse of the Year He's a Smoothie, and the fine stayer Niarkos.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1968, 12 pounds below champion Dr. Fager.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1969, 4 pounds below champion Hawaii.
Highweighted at 132 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1970, 1 pound above second-rated Fiddle Isle.
As an individual
Standing over 16 hands, Fort Marcy had a big head and a rawboned frame that lacked aesthetic appeal but was essentially correct. He had a strong shoulder and deep girth but was slightly long in the cannons. He was a good mover. He tended to loaf when on the lead and was not an enthusiastic work horse in the mornings. He was game and resolute when racing but had a quirk of preferring to run on the rail and tended to start loafing when he made the lead. Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form described him as having a "cheeky" attitude, while owner Paul Mellon thought of him as having a sense of humor.
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Fort Marcy was bred and owned by Paul Mellon, who narrowly missed losing the horse after putting him in a horses in training sale at Belmont Park in 1967. Trainer Sylvester Veitch, acting for Mellon, bid Fort Marcy back in for US$77,000. Fort Marcy raced in the colors of Mellon's Rokeby Stable and was trained by Elliott Burch. Following his racing career, Fort Marcy was pensioned at Mellon's Rokeby Farm.
Pedigree notes
Fort Marcy is outcrossed through five generations. Produced from 1980 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Key Bridge, he is a half brother to 1972 American champion 3-year-old male Key to the Mint (by Graustark), 1981 United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Key to Content (by Forli), and Grade 3 winner Key to the Kingdom (by Bold Ruler). He is also a half brother to Gliding By (by Tom Rolfe), dam of Irish Group 3 winner Clare Bridge (by Little Current) and stakes winner Song of Sixpence (by The Minstrel) and second dam of multiple European Group 1 winner Silver Patriarch, 2004 Ascot Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Papineau, Grade 2 winner Bayamo, English Group 3 winner My Patriarch, and German Group 3 winner Wessam Prince. Gliding By is also the third dam of 2010 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Wootton Bassett, Brazilian Group 2 winners Uvento and Acteon Man, Grade 3 winner No Explaining, and Italian Group 3 winner Snake Snap. In addition, Fort Marcy is a half brother to Key Link (by Bold Ruler), second dam of two-time Brazilian champion Mensageiro Alado and third dam of 2001 Grande Prêmio Linneo de Paula Machado (BRZ-G1) winner Rizzolini and Grade 3 winner Shadow of Illinois; to Seven Locks (by Jacinto), second dam of Grade 2 winners Lykatill Hil and Pat Copelan and multiple Grade 3 winner Classic Account and third dam of multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Clausen Export; and to Key to the Heart (by Arts and Letters), third dam of Italian Group 3 winner Duel.
Key Bridge is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Branford Court (by Quadrangle) and is out of multiple stakes winner Blue Banner (by War Admiral), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Risque Rouge (by Blenheim II). Blue Banner, in turn, was produced from Risque Blue (by Blue Larkspur), whose half sister Risque Reigh (by Reigh Count) produced 1945 American Handicap winner Bull Reigh (by Bull Dog), stakes winner Lucrative (by Mahmoud) and 1942 Adirondack Handicap winner La Reigh (by Count Gallahad). Through La Reigh's daughter Happy Mood (by Mahmoud), winner of the 1954 Acorn Stakes, Risque Reigh is the ancestress of a notable Canadian family that includes Canadian Triple Crown winners With Approval (1989) and Izvestia (1990) and 1997 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Touch Gold.
Fun facts
- Fort Marcy was named for a fort established in Northern Virginia by the Union Army to protect approaches to Washington, D.C., during the Civil War. Today, Fort Marcy is a historical site maintained by the National Park Service.
- The Fort Marcy Stakes was inaugurated in 1975. It is currently a Grade 2 turf race for ages 3 and up over nine furlongs at Belmont Park.
Last updated: May 16, 2022