Genuine Risk (USA)
February 15, 1977 – August 18, 2008
Exclusive Native (USA) x Virtuous (USA), by Gallant Man (GB)
Family 1-n
February 15, 1977 – August 18, 2008
Exclusive Native (USA) x Virtuous (USA), by Gallant Man (GB)
Family 1-n
The second filly to win the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1), Genuine Risk was tough, honest and classy. She was the first filly to compete in all three of the American Triple Crown races and was second in both the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) and the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1). In a close contest for championship honors with Bold 'n Determined, she sealed her claim to the Eclipse Award by defeating the top older mare Misty Gallore in the Ruffian Handicap (USA-G1). She was retired following a minor knee injury prior to a planned start in the Woodward Stakes (USA-G1) at 4. Her first mating was with the mighty Secretariat, but the much-anticipated foal was born dead. Damage sustained during the delivery may have been a factor in Genuine Risk's subsequent struggles with infertility.
Race record
15 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$646,587
1979:
1980:
Honors
Assessments
Genuine Risk was rated #91 among the greatest American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel convened by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She ranked 23rd among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1979, 4 pounds below champion filly Smart Angle.
Co-highweighted with Bold 'n Determined at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for 3-year-old fillies of 1980.
As an individual
A big, strong chestnut filly, Genuine Risk stood 16.1 hands. She was feminine in appearance despite her size. She had slightly sickled hocks. Although she was highly strung, dominant and tough while in training, she was not mean or vicious and became much calmer as a broodmare. She loved mint candies and carrots as treats.
As a producer
Genuine Risk produced only two foals, both unraced colts. The elder of the two, Genuine Reward (by Rahy), became a sire of polo ponies in Wyoming, while the younger, Count Our Blessing (by Chief Honcho), was gelded and became a show horse.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Genuine Risk was bred by Sally Humphrey. She was owned by Bert and Diana Firestone, who purchased Genuine Risk for US$32,000 from the 1978 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale at the urging of Bert's son Matthew. As was usual for the fillies owned by the Firestones, Genuine Risk raced in the colors of Diana Firestone (the colts raced in Bert's colors). She was trained by LeRoy Jolley. After being retired from broodmare duty in 2000, Genuine Risk was pensioned at Newstead Farm, Upperville, Virginia, dying there of natural causes in 2008.
Pedigree notes
Genuine Risk is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to stakes winner Sorbet (by Sauce Boat), second dam of stakes winners Beau's Surprise and Gallant Secret. Her dam Virtuous is a half sister to English Group 3 winner Shoolerville (by King of the Tudors) and to Respective (by Aureole), second dam of five stakes winners. Genuine Risk's second dam, Due Respect II (by Zucchero), is a half sister to 1959 Kentucky Derby winner Tomy Lee (by Tudor Minstrel).
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: July 6, 2023
Race record
15 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$646,587
1979:
- Won Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Tempted Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Aqueduct)
1980:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Ruffian Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Maskette Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Aqueduct)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1986)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1980)
Assessments
Genuine Risk was rated #91 among the greatest American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel convened by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She ranked 23rd among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1979, 4 pounds below champion filly Smart Angle.
Co-highweighted with Bold 'n Determined at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for 3-year-old fillies of 1980.
As an individual
A big, strong chestnut filly, Genuine Risk stood 16.1 hands. She was feminine in appearance despite her size. She had slightly sickled hocks. Although she was highly strung, dominant and tough while in training, she was not mean or vicious and became much calmer as a broodmare. She loved mint candies and carrots as treats.
As a producer
Genuine Risk produced only two foals, both unraced colts. The elder of the two, Genuine Reward (by Rahy), became a sire of polo ponies in Wyoming, while the younger, Count Our Blessing (by Chief Honcho), was gelded and became a show horse.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Genuine Risk was bred by Sally Humphrey. She was owned by Bert and Diana Firestone, who purchased Genuine Risk for US$32,000 from the 1978 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale at the urging of Bert's son Matthew. As was usual for the fillies owned by the Firestones, Genuine Risk raced in the colors of Diana Firestone (the colts raced in Bert's colors). She was trained by LeRoy Jolley. After being retired from broodmare duty in 2000, Genuine Risk was pensioned at Newstead Farm, Upperville, Virginia, dying there of natural causes in 2008.
Pedigree notes
Genuine Risk is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to stakes winner Sorbet (by Sauce Boat), second dam of stakes winners Beau's Surprise and Gallant Secret. Her dam Virtuous is a half sister to English Group 3 winner Shoolerville (by King of the Tudors) and to Respective (by Aureole), second dam of five stakes winners. Genuine Risk's second dam, Due Respect II (by Zucchero), is a half sister to 1959 Kentucky Derby winner Tomy Lee (by Tudor Minstrel).
Books and media
- Genuine Risk is the 20th release in the Thoroughbred Legends series from Eclipse Press. It was written by Hallie McEvoy and published in 2003.
- Jim Bolus recounts Genuine Risk's story in “As Genuine as They Come,” the fifth chapter in Derby Magic (1997, Pelican Publishing Company LLC).
- Genuine Risk is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Genuine Risk is one of 50 Thoroughbreds profiled in Royal Blood: Fifty Years of Classic Thoroughbreds. Written by racing historian Jim Bolus with illustrations and commentary by noted equine artist Richard Stone Reeves, the book was released by The Blood-Horse, Inc., in 1994.
- Genuine Risk is one of the older Thoroughbreds profiled in photographs and essays in Barbara Livingston's Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2002, The Blood-Horse, Inc.).
- Genuine Risk's winning stretch drive in the Kentucky Derby can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyU4ohra1zI.
Fun facts
- Genuine Risk was known to fans as "Genny" or "Ginny."
- Genuine Risk was the first filly to start in the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) since Silver Spoon in 1959.
- Genuine Risk's mating to Secretariat in 1982 was the first ever between Kentucky Derby winners. Unfortunately, the resulting colt was stillborn after a difficult delivery, which may have had something to do with Genuine Risk's later reproductive woes.
- Genuine Risk's mating to The Minstrel in 1984 was the first ever between a winner of the Derby Stakes (ENG-G1) and the Kentucky Derby.
- When Genuine Risk finally produced her first foal at Three Chimneys Farm, farm staff had to cope with a deluge of visitors, mail (some of it addressed simply to “Genuine Risk” or “The New Mommy”), flowers, and gifts such as artwork, carrots, and stuffed animals.
- The Genuine Risk Stakes was run at Belmont Park in 1988-2006. It was last carded as a Grade 1 race over 6 furlongs on dirt for fillies and mares aged 3 and up.
- Following his close of his stud career, Genuine Risk's son Genuine Reward spent his last years at the Old Friends Retirement Facility near Georgetown, Kentucky, dying in August 2018. His placement there came about through the intervention of Laura Hillenbrand, author of Seabiscuit: An American Legend (1999, Random House), who purchased Genuine Reward after finding that he had been listed for sale for US$500 on Craigslist by an owner seeking a good retirement home for him and genuinely unaware that such an ad could attract a kill buyer. Hillenbrand arranged for Genuine Reward's transfer to Old Friends, and the sweet-natured horse lived out his days as a self-appointed "greeter" for the facility, welcoming any and all visitors who came near his paddock.
Last updated: July 6, 2023