Hoop, Jr. (USA)
March 15, 1942 – November 19, 1964
Sir Gallahad III (FR) x One Hour (USA), by Snob II (FR)
Family 9
March 15, 1942 – November 19, 1964
Sir Gallahad III (FR) x One Hour (USA), by Snob II (FR)
Family 9
Fred Hooper struck gold with the first Thoroughbred he ever owned, buying Hoop, Jr., for US$10,200. Two years later, the colt won the Kentucky Derby for him (causing Hooper to comment, “I never thought I'd make it this quick”) and helped launch Hooper into a lifelong quest for another such horse. Ironically, Hooper never won the Derby again (his best subsequent Derby horse was Crozier, second to Carry Back in 1961), but he remained active in racing and breeding until his death at age 102. The bloodlines he developed made substantial contributions to American Thoroughbred breeding, but Hoop, Jr., played only a small role in those contributions as he was not a successful stallion.
Race record
9 starts, 4 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$99,290
1944:
1945:
Assessments
Ranked second among American 3-year-old males of 1945 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay, Hoop, Jr. was strong and well-made with slightly sickled hocks. He bowed a tendon during the running of the 1945 Preakness Stakes and never raced again.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Hoop, Jr., sired 70 winners (61.9%) and three stakes winners (2.7%) from 113 named foals.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Hoop, Jr., was bred by Robert A. Fairbairn, previously the breeder of 1940 Kentucky Derby winner Gallahadion. He was owned by Fred W. Hooper, who purchased him for US$10,200 as a yearling at the 1943 Keeneland sale. He was trained by Ivan Parke. He was buried at Hooper Farm near Ocala, Florida, after his death.
Pedigree notes
Hoop, Jr., is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to multiple stakes winner Sir Jeffrey and a half brother to 1935 Selima Stakes winner Split Second and 1938 Lawrence Realization winner Magic Hour, both by Sortie. Split Second, in turn, is the dam of 1951 Experimental Free Handicap #2 winner Sonic (by Blue Larkspur).
Hoop, Jr., is also a half brother to stakes-placed Morning (by American Flag), dam of 1944 Vineland Handicap winner Good Morning (by Sir Gallahad III), 1945 Starlet Stakes winner Favorito (by Flares), 1952 Choice Stakes winner Count Flame (by Count Fleet), and the multiple stakes-winning steeplechaser Hustle (by Daumier). Morning is the second dam of 1950 Grand Union Hotel Stakes winner Battle Morn, 1958 Dwyer Handicap winner Victory Morn, 1968 Delaware Handicap winner Politely, and the good steeplechaser Basil Bee, and is the third dam of 1960 Bowling Green Handicap winner Amber Morn, Grade 3 winner Lexington Park, and French Group 3 winner Rostov. In addition, Hoop, Jr., is a half brother to Gay Music (by Royal Minstrel), whose granddaughter Alta Mira produced six Canadian stakes winners; to Zero Hour (by Blenheim II), second dam of 1960 San Fernando Stakes winner King O'Turf and third dam of 1963 Sheridan Stakes winner Cosdave; and to Seaton Pippin (by Johnstown), dam of stakes winners Trying (by Endeavour II) and Apple (by Ambiorix), second dam of 1969 Poquessing Handicap winner Class Is Out and third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Miss Musket.
One Hour, the dam of Hoop, Jr., and his siblings, won four stakes as a juvenile including the 1927 Adirondack Handicap. She is a full sister to 1931 Maryland Handicap winner Clock Tower and a half sister to 1932 American Derby winner Gusto (by American Flag) and to 1927 Empire City Handicap winner Recreation (by Spanish Prince II). The next dam in Hoop, Jr.'s tail-female line, Daylight Saving (by Star Shoot) is a half sister to stakes winner Tetley (by Ormondale) and is out of Tea Enough (by Ogden), a half sister to the top Midwestern stakes winner Dick Welles (by King Eric), 1904 Lawrence Realization winner and two-time American champion Ort Wells (by King Eric), 1915 Tremont Stakes winner Tea Caddy (by Rock Sand), and minor stakes winners Security (by Sorcerer) and Toggery (by Rock Sand).
Books and media
Hoop, Jr., is profiled in Chapter 7 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: October 16, 2021
Race record
9 starts, 4 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$99,290
1944:
- 2nd Bowie Kindergarten Stakes (USA, 4FD, Bowie)
- 2nd Pimlico Nursery Stakes (USA, 5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Aberdeen Stakes (USA, 4.5FD, Havre de Grace)
1945:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Wood Memorial (second division) (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
Assessments
Ranked second among American 3-year-old males of 1945 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay, Hoop, Jr. was strong and well-made with slightly sickled hocks. He bowed a tendon during the running of the 1945 Preakness Stakes and never raced again.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Hoop, Jr., sired 70 winners (61.9%) and three stakes winners (2.7%) from 113 named foals.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Hoop, Jr., was bred by Robert A. Fairbairn, previously the breeder of 1940 Kentucky Derby winner Gallahadion. He was owned by Fred W. Hooper, who purchased him for US$10,200 as a yearling at the 1943 Keeneland sale. He was trained by Ivan Parke. He was buried at Hooper Farm near Ocala, Florida, after his death.
Pedigree notes
Hoop, Jr., is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to multiple stakes winner Sir Jeffrey and a half brother to 1935 Selima Stakes winner Split Second and 1938 Lawrence Realization winner Magic Hour, both by Sortie. Split Second, in turn, is the dam of 1951 Experimental Free Handicap #2 winner Sonic (by Blue Larkspur).
Hoop, Jr., is also a half brother to stakes-placed Morning (by American Flag), dam of 1944 Vineland Handicap winner Good Morning (by Sir Gallahad III), 1945 Starlet Stakes winner Favorito (by Flares), 1952 Choice Stakes winner Count Flame (by Count Fleet), and the multiple stakes-winning steeplechaser Hustle (by Daumier). Morning is the second dam of 1950 Grand Union Hotel Stakes winner Battle Morn, 1958 Dwyer Handicap winner Victory Morn, 1968 Delaware Handicap winner Politely, and the good steeplechaser Basil Bee, and is the third dam of 1960 Bowling Green Handicap winner Amber Morn, Grade 3 winner Lexington Park, and French Group 3 winner Rostov. In addition, Hoop, Jr., is a half brother to Gay Music (by Royal Minstrel), whose granddaughter Alta Mira produced six Canadian stakes winners; to Zero Hour (by Blenheim II), second dam of 1960 San Fernando Stakes winner King O'Turf and third dam of 1963 Sheridan Stakes winner Cosdave; and to Seaton Pippin (by Johnstown), dam of stakes winners Trying (by Endeavour II) and Apple (by Ambiorix), second dam of 1969 Poquessing Handicap winner Class Is Out and third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Miss Musket.
One Hour, the dam of Hoop, Jr., and his siblings, won four stakes as a juvenile including the 1927 Adirondack Handicap. She is a full sister to 1931 Maryland Handicap winner Clock Tower and a half sister to 1932 American Derby winner Gusto (by American Flag) and to 1927 Empire City Handicap winner Recreation (by Spanish Prince II). The next dam in Hoop, Jr.'s tail-female line, Daylight Saving (by Star Shoot) is a half sister to stakes winner Tetley (by Ormondale) and is out of Tea Enough (by Ogden), a half sister to the top Midwestern stakes winner Dick Welles (by King Eric), 1904 Lawrence Realization winner and two-time American champion Ort Wells (by King Eric), 1915 Tremont Stakes winner Tea Caddy (by Rock Sand), and minor stakes winners Security (by Sorcerer) and Toggery (by Rock Sand).
Books and media
Hoop, Jr., is profiled in Chapter 7 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Hoop, Jr., won a Kentucky Derby that nearly wasn't, as horse racing had been curtailed at the beginning of 1945 to support the war effort. (Ironically, no other American sport was asked to shut down for this reason, and racing in war-torn England and France kept right on going.) Fortunately for horsemen, Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945, and Churchill Downs staged the Derby on June 9, the latest day of the year on which the race has ever been run.
- Hoop, Jr., was the third of champion jockey Eddie Arcaro's record five Kentucky Derby winners. The others were Lawrin (1938), Whirlaway (1941), Citation (1948) and Hill Gail (1952).
- Hoop, Jr., was named in honor of owner Fred Hooper's youngest son.
- Many years later, after breeding and owning champions Susan's Girl and Precisionist, Fred Hooper still regarded Hoop, Jr., as the best horse he ever owned.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: October 16, 2021