Johnstown (USA)
1936 – May 14, 1950
Jamestown (USA) x La France (USA), by Sir Gallahad III (Fr)
Family 17-b
1936 – May 14, 1950
Jamestown (USA) x La France (USA), by Sir Gallahad III (Fr)
Family 17-b
Johnstown compiled a brilliant record despite being unsound in his wind and experiencing multiple physical problems. Fast enough to defeat good older sprinters in the Paumonok Handicap at the beginning of his 3-year-old campaign, he had the stamina to win the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. While he never won an official championship, he split his races against eventual Horse of the Year Challedon, winning two and losing two. He was not a good sire but made one great contribution to his breed through his daughter Segula, dam of Nashua.
Race record
21 starts, 14 wins, 0 seconds, 3 thirds, US$169,315
1938:
1939:
Honors
National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1992)
Assessments
Johnstown was rated #73 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 sixth among American juveniles of 1938 by The Blood-Horse.
Rated best among American 3-year-old males of 1939 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
Johnstown was a large, strong, coarse bay horse with a powerfully-muscled body and a surprising amount of speed. Photographs suggest that he had slightly sickled hocks.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Johnstown sired 145 winners (63.9%) and 6 stakes winners (2.6%) from 227 named foals. He was generally characterized as a sire of durable plodders and was a much better broodmare sire than sire of winners.
Notable progeny
First Page (USA), Segula (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Baldric (USA), Beau Purple (USA), Hillsdale (USA), Nashua (USA), Sabette (USA)
Connections
Johnstown was bred in Kentucky by Arthur B. Hancock, Sr. He was owned by the senior William Woodward's Belair Stud, which purchased Johnstown privately as a yearling. He was trained by James "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons. Johnstown entered stud in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1940 and died there of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1950. He is buried in the Claiborne Farm horse cemetery.
Pedigree notes
Johnstown is inbred 5x5 to the important English sire Bay Ronald. He is a half brother to 1937 American champion 2-year-old filly Jacola (by Jacopo), dam of 1947 champion 3-year-old male Phalanx (by Pilate), second dam of 1952 Jersey Stakes winner King Jolie and Grade 2 winner Mr. Lucky Phoenix, and third dam of 1970 French champion 2-year-old filly Bold Fascinator,1997 Puerto Rican champion 3-year-old filly Tintoreta, and 1963 Chicagoan Stakes winner B. Major. He is also a half brother to multiple stakes producer La Boheme (by Jacopo) and to French Vamp (by Stimulus), third dam of 1962 Kentucky Derby winner Decidedly. Johnstown's dam La France is a full sister to Gallette, dam of 1946 champion handicap mare Gallorette (by Challenger II). She is also a half sister to 1927 Gazelle Stakes winner Flambino (by Wrack), dam of 1935 Triple Crown winner Omaha (by Gallant Fox), 1938 Ascot Gold Cup winner Flares (by Gallant Fox), and 1934 Acorn Stakes winner Fleam (by General Lee).
La France and her siblings were produced from 1921 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Flambette (by Durbar II), a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Ned O. (by Campfire) and to 1919 Coaching Club American Oaks runner-up La Rablee, dam of 1930 Newmarket Stakes winner The Scout (by Sir Gallahad III) and third dam of 1949 Irish St. Leger winner Brown Rover. Flambette, in turn, is out of La Flambee (by Ajax), whose full sister Parthenis is the second dam of 1935 Doncaster Cup winner Black Devil. Produced from French dual Classic winner Medeah (by Masque II), La Flambee is also a half sister to Medee (by Ksar), whose son Medicis (by Congreve) won the 1936 Polla de Potrillos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) and Gran Premio Jockey Club.
Books and media
Johnstown is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: September 24, 2024
Race record
21 starts, 14 wins, 0 seconds, 3 thirds, US$169,315
1938:
- Won Breeders' Futurity (USA, 6FD, Keeneland)
- Won Remsen Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
- Won Richard Johnson Stakes (USA, 6FD, Laurel)
- Won Babylon Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Junior Champion Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
1939:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Wood Memorial Stakes (USA, 8f+70yD, Jamaica)
- Won Dwyer Stakes (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Paumonok Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Classic Stakes (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- Also set a new track record of 1:40-4/5 for a mile and 70 yards in an overnight handicap at Jamaica
Honors
National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1992)
Assessments
Johnstown was rated #73 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 sixth among American juveniles of 1938 by The Blood-Horse.
Rated best among American 3-year-old males of 1939 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
Johnstown was a large, strong, coarse bay horse with a powerfully-muscled body and a surprising amount of speed. Photographs suggest that he had slightly sickled hocks.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Johnstown sired 145 winners (63.9%) and 6 stakes winners (2.6%) from 227 named foals. He was generally characterized as a sire of durable plodders and was a much better broodmare sire than sire of winners.
Notable progeny
First Page (USA), Segula (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Baldric (USA), Beau Purple (USA), Hillsdale (USA), Nashua (USA), Sabette (USA)
Connections
Johnstown was bred in Kentucky by Arthur B. Hancock, Sr. He was owned by the senior William Woodward's Belair Stud, which purchased Johnstown privately as a yearling. He was trained by James "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons. Johnstown entered stud in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1940 and died there of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1950. He is buried in the Claiborne Farm horse cemetery.
Pedigree notes
Johnstown is inbred 5x5 to the important English sire Bay Ronald. He is a half brother to 1937 American champion 2-year-old filly Jacola (by Jacopo), dam of 1947 champion 3-year-old male Phalanx (by Pilate), second dam of 1952 Jersey Stakes winner King Jolie and Grade 2 winner Mr. Lucky Phoenix, and third dam of 1970 French champion 2-year-old filly Bold Fascinator,1997 Puerto Rican champion 3-year-old filly Tintoreta, and 1963 Chicagoan Stakes winner B. Major. He is also a half brother to multiple stakes producer La Boheme (by Jacopo) and to French Vamp (by Stimulus), third dam of 1962 Kentucky Derby winner Decidedly. Johnstown's dam La France is a full sister to Gallette, dam of 1946 champion handicap mare Gallorette (by Challenger II). She is also a half sister to 1927 Gazelle Stakes winner Flambino (by Wrack), dam of 1935 Triple Crown winner Omaha (by Gallant Fox), 1938 Ascot Gold Cup winner Flares (by Gallant Fox), and 1934 Acorn Stakes winner Fleam (by General Lee).
La France and her siblings were produced from 1921 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Flambette (by Durbar II), a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Ned O. (by Campfire) and to 1919 Coaching Club American Oaks runner-up La Rablee, dam of 1930 Newmarket Stakes winner The Scout (by Sir Gallahad III) and third dam of 1949 Irish St. Leger winner Brown Rover. Flambette, in turn, is out of La Flambee (by Ajax), whose full sister Parthenis is the second dam of 1935 Doncaster Cup winner Black Devil. Produced from French dual Classic winner Medeah (by Masque II), La Flambee is also a half sister to Medee (by Ksar), whose son Medicis (by Congreve) won the 1936 Polla de Potrillos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) and Gran Premio Jockey Club.
Books and media
Johnstown is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Johnstown was named for a city in Pennsylvania, known in American history as the site of three major floods. The first and worst was the “Great Flood” of May 31, 1889, in which at least 2,209 people died.
- Johnstown's Kentucky Derby odds of 3-5 were the shortest for any horse since Agile won the race at 1-3 odds in 1905.
- Johnstown is one of six colts who won two of the three American Triple Crown races but failed to win the 3-year-old championship in year-end voting. The others are Shut Out (1942), Pensive (1944), Kauai King (1966), Riva Ridge (1972), and Tabasco Cat (1994).
Last updated: September 24, 2024