Needles (USA)
April 29, 1953 – October 15, 1984
Ponder (USA) x Noodle Soup (USA), by Jack High (USA)
Family 5-e
April 29, 1953 – October 15, 1984
Ponder (USA) x Noodle Soup (USA), by Jack High (USA)
Family 5-e
Completing a sequence of six generations of Classic winners, Needles helped put the nascent Florida breeding industry on the national map in the United States. He was at the top of his generation at both 2 and 3 but, although a useful stallion, was unable to get a viable successor as a sire, ending his branch of the Hyperion male line.
Race record
21 starts, 11 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$600,355
1955:
1956:
1957:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1955, 1 pound below highweighted Career Boy and tied with the other official co-champion, Nail.
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1956, 2 pounds above second-rated Swoon's Son.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1957, 9 pounds below champion Dedicate.
As an individual
The blue ribbon winner in a yearling show, Needles matured into a handsome, strongly made bay horse with good all-around conformation and a sensible disposition. He stood 16 hands and had exceptional leverage from hip to hock. He was a terrible work horse and could scarcely be persuaded to put in a decent workout between the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby but was a determined stretch runner in actual racing. He was forced into retirement by injury after three starts at 4. As a stallion, he was "a big clown" according to owner Bonnie Heath and loved to ham for the camera if a photographer came around.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Needles sired 234 winners (73.1%) and 21 stakes winners (6.6%) from 320 named foals. His stud career was probably handicapped by his standing in Florida, where the mare base was weaker than in Kentucky, and none of his runners approached his own ability. His name remains alive in pedigrees through his daughter Needlebug, whose daughter T. C. Kitten was an important broodmare for C. V. Whitney Farm and founded a family leading to 1996 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Editor's Note and the good sires Hennessy and Shy Tom.
Connections
Foaled at Dickey Stables in Florida, Needles was bred by Bill Leach. He was owned by D and H Stables (the nom de course of the partnership of Jack Dudley and Bonnie Heath), which acquired him privately as a yearling for US$20,000. He was trained by World War I flying ace Hugh Fontaine, who recommended the colt's purchase to his employers and was so high on the animal that he requested to be given a loan to buy the colt himself if Dudley and Health didn't want him. Following his racing career, Needles stood at Bonnie Heath Farm in Florida.
Pedigree notes
Needles' pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to four-time stakes winner Menolene (by the Bull Dog horse Bull Brier). He is also a half brother to stakes-placed First Nominee (by Rough'n Tumble), dam of 1969 San Felipe Handicap winner Elect the Ruler (by Fair Ruler) and Grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner Fine Prospect (by Mr. Prospector); second dam of 1984 Monmouth Handicap (USA-G1) winner Believe the Queen and Grade 2 winner Once Wild; and third dam of 1993 Caulfield Cup (AUS-G1) winner Fraar.
Noodle Soup, the dam of Needles, won once from 14 starts. She is a daughter of 1928 Hopeful Stakes and 1930 Metropolitan Handicap winner Jack High (by John P. Grier) out of Supromene, an unraced daughter ot the stakes-winning Ultimus horse Supremus. Supromene, in turn, is out of the imported Son-in-Law mare Melpomene, whose half sister Harpsichord (by 1913 Two Thousand Guineas winner Louvois) produced 1929 Eclipse Stakes winner Royal Minstrel (by Tetratema; a good sire); 1930 Coronation Stakes winner Qurrat-al-Ain (by Buchan), dam of 1942 Irish champion 3-year-old filly Majideh (by Mahmoud) and second dam of 1948 English and Irish champion 3-year-old filly Masaka, 1957 Belmont Stakes winner Gallant Man, 1955 Santa Anita Handicap winner Poona II, 1959 Prix Jacques Le Marois winner Sallymount, and 1951 Newmarket Oaks and Prix de Minerve winner Maitrise; and 1934 Dewhurst Stakes winner Hairan (by Fairway).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credits
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 25, 2024
Race record
21 starts, 11 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$600,355
1955:
- Won Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
- Won Sapling Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Garden State Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 3rd World's Playground Stakes (USA, 7FD, Atlantic City)
1956:
- Won Flamingo Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Florida Derby (USA, 9FD, Gulfstream Park; new track record 1:48-3/5)
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
1957:
- Won Ft. Lauderdale Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park; equaled track record 1:42)
- 3rd Gulfstream Park Handicap (USA, 10FD, Gulfstream Park)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2000)
- American co-champion 2-year-old male, 1955
- American champion 3-year-old male, 1956
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1955, 1 pound below highweighted Career Boy and tied with the other official co-champion, Nail.
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1956, 2 pounds above second-rated Swoon's Son.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1957, 9 pounds below champion Dedicate.
As an individual
The blue ribbon winner in a yearling show, Needles matured into a handsome, strongly made bay horse with good all-around conformation and a sensible disposition. He stood 16 hands and had exceptional leverage from hip to hock. He was a terrible work horse and could scarcely be persuaded to put in a decent workout between the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby but was a determined stretch runner in actual racing. He was forced into retirement by injury after three starts at 4. As a stallion, he was "a big clown" according to owner Bonnie Heath and loved to ham for the camera if a photographer came around.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Needles sired 234 winners (73.1%) and 21 stakes winners (6.6%) from 320 named foals. His stud career was probably handicapped by his standing in Florida, where the mare base was weaker than in Kentucky, and none of his runners approached his own ability. His name remains alive in pedigrees through his daughter Needlebug, whose daughter T. C. Kitten was an important broodmare for C. V. Whitney Farm and founded a family leading to 1996 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Editor's Note and the good sires Hennessy and Shy Tom.
Connections
Foaled at Dickey Stables in Florida, Needles was bred by Bill Leach. He was owned by D and H Stables (the nom de course of the partnership of Jack Dudley and Bonnie Heath), which acquired him privately as a yearling for US$20,000. He was trained by World War I flying ace Hugh Fontaine, who recommended the colt's purchase to his employers and was so high on the animal that he requested to be given a loan to buy the colt himself if Dudley and Health didn't want him. Following his racing career, Needles stood at Bonnie Heath Farm in Florida.
Pedigree notes
Needles' pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to four-time stakes winner Menolene (by the Bull Dog horse Bull Brier). He is also a half brother to stakes-placed First Nominee (by Rough'n Tumble), dam of 1969 San Felipe Handicap winner Elect the Ruler (by Fair Ruler) and Grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner Fine Prospect (by Mr. Prospector); second dam of 1984 Monmouth Handicap (USA-G1) winner Believe the Queen and Grade 2 winner Once Wild; and third dam of 1993 Caulfield Cup (AUS-G1) winner Fraar.
Noodle Soup, the dam of Needles, won once from 14 starts. She is a daughter of 1928 Hopeful Stakes and 1930 Metropolitan Handicap winner Jack High (by John P. Grier) out of Supromene, an unraced daughter ot the stakes-winning Ultimus horse Supremus. Supromene, in turn, is out of the imported Son-in-Law mare Melpomene, whose half sister Harpsichord (by 1913 Two Thousand Guineas winner Louvois) produced 1929 Eclipse Stakes winner Royal Minstrel (by Tetratema; a good sire); 1930 Coronation Stakes winner Qurrat-al-Ain (by Buchan), dam of 1942 Irish champion 3-year-old filly Majideh (by Mahmoud) and second dam of 1948 English and Irish champion 3-year-old filly Masaka, 1957 Belmont Stakes winner Gallant Man, 1955 Santa Anita Handicap winner Poona II, 1959 Prix Jacques Le Marois winner Sallymount, and 1951 Newmarket Oaks and Prix de Minerve winner Maitrise; and 1934 Dewhurst Stakes winner Hairan (by Fairway).
Books and media
- Needles is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- "Needles Put Florida on the Breeding Map" is the fourth chapter in Jim Bolus' Derby Dreams (1996, Pelican Publishing Company).
Fun facts
- Two stories exist regarding the origin of Needles' name. The more commonly seen one is that he got his name from the many injections he received while battling pneumonia as a foal. The other, which was vouched for by owner Bonnie Heath, was that he got the name because he was constantly "needling" other horses and his handlers.
- Following his victory in the 1956 Flamingo Stakes, Needles was made an honorary member of the Lettermen's Club at Oklahoma A&M (the alma mater of co-owner Bonnie Heath) and was given a blanket in school colors with his letterman's “O” emblazoned on it. Later in the year, the University of Florida followed suit, bringing Needles in for a halftime appearance at the December 1956 University of Florida-University of Miami football game to make the presentation. (For the record, the University of Miami won the game, 20-7.)
- Needles was the first Florida-bred racehorse to enter the Kentucky Derby and the first to win it.
- Needles' dam Noodle Soup was quite a bargain, as Bill Leach purchased her as part of a US$10,000 package deal that included two other mares and two fillies. She was carrying Needles at the time of her purchase.
- Needles is the final link in one of two three-generation sequences of Kentucky Derby winners in American racing history, as his paternal grandsire Pensive and sire Ponder won the great race in 1944 and 1949, respectively. (The other such three-generation sequence begins with 1928 victor Reigh Count, continues through his son Count Fleet—who added the rest of the 1943 American Triple Crown for good measure—and ends with Count Fleet's son Count Turf, victorious in the 1951 Kentucky Derby.)
- Needles is also the final link in a six-generation male-line sequence of horses that won races accounted as Classics in a major racing nation, as Pensive was sired by 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes winner Hyperion, who in turn was by 1918 English Triple Crown winner Gainsborough, a son of 1909 St. Leger Stakes winner Bayardo.
- Needles was extremely fond of cats. His favorite was a tabby-and-white female named Boots.
- Needles enjoyed having his tongue pulled and would stick it out on the command, "Give me your tongue," from Bonnie Heath farm manager Willie Riley.
- Following his death, Needles' heart and hooves were buried at the Garden of Champions at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's pavilion in Ocala, Florida. The rest of his remains were buried at Bonnie Heath Farm near the stallion barn.
- According to Needles' page at the Bonnie Heath Farm website (www.bonnieheathfarm.com), Needles “put the Florida Thoroughbred industry on the map and sold more land than all the real estate agents in Marion County.” In token of his contributions to the area's economy, Needles was made an honorary member of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce.
- The Needles Award is an annual award presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association to the Florida small breeder deemed to have made the most outstanding contributions to the Florida Thoroughbred industry.
Photo credits
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 25, 2024