While Olympia proved not to stay classic distances when tested in the 1949 Kentucky Derby, he was one of the best sprinter-milers of his time. He was also sound and durable, and he proved able to transmit his qualities of speed and soundness as a sire. He became the foundation sire for Fred Hooper's breeding program and a major influence on North American breeding, primarily through his daughters.
Race record
41 starts, 15 wins, 12 seconds, 4 thirds, US$365,632
1948:
1949:
1950:
Assessments
Ranked fifth among North American juvenile males of 1948 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked third among North American 3-year-old males of 1949 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A small, lengthy bay horse with a Roman nose, Olympia was a blocky, powerful sprinter type who ran to his looks; he did not stay much if any beyond a mile in top company unless he had things his own way, though he was thoroughly game and would try to the limits of his stamina. His hind leg was exceptionally straight and strong, and he was a very quick horse from the gate.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Olympia sired 224 winners (69.1%) and 40 stakes winners (12.3%) from 324 named foals. Olympia is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Candalita (USA), Crème dela Crème (USA), Decathlon (USA), Greek Game (USA), Lucky Mel (USA), My Portrait (USA), On the Trail (USA), Pia Star (USA), Pucker Up (USA), Top Bid (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Admiral's Voyage (USA), Andover Way (USA), Crozier (USA), Double Delta (USA), Proud Delta (USA), Smartaire (USA), Special Team (USA), Sun and Snow (USA), True Knight (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Coldstream Stud in Kentucky, Olympia was bred by Ivan Parke. After selling the colt to Fred Hooper, Parke stayed on as Olympia's trainer. Olympia stood at Danada Farm in Kentucky until he was pensioned in 1967. He then moved to Hooper Farm near Ocala, Florida, where he spent the rest of his life as an honored pensioner.
Pedigree notes
Olympia is inbred 4x5 to 1901 Yorkshire Oaks and Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Santa Brigida, a foundation mare for the 17th Earl of Derby's breeding program. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1893 English Triple Crown winner Isinglass. He is a full brother to Delphis, dam of 1960 Cleopatra Handicap winner Dotty Kirsten (by Count Fleet).
Olympia is out of multiple stakes winner Miss Dolphin, a full sister to Stirred Up, dam of stakes winner Jovianne (by Unbreakable) and third dam of the good sprinter Sledge. Also a half sister to Ellabee (by Brown Bud), dam of stakes winner Ellisteo (by Filisteo), Miss Dolphin is out of the Light Brigade mare Tinamou, whose stakes-placed half sister Canberra (by Craigangower) is the dam of 1938 American co-champion handicap female Marica (by Épinard). The next dam in Olympia's tail-female line, the Plaudit mare Casuarina, won the 1913 Spinaway Stakes and is out of the English import Nun's Cloth (by Melton), who is also the third dam of 1930 Hawthorne Handicap winner Brown Wisdom.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: January 21, 2023
Race record
41 starts, 15 wins, 12 seconds, 4 thirds, US$365,632
1948:
- Won Breeders' Futurity (USA, 6FD, Keeneland)
- Won Primer Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Arlington Parke)
- Won Joliet Stakes (USA, 5FD, Lincoln Fields)
- 2nd Arlington Futurity (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Cowdin Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd George Woolf Memorial Stakes (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Bashford Manor Stakes (USA, 5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Babylon Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Lafayette Stakes (USA, about 4FD, Keeneland)
1949:
- Won San Felipe Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Flamingo Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Wood Memorial Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Experimental Free Handicap #1 (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
- Won Experimental Free Handicap #2 (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- Won Derby Trial (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Santa Anita Derby (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Jersey Stakes (USA, 10FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Sheridan Handicap (USA, 7FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Hibiscus Stakes (USA, 6FD, Hialeah)
- 3rd Dick Welles Stakes (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
1950:
- Won Paumonok Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
- Won Camden Handicap (USA, 6FD, Garden State)
- Won Roseben Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Excelsior Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- 3rd Jamaica Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
Assessments
Ranked fifth among North American juvenile males of 1948 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked third among North American 3-year-old males of 1949 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A small, lengthy bay horse with a Roman nose, Olympia was a blocky, powerful sprinter type who ran to his looks; he did not stay much if any beyond a mile in top company unless he had things his own way, though he was thoroughly game and would try to the limits of his stamina. His hind leg was exceptionally straight and strong, and he was a very quick horse from the gate.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Olympia sired 224 winners (69.1%) and 40 stakes winners (12.3%) from 324 named foals. Olympia is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1957 and 1962; 4th in 1958; 5th in 1956 and 1961; 6th in 1959; 8th in 1960; 9th in 1969.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1974; 3rd in 1973 and 1975; 6th in 1976.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1962; 3rd in 1957; 4th in 1958; 5th in 1956 and 1961; 6th in 1959; 8th in 1960.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1961; 3rd on the American general sire list in 1957; 4th in 1958; 5th in 1956 and 1961; 6th in 1959; 8th in 1960; 9th in 1966.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1974; 3rd in 1973 and 1975; 6th in 1976.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1974.
Notable progeny
Candalita (USA), Crème dela Crème (USA), Decathlon (USA), Greek Game (USA), Lucky Mel (USA), My Portrait (USA), On the Trail (USA), Pia Star (USA), Pucker Up (USA), Top Bid (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Admiral's Voyage (USA), Andover Way (USA), Crozier (USA), Double Delta (USA), Proud Delta (USA), Smartaire (USA), Special Team (USA), Sun and Snow (USA), True Knight (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Coldstream Stud in Kentucky, Olympia was bred by Ivan Parke. After selling the colt to Fred Hooper, Parke stayed on as Olympia's trainer. Olympia stood at Danada Farm in Kentucky until he was pensioned in 1967. He then moved to Hooper Farm near Ocala, Florida, where he spent the rest of his life as an honored pensioner.
Pedigree notes
Olympia is inbred 4x5 to 1901 Yorkshire Oaks and Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Santa Brigida, a foundation mare for the 17th Earl of Derby's breeding program. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1893 English Triple Crown winner Isinglass. He is a full brother to Delphis, dam of 1960 Cleopatra Handicap winner Dotty Kirsten (by Count Fleet).
Olympia is out of multiple stakes winner Miss Dolphin, a full sister to Stirred Up, dam of stakes winner Jovianne (by Unbreakable) and third dam of the good sprinter Sledge. Also a half sister to Ellabee (by Brown Bud), dam of stakes winner Ellisteo (by Filisteo), Miss Dolphin is out of the Light Brigade mare Tinamou, whose stakes-placed half sister Canberra (by Craigangower) is the dam of 1938 American co-champion handicap female Marica (by Épinard). The next dam in Olympia's tail-female line, the Plaudit mare Casuarina, won the 1913 Spinaway Stakes and is out of the English import Nun's Cloth (by Melton), who is also the third dam of 1930 Hawthorne Handicap winner Brown Wisdom.
Fun facts
- Olympia's dam Miss Dolphin was a notable bargain, as she had sold for just US$700 as a yearling at Saratoga in 1936. Besides producing Olympia, she won four stakes races and US$24,010 in purses.
- On January 5, 1949, Olympia—barely turned 3—was matched against the top Quarter Horse mare Stella Moore, then a newly-turned 4-year-old, in a quarter-mile race at Tropical Park for US$25,000 a side. Olympia won the match by a head, enabling Hooper to land an estimated US$90,000 to $93,000 in bets as well as the US$25,000 stakes put up by Stella Moore's connections.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: January 21, 2023