The best American juvenile filly of her year. Spinaway is still remembered through the race at Saratoga that bears her name. Never beaten except when she was conceding weight to the good colt Barrett (the only horse to finish ahead of her), she deserves remembrance for more than her exploits on the track. A first-rate broodmare in her own day, she founded a family leading to some of the brightest stars of the early 21st century.
Race record
9 starts, 7 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds
1880:
Honors
American champion 2-year-old filly (1880)
As an individual
A brilliantly fast filly, Spinaway was described as “slender and elegant” byer contemporary turf writers but not outstandingly attractive. She was forced into retirement as a 3-year-old after a stone bruise went unnoticed and the underlying infection led to permanent lameness.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Spinaway produced 12 named foals. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled at Chestnut Hill Farm in Pennsylvania, Spinaway was bred by Aristides Welch. As a racer, she was owned by George L. Lorillard. As a broodmare, she was owned by Milton Young of McGrathiana Stud, Kentucky, and later passed to the ownership of Elliot C. Cowdin of Maplehurst Stud, Kentucky. She died in 1904.
Pedigree notes
Spinaway’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to 1892 Toronto Cup Handicap winner Fenelon (by Reform). She is also a half sister to Gratitude (by Woodlands), dam of stakes winner Father Tallent (by Bermuda).
Spinaway is out of Megara, a half sister to 1886 Kentucky Derby winner Ben Ali (by Virgil) and to 1881 American champion 2-year-old filly winner Memento (by Virgil), dam of 1902 Tremont Stakes winner Artvis (by Golden Garter). Megara is also a half sister to Ventura (by Virgil), second dam of 1907 Hopeful Stakes winner Jim Gaffney and 1902 Great Eastern Handicap winner Golden Maxim and third dam of 1915 Preakness Stakes winner Rhine Maiden and 1922 Carter Handicap winner Knobbie.
Megara, in turn, was produced from 1865 Saratoga Stakes winner Ulrica (by Lexington x Emilia, by Young Emilius). A half sister to stakes winner and important sire Australian (by West Australian), Ulrica is also a half sister to Cordelia (by Red Deer) dam of the good English stallion Thunderbolt (by Stockwell).
Fun facts
Last updated: July 2, 2026
Race record
9 starts, 7 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds
1880:
- Won Juvenile Stakes (USA, 4FD, Jerome Park)
- Won Foam Stakes (USA, 5FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Surf Stakes (USA, 5FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Hopeful Stakes (USA, 4FD, Monmouth)
- Won July Stakes (USA, 5FD, Monmouth)
- Won Bouquet Stakes (USA, 6FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Chestnut Hill Stakes (USA, 8FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 2nd August Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Criterion Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
Honors
American champion 2-year-old filly (1880)
As an individual
A brilliantly fast filly, Spinaway was described as “slender and elegant” byer contemporary turf writers but not outstandingly attractive. She was forced into retirement as a 3-year-old after a stone bruise went unnoticed and the underlying infection led to permanent lameness.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Spinaway produced 12 named foals. Her important foals are as follow:
- Spinalong (1889, by Duke of Montrose) won the 1891 Tremont Stakes but died in a stable fire in 1892.
- Lazzarone (1891, by Spendthrift) won the 1894 Latonia Derby and the 1895 Suburban Handicap but was a disappointing stallion.
- Handspun (1892, by Hanover) won the 1895 Tennessee Oaks. She produced two-time American co-champion filly Tanya (by Meddler), winner of the 1905 Belmont Stakes; 1906 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Tangle (by Meddler); and multiple stakes winner Nightstick (by Broomstick). She is the second dam of 1921 Preakness Stakes winner Broomspun, 1921 Tremont Stakes winner Olympus, and 1921 Grand Prize Cuba Handicap winner Atta Boy II and is the third dam of 1929 Tijuana Derby winner Naishapur and 1930 Queens County Handicap winner Kildare. Handspun’s more distant descendants include 1935 Louisiana Derby winner McCarthy and 1947 Oaklawn Handicap winner Sugar Beet. Through Tangle, Handspun is the direct ancestress of “Genetic Gem” Itsabet, whose descendants have wielded great influence around the world.
- Homespun (1897, by Hanover) produced stakes winner The Squire (by Prince of Melbourne). She is the second dam of 1924 New Orleans Handicap winner Frederickstown, the third dam of 1936 Alabama Stakes winner Floradora, and the fourth dam of 1945 American champion 2-year-old male Star Pilot.
- Spindrift (1900, by Requital) produced multiple juvenile stakes winner Pleione (by Sain).
Connections
Foaled at Chestnut Hill Farm in Pennsylvania, Spinaway was bred by Aristides Welch. As a racer, she was owned by George L. Lorillard. As a broodmare, she was owned by Milton Young of McGrathiana Stud, Kentucky, and later passed to the ownership of Elliot C. Cowdin of Maplehurst Stud, Kentucky. She died in 1904.
Pedigree notes
Spinaway’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to 1892 Toronto Cup Handicap winner Fenelon (by Reform). She is also a half sister to Gratitude (by Woodlands), dam of stakes winner Father Tallent (by Bermuda).
Spinaway is out of Megara, a half sister to 1886 Kentucky Derby winner Ben Ali (by Virgil) and to 1881 American champion 2-year-old filly winner Memento (by Virgil), dam of 1902 Tremont Stakes winner Artvis (by Golden Garter). Megara is also a half sister to Ventura (by Virgil), second dam of 1907 Hopeful Stakes winner Jim Gaffney and 1902 Great Eastern Handicap winner Golden Maxim and third dam of 1915 Preakness Stakes winner Rhine Maiden and 1922 Carter Handicap winner Knobbie.
Megara, in turn, was produced from 1865 Saratoga Stakes winner Ulrica (by Lexington x Emilia, by Young Emilius). A half sister to stakes winner and important sire Australian (by West Australian), Ulrica is also a half sister to Cordelia (by Red Deer) dam of the good English stallion Thunderbolt (by Stockwell).
Fun facts
- Under the rules of the Coney Island Jockey Club, Spinaway’s victory in the 1880 Bouquet Stakes meant that the Sheepshead Bay flower girls would wear George Lorillard’s blue-and-orange colors until the next running of the Bouquet Stakes.
- The Spinaway Stakes has been contested since 1881. Its first winner was Spinaway’s “aunt” Memento, a half sister to Spinaway’s dam.
Last updated: July 2, 2026