Tanya was an excellent juvenile, sharing championship honors with her stablemate Artful, but she is most remembered as the second filly to win the Belmont Stakes. Although she was also the American co-champion 3-year-old filly of 1905, she had no lasting impact as a broodmare.
Race record
12 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$71,372
1904:
1905:
Honors
As an individual
A strongly-made, leggy chestnut mare, Tanya had good rein length, a well-sloped shoulder, and excellent leverage from hip to hock. She broke down in June 1906 and made an unsuccessful comeback attempt in 1907 that lasted just two starts before she retired for good.
As a producer
Tanya produced 10 foals. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in New Jersey, Tanya was bred by William Collins Whitney, who died before she could be raced. She was leased to Herman Duryea for her juvenile season, then went through a dispersal auction at Madison Square Garden that fall. Harry Payne Whitney bought her for US$7,000. She was trained by John W. Rogers and was ridden to her Belmont Stakes win by Gene Hildebrand.
Pedigree notes
Tanya is inbred 5x5 to three-time English/Irish champion sire Orlando, winner of the 1844 Derby Stakes. She is a full sister to 1906 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Tangle, second dam of 1929 Tijuana Derby winner Naishapur and 1930 Queens County Handicap winner Kildare and third dam of 1935 Louisiana Derby winner McCarthy and 1947 Oaklawn Handicap winner Sugar Beet. Tanya is also a half sister to Spun Glass (by Rock Sand), dam of 1921 Preakness Stakes winner Broomspun (by Broomstick).
Tanya was produced from 1895 Tennessee Oaks winner Handspun, whose full sister Handspun is the second dam of 1924 New Orleans Handicap winner Fredericktown (by Pennant). Handspun is also the third dam of 1936 Alabama Stakes winner Floradora and the fourth dam of 1945 American champion juvenile male Star Pilot. In addition, Handspun is a half sister to 1895 Suburban Handicap winner Lazzarone (by Spendthrift) and 1891 Tremont Stakes winner Spinalong (by Duke of Montrose).
Handspun, in turn, is out of Spinaway (by Leamington), generally considered to be the American champion juvenile filly of 1880. Produced from the Eclipse mare Megara (a half sister to 1881 American champion 2-year-old filly Memento and 1886 Kentucky Derby winner Ben Ali, both by Virgil), Spinaway founded an important family with branches leading to such outstanding horses as 2000 European Horse of the Year and three-time American champion sire Giant’s Causeway and the marvelous broodmare Hasili.
Fun facts
Last updated: July 2, 2026
Race record
12 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$71,372
1904:
- Won National Stallion Stakes (USA, 5FD, Morris Park)
- Won Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Spinaway Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
1905:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Lawrence Realization (USA, 13FD, Gravesend)
Honors
- American co-champion 2-year-old filly (1904)
- American co-champion 3-year-old filly (1905)
As an individual
A strongly-made, leggy chestnut mare, Tanya had good rein length, a well-sloped shoulder, and excellent leverage from hip to hock. She broke down in June 1906 and made an unsuccessful comeback attempt in 1907 that lasted just two starts before she retired for good.
As a producer
Tanya produced 10 foals. Her important foals are as follow:
- Atta Boy II (1917, by Rabelais; a gelding) won three minor stakes in the United States as well as the 1921 Grand Prize Cuba Handicap.
- Tabouche (1921, by Pennant) is the second dam of 1935 Maple Leaf Stakes winner Chickpen and 1935 Coronation Stakes winner Sweepouch.
- Sarapion (1923, by Thunderer) won two minor stakes races as a 3-year-old.
Connections
Foaled in New Jersey, Tanya was bred by William Collins Whitney, who died before she could be raced. She was leased to Herman Duryea for her juvenile season, then went through a dispersal auction at Madison Square Garden that fall. Harry Payne Whitney bought her for US$7,000. She was trained by John W. Rogers and was ridden to her Belmont Stakes win by Gene Hildebrand.
Pedigree notes
Tanya is inbred 5x5 to three-time English/Irish champion sire Orlando, winner of the 1844 Derby Stakes. She is a full sister to 1906 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Tangle, second dam of 1929 Tijuana Derby winner Naishapur and 1930 Queens County Handicap winner Kildare and third dam of 1935 Louisiana Derby winner McCarthy and 1947 Oaklawn Handicap winner Sugar Beet. Tanya is also a half sister to Spun Glass (by Rock Sand), dam of 1921 Preakness Stakes winner Broomspun (by Broomstick).
Tanya was produced from 1895 Tennessee Oaks winner Handspun, whose full sister Handspun is the second dam of 1924 New Orleans Handicap winner Fredericktown (by Pennant). Handspun is also the third dam of 1936 Alabama Stakes winner Floradora and the fourth dam of 1945 American champion juvenile male Star Pilot. In addition, Handspun is a half sister to 1895 Suburban Handicap winner Lazzarone (by Spendthrift) and 1891 Tremont Stakes winner Spinalong (by Duke of Montrose).
Handspun, in turn, is out of Spinaway (by Leamington), generally considered to be the American champion juvenile filly of 1880. Produced from the Eclipse mare Megara (a half sister to 1881 American champion 2-year-old filly Memento and 1886 Kentucky Derby winner Ben Ali, both by Virgil), Spinaway founded an important family with branches leading to such outstanding horses as 2000 European Horse of the Year and three-time American champion sire Giant’s Causeway and the marvelous broodmare Hasili.
Fun facts
- Tanya became the namesake for a stakes race for fillies at Belmont Park.
Last updated: July 2, 2026