Traffic Judge was sufficiently precocious that he helped contribute to a Kentucky Broodmare of the Year title for his dam Traffic Court in 1954, but he was a better horse at ages 3 and 5, when he was among the best American runners of his crop. After his retirement from racing, he was a useful sire whose runners include 1971 French champion sire Traffic, the good American sire Delta Judge and 1982 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Best in Show.
Race record
44 starts, 13 wins, 11 seconds, 3 thirds, US$432,450
1954:
1955:
1956:
1957:
Assessments
Ranked fourth among American 3-year-old males of 1955 by The Blood-Horse.
Weighted at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1955, 6 pounds below co-highweights Nashua (the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year) and Swaps.
Weighted at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 4-year-old males of 1956, 15 pounds below Horse of the Year Swaps.
Ranked fifth among American older males of 1957 by The Blood-Horse.
Weighted at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1957, 4 pounds below champion Dedicate.
As an individual
A well-balanced chestnut horse who was somewhat short-legged for his height, Traffic Judge was strongly made with a well laid back shoulder and short cannons. He won over both dirt and turf and was generally indifferent as to surface but was especially effective in off going.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Traffic Judge with 233 winners (72.4%) and 22 stakes winners (6.8%) from 322 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
Notable progeny
Best in Show (USA), Court Recess (USA), Court Ruling (USA), Delta Judge (USA), Rest Your Case (USA), Traffic (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Blush With Pride (USA), Days at Sea (USA), Gay Style (USA), Malinowski (USA), Minnie Hauk (USA), Monroe (USA), Optimistic Gal (USA), Score Twenty Four (USA), Sex Appeal (USA)
Connections
Traffic Judge was bred by Clifford Mooers at his Walnut Springs Farm. He was owned by Mooers through his first three racing seasons. Following Mooers' death from a heart attack in November 1956, Traffic Judge was put up for auction. His new owner was Louis P. Doherty, owner of The Stallion Station in Kentucky, who paid US$362,345.70 for the colt. He was trained by H. E. Brown at 2, by Woody Stephens at 3, by H. F. Albrecht at 4 and by James W. Maloney at 5. Traffic Judge entered stud in 1958 at The Stallion Station as the property of a syndicate. He remained there until his death in 1972 and was buried at the farm, now known as 505 Farm.
Pedigree notes
Traffic Judge is inbred 3x4 to Tracery. He is a half brother to 1953 American co-champion 2-year-old male Hasty Road (by Roman). He is also a half brother to stakes-placed Miss Traffic (by Boxthorn), dam of 1961 Tremont Stakes winner Clover Leaf (by Swaps), second dam of 1969 Round Table Handicap winner Larceny Kid, and third dam of Grade 2 winner How So Oiseau.
The winner of the 1944 Beverly Handicap and three other stakes races, Traffic Judge's dam Traffic Court is a half sister to 1931 Breeders' Futurity winner The Bull (by Mad Hatter), 1933 Grand Union Hotel Stakes winner Roustabout (by Chicle), 1945 Wood Memorial winner Jeep (by Mahmoud), and 1945 Astoria Stakes winner Mush Mush (by Mahmoud). She is out of Traffic (by Broomstick), a winning full sister to 1923 Tremont Stakes winner Transmute and to stakes-placed Transom, second dam of 1946 New Orleans Handicap winner Hillyer Court. She is also a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Drawbridge (by Sir Gallahad III) and to Portage (by Whisk Broom II), dam of 1934 Lawrence Realization winner Carry Over (by St. Germans) and 1939 Swift Stakes winner Sea Captain (by Hard Tack). Another half sister to Traffic, Transit (by Chicle), produced 1938 Brooklyn Handicap winner The Chief (by Pennant) and three more stakes winners in Slapstick (by Broomstick; dam of three stakes winners), Surveyor (by John P. Grier), and Forced Landing (by Upset).
Traffic was produced from the Tracery mare Traverse, also the dam of stakes producers Comeover (by Whisk Broom II) and Blackduck (by Wildair). A half sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Pesky (by Broomstick), Traverse is out of Perverse (by Meddler), generally considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1905.
Last updated: July 18, 2023
Race record
44 starts, 13 wins, 11 seconds, 3 thirds, US$432,450
1954:
- Won Prairie State Stakes (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Breeders' Futurity (USA, 7FD, Keeneland)
1955:
- Won Woodward Stakes (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Ohio Derby (USA, 9FD, Thistledown)
- Won Jerome Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Ventnor Turf Stakes (USA, 8.5FT, Atlantic City)
- 2nd Arlington Classic (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd American Derby (USA, 9.5FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Choice Stakes (USA, 9FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Travers Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
1956:
- Won Turf Cup (USA, @9FT, Laurel)
- 2nd Santa Anita Maturity (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Fernando Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
1957:
- Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
Assessments
Ranked fourth among American 3-year-old males of 1955 by The Blood-Horse.
Weighted at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1955, 6 pounds below co-highweights Nashua (the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year) and Swaps.
Weighted at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 4-year-old males of 1956, 15 pounds below Horse of the Year Swaps.
Ranked fifth among American older males of 1957 by The Blood-Horse.
Weighted at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1957, 4 pounds below champion Dedicate.
As an individual
A well-balanced chestnut horse who was somewhat short-legged for his height, Traffic Judge was strongly made with a well laid back shoulder and short cannons. He won over both dirt and turf and was generally indifferent as to surface but was especially effective in off going.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Traffic Judge with 233 winners (72.4%) and 22 stakes winners (6.8%) from 322 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1968; 6th in 1969.
- 4th on the American broodmare sire list in 1976; 8th in 1978; 9th in 1975 and 1977; 10th in 1982.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1968; 6th in 1969.
- 4th on the American broodmare sire list in 1976; 8th in 1978; 9th in 1975 and 1977; 10th in 1982.
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1968; 6th in 1969.
Notable progeny
Best in Show (USA), Court Recess (USA), Court Ruling (USA), Delta Judge (USA), Rest Your Case (USA), Traffic (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Blush With Pride (USA), Days at Sea (USA), Gay Style (USA), Malinowski (USA), Minnie Hauk (USA), Monroe (USA), Optimistic Gal (USA), Score Twenty Four (USA), Sex Appeal (USA)
Connections
Traffic Judge was bred by Clifford Mooers at his Walnut Springs Farm. He was owned by Mooers through his first three racing seasons. Following Mooers' death from a heart attack in November 1956, Traffic Judge was put up for auction. His new owner was Louis P. Doherty, owner of The Stallion Station in Kentucky, who paid US$362,345.70 for the colt. He was trained by H. E. Brown at 2, by Woody Stephens at 3, by H. F. Albrecht at 4 and by James W. Maloney at 5. Traffic Judge entered stud in 1958 at The Stallion Station as the property of a syndicate. He remained there until his death in 1972 and was buried at the farm, now known as 505 Farm.
Pedigree notes
Traffic Judge is inbred 3x4 to Tracery. He is a half brother to 1953 American co-champion 2-year-old male Hasty Road (by Roman). He is also a half brother to stakes-placed Miss Traffic (by Boxthorn), dam of 1961 Tremont Stakes winner Clover Leaf (by Swaps), second dam of 1969 Round Table Handicap winner Larceny Kid, and third dam of Grade 2 winner How So Oiseau.
The winner of the 1944 Beverly Handicap and three other stakes races, Traffic Judge's dam Traffic Court is a half sister to 1931 Breeders' Futurity winner The Bull (by Mad Hatter), 1933 Grand Union Hotel Stakes winner Roustabout (by Chicle), 1945 Wood Memorial winner Jeep (by Mahmoud), and 1945 Astoria Stakes winner Mush Mush (by Mahmoud). She is out of Traffic (by Broomstick), a winning full sister to 1923 Tremont Stakes winner Transmute and to stakes-placed Transom, second dam of 1946 New Orleans Handicap winner Hillyer Court. She is also a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Drawbridge (by Sir Gallahad III) and to Portage (by Whisk Broom II), dam of 1934 Lawrence Realization winner Carry Over (by St. Germans) and 1939 Swift Stakes winner Sea Captain (by Hard Tack). Another half sister to Traffic, Transit (by Chicle), produced 1938 Brooklyn Handicap winner The Chief (by Pennant) and three more stakes winners in Slapstick (by Broomstick; dam of three stakes winners), Surveyor (by John P. Grier), and Forced Landing (by Upset).
Traffic was produced from the Tracery mare Traverse, also the dam of stakes producers Comeover (by Whisk Broom II) and Blackduck (by Wildair). A half sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Pesky (by Broomstick), Traverse is out of Perverse (by Meddler), generally considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1905.
Last updated: July 18, 2023