The Finn
The Finn | |
---|---|
The Finn | |
Sire | Ogden |
Grandsire | Kilwarlin |
Dam | Livonia |
Damsire | Star Shoot |
Sex | Stallion |
Foaled | 1912 |
Country | United States |
Colour | Black |
Breeder | John E. Madden |
Owner | 1) John E. Madden 2) Harry C. Hallenbeck 3) Glen Helen Stud (1923) |
Trainer | Edward W. Heffner |
Record | 50: 19-10-6 |
Earnings | $38,965[1] |
Major wins | |
Withers Stakes (1915) Huron Handicap (1915) Southampton Handicap (1915) Hamilton Derby (1915) Baltimore Handicap (1915) Manhattan Handicap (1915, 1916) Metropolitan Handicap (1916) Champlain Handicap (1916) Chesterbrook Handicap (1916) Havre de Grace Handicap (1916) Merchants and Citizens Handicap (1916) Long Beach Handicap (Jamaica, NY) (1917) American Classics race wins | |
Awards | |
American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse (1915) Leading sire in North America (1923) |
The Finn (1912–1925) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that is best remembered as the winner of the 1915 Belmont Stakes. He won six other stakes races that year and was retroactively recognized as the American Champion three-year-old colt. He was later the sire of Zev and Flying Ebony, the respective winners of the 1923 and 1925 Kentucky Derbies. The Finn was the leading sire in North America of 1923.
Background
The Finn was foaled in Lexington, Kentucky at Hamburg Place, the stud farm of John E. Madden. The Finn was sired by the imported British stallion Ogden, who was the 1896 Belmont Futurity Stakes winner, out of the mare Livonia by Star Shoot.[2]
The Finn originally ran for Madden as a homebred. He was sold in May 1915 to Harry C. Hallenbeck in a package deal with another horse for $35,000. He was trained by Edward Heffner.[3]
Racing career
The Finn won three of nine starts at age two. His stand-out performance came in a maiden race at Aqueduct when he set a track record of :592⁄5 for five furlongs. He also won two handicaps that year. However, he did not finish in the Belmont Futurity because he threw his rider.[1][4]
1915: three-year-old season
At age three, The Finn won nine of twenty starts, and also finished second four times. In addition to winning the 1915 Belmont Stakes, he won the Withers, Southampton Handicap, Hamilton Derby, Huron Handicap, Baltimore Handicap, Ellicott City Handicap, Dixie Handicap and Manhattan Handicap.
The Finn was not ready to run in the 1915 Kentucky Derby in early May, but on May 29 was the second betting choice in the fortieth running of the Withers Stakes, then one of the most important races of the American racing calendar. He went to the lead and won "in a great, big gallop" by two lengths.[5] In the Belmont Stakes on June 4, only three horses ran after Derby winner Regret bypassed the race. The Finn led from the start and was never seriously challenged.[6] On June 15, he established himself as the best three-year-old of the crop, with the possible exception of Regret, by winning the Southampton Handicap while conceding from four to 28 pounds to his rivals. This time he trailed the early pace set by Garbage, then started his move on the backstretch and took command turning for home.[7]
Over the summer and autumn, The Finn won several more times. However, he was unexpectedly beaten in the Knickerbocker Handicap, a defeat that led to the temporary suspension of Heffner's training license.[8]
1916: four-year-old season
The Finn earned his first win as a four-year-old on May 26 in the Metropolitan Handicap. He rated behind the fast early pace set by High Noon and Stromboli, then closed in the final furlong to win by half a length to the cheers of the crowd. The Finn was so full of run that he could not be pulled up for half a mile.[9]
The Finn won five more stakes races that year, including his second win in the Manhattan Handicap. Despite carrying top weight of 130 pounds, he won easily by 2+1⁄2 lengths.[10] In late September, he finished his campaign with two wins at Havre de Grace in one week. After he beat Roamer in the Havre de Grace Handicap, The New York Times called him the best four-year-old in the country. He won six of twelve that starts that year, conceding weight in all of them.[11]
At age five, The Finn's only win came in the Long Beach Handicap at Jamaica, where he equaled the track record for 9 furlongs of 1:52.[12]
Stud career
The Finn was the sire of either 16 or 17 stakes winners from 130 or 134 named foals, depending on the source. This included two Classic winning sons, Zev and Flying Ebony. He also sired Kai-Sang (Jerome Handicap, Lawrence Realization), Bud Lerner (Youthful Stakes) and Finite. Though not generally successful as a broodmare sire, his daughter Khara established a successful family that included important sire Habitat.[1][4]
The Finn died in September 1925 at the age of thirteen, siring 143 foals. Although several of his sons were useful sires, his last successful tail-male descendant was the short-lived Puerto Rican racehorse Camarero, who set the record for the most consecutive victories (56) for a Thoroughbred racehorse in 1955.[4]
Sire line tree
- The Finn[13]
- Kai-Sang
- Mei Foo
- Kai-Feng
- Kai-Finn
- Repaid
- Bud Lerner
- Mokatam
- Thanksgiving
- Thirteen
- Zev[14]
- Zevson
- Flying Ebony
- Flying Heels
- Dark Secret
- Vicar
- Finite
- Kai-Sang
Pedigree
Sire *Ogden | Kilwarlin (GB) | Arbitrator (IRE) | Solon (IRE) |
---|---|---|---|
True Heart (GB) | |||
Hasty Girl (IRE) | Lord Gough (GB) | ||
Irritation (GB) | |||
*Oriole | Bend Or (GB) | Doncaster (GB) | |
Rouge Rose (GB) | |||
Fenella (FR) | Cambuscan (GB) | ||
La Favorite (FR) | |||
Dam Livonia | *Star Shoot | Isinglass (GB) | Isonomy (GB) |
Dead Lock | |||
Astrology (GB) | Hermit (GB) | ||
Stella (GB) | |||
Woodray | *Rayon D'Or | Flageolet (FR) | |
Araucaria (GB) | |||
Wood Nymph | *Ill Used | ||
Woodbine (family 4) |
References
- ^ a b c "The Finn (horse)". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ Avalyn Hunter. American Classic Pedigrees: 1914-2002. Blood-Horse Publications. 2003.
- ^ "Madden Sells Two Stars". nytimes.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ a b c "The Finn". tbheritage.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "OLD-TIMERS CHEER WITHERS RACERS". The New York Times. 30 May 1915. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "THE FINN OUTRUNS PEBBLES". The New York Times. 6 June 1915. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "THE FINN SHOWS UP FIELD AT JAMAICA". The New York Times. 16 June 1915. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "TRAINER HEFFNER IS SUSPENDED; Stewards' Action on Account of Tuesday's Race". The New York Times. 24 July 1915. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "THE FINN WINNER OF METROPOLITAN". The New York Times. 26 May 1916. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "THE FINN REPEATS IN THE MANHATTAN". The New York Times. 8 September 1916. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "THE FINN WINS HANDICAP". The New York Times. 24 September 1916. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "THE FINN FINISHES FIRST FAR IN VAN". The New York Times. 27 May 1917. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ Portrait: The Finn
- ^ Hall of Fame: Zev
- ^ "Pedigree of The Finn". Equineline. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- v
- t
- e
- 1867 Ruthless ♥
- 1868 General Duke
- 1869 Fenian
- 1870 Kingfisher
- 1871 Harry Bassett
- 1872 Joe Daniels
- 1873 Springbok
- 1874 Saxon
- 1875 Calvin
- 1876 Algerine
- 1877 Cloverbrook
- 1878 Duke Of Magenta
- 1879 Spendthrift
- 1880 Grenada
- 1881 Saunterer
- 1882 Forester
- 1883 George Kinney
- 1884 Panique
- 1885 Tyrant
- 1886 Inspector B
- 1887 Hanover
- 1888 Sir Dixon
- 1889 Eric
- 1890 Burlington
- 1891 Foxford
- 1892 Patron
- 1893 Commanche
- 1894 Henry of Navarre
- 1895 Belmar
- 1896 Hastings
- 1897 Scottish Chieftain
- 1898 Bowling Brook
- 1899 Jean Bereaud
- 1900 Ildrim
- 1901 Commando
- 1902 Masterman
- 1903 Africander
- 1904 Delhi
- 1905 Tanya ♥
- 1906 Burgomaster
- 1907 Peter Pan
- 1908 Colin
- 1909 Joe Madden
- 1910 Sweep
- 1913 Prince Eugene
- 1914 Luke McLuke
- 1915 The Finn
- 1916 Friar Rock
- 1917 Hourless
- 1918 Johren
- 1919 Sir Barton ₩
- 1920 Man o' War
- 1921 Grey Lag
- 1922 Pillory
- 1923 Zev
- 1924 Mad Play
- 1925 American Flag
- 1926 Crusader
- 1927 Chance Shot
- 1928 Vito
- 1929 Blue Larkspur
- 1930 Gallant Fox ₩
- 1931 Twenty Grand
- 1932 Faireno
- 1933 Hurryoff
- 1934 Peace Chance
- 1935 Omaha ₩
- 1936 Granville
- 1937 War Admiral ₩
- 1938 Pasteurized
- 1939 Johnstown
- 1940 Bimelech
- 1941 Whirlaway ₩
- 1942 Shut Out
- 1943 Count Fleet ₩
- 1944 Bounding Home
- 1945 Pavot
- 1946 Assault ₩
- 1947 Phalanx
- 1948 Citation ₩
- 1949 Capot
- 1950 Middleground
- 1951 Counterpoint
- 1952 One Count
- 1953 Native Dancer
- 1954 High Gun
- 1955 Nashua
- 1956 Needles
- 1957 Gallant Man
- 1958 Cavan
- 1959 Sword Dancer
- 1960 Celtic Ash
- 1961 Sherluck
- 1962 Jaipur
- 1963 Chateaugay
- 1964 Quadrangle
- 1965 Hail To All
- 1966 Amberoid
- 1967 Damascus
- 1968 Stage Door Johnny
- 1969 Arts and Letters
- 1970 High Echelon
- 1971 Pass Catcher
- 1972 Riva Ridge
- 1973 Secretariat ₩
- 1974 Little Current
- 1975 Avatar
- 1976 Bold Forbes
- 1977 Seattle Slew ₩
- 1978 Affirmed ₩
- 1979 Coastal
- 1980 Temperence Hill
- 1981 Summing
- 1982 Conquistador Cielo
- 1983 Caveat
- 1984 Swale
- 1985 Creme Fraiche
- 1986 Danzig Connection
- 1987 Bet Twice
- 1988 Risen Star
- 1989 Easy Goer
- 1990 Go and Go
- 1991 Hansel
- 1992 A.P. Indy
- 1993 Colonial Affair
- 1994 Tabasco Cat
- 1995 Thunder Gulch
- 1996 Editor's Note
- 1997 Touch Gold
- 1998 Victory Gallop
- 1999 Lemon Drop Kid
- 2000 Commendable
- 2001 Point Given
- 2002 Sarava
- 2003 Empire Maker
- 2004 Birdstone
- 2005 Afleet Alex
- 2006 Jazil
- 2007 Rags to Riches ♥
- 2008 Da' Tara
- 2009 Summer Bird
- 2010 Drosselmeyer
- 2011 Ruler on Ice
- 2012 Union Rags
- 2013 Palace Malice
- 2014 Tonalist
- 2015 American Pharoah ₩
- 2016 Creator
- 2017 Tapwrit
- 2018 Justify ₩
- 2019 Sir Winston
- 2020 Tiz the Law
- 2021 Essential Quality
- 2022 Mo Donegal
- 2023 Arcangelo
- 2024 Dornoch
Legend – ₩ = Triple Crown Winners, ♥ = Filly