Old England (horse)

Old England (1899–1908) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse is best known for winning the 1902 Preakness Stakes. Owned and trained by Green B. Morris, he was sired by Goldfinch. Old England was out of the mare Queen Bess, a daughter of Marden.^[1]

Preakness Stakes

The twentyseventh running of the Preakness Stakes was run on Tuesday, May 27, 1902 at Gravesend Race Track on Coney Island, New York. On that day Old England went off as the second favorite at odds of 9-5 in the field of seven. In that race he broke well with a good start in third place under jockey L. Jackson. Rounding the first turn Old England moved forward into first place by one length. The pace of the race was somewhat fast that day with the first quarter in :24-3/5 and the half in :48-3/5.^[2] As the race progressed, Old England stayed in front by a single length down the entire back stretch and around the final turn.

Near the top of the lane two challengers made a charge at Old England driving home at break neck speed. In the last sixteenth of a mile Namtor faded but and dropped off but Major Daingerfield pulled up to Old England's side and fought with him all the way to the wire. In the end Old England prevailed by a scant nose. Major Daingerfield finished second who had outdistanced third-place finisher Namtor by six lengths.^[3] That day Wotan finished second at 7-1 by a scant nose over 7-2 second choice Dolly Spanker in third.

The final time for the one mile and 70 yard race on dirt was 1:45-4/5 over a fast track. Old England won almost 70% of the total purse of $3,000 netting earnings $2,240.^[4]

Racing career

Old England started racing late in his two-year-old season. In 1901 he won his maiden and won and placed in allowance races at tracks around New York. Throughout his three-year-old season Old England compiled one of the best racing records in the first quarter of the century. In the early part of 1902 he won the Iroquois Stakes and Seagate Stakes while placing second in the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Race Track.

After his Preakness Stakes win he continued to have success by winning stakes races. Old England went on to win the Broadway Stakes at a mile and one sixteenth at Gravesend Race Track on Coney Island, New York. He won a six furlong sprint in the Toboggan Handicap at Aqueduct in Queens, New York. He also won the Crotona Handicap and placed third in the Equality Stakes.

At age four Old England had a strong runner-up finish to Mr. William C. Whitney's Gunfire in the Metropolitan Handicap at one mile at Belmont Park on memorial Day weekend. His death was reported to The Jockey Club in April 1908.^[5]

Breeding

References