| Horsename: | Fonso |
| Grandsire: | Phaeton |
| Dam: | Weatherwitch |
| Damsire: | Weatherbit |
| Sex: | Stallion |
| Foaled: | 1877 |
| Country: | United States |
| Colour: | Chestnut |
| Breeder: | A. J. Alexander |
| Owner: | John Snell Shawhan |
| Trainer: | Tice Hutsell |
| Record: | 12: 5-3-2 |
| Earnings: | $8,175 |
| Race: | Maiden Stakes (1879) Colt Stakes (1879) Phoenix Stakes (1880) American Classic Race wins: Kentucky Derby (1880) |
Fonso (1877–1903) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and was the winner of the 1880 Kentucky Derby under jockey George Garret Lewis.[1] Fonso was bred in Kentucky[2] and was a chestnut colt sired by King Alfonso out of the mare Weatherwitch.
Fonso won the Phoenix Stakes as a three-year-old over Luke Blackburn who finished third, but is best remembered for going on to beat the favored Kimball in the 1880 Kentucky Derby.[3] The track was particularly dry and the dust, up to 5 inches thick, Fonso kicked up obscured the path for the other contenders.[4] Fonso finished the race with a one length lead at a time of 2:37.50 and won $3800. The owner of Kimball called a foul in the race against Fonso, but the placing was not altered. Fonso had a career record of 12 starts, 5 wins, 3 places and 2 shows.[2] [4]
Fonso died at the age of 26 while standing as stud at the Oakwood Stud Farm in Lexington, Kentucky in 1903.[3] His most notable offspring was the mare Fondling (br. 1886, out of Kitty Heron by Chillicothe), who produced the champion filly Imp.