National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame | |
Location: | Saratoga Springs, New York |
Type: | Professional sports hall of fame |
Director: | Cate Masterson |
Website: | racingmuseum.org |
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American Thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers. In 1955, the museum moved to its current location on Union Avenue near Saratoga Race Course, at which time inductions into the hall of fame began. Each spring, following the tabulation of the final votes, the announcement of new inductees is made, usually during Kentucky Derby Week in early May. The actual inductions are held in mid-August during the Saratoga race meeting.
The Hall of Fame's nominating committee selects eight to ten candidates from among the four Contemporary categories (colts and horses, fillies and mares, jockey and trainer) to be presented to the voters. Changes in voting procedures that commenced with the 2010 candidates allow the voters to choose multiple candidates from a single Contemporary category, instead of a single candidate from each of the four Contemporary categories.[1] For example, in 2016, two mares (Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta) were inducted at the same time.
The museum also houses a large collection of art, artifacts, and memorabilia that document the history of horse racing from the eighteenth century to the present.
The National Museum of Racing was founded in 1950, led by Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney and a group of people interested in thoroughbred racing. The museum first opened its doors in 1951, at which time it occupied a single room in Saratoga's Canfield Casino. The establishment was supported by the city of Saratoga Springs, which donated $2,500, the Saratoga Racing Association, which donated $5,000, and various patrons of the sport, who also donated various pieces of art and memorabilia. The first item in the museum's collection was a horseshoe worn by the great Lexington.[2]
In 1955, the museum relocated to its current location on Union Avenue, across the street from the main entrance of the historic Saratoga Race Course. The museum was relocated to a newly reconstructed building and a thoroughbred racing Hall of Fame was included. Since then, the museum has expanded several times to allow for the display of its extensive art collection and more multimedia displays on the history of the sport.
In the early years, inductions to the hall of fame were based on the evaluation of a panel of racing historians. In 1955, a group of nine horses from the earliest years of the American turf were inducted.[3] The 1956 class included 11 horses that raced around the turn of the century, while the 1957 class included 10 horses that raced up to the mid-thirties. Since then, the classes have been significantly smaller as the inductions shifted to more contemporary horses. Under current rules, a horse must have been retired for a minimum of five full calendar years to be eligible for the hall of fame. (Exceptions to this rule have been made; for example, Secretariat was inducted the year after his retirement and Ruffian was inducted the year after her death.) Thoroughbreds remain eligible in the contemporary category between five and 25 calendar years following their final racing year. Thoroughbreds retired for more than 25 calendar years may become eligible through the Historic Review Committee.[4]
Photo | Name | Inducted | Career years | Starts | Wins | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A.P. Indy | 2000 | 1991–1992 | 11 | 8 | ||
Ack Ack | 1986 | 1968–1971 | 27 | 19 | ||
Affectionately | 1989 | 1962–1965 | 52 | 28 | ||
Affirmed | 1980 | 1977–1979 | 29 | 22 | ||
All Along | 1990 | 1981–1984 | 21 | 9 | ||
Alsab | 1976 | 1941–1944 | 51 | 25 | ||
Alydar | 1989 | 1977–1979 | 26 | 14 | ||
Alysheba | 1993 | 1986–1988 | 26 | 11 | ||
American Eclipse | 1970 | 1818–1823 | 8 | 8 | ||
American Pharoah | 2021 | 2014-2015 | 11 | 9 | ||
Ancient Title | 2008 | 1972–1978 | 57 | 24 | ||
Aristides | 2024 | 1874–1878 | 21 | 9 | ||
Armed | 1963 | 1944–1950 | 81 | 41 | ||
Arrogate | 2023 | 2016–2017 | 11 | 7 | ||
Artful | 1956 | 1904–1905 | 8 | 6 | ||
Arts and Letters | 1994 | 1968–1970 | 23 | 11 | ||
Ashado | 2014 | 2003–2005 | 21 | 12 | ||
Assault | 1964 | 1945–1950 | 42 | 18 | ||
Azeri | 2010 | 2001–2004 | 24 | 17 | ||
Battleship (steeplechaser) | 1969 | 1929–1938 | 55 | 24 | ||
Bayakoa | 1998 | 1986–1991 | 39 | 21 | ||
Bed O' Roses | 1976 | 1949–1952 | 46 | 18 | ||
Beholder | 2022 | 2012-2016 | 26 | 18 | ||
Beldame | 1956 | 1903–1905 | 31 | 17 | ||
Ben Brush | 1955 | 1895–1897 | 40 | 25 | ||
Ben Nevis II (steeplechaser) | 2009 | 1976–1980 | 21 | 9 | ||
Best Pal | 2010 | 1990–1996 | 47 | 18 | ||
Bewitch | 1977 | 1947–1951 | 55 | 20 | ||
Billy Kelly | 2015 | 1918–1923 | 69 | 39 | ||
Bimelech | 1990 | 1939–1941 | 15 | 11 | ||
Black Gold | 1989 | 1923-4 1927-8 | 35 | 18 | ||
Black Helen | 1991 | 1934–1935 | 22 | 15 | ||
Blue Larkspur | 1957 | 1928–1930 | 16 | 10 | ||
Bold 'n Determined | 1997 | 1979–1981 | 20 | 16 | ||
Bold Ruler | 1973 | 1956–1958 | 33 | 23 | ||
Bon Nouvel (steeplechaser) | 1976 | 1963–1968 | 51 | 16 | ||
Boston | 1955 | 1836–1843 | 45 | 40 | ||
Bowl of Flowers | 2004 | 1960–1961 | 16 | 10 | ||
Broomstick | 1956 | 1903–1905 | 39 | 14 | ||
Buckpasser | 1970 | 1965–1967 | 31 | 25 | ||
Busher | 1964 | 1944–1947 | 21 | 15 | ||
Bushranger (steeplechaser) | 1967 | 1932–1936 | 21 | 11 | ||
Cafe Prince (steeplechaser) | 1985 | 1972–1980 | 52 | 18 | ||
California Chrome | 2023 | 2013–2017 | 27 | 16 | ||
Carry Back | 1975 | 1960–1963 | 61 | 21 | ||
Cavalcade | 1993 | 1933–1936 | 22 | 8 | ||
Challedon | 1977 | 1938–1942 | 44 | 20 | ||
Chris Evert | 1988 | 1973–1975 | 15 | 10 | ||
Cicada | 1967 | 1961–1964 | 42 | 23 | ||
Cigar | 2002 | 1993–1996 | 33 | 19 | ||
Citation | 1959 | 1947–1951 | 45 | 32 | ||
Clifford | 2014 | 1892–1897 | 62 | 42 | ||
Coaltown | 1983 | 1948–1951 | 39 | 23 | ||
Colin | 1956 | 1907–1908 | 15 | 15 | ||
Commando | 1956 | 1900–1901 | 9 | 7 | ||
Cougar II | 2006 | 1968–1973 | 50 | 20 | ||
Count Fleet | 1961 | 1942–1943 | 21 | 16 | ||
Crusader | 1995 | 1925–1928 | 42 | 18 | ||
Curlin | 2014 | 2007–2008 | 16 | 11 | ||
Dahlia | 1981 | 1972–1976 | 48 | 15 | ||
Damascus | 1974 | 1966–1968 | 32 | 21 | ||
Dance Smartly | 2003 | 1990–1992 | 17 | 12 | ||
Dark Mirage | 1974 | 1967–1969 | 27 | 12 | ||
Davona Dale | 1985 | 1978–1980 | 18 | 11 | ||
Desert Vixen | 1979 | 1972–1975 | 28 | 13 | ||
Devil Diver | 1980 | 1941–1945 | 47 | 22 | ||
Discovery | 1969 | 1933–1936 | 63 | 27 | ||
Domino | 1955 | 1893–1895 | 25 | 19 | ||
Dr. Fager | 1971 | 1966–1968 | 22 | 18 | ||
Duke of Magenta | 2011 | 1877–1878 | 19 | 15 | ||
Easy Goer | 1997 | 1988–1990 | 20 | 14 | ||
Eight Thirty | 1994 | 1938–1941 | 27 | 16 | ||
Elkridge (steeplechaser) | 1966 | 1941–1951 | 123 | 31 | ||
Emperor of Norfolk | 1988 | 1887–1888 | 29 | 21 | ||
Equipoise | 1957 | 1930–1935 | 51 | 29 | ||
Exceller | 1999 | 1975–1979 | 33 | 15 | ||
Exterminator | 1957 | 1917–1924 | 100 | 50 | ||
Fair Play | 1956 | 1907–1909 | 32 | 10 | ||
Fairmount (steeplechaser) | 1985 | 1923–1931 | 22 | 12 | ||
Fashion | 1980 | 1840–1848 | 36 | 32 | ||
Firenze | 1981 | 1886–1891 | 82 | 47 | ||
Flatterer (steeplechaser) | 1994 | 1982–1987 | 51 | 24 | ||
Flawlessly | 2004 | 1990–1994 | 28 | 16 | ||
Foolish Pleasure | 1995 | 1974–1976 | 26 | 16 | ||
Forego | 1979 | 1973–1978 | 57 | 34 | ||
Fort Marcy | 1998 | 1966–1971 | 75 | 21 | ||
Gallant Bloom | 1977 | 1968–1970 | 22 | 16 | ||
Gallant Fox | 1957 | 1929–1930 | 17 | 11 | ||
Gallant Man | 1987 | 1956–1958 | 26 | 14 | ||
Gallorette | 1962 | 1944–1948 | 72 | 21 | ||
Gamely | 1980 | 1967–1969 | 41 | 16 | ||
Genuine Risk | 1986 | 1979–1981 | 15 | 10 | ||
Ghostzapper | 2012 | 2002–2005 | 11 | 9 | ||
Go For Wand | 1996 | 1989–1990 | 13 | 10 | ||
2017 | 2007–2011 | 27 | 17 | |||
Good and Plenty (steeplechaser) | 1956 | 1904–1907 | 21 | 14 | ||
Good Night Shirt(steeplechaser) | 2017 | 2004–2009 | 33 | 14 | ||
Granville | 1997 | 1935–1936 | 18 | 8 | ||
Grey Lag | 1957 | 1920-3, 1927-8, 1931 | 47 | 25 | ||
Gun Bow | 1999 | 1963–1965 | 42 | 17 | ||
Gun Runner | 2024 | 2015–17 | 19 | 12 | ||
Hamburg | 1986 | 1897–1898 | 21 | 16 | ||
Hanover | 1955 | 1886–1889 | 50 | 32 | ||
Harry Bassett | 2010 | 1870–1874 | 36 | 23 | ||
Heavenly Prize | 2018 | 1993–1996 | 18 | 9 | ||
Henry of Navarre | 1985 | 1893–1896 | 42 | 29 | ||
Hill Prince | 1991 | 1949–1952 | 30 | 17 | ||
Hillsdale | 2022 | 1957–1959 | 41 | 23 | ||
Hindoo | 1955 | 1880–1882 | 35 | 30 | ||
Holy Bull | 2001 | 1993–1995 | 16 | 13 | ||
Housebuster | 2013 | 1989–1991 | 22 | 15 | ||
Imp | 1965 | 1896–1901 | 171 | 62 | ||
Inside Information | 2008 | 1993–1995 | 17 | 14 | ||
Invasor | 2013 | 2005–2007 | 12 | 11 | ||
Jay Trump (steeplechaser) | 1971 | 1959–1966 | 26 | 12 | ||
John Henry | 1990 | 1977–1984 | 83 | 39 | ||
Johnstown | 1992 | 1938–1939 | 21 | 14 | ||
Jolly Roger (steeplechaser) | 1965 | 1924–1930 | 49 | 18 | ||
Justify | 2024 | 2018 | 6 | 5 | ||
Kelso | 1967 | 1959–1966 | 63 | 39 | ||
Kentucky | 1983 | 1863–1866 | 23 | 21 | ||
Kingston | 1955 | 1886–1894 | 138 | 89 | ||
L'Escargot (steeplechaser) | 1977 | 1968–1975 | 53 | 12 | ||
La Prevoyante | 1995 | 1972–1974 | 39 | 25 | ||
Lady's Secret | 1992 | 1984–1987 | 45 | 25 | ||
Lava Man | 2015 | 2003–2009 | 47 | 17 | ||
Lecomte | 2024 | 1852–1856 | N/A | N/A | ||
Lexington | 1955 | 1853–1854 | 7 | 6 | ||
Lonesome Glory (steeplechaser) | 2005 | 1991–1999 | 42 | 23 | ||
Longfellow | 1971 | 1870–1872 | 16 | 13 | ||
Luke Blackburn | 1956 | 1879–1881 | 39 | 25 | ||
Lure | 2013 | 1991–1994 | 25 | 14 | ||
Majestic Prince | 1988 | 1968–1969 | 10 | 9 | ||
Man o' War | 1957 | 1919–1920 | 21 | 20 | ||
Manila | 2008 | 1985–1987 | 18 | 12 | ||
Maskette | 2001 | 1908–1910 | 17 | 12 | ||
McDynamo (steeplechaser) | 2013 | 2000–2007 | 34 | 17 | ||
Miesque | 1999 | 1986–1988 | 16 | 12 | ||
Miss Woodford | 1967 | 1882–1886 | 48 | 37 | ||
Mom's Command | 2007 | 1984–1985 | 16 | 11 | ||
My Juliet | 2019 | 1974–1977 | 36 | 24 | ||
Myrtlewood | 1979 | 1934–1936 | 22 | 15 | ||
Nashua | 1965 | 1954–1956 | 30 | 22 | ||
Native Dancer | 1963 | 1952–1954 | 22 | 21 | ||
Native Diver | 1978 | 1961–1967 | 81 | 37 | ||
Needles | 2000 | 1955–1957 | 21 | 11 | ||
Neji (steeplechaser) | 1966 | 1953–1960 | 49 | 17 | ||
Noor | 2002 | 1947–1950 | 31 | 12 | ||
Northern Dancer | 1976 | 1963–1964 | 18 | 14 | ||
Oedipus (steeplechaser) | 1978 | 1948–1952 | 58 | 14 | ||
Old Rosebud | 1968 | 1913-4, 1917, 1919–22 | 80 | 40 | ||
Omaha | 1965 | 1934–1936 | 22 | 9 | ||
Open Mind | 2011 | 1988–1990 | 19 | 12 | ||
Pan Zareta | 1972 | 1912–1917 | 151 | 76 | ||
Parole | 1984 | 1875–1885 | 138 | 59 | ||
Paseana | 2001 | 1990–1985 | 36 | 19 | ||
Personal Ensign | 1993 | 1986–1988 | 13 | 13 | ||
Peter Pan | 1956 | 1906–1907 | 17 | 10 | ||
Planet | 2012 | 1858–1860 | 31 | 27 | ||
Point Given | 2010 | 2000–2001 | 13 | 9 | ||
Preakness | 2018 | 1870–1876 | 39 | 18 | ||
Precisionist | 2003 | 1983–1988 | 46 | 20 | ||
Princess Doreen | 1982 | 1923–1927 | 94 | 34 | ||
Princess Rooney | 1991 | 1982–1984 | 21 | 17 | ||
Rachel Alexandra | 2016 | 2008–2010 | 19 | 13 | ||
Real Delight | 1987 | 1952–1953 | 15 | 12 | ||
Regret | 1957 | 1914–1917 | 11 | 9 | ||
Reigh Count | 1978 | 1927–1929 | 27 | 12 | ||
Riva Ridge | 1998 | 1971–1973 | 30 | 17 | ||
Roamer | 1981 | 1913–1919 | 98 | 39 | ||
Roseben | 1956 | 1903–1909 | 111 | 52 | ||
Royal Delta | 2019 | 2010–2013 | 22 | 12 | ||
Royal Heroine | 2022 | 1982–1984 | 21 | 10 | ||
Round Table | 1972 | 1956–1959 | 66 | 43 | ||
Ruffian | 1976 | 1974–1975 | 11 | 10 | ||
Ruthless | 1975 | 1866–1867 | 11 | 7 | ||
Safely Kept | 2011 | 1988–1991 | 31 | 24 | ||
Salvator | 1955 | 1888–1890 | 19 | 16 | ||
Sarazen | 1957 | 1923–1928 | 55 | 27 | ||
Seabiscuit | 1958 | 1935–1940 | 89 | 33 | ||
Searching | 1978 | 1954–1958 | 89 | 25 | ||
Seattle Slew | 1981 | 1976–1978 | 17 | 14 | ||
Secretariat | 1974 | 1972–1973 | 21 | 16 | ||
Serena's Song | 2002 | 1994–1996 | 38 | 18 | ||
Shuvee | 1975 | 1968–1971 | 44 | 16 | ||
Silver Charm | 2007 | 1996–1999 | 24 | 12 | ||
Silver Spoon | 1978 | 1958–1960 | 27 | 13 | ||
Silverbulletday | 2009 | 1998–2000 | 23 | 15 | ||
Sir Archy | 1955 | 1808–1809 | 7 | 4 | ||
Sir Barton | 1957 | 1918–1920 | 31 | 13 | ||
Skip Away | 2004 | 1995–1998 | 38 | 18 | ||
Sky Beauty | 2011 | 1992–1995 | 21 | 15 | ||
Slew o' Gold | 1992 | 1982–1984 | 20 | 12 | ||
Songbird | 2023 | 2015–2017 | 15 | 13 | ||
Spectacular Bid | 1982 | 1978–1980 | 30 | 26 | ||
Stymie | 1975 | 1943–1949 | 131 | 35 | ||
Sun Beau | 1996 | 1927–1931 | 74 | 33 | ||
Sunday Silence | 1996 | 1988–1990 | 14 | 9 | ||
Susan's Girl | 1976 | 1971–1975 | 63 | 29 | ||
Swaps | 1966 | 1954–1956 | 25 | 19 | ||
Swoon's Son | 2007 | 1955–1958 | 51 | 30 | ||
Sword Dancer | 1977 | 1958–1960 | 39 | 15 | ||
Sysonby | 1956 | 1904–1905 | 15 | 14 | ||
Ta Wee | 1994 | 1968–1970 | 21 | 15 | ||
Ten Broeck | 1982 | 1874–1878 | 30 | 23 | ||
Tepin | 2022 | 2013–2016 | 23 | 13 | ||
Tim Tam | 1985 | 1957–1958 | 14 | 10 | ||
Tiznow | 2009 | 2000–2001 | 15 | 8 | ||
Tom Fool | 1960 | 1951–1953 | 30 | 21 | ||
Tom Ochiltree | 2016 | 1875–1877 | 33 | 21 | ||
Tom Bowling | 2020 | 1872–1874 | 17 | 14 | ||
Top Flight | 1966 | 1931–1932 | 16 | 12 | ||
Tosmah | 1984 | 1963–1966 | 39 | 23 | ||
Tuscalee (steeplechaser) | 2013 | 1963–1972 | 89 | 39 | ||
Twenty Grand | 1957 | 1930–1935 | 25 | 14 | ||
Twilight Tear | 1963 | 1943–1945 | 24 | 18 | ||
Two Lea | 1982 | 1948–1952 | 26 | 15 | ||
War Admiral | 1958 | 1936–1939 | 26 | 21 | ||
Waya | 2019 | 1977–1979 | 29 | 14 | ||
Whirlaway | 1959 | 1940–1943 | 60 | 32 | ||
Whisk Broom II | 1979 | 1909–1913 | 26 | 10 | ||
Wise Dan | 2020 | 2010–2014 | 31 | 23 | ||
Winning Colors | 2000 | 1987–1989 | 19 | 8 | ||
Xtra Heat | 2015 | 2000–2003 | 35 | 26 | ||
Zaccio (steeplechaser) | 1990 | 1979–1984 | 42 | 22 | ||
Zenyatta | 2016 | 2007–2010 | 20 | 19 | ||
Zev | 1983 | 1922–1924 | 43 | 23 |
Contemporary jockeys become eligible for the Hall of Fame after they have been licensed for at least 20 years, and remain eligible until 25 years after retirement. In special circumstances such as fragile health, the 20 year requirement may be waived, though there is usually a five-year waiting period after retirement in such cases.
[6]Legend:
* Still active (+ Win totals from Equibase.com)
** Wins in North America only
Contemporary trainers become eligible for the Hall of Fame after they have been licensed for at least 25 years, and remain eligible until 25 years after retirement. In special circumstances such as fragile health, the 25 year requirement may be waived though there is usually a five-year waiting period after retirement in such cases.
Name | Term | |
---|---|---|
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 1950–1953 | |
Walter M. Jeffords Sr. | 1953–1960 | |
George D. Widener Jr. | 1960–1968 | |
John W. Hanes | 1968–1970 | |
Gerard S. Smith | 1970–1974 | |
Charles E. Mather II | 1974–1982 | |
Whitney Tower | 1982–1989 | |
John T. von Stade | 1989–2005 | |
Stella F. Thayer | 2005–2014 | |
Gretchen Jackson | 2014–2017 | |
John Hendrickson | 2017–present[7] |
Name | Year awarded | |
---|---|---|
George D. Widener Jr. | 1971 | |
Walter M. Jeffords Sr. | 1973 | |
John W. Hanes | 1982 | |
Paul Mellon | 1989 | |
Martha F. Gerry | 2007 |
Established in 2013, the Hall of Fame states that the Pillars of the Turf category honors those "who have made extraordinary contributions to Thoroughbred racing in a leadership or pioneering capacity at the highest national level."[8]
Name | Year Awarded | |
---|---|---|
Harry F. Guggenheim | 2024 | |
Clement L. Hirsch | 2024 | |
Joe Hirsch | 2024 | |
John W. Hanes II | 2023 | |
Leonard W. Jerome | 2023 | |
Stella F. Thayer | 2023 | |
James Cox Brady | 2022 | |
Marshall W. Cassidy | 2022 | |
James Ben Ali Haggin | 2022 | |
Alice Headley Chandler | 2020 | |
George D. Widener Jr. | 2020 | |
J. Keene Daingerfield Jr. | 2020 | |
Christopher T. Chenery | 2019 | |
Frank E. Kilroe | 2019 | |
Gladys Mills Phipps | 2019 | |
Helen Hay Whitney | 2019 | |
James E. Bassett III | 2019 | |
James R. Keene | 2019 | |
John Hettinger | 2019 | |
Marylou Whitney | 2019 | |
Ogden Phipps | 2019 | |
Richard L. Duchossois | 2019 | |
Warren Wright Sr. | 2019 | |
William S. Farish | 2019 | |
Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin | 2018 | |
August Belmont | 2018 | |
W. Cothran "Cot" Campbell | 2018 | |
Penny Chenery | 2018 | |
John W. Galbreath | 2018 | |
Arthur B. Hancock | 2018 | |
Hal Price Headley | 2018 | |
John Morrissey | 2018 | |
Dr. Charles H. Strub | 2018 | |
William Collins Whitney | 2018 | |
Harry Payne Whitney | 2018 | |
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 2018 | |
John R. Gaines | 2017 | |
2017 | ||
2017 | ||
2016 | ||
2016 | ||
John Hay Whitney | 2015 | |
Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. | 2015 | |
E. P. Taylor | 2014 | |
Edward R. Bradley | 2014 | |
August Belmont Jr. | 2013 | |
Paul Mellon | 2013 |
In addition to the Hall of Fame, the museum houses numerous exhibits. These include:[9]
The Museum Collection[11] includes just over 300 paintings. These range from paintings of the early days of racing in England by John E. Ferneley Sr. to more contemporary champions by Richard Stone Reeves. Featured artists include: William Smithson Broadhead, Vaughn Flannery, Sir Alfred J. Munnings, Frederic Remington, Martin Stainforth, George Stubbs, Henry Stull, Edward Troye and Franklin Brooke Voss. Also on display are Kelso's five Jockey Club Gold Cup trophies and the Triple Crown trophies of Count Fleet.