Old England (1899–1908) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse 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]

Old England
SireGoldfinch
GrandsireOrmond
DamQueen Bess
DamsireMarden
SexColt, eventually Gelding
Foaled1899
CountryUnited States
Colorbay
BreederJames B. A. Haggin
OwnerGreen B. Morris
TrainerGreen B. Morris
RecordNot found
EarningsNot found
Major wins
Seagate Stakes (1902)
Broadway Stakes (1902)
Iroquois Stakes (1902)
Toboggan Handicap (1902)
Crotona Handicap (1902)
American Classic Race wins:
Preakness Stakes (1902)

Preakness Stakes

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The twenty-seventh running of the Preakness Stakes took place 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 Lee 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 backstretch and around the final turn.

Near the top of the lane two challengers made a charge at Old England but in the last sixteenth of a mile Namtor faded and dropped off while 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 having outdistanced third-place finisher Namtor by six lengths.[3]

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

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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 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 ran third in the Equality Stakes.

At age four Old England had a strong runner-up finish to 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

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Pedigree of Old England
Sire
Goldfinch

bay 1889

Ormond

bay 1883

Bend Or Doncaster
Rogue Rose
Lily Agnes Macaroni
Polly Agnes
Thistle

bay 1875

Scottish Chief Lord of the Isles
Miss Ann
The Flower Safety Wild Dayrell
Nettle
Dam
Queen Bess

black 1886

Marden

bay 1879

Hermit Newminster
Seclusion
Barchettina Pelion
Cymba
Lizzie

ch. 1882

Petrach Lord Clifden
Laura
Rose of Lancaster Doncaster
Rouge Rose

References

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  1. ^ "Old England Horse Pedigree". Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  2. ^ "Preakness Stakes 1902 Race Chart page p-62". Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide 2009. Pimlico Race Course. 2009-05-01.
  3. ^ "Preakness Stakes 1902 Race Chart page p-62". Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide 2009. Pimlico Race Course. 2009-05-01.
  4. ^ "Preakness Stakes 1902 Race Chart page p-62". Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide 2009. Pimlico Race Course. 2009-05-01.
  5. ^ Staff (April 17, 1908). "Notes of the turf". Daily Racing Form. Triangle Publications. Retrieved 20 May 2015.