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Firenze (horse)
Firenze (1884–1902), also recorded as "Firenzi", was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. During her six-year racing career, she won 47 of 82 starts and retired as the second-highest money-earning filly in American history. She was retroactively named the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 1887 and American Champion Older Female Horse for three straight years. She repeatedly defeated the top colts of the day including the future Hall of Famers, Hanover and Kingston. In the 1888 season, she was the only horse to beat Preakness Stakes winner, The Bard.
Firenze was a bay mare foaled at Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Her sire was Glenelg, who made his first start as a three-year-old in the 1869 Belmont Stakes and finished second. Glenelg developed into a top-notch handicap horse and then became a four-time leading sire whose offspring were known for their soundness. Firenze's dam Florida was a full sister to the great Hindoo.
She was sold as a yearling by breeder Daniel Swigert to lawyer and businessman James Ben Ali Haggin for $2,600. She was trained by James Murphy at age two and subsequently by Matt Byrnes.
Firenze was a small horse at 15 hands (60 inches, 152 cm). She was noted for her soundness and stamina, making 22 starts at age three and 21 at age four, and was at her best in distances of 1+1⁄4 miles and up.
At age two in 1886, Firenze won five of eight starts, including the Nursery and Autumn Stakes.
As a three-year-old, Firenze dominated the major races for fillies of the time and was also competitive against colts. She won 8 of 14 races including the Ladies Handicap, Gazelle Stakes, Mermaid Stakes, Monmouth Oaks, Free Handicap Stakes, West End Hotel Stakes and Jerome Stakes. In the latter, she defeated Hanover at a distance of 1+3⁄4 miles.
From 22 starts at age four, Firenze won 13 times, including eleven stakes races. She was never out of the money, finishing second 6 times and third in the 3 other starts. In the Freehold Stakes, she defeated The Bard in what was essentially a match race with only the two entries. The Bard went to the lead but Firenze stayed within striking distance until she was urged forward around the far turn. As the gap narrowed, The Bard tried to respond and the two horses battled down the stretch until the final strides, when Firenze drew off to win by two lengths. She tied the record for the fastest 1+1⁄2 miles ever recorded, 2:34, while carrying 113 pounds. The other record holders, Luke Blackburn and Jim Guest, had carried only 102 and 98 pounds respectively.
The Bard was subsequently injured, but Firenze faced a strong challenge in the Champion Stakes from Kingston and his stablemate Santalene. Santalene set the pace for the first mile then tired, leaving Firenze in the lead by two lengths with a mile remaining. Kingston was heavily urged to close ground but could not, and was eased near the finish. Firenze won in hand by six lengths in a time of 2:35.
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Firenze (horse)
Firenze (1884–1902), also recorded as "Firenzi", was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. During her six-year racing career, she won 47 of 82 starts and retired as the second-highest money-earning filly in American history. She was retroactively named the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 1887 and American Champion Older Female Horse for three straight years. She repeatedly defeated the top colts of the day including the future Hall of Famers, Hanover and Kingston. In the 1888 season, she was the only horse to beat Preakness Stakes winner, The Bard.
Firenze was a bay mare foaled at Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Her sire was Glenelg, who made his first start as a three-year-old in the 1869 Belmont Stakes and finished second. Glenelg developed into a top-notch handicap horse and then became a four-time leading sire whose offspring were known for their soundness. Firenze's dam Florida was a full sister to the great Hindoo.
She was sold as a yearling by breeder Daniel Swigert to lawyer and businessman James Ben Ali Haggin for $2,600. She was trained by James Murphy at age two and subsequently by Matt Byrnes.
Firenze was a small horse at 15 hands (60 inches, 152 cm). She was noted for her soundness and stamina, making 22 starts at age three and 21 at age four, and was at her best in distances of 1+1⁄4 miles and up.
At age two in 1886, Firenze won five of eight starts, including the Nursery and Autumn Stakes.
As a three-year-old, Firenze dominated the major races for fillies of the time and was also competitive against colts. She won 8 of 14 races including the Ladies Handicap, Gazelle Stakes, Mermaid Stakes, Monmouth Oaks, Free Handicap Stakes, West End Hotel Stakes and Jerome Stakes. In the latter, she defeated Hanover at a distance of 1+3⁄4 miles.
From 22 starts at age four, Firenze won 13 times, including eleven stakes races. She was never out of the money, finishing second 6 times and third in the 3 other starts. In the Freehold Stakes, she defeated The Bard in what was essentially a match race with only the two entries. The Bard went to the lead but Firenze stayed within striking distance until she was urged forward around the far turn. As the gap narrowed, The Bard tried to respond and the two horses battled down the stretch until the final strides, when Firenze drew off to win by two lengths. She tied the record for the fastest 1+1⁄2 miles ever recorded, 2:34, while carrying 113 pounds. The other record holders, Luke Blackburn and Jim Guest, had carried only 102 and 98 pounds respectively.
The Bard was subsequently injured, but Firenze faced a strong challenge in the Champion Stakes from Kingston and his stablemate Santalene. Santalene set the pace for the first mile then tired, leaving Firenze in the lead by two lengths with a mile remaining. Kingston was heavily urged to close ground but could not, and was eased near the finish. Firenze won in hand by six lengths in a time of 2:35.