Imbros (horse)

Imbros (1950–1972) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who set or equaled six track records including a new world record for seven furlongs in winning the 1954 Malibu Sequet Stakes at Santa Anita Park ^[1] and equaled the world record for a mile and a sixteenth in winning the 1954 Californian Stakes at Hollywood Park Racetrack.^[2]

Background

Bred in Kentucky by Royce G. Martin's Woodvale Farm, his sire was Polynesian who also sired U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Native Dancer. His dam, Fire Falls, was a daughter of Bull Dog who was the leading sire in North America in 1943 and a three-time Leading broodmare sire in North America.^[3] Imbros was purchased by California businessman Andrew Crevolin at the Keeneland Summer Sale of yearlings and named for the Turkish island of Imbros in the Aegean Sea. He was trained by Bill Molter in California.

Racing career

At age three Imbros won four stakes races including the 1953 Will Rogers Stakes at Hollywood Park Racetrack. At age four, Imbros had a brilliant campaign. In addition to setting a world record for seven furlongs in winning the 1954 Malibu Sequet Stakes at Santa Anita Park, and equaling the world record for eight and a half furlongs in winning the Californian Stakes at Hollywood Park, on April 24, 1954 Johnny Longden rode him to a new Bay Meadows track record for one mile in winning the Governor Goodwin J. Knight Handicap. One week later on May 1 at the same track, Imbros set another track record of 1⅛ miles while capturing the William P. Kyne Handicap, the first $100,000 stakes race at Bay Meadows Racetrack.^[4][5] As well, Imbros twice equaled the Santa Anita Park track record for six furlongs and earned runnerups in the Premiere, Santa Anita, and Lakes And Flowers Handicaps.

Imbros raced at age five with his best results a second-place finish in both the San Antonio and San Carlos Handicaps.

Stud record

In July 1955 it was announced that California breeder Charles H. Jones had purchased Imbros for breeding purposes. . As a stallion, Imbros most notably sired U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Native Diver who set six career track records at distances from six to nine furlongs.

References