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Venetian Way

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Venetian Way
SireRoyal Coinage
GrandsireEight Thirty
DamFirefly
DamsirePapa Redbird
SexStallion
FoaledMarch 23, 1957[1]
CountryUnited States
ColourChestnut
BreederJohn W. Greathouse
OwnerSunny Blue Farm
TrainerVictor J. Sovinski
Record20: 7-4-3
Earnings$359,422
Major wins
Washington Park Futurity (1959) Triple Crown Race wins:
Kentucky Derby (1960)

Venetian Way (March 23, 1957 – October 17, 1964) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1960 Kentucky Derby.

Background

Venetian Way was a chestnut horse bred in Kentucky by John W. Greathouse. He was purchased by Chicago, Illinois businessman Isaac Blumberg who raced him under the nom de course of Sunny Blue Farm. Venetian Way was trained by Victor J. Sovinski of Kankakee, Illinois. He was named after a street in Miami Beach[2].

Racing career

At age two, Venetian Way made nine starts winning four times. Of his eleven starts at age three, he earned three more wins. Leading up to the 1960 U.S. Triple Crown series, Venetian Way ran second to Bally Ache in the Florida Derby. He was sent off as the third parimutuel betting choice in the Kentucky Derby behind favorite Tompion and second choice, Bally Ache.

In the 1960 Kentucky Derby- the "drugstore Derby"- Venetian Way beat Bally Ache. Venetian Way was a sore horse who responded admirably to butazolidin, legal in Kentucky at the time. When Venetian Way ran in the Preakness two weeks later without the help of butazolidin (pain-killing drugs are not legal in Maryland), he did not even finish in the money while the sound- legged Bally Ache won. The performance of Venetian Way with and without butazolidin and other similar cases convinced the Kentucky State Racing Commission that drugs were unfair to the horse and to the public[3].

1960 Triple Crown

Ridden in the Kentucky Derby by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey Bill Hartack, Venetian Way remained within striking distance, then passed Bally Ache as they came around the final turn heading into the homestretch and won going away by 3½ lengths. In the ensuing Preakness Stakes, Venetian Way finished fifth to winner Bally Ache, then ran second behind Celtic Ash in the longest of the Triple Crown races, the 1½ mile Belmont Stakes.

Stud record

Retired to stud for the 1961 season, Venetian Way was not successful as a sire.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Venetian Way (USA), chestnut stallion, 1957[1]
Sire
Royal Coinage (USA)
1952
Eight Thirty (USA)
1936
Pilate Friar Rock
Herodias
Dinner Time High Time
Seaplane
Canina (USA)
1941
Bull Dog Teddy
Plucky Liege
Coronium Pot Au Feu
Bird Call
Dam
Firefly (USA)
1952
Papa Redbird (USA)
1945
Balladier Black Toney
Blue Warbler
Taj Bibi Sickle
Black Queen
Minstrelette (USA)
1933
Royal Minstrel Tetratema
Harpsichord
Bannerette Pennant
Meetime (Family 4-m)[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Venetian Way pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
  2. ^ http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/horses/triple/derby/2015/02/04/countdown-kentucky-derby-remembering-winner-venetian-way/22823457/
  3. ^ http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1970/1/21/a-horse-is-a-horse-of/
  4. ^ "Magnolia - Family 4-m". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.