Polynesian (horse)

Polynesian (March 8, 1942 – December 29, 1959) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.

Polynesian
Sire	Unbreakable
Grandsire	Sickle
Dam	Black Polly
Damsire	Polymelian
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	8 March 1942
Country	United States
Colour	Brown
Breeder	Elmendorf Farm
Owner	Gertrude T. Widener
Trainer	Morris H. Dixon
Record	58: 27-10-10
Earnings	$310,410
Major wins
Withers Stakes (1945) Riggs Handicap (1946) Roseben Handicap (1946) Toboggan Handicap (1946) Scarsdale Handicap (1946) Long Branch Handicap (1947) Camden Handicap (1947) Oceanport Handicap (1947) American Classic Race wins: Preakness Stakes (1945)
Awards
American Champion Sprint Horse (1947)

Background

He was owned by Gertrude T. Widener, of the prominent Widener family of Philadelphia, and bred by her father-in-law Joseph E. Widener at his Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He was trained by Morris H. Dixon.^[1]

Racing career

1944: two-year-old season

At age two, Polynesian lost his first three races, then bucked his shins.

1945: three-year-old season

Back in training at age three, Polynesian won five of his next seven starts, one of which was a division of the Sagamore Stakes. In the Experimental Free Handicap he came in third to Jeep and Greek Warrior, and fourth in a division of the Wood Memorial won by Hoop Jr. He skipped the Kentucky Derby (won by Hoop Jr.), instead competing in one mile Withers Stakes where he defeated Pavot. Polynesian then took the mile and three sixteenths second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes, in a front running victory.^[2] Because of its demanding one and a half miles, Polynesian was not entered in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes. Later that year he won the Saranac Handicap.

Later career

Polynesian developed into a champion sprinter, winning a number of important sprint races in 1946 and in 1947 and was named the U.S. Champion Sprint Horse.^[3] In his last year of racing, he went through a streak of five wins, 10 seconds, and 10 thirds.

Stud career

Retired to stud duty, Polynesian sired 37 stakes winners including one of the greatest horses in American racing history, Native Dancer. Some of Polynesian's offspring were:

Foaled	Name	Sex	Major Wins/Achievements
1950	Imbros	Stallion
1950	Native Dancer	Stallion	Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes
1951	Banquet Bell	Mare	Dam of Chateaugay and Primonetta
1953	Polly's Jet	Stallion
1954	Alanesian	Mare	Dam of Boldnesian
1954	Barbizon	Stallion	American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (1956)

At age seventeen, Polynesian Died on December 29, 1959, from colic and was buried at Gallaher Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.

Breeding

Pedigree of Polynesian

Sire Unbreakable black 1935	Sickle brown 1924	Phalaris	Polymelus
			Bromus
		Selene	Chaucer
			Serenissima
	Blue Grass bay 1917	Prince Palatine	Persimmon
			Lady Lightfoot
		Hour Glass	Rock Sand
			Hautesse
Dam Black Polly bay 1936	Polymelian ch. 1914	Polymelus	Cyllene
			Maid Marian
		Pasquita	Sundridge
			Pasquil
	Black Queen drk.brn. 1930	Pompey	Sun Briar
			Cleopatra
		Black Maria	Black Toney
			Bird Loose (Family 14-a)

References

1. "Philadelphia Inquirer: Search Results". nl.newsbank.com.
2. "St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2009-11-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

• Polynesian's pedigree and partial racing stats