Springbok (1870–1897) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the seventh Belmont Stakes in 1873. Foaled in 1870, he was sired by the imported stallion Australian, his dam was a daughter of Lexington. During his racing career, he started 25 races, winning 17 of them. Besides the Belmont, Springbok won the Saratoga Cup twice, in 1874 and 1875 and was named Champion Older Male horse in 1874 and 1875. After retiring from the racetrack, he sired five stakes winners and died in 1897.
Early life Springbok was sired by the imported horse Australian and out of the mare Hester. Hester was by Lexington and out of a mare named Heads I Say by imported stallion Glencoe. Springbok was foaled in 1870, and was a chestnut stallion, bred by A. J. Alexander of Woodburn, Kentucky.Bruce American Stud Book 1 p. 519 Springbok was one of 26 stakes winning foals sired by Australian.Hogan Index to Stakes Winners pp. 533–534 Springbok was Hester's only stakes winning foal.Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 254
At two years of age, Springbok was owned and raced by Daniel Swigert, but was sold that year to David McDaniel for $2,000 ().Hewitt Great Breeders pp. 21–22
Racing career
Springbok won the seventh running of the Belmont Stakes in 1873 at Jerome Park Racetrack. He carried in the race, which had a winning time of 3 minutes 1 seconds. He won $5,200 () for his owner from the race.New York Racing Association "Belmont Stakes" Belmont Stakes The race was run on June 7 over a distance of miles (i.e. ) on a fast track. He won the race by four lengths from the second-placed finisher, Count D'Orsay, and the third place was Strachino.New York Racing Association "1873 Belmont" Belmont Stakes The winning jockey was James Rowe Sr., later to be a noted trainer.Robertson History of Thoroughbred Racing pp. 211–212 This was the third of three consecutive wins of the Belmont Stakes by David McDaniel as both owner and trainer, as he had already won the 1871 race with Harry Bassett and the 1872 race with Joe Daniels.
Besides the Belmont, Springbok won the 1874 and 1875 Saratoga Cup and the 1874 Citizens Stakes. During the 1870s, the Saratoga Cup was a race. In 1874, Springbok won the race while carrying , beating Preakness who came in second, and Katie Pease, who placed third. The winning time was 4 minutes 11 seconds, with a value to the winner of $2,450 ().Daily Racing Form 1932 American Racing Manual pp. 310–312 His 1875 Saratoga Cup win was a (DH) with the horse Preakness.Robertson History of Thoroughbred Racing p. 228 In that race, Springbok carried , and the winning time was 3 minutes 56 seconds. Grinstead secured third place. The win paid $2,250 () to Springbok's owner.
Springbok's total race career was 25 starts with 17 wins for a total earnings of $20,020 ().Hewitt Great Breeders p. 18 He is considered to be the 1874 American Champion Older Male Horse, and also the Champion Older Male Horse for 1875, a title he shared with Preakness.Thoroughbred Heritage "American Champion Older Male" Turf Hallmarks
Breeding career
In his breeding career, Springbok sired the stakes winners Audrain, East Lynne, Ethel, Huntress, and Vallera.Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 673 Audrain, an 1881 stallion out of Alme by Planet, won the 1884 Latonia Derby, 1884 St. Louis Derby and the 1884 Hindoo Stakes.Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 91 East Lynne was an 1882 mare out of Easter Planet by Planet. East Lynne won the 1885 Dixie Stakes and the 1885 Hunter Handicap.Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 191 Ethel, an 1888 mare out of La Vena by Planet, won the 1890 Clipsetta Stakes and the 1891 Ashland Oaks.Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 300 Huntress was an 1885 mare out of Edith by the imported stallion Saxon. Huntress won the 1887 Clipsetta Stakes, the 1888 St. Louis Oaks, and the 1889 Cincinnati Hotel Handicap.Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 192 Vallera, an 1888 stallion out of Valasco by Pat Malloy, won the 1891 Tennessee Derby, 1891 Travers Stakes, and the 1891 Kenner Stakes.Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 502
Springbok died on March 19, 1897, at the Megibben-Edgewater farm in Kentucky.Staff "Notes on the Turf" Daily Racing Form
Pedigree
Citations
References
External links Famous Horses of America pages 34–35