In the course of the Nice Calmette Farm’s Glory Day, the secure was stuffed with so many proficient horses that bystanders, even the horses of this yr, may very well be stomped by a stableman to fill the void. In 1949, the legendary 1948 quote was on the bystander after the unimaginable marketing campaign in 1948, after which he gained the Triple Crown, Horse of the 12 months and 19 of 20 races. In most stables it’s not possible to alternate such stars, however Calumet had a easy answer. As an alternative, they win a horse to win Coletown the next yr.
From the start, Coletown confirmed expertise. Coletown, the son of Calumet’s prime stallion, Lea, was not surrounded by a two-year-old resulting from throat issues, however exploded as a three-year-old in a gate-to-wire victory within the maiden race at Hialeah Park in 1948. His time was not stunning – 1:11 at 2/5 6 furlongs – however greater than three weeks later, he gained 12 lengths within the allowance race on the similar distance, and stopped the clock at 1:09 at 3/5, a confirmed alma mater.
Cole City is within the cowl of August. 27, 1949 Bloodhorse
Coletown clearly had pace, however might he carry it towards the more durable competitors? After delivery to Keeneland, Kentucky, Coletown responded a decisive “sure” when he gained the six-farlong Phoenix handicap towards older horses at 2½ size, extending to 1 1/8 miles for the primary time, incomes a bluegrass stake at 1/5 of 1:49 and 4½ size on a brand new monitor document. At this level, many individuals believed that Coletown was higher than extra skilled quotes, and that Coletown would win the 1948 Kentucky Derby. Nonetheless, after opening a six-length lead early in Rose’s working, Coulty City was handed over by his steadyness on the house stretch, ending second and beat 3½ size.
Coletown raced within the large shadows of Quotation for the remainder of the yr, however that does not imply that Coletown did not obtain his personal success. He wasn’t invincible, however he simply gained Swift Stakes, Drexel Handicap and Jerome Handicap earlier than ending the yr with a third-place end behind the quote in Synsonby Mile. The quote obtained enormous acclaim this yr, however Coletown was named the 1948 Champion Sprinter because of his unimaginable pace and victory within the dash race.
The next yr, the Quote developed ankle troubles, unable to race, leaving Coletown as a secure star. Filling Quotation’s footwear is not straightforward, however Coaltown did it with Aplomb, incomes 12 of 15 begins and ending second within the different three.
pace? He was sooner than ever in 1949, working six furlongs each day beneath 1:10, and three working distances beneath 1:09. stamina? Not like final yr, Coletown was capable of carry his pace effectively over a mile, and did so in nearly each single day of his race. He started his yr at Hyalea Park. There, McLennan Handicap gained one allowance race at 1:47 3/5 at 1:47 3/5, 1:47 3/5, earlier than the winner of the 1947 Preakness Stakes incompletely beat the winner. Every week later he tried 1 1/4 miles with a widener handicap. It was then probably the most prestigious winter race on the East Coast.
Coletown’s pace was so spectacular that he opened up an enormous lead early on, each McLennan and Wydener – lengths of three, 4, 5 – not letting his rivals get near him. He did the identical with a handicap at Gulfstream Park 1 1/4 mile, main 10 lengths in the course of the race, crossing the entrance wire at a good time of 1:59 4/5, corresponding to the world document. Coletown was so dominant that within the Edward Burke handicap a month later, no horse was discovered to oppose him. He crossed the end line alone within the walkover.
Coletown prolonged his profitable streak to eight straight races with a show of seven lengths of romps on the courageous Fox handicap and 12 lengths of pure energy on the Roger Williams handicap. Within the latter race, he not solely gained in a straightforward method, however did so whereas carrying 26 kilos greater than runner-up.
After an enormous success in a protracted race, when Coletown went one mile within the Qualise Mile handicap at Arlington Park, Coletown ran the sport race in a loss, taking the lead on Furlong earlier than getting exhausted to earn a star reward in three lengths. However this was only a momentary setback. As a result of Coletown rebounded to win 4 consecutive races towards among the greatest horses within the nation.
With a handicap of stars and stripes, he acknowledged 20 kilos for the horse’s annual horse in 1947, beating him for 1¼ size when the star’s reward resulted in third place. In Arlington’s Handicap, Coletown defeated the Star’s rewards in three lengths and armed them with 4 lengths. Then, as if to completely and absolutely safe a revenge towards the star’s reward, Coletown once more defeated his one conqueror with a mile swirl wager, profitable by 2¼ lengths in a 1:34 flat world document time. Ponder, the winner of the 1949 Kentucky Derby, got here in second place, and Star Women got here in third place.
Coletown’s last victory of the yr got here within the 1¼ mile Washington Park Handicap. There, he persevered in arming with three-quarters of the size of a sluggish, drained truck. With such a busy, epic and intense marketing campaign behind him, Coletown was not at his greatest in his final two begins and was crushed by Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Capot in each the Sincenbee Stakes and the Pimlico Particular. Nonetheless, his wonderful exploitation from the start of his yr was unforgettable, and Coultytown was chosen as the distinction of the champion’s handicap horse and shared horse.
Coletown will compete for one more two years. After failing the 1950 marketing campaign through which he solely gained the allowance race from 4 begins, he revived his sprinter profession in 1951, returning to Glory Day, incomes the Artwork Sparks Handicap and Youngsters’s Hospital Handicap at Baymeadows. Nonetheless, his revival was brief, with Coletown retiring to Calumet Farm after three consecutive defeats.
Coletown was not an enormous success as a stallion and was quickly offered to France, the place he died in 1965. Immediately, many racing followers know him as a very secure and secure model of quotes, however the brilliance and achievements of Coletown in 1949 equaled what was worthy of his personal nice legacy.
Word: This story was initially launched and up to date in April 2016.
Enjoyable truth
- Coletown retired with 23 wins from 39 begins, 6 seconds and three-thirds of a document, earnings of $415,675.
- All through his profession, Coultertown was alternately educated by Ben Jones and his son Jimmy.
- Coletown gained stakes races at seven totally different distances starting from 6 to 10 furlongs.
- Coletown’s dam was a easy lath, and Coletown turned a semi-brother of Wistful, a proficient calmette filler who gained Kentucky Oaks, Pimlico Oaks and Teaching Membership American Oaks. Straightforward Lass was additionally the dam for The Stakes Winners Fanfare and Rosewood.
- In the course of the 1949 marketing campaign, Coletown carried over 130 kilos in eight consecutive races, together with his walkover, profitable seven of which.
- Coletown was launched in 1983 on the Racing Corridor of Fame.
