Longfellow — “King of the Turf”
Foaled at Nantura on May 10, 1867, Longfellow (Leamington—Nantura, by Brawner’s Eclipse) was a huge brown colt that grew to be almost 17 hands. Harper, who bred, owned and trained Longfellow, considered the giant colt too ungainly for either training or racing as a 2-year-old. Finally making his debut in April of 1870 at the Kentucky Association track in Lexington, Longfellow was defeated by the champion Enquirer and did not race again until the fall. Upon his return, Longfellow won the Produce Stakes at Lexington on Sept. 16 to break his maiden. Two weeks later, he was shipped to Cincinnati and won the Ohio Stakes. Sent to Tennessee that October, he won the Citizens’ Stakes at Nashville and the Post Stakes at Memphis to conclude his campaign.
As a 4-year-old in 1871, Longfellow emerged as the best racehorse in America. After a walkover in May, he was shipped to Monmouth Park to contest the second running of the Monmouth Cup in July. Facing the champion handicapper Helmbold and the outstanding Preakness proved to be no challenge for Longfellow, as he won in a canter, covering the 2½ miles in 4:41¼. Nine days later, Longfellow met Kingfisher in the Saratoga Cup. Kingfisher was highly regarded and accomplished, having won the Belmont and Travers in 1870. He was no match for Longfellow.
Charles Wheatly, the race starter at Saratoga, said: “I shall never forget it. When the flag fell, Kingfisher shot away. As he did so, the big brown horse wheeled and gathered himself for a spring. He seemed to rise to an awful height, then he sprang forward, and in a twinkling he was in front.”
It was that easy for Longfellow. Following the race, he was dubbed “King of the Turf” in the sporting press. Longfellow’s 5-yearold campaign was defined by his rivalry with the 4-year-old standout Harry Bassett, winner of 14 in a row, including the Belmont, Jersey Derby, Travers and Kenner. The showdown was scheduled for the Monmouth Cup on July 2, 1872. It wasn’t much of a showdown, as Longfellow crushed the sulking Harry Bassett’s spirit and galloped home to win by an estimated 100 yards.
The rematch was on in the Saratoga Cup, but misfortune ruined Longfellow, as he somehow struck the quarter of his let forefoot and twisted his plate going to the post. Harry Bassett took the early lead and it was apparent something was amiss with Longfellow. Despite racing in excruciating pain, Longfellow pushed Harry Bassett to his limit. In the end, Longfellow came up just short in a heroic performance. Harry Bassett won in 3:59, the fastest 2¼ ever raced up to that time.
Longfellow limped back to the judges’ stand, “his progress marked by only three hoofprints.” The twisted plate had been bent double and was embedded in the foot, which was mutilated. With tears streaming down his face, Harper draped a blanket over the back of Longfellow and took him home to Nantura. He was retired with a record of 13-2-0 from 16 starts and earnings of $11,200.
At stud, Longfellow became America’s leading sire in 1891. He sired 42 stakes winners, including five champions. His best son was The Bard, winner of 25 stakes, including the Preakness. Other standouts sired by Longfellow included Kentucky Derby winners Leonatus and Riley, Travers winner Long Dance and two Kentucky Oaks winners. of Ten Broeck. Harper died prior to the colt’s racing career and willed his entire estate to a nephew, Frank B. Harper, who maintained Nantura’s reputation in racing and breeding.
Ten Broeck debuted as a 3-year-old n May 10, 1875 in the historic Phoenix Hotel Stakes at Lexington. Ten Broeck was an easy winner in a field of six, which also included Aristides. A week later, Aristides turned the tables by winning the inaugural Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Ten Broeck finished fifth and was rested until the fall. After finishing fifth in a six-horse field in his return, Ten Broeck began to figure things out and set out on a path to stardom. He established the first of his records on Sept. 9, covering 1 5/8 miles in 2:49¼, lowering the American record by 3¾ seconds. Ten Broeck added wins in the Post Stakes, Merchants’ Post Stakes and the Maxwell House stakes that autumn.
Ten Broeck began his 4-year-old season in 1876 by finishing second to old nemesis Aristides once again. Aristides set an American record of 3:34½ for 2 1/8 miles in the process. It was the only defeat of the year for Ten Broeck, winner of his next 15 starts and 18 of his next 19. His 1876 victories included the Louisville Cup and Galt House Plate in May and three American records in the fall. At the Lexington track in September, Ten Broeck covered 2 5/8 miles