The Horatius Stakes was an American

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

held in March at

Laurel Park Racecourse Laurel Park, formerly Laurel Race Course, is an American thoroughbred racetrack located just outside Laurel, Maryland which opened in 1911. The track is miles in circumference. Its name was changed to "Laurel Race Course" for several decades unt ...

Laurel, Maryland Laurel is a city in Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington and Baltimore on the banks of the Patuxent River. While the city limits are entirely in northern Prince George's County, outlying developments extend into Anne Arunde ...

. Open to three-year-old horses, it was contested over a distance of six furlongs on dirt. An ungraded stakes, it offered a purse of $60,000. The race itself was named in honor of the horse that was given his name by his breeder after the legendary Roman hero Horatius. The colt was a huge son out of Proudest Roman and True Charm that proved to be worthy on his moniker. Horatius was a solid stakes winner but his true claim to fame came as one of Maryland's greatest sires of all time. Bred by Colonel W. Randolph Taylor, Horatius was born in Florida in 1975 and was sold for $20,000 as a two-year-old to Dr. Philip J. Torsey, who campaigned his stable's star for five years. During his racing career, Horatius made 54 starts winning 19 and placing second in 17 others. His six stakes wins were spread out among many conditions including; on the dirt, on the turf, sprinting and going long. His wins included the Grade 3 Riggs Handicap and a course setting performance in the Red Bank Handicap. He retired with career earnings of $403,899. Horatius was retired to stud at Thornmar Farm in

Chestertown, Maryland Chestertown is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,252 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Kent County. History Founded in 1706, Chestertown rose in stature when it was named one of the English col ...

in 1980 as the property of a large syndicate. He achieved his greatest glory with his daughter, Eclipse award-winning sprinter Safely Kept, winner of the 1990 Grade 1

Breeders' Cup Sprint The Breeders' Cup Sprint is an American Weight for Age Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older. Run on dirt Corrected grade for Santa Anita sprintover a distance of 6 Furlongs ( mile), the race has been held annually si ...

. One of his other graded stakes winners was

Oliver's Twist ''Olivers Twist'' is a 2002 television series featuring chef Jamie Oliver. The name of the program is a play on the title of Charles Dickens' novel ''Oliver Twist''. Following the popularity of his first TV series, ''The Naked Chef'', Oliver be ...

, the runner-up in the 1995 Grade 1

Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held on Armed Forces Day which is also the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs () on ...

. Horatius was retired from stud and pensioned in 2001; he died in his sleep five years later at age 31 in his paddock at Thornmar in February 2006.2007 Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide, page 211 on March 3, 2007.

Race Records

Speed record: * 1:09.00 @ 6 furlongs: Deadline (2003) * 1:22.60 @7 furlongs: Perfect Score (1999) Most wins by a

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

: * 2 - Mark T. Johnston (1999, 2002) * 2 - Rick Wilson (1995, 2003) Most wins by a trainer: * 2 - Grover G. Delp (1997, 1999)

Winners

References

{{Reflist

External links

Laurel Park website
Discontinued horse races 1994 establishments in Maryland Triple Crown Prep Races Laurel Park Racecourse Horse races in Maryland Recurring sporting events established in 1994 Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2008 2008 disestablishments in Maryland

Race Records

Winners

See also

References

External links