Natchez (1943–1952) 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 ...

racehorse who set two track records and equaled another. He was bred by Walter M. Jeffords, Sr. and raced by his wife, Sarah.

Racing career

At age three, under trainer

Oscar White Oscar Russell White (August 27, 1908 – April 7, 1983) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer who twice won the third leg of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. In 1941, he took over training duties for the promine ...

, Natchez did not run in the

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year ...

but did compete in the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series, finishing sixth in the

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 ...

. He then finished second in the mile and a half

Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over 1.5 miles (2,400 m). Colts and geldings carry a weight of ; fillies carry . The race, nicknamed Th ...

before going on to win the prestigious

Travers Stakes The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It is nicknamed the "Mid-Summer Derby" and is the third-ranked race for American three-year-olds according to internation ...

. During each of his three years of racing between 1946 and 1948, Natchez equaled or set a track record. On June 8, 1946, he won the

Kent Stakes The Kent Stakes is a Listed American race for Thoroughbred race horses, age three, run on the turf at Delaware Park Racetrack located in Stanton, Delaware. Set at a distance of one and one eighth mile (9 furlongs), the race currently offers a purs ...

Delaware Park Racetrack Delaware Park (also known as ''DelPark'') is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track, casino, and golf course in Stanton, Delaware. It is located just outside the city of Wilmington, and about 30 miles from Philadelphia. Thoroughbred racing ...

, tying the track record of 1:42 3/5 for 1 1/16 miles on dirt. On April 20, 1947 he set a new track record at

Havre de Grace Racetrack The Havre de Grace Racetrack was an American horse racing track on Post Road in Havre de Grace, Harford County, Maryland. Nicknamed "The Graw," it operated from August 24, 1912, to 1950. For a time, it was owned by the Harford Agricultural and B ...

of 1:42 3/5 for 1 1/16 miles on dirt in winning the Edward Burke Handicap. He broke another Havre de Grace track record on July 17, 1948 for 1 1/8 miles on dirt with a time of 1:49 2/5 in winning the

Havre de Grace Handicap The Havre de Grace Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race first run on the August 26, 1912 opening day of the new Havre de Grace Racetrack in Havre de Grace, Maryland. Although most of its runnings would take place in early fall, its fin ...

Stud record

Retired from racing, Natchez stood at

stud Stud may refer to the following terms: Animals * Stud (animal), an animal retained for breeding ** Stud farm, a property where livestock are bred Arts and entertainment * Stud (band), a British progressive rock group * The Stud (bar), a gay bar ...

for the 1949 and 1950 seasons but died unexpectedly from

colic Colic or cholic () is a form of pain that starts and stops abruptly. It occurs due to muscular contractions of a hollow tube ( small and large intestine, gall bladder, ureter, etc.) in an attempt to relieve an obstruction by forcing content out ...

before the start of the 1952 breeding season. Among his limited offspring, Natchez sired the outstanding runner Bobby Brocato, a winner of a number of top races including the Santa Anita,

San Juan Capistrano San Juan Capistrano (Spanish for "St. John of Capistrano") is a city in Orange County, California, located along the Orange Coast. The population was 34,593 at the 2010 census. San Juan Capistrano was founded by the Spanish in 1776, when St. ...

and

Carter Handicap The Carter Handicap is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three-years-old and older run over a distance of seven furlongs run annually in early April at Aqueduct Racetrack. Race history First run in 1895, the race was named for Br ...

s, plus the Tanforan Handicap twice.Equibase.com
/ref>

Pedigree

References

{{reflist 1943 racehorse births 1952 racehorse deaths Thoroughbred family 4-n Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States Horse racing track record setters