Flying Ebony (1922–1943) 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 ...

racehorse best known for winning the 1925 Kentucky Derby.

Background

Flying Ebony was a dark bay or brown horse bred by

John E. Madden John Edward Madden (December 28, 1856 – November 3, 1929) was a prominent American Thoroughbred and Standardbred owner, breeder and trainer in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. He owned Hamburg Place Stud in Lexington, Kentucky ...

, who had already bred four Kentucky Derby winners, and was raced by

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carpet A carpet is a textile floor covering typically consisting of an upper layer of pile attached to a backing. The pile was traditionally made from wool, but since the 20th century synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, nylon, or polyester hav ...

manufacturer, Gifford A. Cochran. In 1925, Flying Ebony's training was handled by future U.S. Hall of Fame member William B. Duke, who had returned from

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that year where he had been training Thoroughbreds since 1888, notably for the Haras du Quesnay racing stable of Willie K. Vanderbilt.

Racing career

Top jockey

Earl Sande Earl Harold Sande (November 13, 1898 – August 19, 1968) was an American Hall of Fame jockey and thoroughbred horse trainer. Early life in South Dakota Born in Groton, South Dakota, Earl Sande started out as a bronco buster in the early 1900s b ...

was aboard for the Kentucky Derby in which good luck was on his side. A downpour just before racetime turned Churchill Downs into a quagmire that perfectly suited Flying Ebony, who won the 51st running of the Derby by one and a half lengths. This Derby was the first ever to be broadcast on the radio. Flying Ebony raced three more times after the Derby without winning and was retired to stud duty.

Retirement and stud record

His son Flying Heels, who raced for owner Gifford Cochran, won multiple top races such as the

Pimlico Futurity The Laurel Futurity is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late September at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. Run over a distance of miles on turf, at one time it was a Grade I stakes race on dirt, and one of the riches ...

Remsen Handicap The Remsen Stakes is an American Grade II race for Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The one and one-eighths mile race is open to two-year-olds and currently offers a purse of ...

Manhattan Handicap The Manhattan Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race raced annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is named for Manhattan, the principal borough of the City of New York. Currently offering a purse of $1,000,000, the Grade I Manh ...

, and two editions of the

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 B ...

. Flying Ebony was also the sire of Dark Secret, the Wheatley Stable's colt who won several important races including two editions of the

Jockey Club Gold Cup The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It has traditionally been the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the s ...

. Flying Ebony was eventually sold to

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n Charles Elliot Perkins, who stood him at his stud at his Alisal Ranch near Santa Barbara. Flying Ebony was humanely put down in the summer of 1943. Flying Ebony's 1925 Kentucky Derby Trophy is on display at the

Kentucky Derby Museum The Kentucky Derby Museum is an American Thoroughbred horse racing museum located on the grounds of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Dedicated to preserving the history of the Kentucky Derby, it first opened its doors to the public in the ...

References

{{Kentucky Derby Winners 1922 racehorse births 1943 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States Kentucky Derby winners Thoroughbred family 5-i Godolphin Arabian sire line