Greentree Stable, in Red Bank, New Jersey, was a major

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm established in 1914 by

Payne Whitney William Payne Whitney (March 20, 1876 – May 25, 1927) was an American businessman and member of the influential Whitney family. He inherited a fortune and enlarged it through business dealings, then devoted much of his money and efforts to ...

of the Whitney family of

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

. Payne Whitney operated a horse farm and stable at

Saratoga Springs, New York Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 28,491 at the 2020 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area, which has made Saratoga a popular resort destination for over ...

with his brother Harry Payne Whitney, who also had a large stable of horses. Greentree Stable had a training base at Aiken, South Carolina, while Greentree Farm in

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County. By population, it is the second-largest city in Kentucky and 57th-largest city in the United States. By land area, it is the country's 28th-largest ...

was established in 1925 as its breeding arm.

History

After Whitney's

steeplechase Steeplechase may refer to: * Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles * Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...

horse won the 1911 Greentree Cup race at Great Neck, New York, it was decided to use the Greentree name for several of their properties. Following Payne Whitney's death in 1927, his widow,

Helen Hay Whitney Helen Julia Hay Whitney (March 11, 1875 – September 24, 1944) was an American poet, writer, racehorse owner/breeder, socialite, and philanthropist. She was a member by marriage of the prominent Whitney family of New York. Early life She was t ...

, took over the operation. Her son,

John Hay Whitney John Hay Whitney (August 17, 1904 – February 8, 1982) was U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, publisher of the ''New York Herald Tribune'', and president of the Museum of Modern Art. He was a member of the Whitney family. Early life Whit ...

was also involved in Thoroughbred racing especially so with his wife Liz Whitney. Daughter Joan Whitney Payson, raced horses under the '' nom de course'' Manhasset Stable. On their mother's death, they continued to build on Greentree Stable's success. Greentree Stable horses won many important steeplechase and flat races throughout the United States. As part of a program honoring important Thoroughbred tracks and racing stables, the Pennsylvania Railroad named its baggage car #5859 the ''Greentree Stable''. In January 1928, Thomas W. Murphy, a renowned harness racing trainer, became head trainer for Greentree Stable. Murphy stayed until the end of the 1930 Pimlico fall meeting, and was replaced by James G. Rowe, Jr. Trained by Rowe, the Whitney stable's colt

Twenty Grand Twenty Grand (1928–1948) was an American thoroughbred race horse. Owned and bred by Helen Hay Whitney's Greentree Stable, Twenty Grand was a bay colt by St. Germans out of Bonus. Racing career Trained at age three by James G. Rowe, Jr. ...

earned the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year in 1931 and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1957. Hall of Fame trainer

John M. Gaver, Sr. John Milton Gaver Sr. (October 29, 1900 – July 11, 1982) was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. Born in Mount Airy, Maryland, John Gaver graduated from Princeton University then worked as a prep school language teacher ...

, who won the Belmont Stakes for the stable three times, trained

Devil Diver Devil Diver (1939–1961) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was twice voted American Champion Older Male Horse. Background Devil Diver was foaled at Mrs. Payne Whitney's Greentree Stable in Lexington, Kentucky. A bay colt by Sir G ...

, Champion Handicap Horse in 1943–1944 and the 1953 Horse of the Year

Tom Fool Tom Fool (March 31, 1949 – August 20, 1976) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 1953 American Horse of the Year and was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. He sired the champion racehorses Buckpasser and Tim Tam. Back ...

. Both horses were also voted into the Hall of Fame: Devil Diver in 1980 and Tom Fool in 1960. Helen Whitney's steeplechasers won the American Grand National four times (1926–1928 and 1937). Her horse Jolly Roger (who won the Grand National twice) was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1965. Greentree Stable also had polo ponies"Whitney Final". ''Time'', October 4, 1937
Retrieved 2011-10-15. and steeplechasers, one of which won the 1946 American Grand National. Other steeplechasers raced in England and Ireland. After the deaths of John and Joan Whitney, their heirs sold the Kentucky property to its current owners, Gainesway Farm, in 1989. The equestrian estate in Saratoga Springs was offered for sale in 2005.

U.S. Triple Crown race winners

* Kentucky Derby: **1931:

**1942: Shut Out *

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 Graded stakes race, Grade I race run over a distance of ...

: **1949:

Capot Capot (1946–1974) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse sired by Menow out of the mare Piquet. Owned and bred by Greentree Stable, Capot was trained by John M. Gaver, Sr. Two-year-old season Racing as a two-year-old, Capot won the Cha ...

* Belmont Stakes: **1931:

**1942: Shut Out **1949:

**1968:

Stage Door Johnny Stage Door Johnny (May 22, 1965 – November 21, 1996) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his win in the third leg of the 1968 U.S. Triple Crown series, the Belmont Stakes. Background Stage Door Johnny was a chestnut ho ...

References

{{Reflist American racehorse owners and breeders Owners of Kentucky Derby winners Owners of Preakness Stakes winners Owners of Belmont Stakes winners Horse farms in Kentucky Whitney family Economy of Lexington, Kentucky Buildings and structures in Aiken County, South Carolina Buildings and structures in Lexington, Kentucky