Nashua (horse)

Nashua (1952-1982) was an American born thoroughbred racehorse, perhaps best remembered for a 1955 match race against the horse that had defeated him in the Kentucky Derby.

Related Topics:
1952 - 1982 - American - Thoroughbred - Racehorse - Match race - Kentucky Derby

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nashua's sire was the good, but temperamental, European champion Nasrullah. Nashua's dam was Segula, a good broodmare who has had influence through her female descendants.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Owned by William Woodford, Jr.'s famous Belair Stud in Bowie, Maryland, Nashua was trained by Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons and ridden by jockey Eddie Arcaro. As a two-year-old in 1954 Nashua entered eight races, winning six and finishing second twice, a performance that earned him champion 2-year-old honors. The following year, he earned U.S. Horse of the Year honors after a season in which he won the Flamingo Stakes, Florida Derby, Wood Memorial, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, Dwyer Stakes, Arlington Classic, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Related Topics:
William Woodford, Jr.'s - Belair Stud - Bowie, Maryland - Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons - Jockey - Eddie Arcaro - Horse of the Year - Flamingo Stakes - Florida Derby - Wood Memorial - Preakness Stakes - Belmont Stakes - Dwyer Stakes - Arlington Classic - Jockey Club Gold Cup

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nashua won his famous match race with the great thoroughbred Swaps who had defeated him in the 1955 Kentucky Derby.

Related Topics:
Swaps - Kentucky Derby

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Following the death of William Woodford, Jr., the Belair Stud horses were auctioned off and Nashua became the first horse to ever sell for more than $1 million. At the end of his 1956 season, after thirty career races with a top three record of 22-4-1, Nashua was retired to stand at stud at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1965, he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. In The Blood-Horse ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century, Nashua was ranked 24.

Related Topics:
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame - The Blood-Horse - Top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nashua died in 1982, and is buried at Spendthrift Farm.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At stud, Nashua was consistent, and his fillies were usually better runners than his colts. His progeny included the Hall of Fame racemare Shuvee; and Gold Digger, dam of the great sire Mr. Prospector.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~