Top Knight
| Top Knight | |
|---|---|
| Sire | |
| Grandsire | |
| Dam | Ran-Tan |
| Damsire | Summer Tan |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1966 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | Steve B. Wilson |
| Owner | Steve B. Wilson |
| Trainer | G. W. Taylor |
| Record | 46: 11-6-8 |
| Earnings | $545,684 |
| Major wins | |
| Hopeful Stakes (1968) Belmont Futurity Stakes (1968) Champagne Stakes (1968) Flamingo Stakes (1969) Florida Derby (1969) | |
| Awards | |
| U.S. Champion 2-Yr-Old Colt (1968) | |
Top Knight (April 2, 1966 – 199?) was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse.
Background[]
Top Knight was a chestnut horse owned and bred by Floridian sportsman Steven B. Wilson, and trained by Ray Metcalf.[1] Top Knight was in the first wave of Champions bred in the Sunshine State as 1968 marked the year that Dr. Fager won four American titles (Handicap Horse, Grass Horse, Sprinter and Horse of the Year).
Racing career[]
Top Knight began racing at age two. He won five of his nine starts in 1968, including a 15 length maiden score in track record time at Belmont Park. He went to Saratoga Race Course for two victories including the Hopeful Stakes. He took his win streak up to four in a row with scores in the Futurity and Champagne stakes at Belmont to wrap up the 2 year old championship and establish himself as a clear-cut Future Book favorite for the Kentucky Derby. He finished up the year with a third in the rich 312k Garden State Stakes which was probably one too many.[2]
At age three, Top Knight won the two top Kentucky Derby prep races held in Florida. The victories in the rich Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah Park and the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park established him as one of the favorites for "The Run for the Roses." Top Knight would run 5th as the 2-1 second wagering choice to Majestic Prince.
Stud record[]
Top Knight proved to be infertile and was returned to racing at age six.
Honors[]
Top Knight was voted 2 Year Old Male Champion in 1968.[3]
References[]
- ^ "Man (Plus horse) beats boy".
- ^ "My Favorite Year".
- ^ "American Champion Two Year Old Male". www.tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
External link[]
- 1966 racehorse births
- Racehorses bred in Florida
- Racehorses trained in the United States
- Eclipse Award winners