In Reality (March 1, 1964 – May 8, 1989) was an American bred

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

. Bred in

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

, he was a son of Intentionally and out of the mare My Dear Girl, the 1959

American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly The American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a female horse in Thoroughbred flat racing Horse racing is an equestrianism, equestrian performance activity, typically involving ...

. His damsire was

Santa Anita Derby The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is currently run at a distance of miles on the dirt and carries a purse of . It is one of t ...

winner Rough'n Tumble, who sired U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Fager. In Reality is best remembered for his win in the

Florida Derby The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Since 2005, it has been run five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, which is held on the first Saturd ...

and his runner-up performance in the

Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland (except in 2026 when it will move to Laurel Park (race track), Laurel Park dur ...

to Eclipse Award Champion and millionaire

Damascus Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...

Race career

In Reality started his stakes career with a second-place finish in the Cowdin Stakes to the young Dr. Fager and then ran second in the Sapling Stakes. He finished his two-year-old season with a run in the Pimlico Futurity, beating out that year's champion two-year-old, Successor, for the win. In his three-year-old season, In Reality started the year with a win in the Hibiscus Stakes. In Reality then finished second in the Florida Breeders' Stakes and the Flamingo Stakes before he won the

Fountain of Youth The Fountain of Youth is a mythical Spring (hydrology), spring which supposedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters. Tales of such a fountain have been recounted around the world for thousands of years, appearing in t ...

and the Florida Derby. He then moved on to the Preakness, where he finished second to

. This effort was followed by wins in the Jersey Derby, Rumson Handicap and Choice Stakes. In Reality next met up again with Damascus in the

American Derby The American Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race first run at Chicago's old Washington Park Race Track on the city's South Side and raced there until 1905 when the facility was closed following the state's ban on gambling, and horse ra ...

and came in second once more. Against Dr. Fager in the New Hampshire Sweepstakes Classic, he finished second again. In Reality made one more attempt at another stakes in the Jerome Handicap and again was second; after that, he laid off for the rest of the season. In his four-year-old season, he finished third in both the

Royal Palm ''Roystonea regia'', commonly known as the royal palm, Cuban royal palm, or Florida royal palm, is a species of Arecaceae, palm native to Mexico, the Caribbean, Florida, and parts of Central America. A large and attractive palm, it has been plan ...

and the Seminole Handicap. After taking a month off, he won the John B. Campbell Handicap, Carter Handicap, and Metropolitan Handicap. In Reality retired soon after his win in the Metropolitan to stand at stud for Frances A. Genter in Florida.

Stud career

In Reality was bred and raced by Frances A. Genter and became an outstanding

sire Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French. The words "sire" an ...

of three Champions and a good sire of sires. In Reality's male line remains one of the only male lines directly descended from Man O' War. In Reality is the sire of: * Desert Vixen (b. 1970) - U.S. Racing Hall of Fame Filly * Believe It (b. 1975) Won

Wood Memorial Stakes The Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. It is run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on dirt. The Wood Memor ...

, third in Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Damsire of 1998

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby () is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of . Colt (horse), Colts and geldin ...

and

Eclipse Award The Eclipse Award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th-century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. An Eclipse Award Trophy is presented to the winner in each division. The trophy is made by a few small selected A ...

winner Real Quiet. * Relaunch (b. 1976) - Won Del Mar Derby. Grandsire of Hall of Fame inductee

Tiznow Tiznow (foaled March 12, 1997 in California) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his wins in the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2000 and 2001, becoming the only horse to win this race twice. He was the 2000 American Horse of the Year a ...

and Damsire of 2004 World's Top Ranked Horse Ghostzapper * Known Fact (b. 1977) - Won the 1979 Middle Park Stakes & the 1980

2,000 Guineas Stakes The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1.6 km) and scheduled to take place each year ...

, English Champion Three-Year-Old Colt *

Smile A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile. Among humans, a smile expresses d ...

(b. 1982) - Won 1986 Breeders' Cup Sprint,

American Champion Sprint Horse The American Champion Sprint Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a ...

, Damsire of Smarty Jones In Reality is also the damsire of: * Real Shadai (b. 1979) - 1993 Leading sire in Japan * Commendable (b. 1997) - Won 2000

Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over the worldwide classic distance of . Colt (horseracing), Colt ...

* Mane Minister (b. 1988) - Won 1991 Santa Catalina Stakes * Meadow Star (b. 1988) - Won 1990 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and

* Toussaud (b. 1989) - Won 1993 Gamely Stakes and Kentucky Broodmare of the Year

Sire line tree

*In RealityTiznow's Pensioning And The State Of The Godolphin Arabian/Man O’ War Sire Line
/ref> **Valid Appeal
/ref> ***Proud Appeal ***Mighty Appealing ***Southern Appeal ***Kipper Kelly **** Kelly Kip ***Mister Jolie ***Valid Wager ***Seacliff ***Valid Expectations ****The Daddy ***K J's Appeal ***Successful Appeal ****Closing Argument ****J P's Gusto ** Believe It ***Believe The Queen ***Garthorn ***Al Mamoon **Classic Trial ** Relaunch *** Launch a Pegasus *** Skywalker **** Bertrando *****Stormy Jack *****Officer *****Bilo *****Unfurl the Flag *****Karelian *****Liberian Freighter *****Sierra Sunset *****Coach Bob *****Tamerando ****Al Skywalker ****Sky Terrace *** Waquoit ****Wicapi ****Crosspatch ****Buck Trout ****Docent ***Cees Tizzy ****

Torchbearers of the Man o' War Sire Line
/ref> ***** Well Armed *****Bullsbay *****Tiz Wonderful ***** Colonel John ***** Da' Tara *****Tizdejavu *****

Tizway Tizway (February 17, 2005 – March 2, 2024) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2011 Whitney Stakes and Metropolitan Handicap. Racing career Early career Tizway's debut came in a 2-year-old maiden special weight at Aqueduct Racec ...

*****Mr Hot Stuff *****Morning Line *****Gemologist *****Fury Kapcori *****Norumbega *****Dynamic Impact *****Strong Mandate *****

Tourist Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as being limited to holiday activity on ...

*****Tiz Shea D *****Igor *****Irap *****Tiz a Slam *****Sporting Chance *****Dennis Moment ***** Midnight Bourbon ****Cost of Freedom *** Honour and Glory ****Put It Back *****Black Bar Spin *****In Summation *****Put Back the Shu *****Smokey Stover *****Nitido *****Pirate Saint *****Skypilot *****Sol de Angra ***** Bal a Bali *****Desjado Put *****English Major *****Noholdingback Bear *****Fitzgerald *****Flight Time *****Garbo Talks *****Glory Boy *****Pimpers Paradise ****Blues and Royals ****Codigo de Honor ****Cuestion de Honor ****Honour Devil ****Indio Glorioso ****Mach Glory ***With Anticipation ** Known Fact *** Warning ****Averti ***** Avonbridge ****

Piccolo The piccolo ( ; ) is a smaller version of the western concert flute and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. Sometimes referred to as a "baby flute" or piccolo flute, the modern piccolo has the same type of fingerings as the ...

*****Helter Skelter *****Picaday *****Picardi Run *****Winker Watson ***** Flying Blue *****Temple of Boom *****Tiddliwinks *****Poyle Vinnie ****Annus Mirabillis ****Bishop of Cashel ****Charnwood Forest *****Firebreak ****Decorated Hero ****

Diktat A diktat (, ) is a statute, harsh penalty or settlement imposed upon a defeated party by the victor, or a dogmatic decree. The term has acquired a pejorative sense, to describe a set of rules dictated by a foreign power or an unpopular local power ...

*****Formal Decree *****Definightly *****Skins Game ***** Dream AheadTexas breeder responds to shrinking Man o’ War line
/ref> *****First Selection ****Little Rock ****Danger Over **** Give Notice ****Calstone Light O *** Markofdistinction ****Hokkai Rousseau *** So Factual ****Ialysos ***Bold Fact **Court Trial **Star Choice **Sunshine TodayAmerican Classic Pedigree: Smile
/ref> **

***Smiling Time **Proper Reality

Pedigree

* In Reality is

inbred Inbreeding is the production of offspring from the mating or breeding of individuals or organisms that are closely related genetically. By analogy, the term is used in human reproduction, but more commonly refers to the genetic disorders an ...

3S × 3D to the stallion

War Relic War Relic (1938–1963) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Background A homebred of Samuel D. Riddle, his sire was Man o' War who was ranked #1 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century. His dam ...

, meaning that he appears third generation on the sire side of his pedigree and third generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

References

{{reflist

External links

In Reality's pedigree and partial racing stats
1964 racehorse births 1989 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Florida Racehorses trained in the United States Thoroughbred family 21-a Godolphin Arabian sire line Chefs-de-Race