Intentionally (April 2, 1956 – January 15, 1970) was an American

Champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, ...

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 Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, 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 basic ...

and an important foundation sire for the Florida

horse breeding Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics i ...

industry.

Background

Foaled at Wolf Run 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 ...

, he was bred and raced by

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

clothing manufacturer Harry Isaacs' Brookfield Farm. His sire,

Intent Intentions are mental states in which the agent commits themselves to a course of action. Having the plan to visit the zoo tomorrow is an example of an intention. The action plan is the ''content'' of the intention while the commitment is the ''a ...

, won back-to-back runnings of the

San Juan Capistrano Handicap The San Juan Capistrano Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of run on the turf track held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California in June. The event currently offers a purse ...

. Grandsire,

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 wa ...

, was a son of the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee,

Man o' War Man o' War (March 29, 1917 – November 1, 1947) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is widely regarded as the greatest racehorse of all time. Several sports publications, including ''The Blood-Horse'', ''Sports Illustrated'', ESPN, and t ...

. His dam was My Recipe, a daughter of another Hall of Fame inductee,

Discovery Discovery may refer to: * Discovery (observation), observing or finding something unknown * Discovery (fiction), a character's learning something unknown * Discovery (law), a process in courts of law relating to evidence Discovery, The Discover ...

. Intentionally was conditioned for racing by Brookfield Farm's long-time trainer, Eddie Kelly.

Racing career

At age two in 1958, Intentionally won two of the most important

East Coast East Coast may refer to: Entertainment * East Coast hip hop, a subgenre of hip hop * "East Coast" (ASAP Ferg song), 2017 * "East Coast" (Saves the Day song), 2004 * East Coast FM, a radio station in Co. Wicklow, Ireland * East Coast Swing, a f ...

races for juveniles. First, under jockey

Bill Shoemaker William Lee Shoemaker (August 19, 1931 – October 12, 2003) was an American jockey. For 29 years he held the world record for total professional jockey victories. Early life Referred to as "Bill", "Willie," and "The Shoe", William Lee Sho ...

, he won the Futurity Stakes at New York's

Aqueduct Racetrack Aqueduct Racetrack is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and casino in the South Ozone Park and Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, New York City, United States. Aqueduct is the only racetrack located within New York City limits. Its racing ...

in near track-record time, defeating Christopher Chenery's previously undefeated colt

First Landing ''First Landing'' is a 2002 science fiction novel by Robert Zubrin that tells the story of the first crewed space expedition to Mars. Zubrin is the head of the Mars Society, an organization lobbying the real world NASA to send astronauts to Mars ...

Then, in November, he won the Laurel Futurity Stakes, Pimlico Futurity at Baltimore's

Pimlico Race Course Pimlico Race Course is a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of O ...

. In the Champagne Stakes, he ran second to First Landing, who at year’s end was voted

American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt The American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971. The award originated in 1936 when the ''Daily Racing F ...

and given top weight of 128 pounds in Frank E. Kilroe's

Experimental Free Handicap The Jockey Club is the breed registry for Thoroughbred horses in the United States and Canada. It is dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing and fulfills that mandate by serving many segments of the industry through its s ...

weights. At age three, Intentionally developed into the top Sprint horse in North America. In early April, he won his first start at

Jamaica Race Course Jamaica Race Course, also called the Jamaica Racetrack, was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility operated by the Metropolitan Jockey Club in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. History The track opened on April 27, 1903, a day which featu ...

by 6½ lengths, then ran fourth to longshot winner Manassa Mauler in the

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 Memorial ...

Following this loss, Intentionally's handlers withdrew him from the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, U.S. Triple Crown series. The colt went on to win important races in 1959 such as the

Withers Stakes The Withers Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old horses over the distance of miles on the dirt scheduled annually in February at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently carries a purse o ...

and the

Jerome Handicap The Jerome Stakes is a stakes race for thoroughbred horses run each January at Aqueduct Racetrack. Open to three year olds, the race is run at one mile and carries a purse of $150,000. It is a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying race, with the wi ...

. In winning the Warren Wright Memorial Stakes at Chicago's

Washington Park Race Track Washington Park Race Track was a popular horse racing venue in the Chicago metropolitan area from 1884 until 1977. It had two locations during its existence. It was first situated in what is the current location of the Washington Park Subdiv ...

, he set a track record and equaled the

world record A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book '' Guinness World Records'' and other world records organizati ...

for 8

furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use i ...

s with a time of 1:33.20

He was voted 1959

American Champion Sprint Horse The American Champion Sprint Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. Created in 1947, in 1971 it became part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to the top horse in sprint races (usually those run at a distan ...

. A leg ailment resulted in Intentionally not starting his 1960 four-year-old campaign until June 29. He then won the

Toboggan Handicap The Toboggan Stakes, formerly the Toboggan Handicap, is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the first week of March at Aqueduct Race Track in Queens, New York. Open to horses aged three and older, the Grade III event is contes ...

and

Equipoise Mile Handicap The Hanshin Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in July at Churchill Downs. The event open to horses three years of age and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of 8 furlongs and currently offers a purse o ...

. Owner Harry Isaacs raced Intentionally at age five, but in the fall of 1961 he was sold to

William L. McKnight William L. McKnight (November 11, 1887 – March 4, 1978) was an American businessman and philanthropist who served his entire career in the 3M corporation, rising to chairman of the board from 1949 to 1966. He founded the McKnight Founda ...

Tartan Farms William L. McKnight (November 11, 1887 – March 4, 1978) was an American businessman and philanthropist who served his entire career in the 3M corporation, rising to chairman of the board from 1949 to 1966. He founded the McKnight Foundat ...

near

Ocala, Florida Ocala ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Marion County within the northern region of Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city's population was 63,591, making it the 54th most populated city in Florida. Home t ...

. The horse's training was turned over to

John Nerud John Andrew Nerud (February 9, 1913 – August 13, 2015) was an American thoroughbred horse trainer and owner, who was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1972. Early years Nerud, who was born on a ranch in Minatare, Ne ...

. Intentionally raced at age six, notably beating

Carry Back Carry Back (April 16, 1958 – March 24, 1983) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1961 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and was named the 1961 Champion Three-Year-Old. He won 21 of his 61 races, including the Metro ...

in the 1962 Palm Beach and

Seminole Handicap The Seminole Handicap is a discontinued American Thoroughbred horse race first run as the Inaugural Handicap on the January 14, 1932 opening day of the newly constructed Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida. Shut down in 1926 as a result of ...

s before being retired to stand at

stud Stud may refer to the following terms: Animals * Stud (animal), an animal retained for breeding ** Stud farm, a property where livestock are bred Arts and entertainment * Stud (band), a British progressive rock group * The Stud (bar), a gay bar ...

at McKnight's Tartan Farms.

Stud career

Intentionally became a

stallion A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded (castrated). Stallions follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" nec ...

of considerable import in the development of the Florida breeding industry. Among his offspring, he sired: *

In Reality In Reality (March 1, 1964 – May 8, 1989) was an American bred racehorse. Bred in Florida, he was a son of Intentionally and out of the mare My Dear Girl, the 1959 American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. His damsire was Santa Anita Derby winner ...

(b. 1964) - wins include the Laurel Futurity Stakes, Pimlico Futurity,

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 Satu ...

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 Br ...

Metropolitan Handicap The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile", is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile (8 furl ...

. Outstanding sire of three champions and a good sire of sires. *

Ta Wee Ta Wee (1966–1980) was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame race horse. Background Ta Wee was bred at the Tartan Stable of William L. McKnight (chairman of the board of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.). (The W. L. McKnight H ...

(b. 1966) - Hall of Fame filly,

(1969, 1970) * Tentam (b. 1969) - wins included the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizi ...

and

s *

Group Plan A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic ide ...

(b. 1970) - won

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 ...

Hawthorne Gold Cup The Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap is a Grade III race for thoroughbred horses run at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois each year. The Hawthorne Gold Cup trophy has always been made of solid gold. The Hawthorne Gold Cup is currently a G ...

Stymie Handicap The Stymie Stakes is an American race for Thoroughbred horses at Aqueduct Racetrack. Usually raced in late February or early March, it is open to horses age four and older. It is run on dirt over a distance of one mile and offers a purse of $150,00 ...

Intentionally died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which m ...

in 1970 at Tartan Farms and is buried there in the portion that is now

Winding Oaks Farm An electromagnetic coil is an electrical Electrical conductivity, conductor such as a wire in the shape of a wiktionary:coil, coil (spiral or helix). Electromagnetic coils are used in electrical engineering, in applications where electric curre ...

Pedigree

{{Pedigree, name=Intentionally, black stallion, foaled April 2, 1956{{cite web , url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm/Intentionally?horse_name=Intentionally&reference_number=228766&foaling_year=1956&include_sire_line=Y&nicking_stats_indicator=Y&breakout=Y&breed_type=TB&horse_type=FI&page_state=DISPLAY_REPORT , title=Intentionally pedigree , author= , website=Equineline.com , access-date=August 19, 2017, f=Intent
chestnut 1948, m=My Recipe
bay 1947, ff=

ch. 1938, fm=Liz F.
ch. 1933, mf=

ch. 1931, mm=Perlette
dkb/br. 1934, fff=

ch. 1917, ffm=Friar's Carse
ch. 1923, fmf= Bubbling Over
ch. 1923, fmm=Weno
blk. 1922, mff=

Display Display may refer to: Technology * Display device, output device for presenting information, including: ** Cathode ray tube, video display that provides a quality picture, but can be very heavy and deep ** Electronic visual display, output dev ...

b. 1923, mfm=Ariadne
br. 1926, mmf=Percentage
ch. 1923, mmm=Escarpolette
b. 1917, ffff=

Fair Play Fair play or Fairplay usually refers to sportsmanship. Fair play or Fairplay may also refer to: Media * ''Fair Play'' (1925 film), an American silent film * ''Fair Play'', a 1972 TV movie starring Paul Ford * ''Fair Play'' (2014 film), a Cze ...

, fffm=

Mahubah Mahubah (1910–1931) was an American bred Thoroughbred racemare that was noted for producing the outstanding racehorse, Man o' War. Pedigree She was a bay mare that was foaled in Kentucky and was owned and bred by August Belmont, Jr. Mahub ...

, ffmf=

Friar Rock Friar Rock (1913 – January 8, 1928) was a Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse. His most important win came in the 1916 Belmont Stakes. Background Owned and raced by the prominent New York City businessman August Belmont Jr., he was foale ...

, ffmm=Problem, fmff=North Star III, fmfm=Beaming Beauty, fmmf=

Whisk Broom II Whisk Broom II (1907–1928) was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who raced in the United Kingdom (under the name Whisk Broom) and in the United States. Whisk Broom showed high class form during four seasons of racing in Europe, but ...

, fmmm=Rosie O'Grady, mfff=Fair Play, mffm=Cicuta, mfmf=Light Brigade, mmff=Midway, mfmm=Adrienne, mmfm=Gossip Avenue, mmmf=Fitz Herbert, mmmm=Balancoire II (

Family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

5-j) Intentionally is inbred 4x4 to Fair Play, meaning Fair Play appears twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.

References

Intentionally's pedigree and partial racing stats

;Specific 1956 racehorse births 1970 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States Horse racing track record setters American Champion racehorses Godolphin Arabian sire line Thoroughbred family 5-j Chefs-de-Race