Princess Doreen (1921–1952) was a

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

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 ...

best known for being the top American female money-winner. After showing promising form as a two-year-old she improved to be the best female racehorse of her generation for the next three seasons. Not only did she race males and win, but she did so carrying high weight (often up to 133 pounds) for four years.

Background

Princess Doreen was a bay mare bred by

John E. Madden John Edward Madden (December 28, 1856 – November 3, 1929) was a prominent United States, American Thoroughbred and Standardbred owner, breeder and trainer in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. He owned Hamburg Place Stud in Lexin ...

at his stud farm, Hamburg Place, in

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

. She was sired by Spanish Prince, a British horse which won several major sprint races between 1910 and 1913 including the

King's Stand Stakes The King Charles III Stakes (formerly the King's Stand Stakes) is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 5 fu ...

Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, about 25 miles west of London. Ascot is used for thoroughbred horse racing, and it hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 races and three Gra ...

and two editions of the

July Cup The July Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 me ...

. Her dam, Lady Doreen, was of little account as a racehorse but had an excellent pedigree, being a half-sister to the Kentucky Derby winner

Sir Barton Sir Barton (April 26, 1916 – October 30, 1937) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the first winner of the American Triple Crown. Background Sir Barton was a chestnut colt bred in 1916, in Kentucky, by John E. Madden at H ...

and to Sir Martin a colt which won major races on both sides of the Atlantic. Princess Doreen was trained by the former

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

Kay Spence; Spence said that Princess Doreen represented the pinnacle of his success.

Racing career

At two, Princess Doreen placed in the Ft. Thomas Handicap, and came third in the Matron Stakes. In the following year she won the

Kentucky Oaks The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers at Churchill Downs; the horses carry . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Frida ...

, the Falls City Handicap, the Labor Day Handicap, the Covington Handicap, and the

Coaching Club American Oaks The Coaching Club American Oaks is a race for thoroughbred three-year-old fillies and the second leg of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. Originally run at Belmont Park, the Grade I $500,000 stakes race was moved to Saratoga Race Course i ...

, and placed in the Chicago Special, the

Alabama Stakes The Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1872, the Grade I race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at Saratoga Race Course. Held in mid August, i ...

, the Gadsden D. Bryan Memorial Handicap, the Latonia Oaks, and the Prince George Handicap. In October 1924, Princess Doreen participated in what was called the

International Special {{Short description, Series of horse races The International Specials of 1924 were a series of three Thoroughbred horse races held in September and October at three different race tracks in the United States. They were called "International" because ...

, where three races would take place. The third race took place at the old

Latonia Race Track Latonia Race Track on Winston Avenue in Latonia ( Covington) Kentucky, six miles south of Cincinnati, Ohio, was a Thoroughbred horse racing facility opened in 1883. The track hosted a spring-summer racing series and a second in late fall. It w ...

Covington, Kentucky Covington is a list of cities in Kentucky, home rule-class city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Ohio River, Ohio and Licking River (Kentucky), Licking rivers, across from Cincinnati to the north ...

for a purse of $50,000. Those racing included Chilhowee, Epinard,

Mad Play Mad Play (foaled 1921 in Kentucky) was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by August Belmont, Jr., he was sired by Fair Play, who also sired Man o' War, out of a Rock Sand mare, Mad Cap. He was a full brother to 1921 U.S. Champion ...

Sarazen Sarazen (1921–1940) was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Owned by Colonel Phil T. Chinn's Himyar Stud, Sarazen won his first three starts. Chinn then sold him for a huge profit to Virginia Fair Vanderbilt, who raced ...

. Princess Doreen was the lone filly of this group. Sarazen placed first, Epinard second, and Mad Play third. As a four-year-old, Princess Doreen was successful in a series of major handicap races: she won the Independence Handicap, the Bowie Handicap, the Cincinnati Enquirer Handicap (under 129 pounds), the Western Hills Handicap (under 126 pounds), the Autumn Handicap (under 133 pounds), the Cincinnati Times-Star Handicap, the Commercial-Tribune Handicap, the Covington Handicap (for the second time, carrying 130 pounds). She placed in the Thanksgiving Handicap and showed in the Chicago Special, the Gadsden D. Bryan Memorial Handicap, the Grainger Memorial Handicap, the Flint Stone Memorial Handicap, the Pimlico Cup, the Hartford Handicap, the Enquirer Handicap, and the Inaugural Handicap. At five Princess Doreen won the Inaugural Handicap and the

Saratoga Handicap The Saratoga Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It was open to horses three years old and upward and raced at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. First run in 1901 ...

. In the Saratoga Handicap she beat two-time Horse of the Year,

. She placed in the Grainger Memorial Handicap, the Independence Handicap, the Bowie Handicap, the Pimlico Serial and was third in the Pimlico Cup and the

Saratoga Cup The Saratoga Cup was an American Thoroughbred horse race open to horses of either sex age three and older although geldings were not eligible from 1865 through 1918. Between 1865 and 1955 it was hosted by Saratoga Race Course, in Saratoga Springs, ...

. In her final season she won the Independence Handicap, placed in the Hotel Statler Handicap, and was third in the Lincoln Handicap and the Oak Park Handicap.

Broodmare

Upon retiring, Princess Doreen was America's leading female money winner, toppling

Miss Woodford Miss Woodford (1880–1899) was a champion American Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who was one of the top American fillies of all time, winning 16 consecutive races. Background Miss Woodford was bred in Kentucky by the Runnymede Farm#Ezekie ...

's record. As a

broodmare A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four ...

Princess Doreen produced eight foals, only one of whom won races; her daughter, Miss Doreen. Princess Doreen died in 1952 at the age of 31.

Assessment and honours

In a poll among members of the American Trainers Association, conducted in 1955 by

Delaware Park Racetrack Delaware Park (also known as ''DelPark'') is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track, casino, and golf course in Stanton, Delaware. It is located just outside the city of Wilmington, Delaware, Wilmington, and about 30 miles from Philadelphia ...

, Princess Doreen was voted the eighth greatest filly in American racing history (Gallorette being voted first). Princess Doreen was elected to the

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred horse racing, Thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and Horse trainer, trainers. In 1955, the museum ...

in 1982

References

{{reflist 1921 racehorse births 1952 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees Kentucky Oaks winners Thoroughbred family 9-g