Stagehand (foaled 1935 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 ...

) was an American

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 ...

who is the only horse to ever win the

Santa Anita Handicap The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up and was once considered the most important race for old ...

as a three-year-old.

Background

Bred by the prominent horseman Joseph E. Widener, Stagehand was sired by

Sickle A sickle, bagging hook, reaping-hook or grasshook is a single-handed agricultural tool designed with variously curved blades and typically used for harvesting or reaping grain crops, or cutting Succulent plant, succulent forage chiefly for feedi ...

, who was a son of the influential

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

sire

Phalaris Phalaris () was the tyrant of Akragas (now Agrigento) in Sicily in Magna Graecia, from approximately 570 to 554 BC. History Phalaris was renowned for his excessive cruelty. Among his alleged atrocities is cannibalism: he was said to have eaten ...

. His dam was Stagecraft, a daughter of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee and Leading broodmare sire in North America, Fair Play. Maxwell Howard of

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

, purchased Sceneshifter, Stagehand's full older brother. Impressed by Sceneshifter, Howard took advantage of Widener weeding out his stable. He purchased Stagehand for $8000 at the recommendation of

Earl Sande Earl Harold Sande (November 13, 1898 – August 19, 1968) was an American Hall of Fame jockey and thoroughbred horse trainer. Early life in South Dakota Born in Groton, South Dakota, Earl Sande started out as a bronco buster in the early 1900s b ...

, his trainer. Entered in a Maiden Special Weight at Aqueduct, Stagehand was scratched for unknown reasons and instead shipped up to Empire City Racetrack with the rest of Howard's small stable which included

Brooklyn Handicap The Brooklyn Stakes (formerly known as the Brooklyn Handicap) is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Long Island. It currently is a Grade II event open to four-year-olds and up willing to race one and ...

winner The Chief.

1937: two-year-old season

On July 6, 1937, Stagehand was entered in a 5-

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 any of 660 foot (unit), feet, 220 yards, 40 rod (unit), rods, 10 chain (unit), chains, or a ...

event for maidens. He broke last and never made up any ground, as victor Flying Ariel beat him handily. Shipped to Saratoga, Stagehand ran on July 28 in a -furlong allowance. Third this time, Stagehand produced a closing run to nab third while

Chaps Chaparreras or chaps () are a type of sturdy over-pants (overalls) or leggings of Mexican origin, made of leather, without a seat, made up of two separate legs that are fastened to the waist with straps or belt. They are worn over trousers and ...

and Jack be Noble ran first and second. Apparently the effort impressed Sande and Howard, for Stagehand's next start was the

United States Hotel Stakes The United States Hotel Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in the late summer or early autumn until 1955 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It was run on dirt over a distance of six furlongs. Raced in th ...

. Chaps had once before and had no trouble doing it again, while Stagehand ran fifth under jockey

Jack Westrope Jack Gordon Westrope (January 18, 1918 – June 19, 1958) was an American Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. Born in Baker, Montana, Westrope was the son of racehorse owner/trainer W. T. Westrope. Jack was only 12 years old when he ...

. Dropped down in class in an effort to get a win after running just five days earlier, Stagehand finished a troubled fifth again. Sande took Westrope off the horse and gave Balaski a try. Stagehand ran fourth. Running at the Spa wasn't working, so with Balaski back up, Stagehand was entered in another maiden at

Belmont Park Belmont Park is a thoroughbred racing, thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United Stat ...

. The change of tracks did little to help as he finished second to last, 17th in a field of 18. Howard entered the horse in an allowance 8 days later, and Stagehand finished fifth. Howard then entered him in a 7-furlong maiden race. Stagehand finished third by a nose to Alps. Bonnie Sea, who finished second, was taken down due to her severe bumping as Stagehand came up the inside. Shipped to Santa Anita for the winter meet, after two months off Stagehand was entered in a mile event for maidens on

New Year's Day In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day is the first day of the calendar year, January 1, 1 January. Most solar calendars, such as the Gregorian and Julian calendars, begin the year regularly at or near the December solstice, northern winter ...

, going 7 furlongs. Gipsy Minstrel won handily, and Stagehand finished a closing second.

1938: three-year-old season

As a three-year-old Stagehand won the

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 ...

Empire City Handicap The Empire City Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race inaugurated on October 22, 1900, as part of the opening day racecard at Empire City Race Track in Yonkers, New York. Sometimes referred in newspaper reports as the Empire City Stakes ...

Narragansett Special The Narragansett Special was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Narragansett Park in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. At the time of its inaugural running in 1934, the Narragansett Special offered a Purse distribution, purse of $32,500 add ...

and the Rhode Island Governor's Handicap by six lengths while setting a new track record.

Stud record

Retired to stud duty, he had modest success as the sire of several stakes race winners. His last foal was born in 1953.

References

{{reflist 1935 racehorse births Thoroughbred family 1-j Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States Horse racing track record setters