Volponi (April 13, 1998 – February 14, 2025) 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 ...

. Bred by trainer Philip G. Johnson's family operation, Amherst Stable, he was sired by

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 ...

winner

Cryptoclearance Cryptoclearance (April 9, 1984 in Kentucky – September 24, 2009) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Florida Derby in 1987 and the Hawthorne Gold Cup in 1988 and 1989. Racing career Trained by future Hall of Fame trainer S ...

. His dam, Prom Knight, was a daughter of the 1987

Irish Derby The Irish Derby ( Irish: Dearbaí na hÉireann) is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a dista ...

winner

Sir Harry Lewis Sir Harry Lewis (24 January 1984 – 14 April 2009) was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for his win in the 1987 Irish Derby. After finishing second on his only appearance as a two-year-old he won his first two rac ...

, who was a son of the great

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

runner

Alleged In law, an allegation is a claim of an unproven fact by a party in a pleading, charge, or defense. Until they can be proved, allegations remain merely assertions. Types of allegations Marital allegations There are also marital allegations: ma ...

, who won back-to-back editions of the

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe () is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris over a distance ...

. In 2002, Volponi earned the most important win of his career when he won the

Breeders' Cup Classic The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-olds and older run at a distance of on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Champion ...

by 6½ lengths, the largest margin in the race's history at the time. In winning the Classic, Volponi overcame odds of 44-to-1 to beat an outstanding field that included runner-up

Medaglia d'Oro The Gold Medal of Military Valor () is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia for deeds of outstanding gallantry in war by junior officers and soldiers. The face of the medal displayed the profile o ...

Milwaukee Brew Milwaukee Brew (foaled January 31, 1997 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as one of only three horses to win back-to-back runnings of the Santa Anita Handicap. He is retired and moved to Old Friends Equine in 2020. Ba ...

, Evening Attire,

Macho Uno Macho Uno (foaled April 24, 1998 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse. He was sired by the 1994 American Horse of the Year and National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Holy Bull. T ...

Hawk Wing Hawk Wing (foaled 1999 in Kentucky) is an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Owned by the Magnier family and trained by Aidan O'Brien, the horse won three Group One races and was the leading horse in the world in 2003. ...

War Emblem War Emblem (February 20, 1999 – March 11, 2020) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and was later exported to Japan as a breeding stallion. Background War Emblem was bred by ...

, and

Harlan's Holiday Harlan's Holiday (April 6, 1999 – November 1, 2013) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won three Grade 1 stakes before retiring to stud where he had become a successful sire. Background Harlan's Holiday was a bay horse bred by Double D ...

, among others. His longshot victory inadvertently exposed the largest betting scandal in the United States in a century. At age five, Volponi made eight starts in 2003 without a win but had five seconds and two third-place finishes. Retired to

stud Stud may refer to: 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 in San Francisco * ...

duty, his offspring have met with limited success in racing. At the end of 2005, he was sent to Jeju Stud Farm in

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

. His best runner in terms of career earnings is daughter Clearly Foxy, who won the 2007 Grade III

Natalma Stakes The Natalma Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Run in mid-September, the Grade I race is run at a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) on turf and is open to two-year-old fillies. In ...

. Volponi died in South Korea on February 14, 2025, at the age of 27.

Pedigree

References

Sources

Volponi's pedigree and partial racing stats

Volponi's complete race record

Volponi at the ''Thoroughbred Times'' Interactive Stallion Directory
{{Authority control 1998 racehorse births 2025 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States Breeders' Cup Classic winners Thoroughbred family 16-f