| Family horses owned by my
great uncle
Rex C.
Ellsworth and his brother, my grandfather, Reed W. Ellsworth |
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Swaps (Khaled x Iron Reward by Beau Pere).
He was Eclipse Champion Older Horse and Horse of the Year in
1956. He was sold for $2 million to John W. Galbraith of Darby Dan
Farm, the highest paid price for a horse in history. My dad was 9 years
old when Swaps was sold. He said of that occasion that he felt
betrayed, like they sold off a family member when Swaps was sold. Swaps
was the mascot of the family. Swaps was one of the greatest
horses that ever raced. Bloodhorse ranked him 20th of the top 100
thoroughbreds of the 20th century. I with many others feel that he
should be ranked much higher, considering that he broke more world
records than any other horse. A big argument of his day was that he
only faced California competition, having raced principally in on the
West Coast. However, he broke or equaled world records on 4
different tracks in California, Florida, and Illinois (Hollywood, Santa
Anita, Gulfstream, and Washington Park). As good as Bold Ruler, Seattle
Slew, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid were, they were not breaking world
records with such ease. They are all exceptional, but they
were not phenoms like Swaps.
Race record
Age 2: June Juvenile Stakes, 3rd: Westchester Stakes, Haggin Stakes
Age 3: Santa Anita Derby, San Vicente Stakes, Californian Stakes,
Kentucky Derby, Westerner Stakes, American Derby, Will Rogers Stakes,
2nd match race with Nashua
Age 4: Hollywood Gold Cup, Sunset Handicap, American Handicap,
Washington Park Handicap, Argonaut Handicap, Inglewood Handicap,
Broward Handicap, LA County Fair Handicap, 2nd Californian
Stakes
Records
Age 3: New World Record at 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.2
New Track Record at
Washington Park and Equaled American Record for 1 3/16 miles in 1:54
Age 4: Equaled World Record at 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.4
New World Record
at 1 5/8 miles in 2:38.1
New World Record at 1 mile in 1:33.1
New World
Record at 1 mile 70 yds in 1:39.3
New World Record at 1 1/16 miles in
1:39
New Track Record at Hollywood for 1 1/4 miles in 1:58.3
New Track
Record at Washington Park at 1 mile in 1:33.2
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The Tetrarch. This is the horse that
Rex modeled
his horses after. He wanted the blazing speed that The
Tetrarch
passed on his offspring. Rex went to Europe with the purpose
of
finding an excellent stallion prospect that had The Tetrarch up close.
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Khaled (Hyperion x Eclair by Ethnarch).
Rex
Ellsworth, his brother Heber and Ray Bell went to Ireland to purchase
Nasrullah. McGrath was not willing to sell, even though he
had
not said so at the time. He simply blew Rex off.
They then
went to visit Ali Khan the breeder of Nasrullah to look at a horse
called Khaled. Khaled was a very good 2-year-old, but later
developed a breathing problem that cut his racing career short.
Rex accurately guessed that the problem was due to the
environment where he was kept and not a genetic ailment. Ali
Khan
sold the stallion for $160,000, a hefty sum in 1948. Once Khaled was in
California he recovered completely.
Khaled had a fabulous career as a stallion, though he did not breed the
regal mares that stallions like Nasrullah received at Claiborne Farm.
He still sired 12% stakes winners, including the great Swaps,
A
Glitter, Correspondent, Terrang, New Policy, Hillary, Corn off the Cob,
Take Over, Candy Dish, Bushel-N-Peck (dam of Wild Again), Linmold, and
Physician. He was the broodmare sire of many good runners
such as
Candy Spots, Prove it, Wild Again, Tipping Time, Close by, O'Hara,
Outing Class, and champion Ribofilio.
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Khaled in California. Once he arrived in
California,
his breathing ailment improved and for a short period of time Rex
considered running him in California. However, in the end he
decided to retire him to stud.
He ran very well in England. He won the Coventry Stakes,
Middle Park Stakes, St. James Palace Stakes, Column Produce Stakes, 2nd
Two Thousand Guineas, 3rd Eclipse Stakes.
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Swaps won the Broward Handicap at Gulfstream Park
in
Florida on 14 April 1956. He set a new world record time going 1 mile
and 70 yards in 1:39.3. Note that his ears up. He knew that
he
was winning and was doing so casually.
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Swaps won the San Vicente Stakes on 19 January
1955 to start out his 3-year-old season in winning fashion.
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Swaps won the LA County Fair Handicap at Santa
Anita on 17 February 1956. (8.5f - 1:43)
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Candy Spots won the Florida Derby impressively
several
lengths while on the Triple Crown trail. Florida Derby was
then
and still is a major prep race for Kentucky Derby. (March 30,
1963; 9f, 1:50.3)
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Candy Spots showed his ability, winning the
Preakness
over Chateaugay and Never Bend. Candy Spots placed 3rd behind
Chateaugay in the Kentucky Derby and placed 2nd again behind
Chateaugay in the Belmont. Hover, in the Preakness Candy
Spots
was second to none. (18 May 1963; 9.5f, 1:56.1)
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Olden Times was another excellent runner for
Ellsworth
Stables. Here he won the Churchill Downs Handicap by several
lengths. (30 April 1964; New track record at 7f, 1:21.2)
Olden Times (Relic x Djenne by Djebel) He also proved to be an
excellent sire, leading the juvenile sires list and the broodmare sires
list in 1982. He stood at several farms in Kentucky during
his
career. He sired several champions, including champion
2-year-old
colt Roving Boy, champion 2-year-old filly in France Ancient Regime,
champion sprinter in France, Cricket Ball. He was broodmare
sire
to champions Johnny D, Miss Secreto, and Val Fleurie. He was
French-bred and it seemed that his get did particularly well in his
homeland.
His daughters were well known for being able to produced foals year
after year for several years. Swaps was also an excellent
broodmare sire, but his daughters were not as fertile as Olden Times'
daughters.
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Wallet Lifter (Khaled x Lismore Liz by Psychic
Bid) winning the Lakes and Flowers
Handicap at Hollywood Park on 19 July 1962. (6f, 1:08.4)
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The Scoundrel (Toulouse Lautrec x Malekeh by
Stardust) won the Haggin Stakes at
Hollywood
Park on 27 June 1965. [5.5f, 1:05.3] Rex Ellsworth not Mesh Tenney
trained him. Mesh Tenney tired of the constant traveling and
lack
of family life decided to try his hand at ranching in Arizona instead.
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Honey Bunny (Khaled x Sona by Nasrullah) winning
the Cinderella Stakes at Hollywood Park at 5/8 mile in :58.2.
She also won the Hollywood Lassie Stakes and the Nursery
Stakes. [13-6-?-?; $78, 825]
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Fleet Khal b. 1950 (Khaled x Flitting Feet by
Flying Heels) 5 June 1953. She won the Hollywood Lassie
Stakes; 3rd Cinderella Stakes at two, won the Hollywood Oaks, Vanity
Handicap, Sea Breeze Stakes; 2nd Westerner Stakes at three, and at four
she was 2nd Del Mar Handicap and 3rd Las Flores
Handicap. [35-9-4-6; $125, 150]
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Prove It (Endeavor II x Time To Khal by Khaled)
winning the Inglewood
Handicap at Hollywood Park on 16 June 1962. Prove It was a good runner,
and Tenney would use Olden Times as his rabbit. Olden Times
would
take the lead, and if he tired than Prove It would come off the pace to
win it. They proved an impossible match to beat. (8.5f, 1:41)
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Prove It (Endeavor II x Time to Khal by
Khaled) wining the Sunset
Handicap at
Hollywood Park on 23 July 1962. This is the race that Swaps set the
world record going 13f; a world record that still stands. (13f, 2:39.3)
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Prove It winning the Washington Park Handicap at
Arlington Park on 3 Seep 1962. He equaled the track record for 1 mile
(8f) in 1:33.4.
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Prove It, one of the best horses to run for
Ellsworth Stables won the Santa Anita Maturity in 1962. [10f, 2:01.0]
Race Record
Santa Anita Handicap, Santa Anita Maturity, San Fernando Handicap,
Hollywood Gold Cup, Washington Park Handicap, Sunset Handicap, American
Handicap, Inglewood Handicap, Benjamin Handicap, Lindleimer Handicap
2nd Californian Stakes (twice)
3rd Hollywood Premiere Handicap
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Swaps in 1955 in Chino Valley, California.
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Swaps
in the paddock. Swaps was a good and popular
sire, though he never reached the fame at stud that he did on the
track. Like many stallions, his first few crops were his
best. He sired Chateaugay, (champion 3-year-old, Kentucky
Derby and Preakness winner), Affectionately (champion sprinter and
handicap mare at age 5), Primonetta (champion handicap mare at
age 4), No Robbery (Wood Memorial Stakes winner), and Lady Vi-E
(Kentucky Oaks winner). He sired Swapson who as a yearling
sold for a world record price of $130,000 in 1961. He was
second most successful sire of his generation behind Nashua.
He sired 8% stakes winners and will be a presence for years
to
come in pedigrees especially through his daughters: Soaring,
Intriguing, and
Change Water.
Interestingly both Primonetta and Affectionately produced excellent
foals, but their line did not fare well in subsequent generations.
Primonetta produced Cum Laude Laurie (Beldame winner), Maud
Muller (Ashland Stakes winner), and Prince Thou Art (Florida Derby
winner). Her sons, Grenfall and Truxton King, were decent sires.
Affectionately
produced Personality (champion 3-year-old and Horse of the Year; won
Preakness, Wood Memorial, and Woodward Stakes).
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Candy Spots (Nigromante x Candy Dish by Khaled).
Nigromante was purchased in Argentina. He produced some nice
runners, including Candy Spots. Unfortunately he died young.
Candy Spots was a great horse
and probably the second best horse that the Ellsworth Stables owned.
He wons the Jersey Derby, Florida Derby, Arlington-Washington
Futurity, Preakness, 3rd in the Kentucky Derby and 2nd in the Belmont
to Chateaugay (by Swaps).
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Nashua, Swaps' eastern rival, was awarded Horse
of the
Year honors after the ill fated match race at Arlington between Swaps
and Nashua. Swaps won the Kentucky Derby over Nashua, but did
not
continue on the Triple Crown trail. Nashua went on to win the Preakness
and Belmont convincingly. Swaps went back to California and continued
his undefeated record breaking world records along the way.
Nashua also had a incredible season, just like his champion
2-year-old season. In the end a match race was organized on a
"neutral track" Arlington. Swaps' foot was sore the morning
of
the race, but after much deliberation, the Ellsworths decided to race
Swaps anyway. As expected he finished 2nd to a healthy Nashua.
Swaps' foot healed, and he was vindicated last year's results with more
wins and more world records. Nashua was winning races, too,
but
he was not breaking records doing it. Swaps was easily voted
Horse of the Year.
Swap broke world records over the distances of 8f, 1 mile 70
yards, 8.5f (twice), 10f, and 13f. The world record
over 13f
still
stands. It took the likes of Dr Fager to break
Swap's 8f
record.
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Swaps with a blanket of red roses in the winner's
circle after winning the Kentucky Derby.
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Swaps was an incredible horse who not only won
the
Kentucky Derby, 19 of 25 starts, broke 6 world records and several
track records, but he ran so effortlessly. He ran so much
faster
than his opponents under no urging from his jockey Will "The Shoe"
Shoemaker.
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Swaps won the Westerner at Hollywood Park on 14
July
1955. He did not break a world record, but ran 10f in a very
good
time of 2:00.3.
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Swaps won the Inglewood Handicap on 25 June 1956,
setting a new world record at 8.5f in 1:39.0.
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Candy Spots was a top 2-year-old colt.
He won the
prestigious Arlington-Washington Futurity at Arlington Park. He did not
get year-end honors. I think a lot of it had to do with the
East
coast bias. (2 Aug 1962; 6f, 1:11)
Race Record
[22-12-5-1; $824, 718]
Age 2: Arlington-Washington Futurity, Futurity Trial
Age 3: Preakness, Jersey Derby, Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby,
American Derby, Arlington Classic; 2nd Belmont; 3rd Kentucky Derby
Age 5: San Pasquale Handicap; 2nd Santa Anita Handicap
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As if the classics were not close enough
together in
time, Candy Spots ran and won the Jersey Derby at Garden State
Park between the Preakness and the Belmont. (30 May 1963; 9f, 1:50)
Candy Spots was one of the best horses of his generation. He
was called Candy Spots as a spin off his dam's name and the large white
spots on his back and legs.
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Candy Dish b. 1953 (Khaled x Feather Time by Beau
Pere) won the 9f Hollywood Oaks
in 1:49.3. She was one of a long line of wonderful mares. Her
best foal was Candy Spots.
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Olden Times winning the California Breeders'
Champion Stakes at Santa Anita. (8 Feb 1961; 8.5f , 1:42.1)
Race Record [54-17-10-5;
$605, 875]
Age 2: Charles S. Howard Stakes, Haggin Stakes, 2nd California
Breeders' Trial Stakes
Age 3: California Breeders' Champion Stakes, Debonair Stakes, Malibu
Stakes, 2nd San Felipe Stakes, Will Rogers Stakes, San Vicente Stakes
Age 4: San Juan Capistrano Handicap, San Antonio Handicap, Golden State
Breeders' Handicap; 2nd Santa Anita Handicap, San Fernando Stakes,
Palos Verdes Handicap; 3rd Californian Stakes, Santa Anita Maturity
Age 5: San Pasqual Handicap; 2nd San Carlos Handicap; 3rd Palos Verdes
Handicap
Age 6: Metropolitan Handicap (Met Mile), Illinois Handicap, San Pasqual
Handicap, Churchill Handicap (NTR); 2nd Brooklyn Handicap, Charles W
Bigwill Memorial Handicap; 3rd Suburban Handicap, San Bernardino
Handicap, Hawthorne Gold Cup
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Olden Times winning the Haggin Stakes on 1 July
1960 (5f, :57.4)
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Olden Times winning the a marathon the 1 3/4
mile San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita Park on 10 March 1962.
Olden Times was a sprinter, but he showed that he could last in one of
the longest races in the US. The strategy that Tenney had for
him
was to take the lead as usual. No one in the race would take
him
seriously because he was a sprinter that could on a good day last to
9f. Every time a horse would make a run at him, Olden Times
would
increase his lead slightly. In final quarter all the horses
were
tired because they had all made a run at him. He, too, was
tired
but was the first tired horse to cross the finish line. If
they
horses would have all waited patiently for the final furlongs of the
race as is usual for long races, they would have overtaken Olden Times.
Willie Shoemaker said that riding Olden Times to victory in the San
Juan Capistrano was his greatest ride. Considering his career
spanned 4 decades and included riding several horses of the year, that
is not trite statement.
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Space Skates (Khaled x Chargeway by
Royal Charger) after winning the Futurity
Trial 2nd div. [6.5f, 1:18.0]
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Dr. Kacy (Nigromante x Chanson Folle by
Chanteur). L.A. Chamber of Commerce Race at
Hollywood Park on 21 June 1965. [7f, 1:22]
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