| Harry Bassett | |
|---|---|
_LCCN2001703968_(cropped).jpg) | |
| Sire | Lexington |
| Grandsire | Boston |
| Dam | Canary Bird |
| Damsire | Albion |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1868 |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Chestnut |
| Breeder | A. J. Alexander |
| Owner | David McDaniel |
| Trainer | David McDaniel |
| Jockey | W. Miller |
| Record | 36: 23-5-3 |
| Earnings | $55,920 (equivalent to $1,390,000 in 2024) |
| Major wins | |
| |
| Awards | |
| Honors | |
| United States Racing Hall of Fame (2010) | |
Harry Bassett (1868–1878) was an AmericanThoroughbred racehorse, winner of the 1871Belmont Stakes and an outstanding racehorse of the 19th century. He also won a number of otherstakes races, and was named the Champion male of his age group in 1870, 1871 and 1872. He was retired to stud duties in New Jersey when his five-year racing career ended, having recorded 23 wins from 36 starts. Harry Bassett died in New Jersey in 1878 and was inducted into the United StatesRacing Hall of Fame in 2010.
Harry Bassett was achestnutstallion,[1] foaled on 27 April 1868,[2] that was sired byLexington and out of themare Canary Bird.[1] Canary Bird was by the imported stallion Albion and out of the mare Panola, who was sired by the imported stallion Ainderby. Canary Bird's second dam, or maternal grandmother, was the imported mare Sweetbriar by Recovery. Harry Basset was bred either byR. A. Alexander[1] or by A. J. Alexander,[3] both of theWoodburn Stud ofWoodburn, Kentucky, and was the second of Canary Bird'sfoals.[1] He was sold at the 1869 S. D. Bruce yearling sale to trainerDavid McDaniel for $315 (equivalent to $7,400 in 2024).[2][4]
Harry Bassett was trained by his owner David McDaniel; his jockey was W. Miller. As a two-year-old he won the 1870Nursery Stakes atJerome Park Racetrack, the Central Stakes, the Kentucky Stakes, and the Saratoga Stakes.[5] He made a total of four starts as a two-year-old of which he won three, placing third in the other.[6]
Harry Bassett won the fifth running of the Belmont Stakes in 1871 atJerome Park Racetrack in a time of 2 minutes 56 seconds. He carried 110 pounds (50 kilograms) pounds in the race, and won $5,400 (equivalent to $142,000 in 2024) for his owner.[7][4] The race was run on June 10 over a distance of1+5⁄8 miles (13 furlongs/2,600 meters) on a fast track. Harry Bassett won by three lengths from the second-placed finisher Stockwood; the third place went toAugust Belmont's By The Sea.[3] This was the first of three consecutive wins of the Belmont Stakes by David McDaniel as both owner and trainer, as he went on to win the 1872 race withJoe Daniels and the 1873 race withSpringbok.[7]
As a three-year-old, Harry Bassett also won theJerome Handicap, theTravers Stakes, the Reunion Stakes, theKenner Stakes, the Champion Stakes and theJersey Derby.[5] During his three-year-old year Harry Bassett started 11 times and won eight, finishing second in the remaining three. At four he increased his win record to 14, with wins in the Westchester Cup and a victory in a 2 miles (3,200 m) heat, before he was beaten in theMonmouth Cup byLongfellow.[6] He then won the2+1⁄4 mileSaratoga Cup, in which he defeated Longfellow.[5] His jockey in that race wasJames Rowe Sr., who went on to become a leading trainer forJames R. Keene.[8] At age five, Harry Bassett started eight times, winning two, placing second in two, and third once. At six, he started four times, winning once and placing third once.[6]
Harry Bassett's racing career spanned five years and ended with 23 wins from 36 starts; he finished second five times and third three times. His total earnings on the racetrack were $55,920 (equivalent to $1,390,000 in 2024).[6][4] He was awarded the title of Champion Two-Year-Old Male in 1870,[9][10] the title of Champion Three-Year-Old Male in 1871,[9][11] and the Champion Older Horse title in 1872.[9]
When his racing career ended Harry Bassett was retired to McDaniel's stud farm inTrenton, New Jersey, where he sired stakes winners such as Bowstring andLettina out of the imported mare Letty by imported Australian.[12] Lettina won the Young America Stakes (Nashville), the Jackson Stakes and the Ladies Stakes in 1881, when she was two years old.[13]
Harry Bassett died on October 27, 1878, at McDaniel's farm in New Jersey.[2] He was inducted into the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2010.[6]
| Sire Lexington 1850 | Boston 1833 | Timoleon | Sir Archy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saltram Mare | |||
| Sister to Tuckahoe | Balls Florizel | ||
| Alderman Mare | |||
| Alice Carneal 1836 | Sarpedeon | Emilius | |
| Icaria | |||
| Rowena | Sumpter | ||
| Lady Grey | |||
| Dam Canary Bird 1860 | Albion 1837 | Actaeon | Scud |
| Diana | |||
| Panthea | Comus | ||
| Manuella | |||
| Penola 1849 | Ainderby | Velocipede | |
| Kate | |||
| Sweetbriar | Recovery | ||
| Primrose |
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)