Cal-Breds of the Past

10 Years Ago

Cacoethes became the first California-bred to place among the top three finishers in England’s historic Epsom Derby when he finished third to Nashwan in the 1989 renewal. Bred by Ray and Fran Stark, Cacoethes is a son of Alydar out of the Jester mare Careless Notion, making him a half-brother to 1982 California champion filly Fabulous Notion. Cacoethes became a California champion himself as the state’s outstanding turf runner in 1990 and Careless Notion was voted California’s Broodmare of the Year in 1989 for the racetrack successes of her stakes-winning offspring. The family is still going strong and has been recently represented by 1997 Hollywood Derby winner Subordination.

 25 Years Ago

California-bred stakes winner and CTBA sales graduate Spearfish became the dam of a European classic winner when her daughter Gaily captured the Irish One Thousand Guineas. Spearfish, a 1963 daughter of Fleet Nasrullah—Alabama Gal, by Determine, was bred by Frank Sale and was a full sister to influential sire Gummo. She was sold by the CTBA as a two-year-old for $27,000 in 1965 and went on to win the Santa Susana Stakes and Hollywood Oaks for earnings of $122,907. In addition to Gaily, Spearfish produced $308,079-earner King’s Bishop and La Habra Stakes winner Crown the Prince. Empire Glory, her 1981 colt by Nijinsky II, brought a then world-record $4.25 million at the 1982 Keeneland July yearling sale and became a graded stakes winner in Ireland. He currently stands at Victory Rose Thoroughbreds in Northern California.

 50 Years Ago

An editorial in the corresponding issue of The Thoroughbred of California in 1949 pleaded for more two-year-old racing: "Leading horsemen and racing officials are joining in with those of us who feel that both the breeders and the tracks would be benefited by providing more action for the young horses. They would enable breeders and horse owners to much more quickly appraise their two-year-olds to the end that those found wanting could be shunted off to second-rate circuits, with a big saving in time, trouble and expense. At the same time, it would ease the burden on the tracks which are importuned to provide stall space for hundreds of maiden three-year-olds, the majority of which have never started. . ."