| Calvin | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Tipperary |
| Grandsire | Ringgold |
| Dam | Lucy Fowler |
| Damsire | Albion |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1872 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Brown |
| Breeder | H. Price McGrath |
| Owner | H. Price McGrath |
| Trainer | Ansel Williamson |
| Major wins | |
| July Stakes (1874) Jersey Derby (1875)
American Classics wins: | |
| Last updated on 2019-10-08 | |
Calvin (1872–1879) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of the 1875 Belmont Stakes. Besides the Belmont, Calvin won two other stakes races as a two and three year old horse. He was euthanized in 1879 after contracting tetanus.
Calvin was foaled in 1872, and was a brown stallion sired by Tipperary. He was bred by Price McGrath.[1] Tipperary was sired by Ringgold and his dam was Roxana by the imported stallion Chesterfield.[2] Calvin's dam was Lucy Fowler, who was sired by imported Albion. Lucy's dam was an unnamed mare sired by imported Leviathan. Calvin was a full brother to the stakes winner Aaron Pennington, who was foaled in 1871.[3] Lucy was also the dam of the stakes winning Tom Bowling, who was sired by Lexington and was foaled in 1870.[4]
As a two-year-old, Calvin won the 1874 July Stakes.[4]
During his three-year-old year, Calvin won the ninth running of the Belmont Stakes in 1875 at Jerome Park Racetrack in a time of 2 minutes 401⁄4 seconds. He carried 110 pounds (50 kilograms) pounds in the race, and won $4,450 (equivalent to $123,000 in 2023) for his owner.[5][6] The race was run on June 12 over a distance of 1+1⁄2 miles (12 furlongs (2,400 meters)) on a fast track.[1] Calvin did not lead from the start, but instead came from behind to have a six-length lead at one point before fading a bit before the finish.[7] Calvin won by two lengths from the second-placed finisher Aristides; the third place went to Milner. Both Calvin and Aristides were owned by H. Price McGarth. Calvin's trainer was U.S. Racing Hall of Fame Ansel Williams.[1] The winning jockey was Robert Swim.[5]
Besides his win in the Belmont, Calvin also won the 1875 Jersey Derby,[4] where he beat future Hall of Fame horse Tom Ochiltree again, who was unplaced in the Belmont behind Calvin.[7]
Calvin contracted tetanus in April 1879 from a nail penetrating his hoof and had to be euthanized.[8] Calvin sired no stakes winners.[9]
