Whirlaway

Whirlaway
SireBlenheim
GrandsireBlandford
DamDustwhirl
DamsireSweep
SexStallion
Foaled1938
DiedApril 6, 1953(1953-04-06) (aged 15)
CountryUnited States
ColorChestnut
BreederCalumet Farm
OwnerCalumet Farm
TrainerBen A. Jones
Record60: 32-15-9
Earnings$561,161
Major wins
Breeders' Futurity Stakes (1940)
Hopeful Stakes (1940)
Saratoga Special Stakes (1940)
Walden Stakes (1940)
A. J. Joyner Handicap (1941)
Travers Stakes (1941)
Lawrence Realization Stakes (1941)
Saranac Handicap (1941)
Dwyer Stakes (1941)
American Derby (1941)
Massachusetts Handicap (1942)
Narragansett Special (1942)
Clark Handicap (1942)
Jockey Club Gold Cup (1942)
Louisiana Handicap (1942)
Washington Handicap (1942)
Trenton Handicap (1942)
American Classic Race wins:
Kentucky Derby (1941)
Preakness Stakes (1941)
Belmont Stakes (1941)
Awards
5th U.S. Triple Crown Champion (1941)
TSD American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (1940)
U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt (1941)
United States Horse of the Year (1941 & 1942)
U.S. Champion Older Male Horse (1942)
Honors
United States Racing Hall of Fame (1959)
Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame (1991)
#26 – Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century
Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack (1980–2011)
Whirlaway Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course (1973–2004)
Last updated on 11 February 2021

Whirlaway (April 2, 1938 – April 6, 1953) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the fifth winner of the American Triple Crown. He also won the Travers Stakes after his Triple Crown sweep to become the first and only horse to win all four races.

Whirlaway was sired by English Derby winner Blenheim, out of the broodmare Dustwhirl. Whirlaway was bred at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Trained by Ben A. Jones and ridden by Eddie Arcaro, Whirlaway swept the Triple Crown in 1941. He holds the record for the longest winning margin in the Kentucky Derby with fellow Triple Crown winner Assault, as they both won the Derby by 8 lengths. Whirlaway was widely known as "Mr. Longtail" because his tail was especially long and thick and it would blow far out behind him during races, flowing dramatically in the wind.[1]

He was voted the American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 1940 by Turf & Sports Digest magazine. The rival Daily Racing Form award was won by Our Boots. Whirlaway was named American Horse of the Year by the Daily Racing Form and Turf & Sport Digest in both 1941, the year he won the Triple Crown, and 1942, the year Shut Out won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont.

  1. ^ "History of Belmont Stakes Racing Festival | Belmont Stakes | Belmont Stakes".