Our California Chrome biography is now live.
California Chrome, as you may know, is the horse who has won the 2014 Kentucky Derby and the 2014 Preakness Stakes. All that stands between him and the first Triple Crown since 1978 is the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 7th.
Here are a few of the curious facts about California Chrome:
- He was born in Coalinga, California on 18 February 2011. That’s a rare thing for a Derby winner, most of whom are foaled in Kentucky or environs.
- His striking white markings on nose and feet are called “chrome” by track aficionados — hence the name.
- He won the Kentucky Derby by 1 3/4 lengths, and the Preakness by 1 1/2.
- He is the very first horse bred by his owners, Steve Coburn and Perry Martin. They paid a paltry $8000 for his mother, Love the Chase, and another $2000 to have her bred to Lucky Pulpit. It’s already paid off: California Chrome has won $4.5 million in his last three races alone. ($1 million at the Santa Anita Derby, $1.5 million for the Preakness, and $2 million for the Kentucky Derby.)
- Coburn and Martin apparently turned down a $6 million offer for 51% of the horse earlier this year. So far, that decision is looking pretty good.
The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978, and since then 12 other horses have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness but failed to close the deal at the Belmont. They include big names like Funny Cide (2003), Smarty Jones (2004), Big Brown (2008) and I’ll Have Another (2012). The Belmont is a longer race, 1 1/2 miles, and it is the third race in five weeks — a lot to ask of a racehorse. We’ll see if California Chrome is up to the challenge.
See our full biography of California Chrome »