Broomstick (horse)

Broomstick
Broomstick with jockey George M. Odom up.
Sire	Ben Brush
Grandsire	Bramble
Dam	Elf
Damsire	Galliard
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1901
Country	United States
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Col. Milton Young (McGrathiana Stud)
Owner	Samuel S. Brown Harry Payne Whitney
Trainer	Peter Wimmer Robert Tucker (at age 3)
Record	39 Starts: 14-11-5
Earnings	$74,730
Major wins
Great American Stakes (1903) Juvenile Stakes (1903) Expectation Stakes (1903) Travers Stakes (1904) Brighton Handicap (1904) Flying Handicap (1904)
Awards
Leading sire in North America (1913, 1914, 1915) Leading broodmare sire in North America (1932, 1933)
Honours
U.S. Racing Hall of Fame (1956)

Broomstick (1901–1931) was a Thoroughbred race horse born and bred at the famous McGrathiana Stud in Kentucky, but more importantly, he was one of the great sires of American racing. Out of another great sire, the Hall of Famer Ben Brush, Broomstick went on after his racing career to produce champion after champion for many years.

The important horseman, James R. Keene (who owned Domino, Kingston, Colin and Sysonby among so many other memorable horses), also owned Elf, Broomstick's dam. Believing she was barren, he sold her to Milton Young. One year later she foaled Broomstick. As a yearling Broomstick then went to a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania coal millionaire named Captain Samuel S. Brown who was a member of The Jockey Club and the owner of two racetracks.

Broomstick was small, but he won his first three stakes at two. Because of this, he was weighted down rather heavily for such a young horse and consequently won fewer races at that age. He placed in the Saratoga Special, the Walden Stakes, the Flatbush Stakes, the Great Trial Stakes and the Spring Stakes.

At three, and under another trainer, he won the Travers Stakes. In the Brighton Handicap he beat older horses and set a record that stood for nine years. In that race he was up against the truly game Irish Lad who broke down nearing the wire, but finished on three legs, only barely beaten.

Still heavily weighted, he placed in the Merchants and Citizens Handicap, the Hindoo Handicap, and his second Saratoga Special.