Joseph Widener
| Joseph Early Widener | |
|---|---|
1921 portrait by Augustus John.
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| Born |
August 19, 1871 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States |
| Died | October 26, 1943 (aged 72) Elkins Park, Pennsylvania |
| Resting place | West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia |
| Residence | Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania |
| Education | Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Businessman, horseman, art collector, philanthropist |
| Spouse(s) | Ella Pancoast |
| Children | 1. Peter Arrell Browne Widener II 2. Josephine "Fifi" Widener Leidy Holden Wichfeld Bigelow |
| Parent(s) |
Peter A. B. Widener & Hannah Josephine Dunton |
Joseph Early Widener (August 19, 1871 – October 26, 1943) was a wealthy American art collector who was a founding benefactor of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. A major figure in Thoroughbred horse racing, he was head of New York's Belmont Park and builder of Miami, Florida's Hialeah Park racetrack.
Widener was born in Philadelphia, the second son of the extremely wealthy transportation and real estate magnate Peter A. B. Widener (1834 – 1915) and Hannah Josephine Dunton (1836 – 1896). Joseph Widener attended Harvard University, and for a short time studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania.
Joseph Widener used his great wealth to pursue his interest in Thoroughbred horse racing on a large scale. Not only did he become an owner of a large stable of racehorses, Widener acquired the Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky and the Belmont Park racetrack in New York, plus he built Hialeah Park racetrack in Miami, Florida.
In 1901, thirty-year-old Joseph Widener began purchasing Thoroughbred horses to compete in both flat racing and steeplechase events. He hired future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame horse trainer, J. Howard Lewis. For the next four decades they combined to race fourteen Champions, two in flat racing and twelve Steeplechase Champions. Widener's steeplechase horses won numerous important races including three editions of the American Grand National with Relluf (1914), Arc Light (1929), and Bushranger (1936). His steeplechasers Bushranger and Fairmount were both elected to the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame.
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