Parole (horse)

Parole
1877 etching by Henry Stull
Sire	Leamington
Grandsire	Faugh-a-Ballagh
Dam	Maiden
Damsire	Lexington
Sex	Gelding
Foaled	1873
Country	United States
Colour	Brown
Breeder	Pierre Lorillard IV
Owner	Aristides Welch
Trainer	William Brown
Record	138: 59-28-17
Earnings	$82,816
Major wins
August Stakes (1877) July Stakes (USA) (1877) Kentucky Stakes (1877) Saratoga Cup (1877 & 1878) Baltimore Special (1877) Newmarket Handicap (1879) City and Suburban Handicap (1879) Great Metropolitan (1879) Epsom Gold Cup (1879)
Awards
American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (1875)
Honours
U.S. Racing Hall of Fame (1984)
Last updated on January 17, 2010

Parole (1873–1903) was a Thoroughbred race horse bred by Pierre Lorillard, a scion of the tobacco family. Lorillard and his brother George were both horsemen and competed throughout their careers. Pierre founded the Rancocas Stable in New Jersey named after the New Jersey town where he owned a country manor.

Parole's sire was Leamington, who also produced Longfellow, Aristides (named by his breeder for Aristides Welch, who had imported Leamington to the US)—winner of the first Kentucky Derby—and Iroquois, first American-bred horse to win the Epsom Derby and the St Leger Stakes.

According to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, at two Parole was considered the best juvenile racing. He was also, by many, thought the best four- and five-year-old. At four he beat the good gelding Shirley (by Lexington) in the August Stakes. Shirley had won the Preakness Stakes. Parole also won the Saratoga Cup, but more importantly he beat both Ten Broeck and Tom Ochiltree in the Baltimore Special at Pimlico Race Course on October 24, 1877. Both of these horses were considered the best horses in the West as well as the East. In 1877, Ten Broeck had won eight races in a row. One was a walkover since no one would enter against him, and two were races against time for the same reason. Tom Ochiltree, owned by Pierre Lorillard's brother George, was huge, standing above sixteen hands. One of the last sons of Lexington, he, like Shirley, had won the Preakness Stakes. Parole was younger than either of them. Earlier he had beaten Tom Ochiltree in the Saratoga Cup, but in later races, Tom had beaten him twice. Congress adjourned for the day to attend this Baltimore, Maryland event. Throughout most of the race, Ten Broeck led and Parole trailed. But by the end Parole was coming on fast. He lapped Tom Ochiltree and then passed Ten Broeck, taking the race by four lengths.