Citation was one of the greatest thoroughbreds in the history of American horse racing. Thoroughbreds are horses whose ancestry can be traced to three Arabian stallions that were brought to England, probably from the Middle East, in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s. Stallions are male horses that can be used for breeding. In his first two years of competition, Citation won 27 of 29 races. He also won 16 races in a row, from 1948 to early 1950. In 1951, Citation became the first race horse with career earnings of more than $1 million.
Citation was trained by the famous American trainer Ben Jones and Jones’s son Jimmy. Citation’s jockeys included two of the greatest in American racing, Eddie Arcaro and Steve Brooks. In 1947, Citation won eight of nine races and was named the Champion Two Year Old Colt of the year. In 1948, he became only the eighth horse to win the Triple Crown of American racing. The Triple Crown consists of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.
Citation was born on April 11, 1945, at Calumet Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. His sire (father) was Bull Lea and his dam (mother) was Hydroplane II. Citation was retired from racing in 1951 after winning 32 of 45 races. He finished second 10 times and third twice. Citation died on Aug. 8, 1970. Citation sired Silver Spoon, who was named the American Champion three-year old in 1959, and Fabius, who won the 1956 Preakness Stakes.
See also Horse racing .
