Venetian Way

Venetian Way (March 23, 1957 – October 17, 1964) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1960 Kentucky Derby.

Venetian Way
SireRoyal Coinage
GrandsireEight Thirty
DamFirefly
DamsirePapa Redbird
SexStallion
Foaled1957
CountryUnited States
ColorChestnut
BreederJohn W. Greathouse
OwnerSunny Blue Farm
(Isaac Blumberg)
TrainerVictor J. Sovinski
RiderBill Hartack
Record20: 7-4-3
Earnings$359,422
Major wins
Prairie State Stakes (1959)
Washington Park Futurity Stakes (1959)
Warren Wright Memorial Stakes (1960)

Triple Crown Race wins:
Kentucky Derby (1960)

Last updated on 2019-08-21

Background

Venetian Way was a chestnut horse bred in Kentucky by John W. Greathouse.[1] He was purchased by Chicago, Illinois businessman Isaac Blumberg who raced him under the nom de course of Sunny Blue Farm. Venetian Way was trained by Victor Sovinski of Kankakee, Illinois. He was named after a street in Miami Beach.[2]

Racing career

At age two, Venetian Way made nine starts winning four times. Of his eleven starts at age three, he earned three more wins. Leading up to the 1960 U.S. Triple Crown series, Venetian Way ran second to Bally Ache in the Florida Derby. He was sent off as the third parimutuel betting choice in the Kentucky Derby behind favorite Tompion and second choice, Bally Ache.

1960 Triple Crown

In the 1960 Kentucky Derby- the "drugstore Derby"- Venetian Way beat Bally Ache. Venetian Way was a sore horse who responded admirably to butazolidin, legal in Kentucky at the time. When Venetian Way ran in the Preakness two weeks later without the help of butazolidin (pain-killing drugs are not legal in Maryland), he did not finish in the money while the sound-legged Bally Ache won. The performance of Venetian Way with and without butazolidin and other similar cases convinced the Kentucky State Racing Commission that drugs were unfair to the horse and to the public.[3]

Ridden in the Kentucky Derby by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey Bill Hartack, Venetian Way remained within striking distance, then passed Bally Ache as they came around the final turn heading into the homestretch and won going away by 3½ lengths. In the ensuing 1960 Preakness Stakes, Venetian Way finished fifth to winner Bally Ache. Trainer Vic Sovinski was unhappy with how Hartack was riding the colt while training for the Belmont, and he sacked him. Venetian Way ran second behind Celtic Ash, who was ridden by Hartack, in the longest of the Triple Crown races, the 1½ mile Belmont Stakes.[4]

Stud record

Retired to stud for the 1961 season, Venetian Way was not successful as a sire.

  • In the Stephen King novel 11/22/63, Jake Epping, the novel's protagonist, claims his largest successful bet was on Venetian Way in the 1960 Kentucky Derby.[5]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Venetian Way (USA), chestnut stallion, 1957[1]
Sire
Royal Coinage (USA)
1952		 Eight Thirty (USA)
1936		 Pilate Friar Rock
Herodias
Dinner Time High Time
Seaplane
Canina (USA)
1941		 Bull Dog Teddy
Plucky Liege
Coronium Pot Au Feu
Bird Call
Dam
Firefly (USA)
1952		 Papa Redbird (USA)
1945		 Balladier Black Toney
Blue Warbler
Taj Bibi Sickle
Black Queen
Minstrelette (USA)
1933		 Royal Minstrel Tetratema
Harpsichord
Bannerette Pennant
Meetime (Family 4-m)[6]

References
  1. "Venetian Way pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
  2. Rees, Jennie (4 February 2015). "Derby countdown | Venetian Way, 1960". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  3. Morgan, Jim (21 January 1970). "A horse is a horse, of course, of course". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  4. Chong, Kevin (2014). "The honest rider". Northern Dancer: The Legendary Horse That Inspired a Nation. Penguin Canada. ISBN 9780143191933.
  5. King, Stephen (2016). 11/22/63: A Novel. Simon and Schuster. p. 363. ISBN 9781501120602.
  6. "Magnolia - Family 4-m". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
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