Colorado King
| Colorado King | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Grand Rapids |
| Grandsire | Machiero |
| Dam | Courageous |
| Damsire | Fairthorn |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1959 |
| Country | South Africa |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | Birch Bros. |
| Owner | P.S. Louw (SA) Poltex Stable (USA) |
| Trainer | Sydney C. Laird (SA) Wally Dunn (USA) |
| Record | 41: 17-3-7 |
| Earnings | R64,590 (SA) + $251,825 (US) |
| Major wins | |
| Juvenile Stakes (1962) Cape of Good Hope Derby Stakes (1963) Cape of Good Hope Guineas (1963) Durban July Handicap (1963) Sunset Handicap (1964) American Handicap (1964) Hollywood Gold Cup (1964) | |
| Honours | |
| Colorado King Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse SA | |
| Last updated on April 12, 2007 | |
Colorado King (foaled 1959) was a South African Thoroughbred racehorse who also competed successfully in the United States. Virtually all thoroughbred horses in the Southern Hemisphere are born between July 1 and December 31, and the South African racing year begins on August 1 whereas in the United States they are usually born between January and March.
Conditioned by renowned trainer Sydney C. Laird, Colorado King won ten races in South Africa including the Cape Derby plus that country's premier event, the Durban July Handicap. Sold to an American racing partnership led by William R. (Fritz) Hawn, he raced under the Poltex Stable banner in California. There, under trainer Wally Dunn, Colorado King won six races in 1964 including the Hollywood Gold Cup in which he defeated Native Diver, the American Handicap where he equaled the world record for 9 furlongs and the Sunset Handicap at a mile and five-eighths by seven lengths. In 1965 he won only once in nine starts before being retired to stud where he met with limited success as a sire.