Burgoo King
Burgoo King was a prominent American Thoroughbred racehorse known for his impressive victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in 1932. Foaled in 1929 at Idle Hour Stock Farm in Kentucky, he was bred from a notable lineage, being sired by Bubbling Over, the 1926 Kentucky Derby winner. His name pays homage to James T. Looney, celebrated for his culinary expertise in making Burgoo, a traditional Kentucky stew closely tied to horse racing culture. Despite a promising start in his racing career, Burgoo King faced setbacks, including an ankle injury that hindered his performance and ultimately prevented him from competing in the Belmont Stakes, which denied him the opportunity to claim the Triple Crown. His career concluded with a modest stint as a stud after a brief comeback attempt in 1934. Burgoo King passed away in 1946, leaving behind a legacy as one of the notable horses in Thoroughbred racing history. His connection to Kentucky's rich racing traditions and culinary heritage makes him a significant figure in the sport.
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Burgoo King
Burgoo King was a notable American Thoroughbred racing horse that won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness in 1932, but ultimately fell short of capturing the Triple Crown after failing to compete in the Belmont Stakes. Owned by businessman and race track proprietor Colonel Edward R. Bradley and sired by 1926 Kentucky Derby winner Bubbling Over, Burgoo King had a relatively brief racing career that was interrupted by an ankle injury and a modest career as a stud.
Overview
Burgoo King was foaled at Idle Hour Stock farm in Kentucky in 1929. His breeding was the result of an agreement between Colonel Bradley—his eventual owner—and breeder H.N. Davis. At the time, Bradley owned a mare named Minawand that he wished to give away. He offered the horse to Davis, but Davis would only accept her if he was also given a free season to stud 1926 Kentucky Derby winner Bubbling Over. Bradley subsequently accepted Davis’ proposal, the terms of which also called for the two men to share joint ownership of the resulting offspring. Shortly after Minawand gave birth to a colt, Bradley inspected the young horse and opted to buy out Davis’ share to take full ownership.
Bradley named his colt Burgoo King in honor of James T. Looney, who was then known as the “Burgoo King” in recognition of his renowned mastery of a popular Kentucky stew called Burgoo. A mixture of vegetables, barbeque sauce, and a variable combination of meats, Burgoo is a traditional Kentucky dish that is closely associated with horse racing and the Kentucky Derby.
Burgoo King began his racing career at two-years-old in 1931. Although he failed to win any stakes in his first season, he managed a third-place finish at Pimlico and showed great promise. Burgoo King reached the zenith of his career the following year. Emerging as the frontrunner of the three-year-old class, Burgoo King appeared to have a legitimate shot at winning the prestigious Triple Crown. He began his championship run with a win at the Kentucky Derby. The victory was historic both in that it made him the third of four Bradley-owned horses to win the Kentucky Derby and in that it also made Burgoo King and Bubbling Over the second father-and-son pair to win the famous race. After subsequently winning the Preakness, Burgoo King seemed poised to win the final prize at the Belmont Stakes, but never got the chance to compete in the race. His reason for missing the Belmont Stakes is not entirely clear. Although he did suffer an ankle injury in 1932 that had an obvious impact on the remainder of his career, it is uncertain whether it was that or an issue with paperwork that led Burgoo King to forfeit his shot at the Triple Crown.
After missing his entire four-year-old season while recovering from his ankle injury, Burgoo King attempted a comeback in 1934. Aside from winning two minor races, he enjoyed little success and was ultimately retired and put out to stud. He died in 1946 at the Darby Dan Farm in Columbus, Ohio.
Bibliography
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“Burgoo King (USA).” Equibase, 2019, www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=68170®istry=T&rbt=TB. Accessed 20 Mar. 2019.
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Krishna, Priya. “The History of Burgoo, the Kentucky Derby’s Traditional Dish.” Tasting Table, 3 May 2018, www.tastingtable.com/dine/national/burgoo-history-kentucky-derby. Accessed 20 Mar. 2019.
Schnyder, Mark. “Family of Teen Jockey Who Won 1932 Derby Believes He Was Murdered.” WAVE 3 News, 27 Apr. 2007, www.wave3.com/story/6438540/family-of-teen-jockey-who-won-1932-derby-believes-he-was-murdered. Accessed 20 Mar. 2019.