Café Prince (CA)

Bred in California, two-time Eclipse Award winner Café Prince was purchased by George Strawbridge, Jr. for $17,000 at Saratoga in 1971. He went on to win the American Grand National, two editions of the Colonial Cup, International Gold Cup, and Lovely Night Steeplechase. Café Prince set course records at Saratoga and Fair Hill while racing through age 10.

Inducted

1985

Foaled

1970

Sire

Creme dela Creme

Dam

Princess Blair

Damsire

Blue Prince

Breeder

Verne H. Winchell

Owner

Augustin Stables

Trainer

Jonathan Sheppard

Career

1972-1980

Earnings

$228,238

Racing Record

52

Starts

Year	Starts	First	Second	Third	Earnings
Year	Sts	1	2	3	$
1972	2	0	0	0	$0 $0
1973	9	4	1	0	$18780 $18,780
1974	7	2	0	0	$16260 $16,260
1975	4	2	1	1	$36850 $36,850
1977	10	4	1	1	$92025 $92,025
1978	5	2	1	2	$39063 $39,063
1979	7	2	0	0	$14310 $14,310
1980	8	2	1	0	$10950 $10,950

Biography

Bred in California, two-time Eclipse Award winner Café Prince was purchased by George Strawbridge, Jr. for $17,000 at Saratoga in 1971. He went on to win the American Grand National, two editions of the Colonial Cup, International Gold Cup, and Lovely Night Steeplechase. Café Prince set course records at Saratoga and Fair Hill while racing through age 10.

Racing under the banner of Strawbridge’s Augustin Stables, Café Prince was conditioned by Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard and raced on the flat early in his career before finding his calling over jumps. He won four of his five steeplechase races as a 3-year-old in 1973 and won his first major race, the Lovely Night at Saratoga, in 1974.

Unfortunately, Café Price came out of the Lovely Night with a bowed tendon and did not return to the races until September 1975. After finishing third in the Temple Gwathmey that October, Café Prince won the Colonial Cup at Camden by three lengths. In the process he defeated the race’s defending champion, Augustus Bay, as well as 1972 winner Soothsayer and Captain Christy of Ireland, rated the best steeplechaser on the British Isles. The victory, however, was a costly one for Café Prince. He reinjured his tendon and missed all of 1976.

Returning in 1977, Café Prince won the International Gold Cup at Rolling Rock by 18 lengths. He also won his second Colonial Cup and the Samuel K. Martin Memorial at Far Hills to win the Eclipse Award for Champion Steeplechase Horse.

In 1978, Café Prince won the Grand National and repeated in the International Gold Cup, this time by 14 lengths. He was again honored with the Eclipse Award. In 1979, five years after he won the Lovely Night, Café Prince won the Saratoga event for a second time, setting a course record.

Café Prince won two races as a 10-year-old before being retired with an overall record of 18-5-4 and earnings of $228,238 from 52 starts.