Granville (KY)

Biography

Recognized as Horse of the Year in 1936 — the first year of formal voting — Granville was a son of Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox out of the Sarmatian mare Gravita.

A homebred for the Belair Stud of William Woodward, Sr., Granville was trained by Hall of Famer James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons and arrived at the races as a 2-year-old in 1935. After four unsuccessful attempts, Granville broke his maiden Sept. 7, 1935, at Aqueduct for his only victory as a juvenile.

As a sophomore, Granville won his season debut in an allowance at Jamaica before finishing second in the Wood Memorial. He then lost rider Jimmy Stout in the Kentucky Derby before suffering narrow defeats in the Preakness Stakes and Suburban Handicap.

Granville finally broke through on the big stage when he won the Belmont Stakes, which began a six-race win streak. Following the Belmont, Granville won the Arlington Classic, Kenner Stakes, Travers Stakes, Saratoga Cup, and Lawrence Realization in succession. In the 1¾-mile Saratoga Cup, Granville defeated Hall of Famer Discovery by eight lengths in arguably the best performance of his career. An ankle injury prompted his retirement after the Lawrence Realization.

Overall, Granville finished with a record of 8-4-3 from 18 starts and earnings of $111,820. Following his retirement, Granville stood at Kentmere Farm in Virginia and later at John Hay Whitney’s farm near Lexington, Kentucky, and Word Ranch in New Mexico. He sired only two stakes winners. 

Achievements

Horse of the Year — 1936
Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1936

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Belmont Stakes — 1936

Notable

Won the Arlington Classic — 1936
Won the Kenner Stakes — 1936
Won the Lawrence Realization Stakes — 1936
Won the Saratoga Cup — 1936
Won the Travers Stakes — 1936

Horse Profile for Granville | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information