Hill Prince (VA)

Biography

Bred and owned by Christopher T. Chenery, Hill Prince won six of seven starts as a co-champion juvenile before a Horse of the Year campaign as a 3-year-old in 1950 and additional success as an older horse.

Trained by J. H. “Casey” Hayes, Hill Prince won the World’s Playground Stakes at Atlantic City and the Babylon Handicap and Cowdin Stakes at Aqueduct as a 2-year-old to split divisional honors with Oil Capitol.

As a 3-year-old in 1950, Hill Prince posted a record of 8-2-3 from 15 starts and earnings of $314,265. His wins included the Wood Memorial, Preakness Stakes, Withers Stakes, American Derby, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Jerome Handicap, and Sunset Handicap. Hill Prince built a contentious rivalry with Middleground that year, as Middleground won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, but Hill Prince took the Preakness and three other head-to-head meetings. In the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Hill Prince defeated Hall of Famer Noor, a multiple world-record holder and four-time conqueror of Citation. In the Sunset Handicap, Hill Prince defeated top filly Next Move.

After being named Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Male in 1950, Hill Prince returned as a 4-year-old for an abbreviated campaign. A fissure fracture in his right hind cannon bone kept him out of the races until September of 1951. However, when he returned, Hill Prince won the New York Handicap under 128 pounds.

Hill Prince raced twice as a 5-year-old in 1952, winning the San Marcos Handicap. He was retired with a career record of 17-5-4 from 30 starts and earnings of $422,140.

As a stallion, Hill Prince sired 23 stakes winners, including the dams of Hall of Fame members Dark Mirage and Shuvee. He also sired champion filly Bayou. Hill Prince died in 1970 at the age of 23.

Achievements

Champion 2-Year-Old Male (Daily Racing Form) — 1949
Horse of the Year — 1950
Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1950
Champion Older Male (Daily Racing Form) — 1951

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Preakness Stakes — 1950