Lonesome Glory (KY)

Biography

The first steeplechase horse to win five Eclipse Awards and the first to earn more than $1 million, Lonesome Glory was the most dominant American jumper of the 1990s, as he was named champion in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1999.

Trained by Bruce Miller and ridden primarily by his daughter, Blythe Miller, Lonesome Glory was campaigned by Kay Jeffords, whose husband bred the horse but died prior to his racing career. A Kentucky-bred son of Transworld out of the Green Dancer mare Stronghold, Lonesome Glory nearly became a show horse, but he proved too rambunctious for that career.

As a 3-year-old in 1991, Lonesome Glory won his only jump race before winning his first Eclipse Award the following year. His 1992 ledger included an impressive victory in the Sport of Kings Challenge Stakes at Cheltenham in England.

As a 5-year-old in 1993, Lonesome Glory won the Swan Lake Stakes at Great Meadow and the $250,000 Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase at Belmont by 8½ lengths in course-record time to secure his second consecutive Eclipse Award. In 1994, he won the Temple Gwathmey and Colonial Cup, but Warm Spell claimed the Eclipse Award.

In 1995, Lonesome Glory earned his third Eclipse Award in four years with a seasonal record of 6-1-0 from seven starts. He won his second Colonial Cup to go along with victories in the Iroquois, A.P. Smithwick, and New York Turf Writers. He also returned to England and won the Crowngap Construction Handicap at Sandown by 11 lengths in his final race of the year.

Lonesome Glory went winless in 1996, but returned to the top of the steeplechase ranks the following year as a 9-year-old, winning the Colonial Cup for the third time and adding a victory in the Carolina Cup. He became the first horse to win both the Colonial and Carolina cups in the same season at Springdale in Camden. South Carolina, earning a $250,000 bonus. Lonesome Glory was named the Eclipse Award winner in 1997 for the fourth time, equaling the record set by Flatterer.

Injuries hampered Lonesome Glory as a 10-year-old in 1998, but he did manage to win the Hard Scuffle Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Returning as an 11-year-old in 1999, Lonesome Glory won his record fifth Eclipse Award. He opened with his second victory in the Carolina Cup and followed with an impressive win the Royal Chase at Keeneland, which was his final career race. Lonesome Glory was retired while in training that fall with a record of 19-4-5 from 35 steeplechase starts and an overall ledger of 24-5-6 from 44 starts. His jump earnings of $1,318,868 established a new career mark. Lonesome Glory also topped the National Steeplechase Association’s theoretical handicap three times in the 1990s, including a record 170-pound honor after the 1995 season.   

Lonesome Glory became only the fifth horse to win five or more Eclipse Awards, joining Hall of Famers Secretariat, Forego, Affirmed, and John Henry.  

“To me, the greatest thing he did was win two races in England — one over hurdles and one over steeplechase fences,” said trainer Miller, “but I think his best race was that 1993 Breeders’ Cup. There were two four-horse entries in that race, and we were the ninth horse. He beat Highland Bud, who was going for his third Breeders’ Cup win.”

Lonesome Glory died at the age of 14 on Feb. 25, 2002,  at Bruce Miller’s farm near Cochranville, Pennsylvania. He was buried at Springdale Race Course.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Outstanding Steeplechase Horse — 1992
Eclipse Award Outstanding Steeplechase Horse — 1993
Eclipse Award Outstanding Steeplechase Horse — 1995
Eclipse Award Outstanding Steeplechase Horse — 1997
Eclipse Award Outstanding Steeplechase Horse — 1999

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the Steeplechase — 1993

Notable

Won the Colonial Cup — 1994, 1995, 1997
Won the Carolina Cup — 1997, 1999
Won the Foxbrook Supreme Hurdle Stakes — 1992
Won the Swan Lake Hurdle Stakes — 1993
Won the Temple Gwathmey Hurdle Handicap — 1994
Won the Iroquois Stakes — 1995
Won the A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Hurdle Handicap — 1995
Won the New York Turf Writers Cup — 1995
Won the Hard Scuffle Hurdle Handicap — 1998
Won the Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings Hurdle Handicap — 1999

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