Galgo Jr.

Galgo Jr. (1928-December 21, 1936) was a Thoroughbred racehorse that was raised and raced in Puerto Rico notable for jointly holding the record of the most wins in a single season and holding the record for most wins ever by a Thoroughbred racehorse.[1]

Galgo Jr.
SireGalgo
GrandsireFair Play
DamWar Relief
DamsireGranite
SexStallion
Foaled1928
DiedDecember 21, 1936
CountryPuerto Rico
ColorBay
Record159: 137-18-1
Earnings$31,738
Major wins
Clásico Luis Muñoz Rivera(1930)
Governor's Cup (1931)

Background

Galgo Jr. was a bay colt named after his father Galgo, who himself was named after the Spanish word for Greyhound, effectively making Galgo Jr.'s name in English Greyhound Jr. Although most of his pedigree was nothing special, his grandsire was Fair Play, who was the father of the legendary Man O War.[2]

Racing career

Galgo Jr. was born on Vieques Island and both of his parents were imported from America. Throughout his career, he would only ever race at two racetracks in Puerto Rico. Quintana Hippodrome and Las Monjas Hippodrome.[1] He would never try to prove himself at the international level helping him easily rack up victories without much challenge. With a major highlight victory being the Clásico Luis Muñoz Rivera.[3] In the race, he would set a stakes record running the 6-furlong race in 1:19.00 Although it seems slow, at the time the record was hard to break. Taking 9 years till Sirena broke it with a 1:18.60. He was easily able to rack up 21 wins by the end of his 2-year-old season and in July 1930, he would start one of the greatest winning streaks of all of horse racing. But his 3-year-old season was by far his best season He was even able to take the second jewel of the Puerto Rican triple crown the Governor's Cup.[4] By July 1931, he had won 39 straight races, which at the time was an all-time record. However, in the latter half of the 1930s Cofresi reset the record with 49 straight victories.[5] Condado would also break Galgo Jr's record with 43 straight victories.[5] However, in 1931 he also set a joint record for most wins in a single season. Sharing this record with the Australian Iron Gelding Jorrocks. To this day that joint record has never been equaled and it likely never will.

Although he never reached the same heights again he would continue his success until 1936. He would come close to equalling his joint record when he managed to reach 25 wins in 1935 at the age of 7. He would also either set or equal a total of 8 track records at Quintana Hippodrome and Las Monjas Hippodrome that would range from ​5 1⁄2 furlongs to 9 furlongs. Although none of these records currently stand today. Despite this it he was still a versatile runner he could do it all he could sprint, run at a mile and even further.

Year Won Earnings
1930 21 $7,757
1931 30 $9,244
1932 19 $6,109
1933 15 $2,209
1934 18 $2,771
1935 25 $2,270
1936 9 $949

Later career and death

Galgo Jr. raced well into his 8-year-old season continuing to rack up wins and build his world record. By the end of the year he racked up 9 victories and did not have plans of retirement. However one faithful day on December 21, 1936 while he was in his training box at Las Monjas Hippodrome he collapsed and died of a heart attack.[1] By then he had raced 159 times won 137 of them with 18-second place finishes 1 third 2 fourths and one race where he finished off the board. He earned a $31,738 on the track which at the time was a record however just like his track records this record didn't last. Despite such a quick and abrupt end to his career Galgo Jr. was still a local hero in Puerto Rico and to this very day he still holds the record for the most wins by a single horse and will forever hold the record of most wins in a single season along with Jorrocks.

References
  1. Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, and Champions. Guinness Publishing Ltd. p. 14.
  2. "pedigreequery Galgo Jr". pedigreequery.
  3. "CLÁSICOS LUIS MUÑOZ RIVERA (1925-2016)". PUERTO RICO HIPISMO.
  4. "COPA GOBERNADOR (1924-2018)". PUERTO RICO HIPISMO.
  5. "LIDERES EN VICTORIAS CONSECUTIVAS". PUERTO RICO HIPISMO.
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