Lecomte Horse Pedigree

Owner: Thomas J. Wells
Breeder: Thomas J. Wells

Bred by Thomas Wells in Wellswood, La. Lecomte's maiden victory was in 1853 at the Metairie Race Course, winning at mile heats, the second heat being the fastest run to that date. After winning his next four races, he met his first defeat on April 1, 1854, in the Great State Post Stake, finishing behind the immortal Lexington. One week later he won four straight one mile heats with an average time of 1:53 3/4, and in doing so handed Lexington his only career defeat. (Turf historian William Robertson reports this race as actually having been a jockey club purse of four-mile heats, with the first heat being run in 7:26, breaking Fashion's world record for 4 miles by 6-1/2 seconds. Lecomte won in straight heats, the second heat being run in 1:52-3/4. He also notes Lecomte as actually having been foaled in Kentucky.) After winning his next three starts, Lecomte was beaten at four miles by Lexington at Metairie on April 14, 1855, bringing to a close one of the most famous rivalries in American Turf history. Following his final meeting with Lexington, Lecomte was rested until the fall, when he defeated the good older horse Arrow at Natchez. In December, Lecomte was beaten by Arrow in a 3-mile heat race at Metairie and then walked over for a 4-mile heat race at the same track. The following spring (1856), Lecomte suffered two straight defeats to Pryor to close out his American career. Following his defeats by Pryor, Lecomte was purchased for $10,000 by Lexington's owner, Richard Ten Broeck (who also owned Arrow and Pryor) and sent to England to race. He had reportedly developed "a leg" before leaving America and stood at stud briefly before attempting to resume his racing career. He ran only once in England, losing by 20 lengths in September 1857, and pulled up lame; a month later, he died of colic.

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