steward wrote:Thank you, TJ, for your reply.
In my research, I found that Keene first sold Frizette in early 1908 to Wernberg, who in turn sold her (later that year, iirc) to Hermann Duryea; who took her to France. I'm not sure how that meshed with Keene and his development for Keeneland. BTW, Frizette did not go for that much.
You're welcome and I find this an interesting discussion. I think our research differs slightly in Frizette's disposition, as I thought she was claimed twice, rather then sold outright. Keene was listed as the breeder of Frizette after he bought her dam Ondulee, in foal to Hamburg, at auction for the hefty sum of $14,000. The resulting foal was Frizette and the only foal bred by Keene from this family, as he sold the mare Ondulee to Argentina connections. Keene as owner/breeder sent Frizette, Colin, Celt and other less notable 2YO's to his trainer, James Rowe Sr. Frizette won 4 of nine for Castleton and Rowe before dropping in a claiming race. She was promptly claimed for the $2,000 asking price by J.A. Wernberg. He raced her as a 3YO, mostly in claimers. Frizette was claimed again, this time by Duryea.....
One must remember that the controlling factor at that time was the rapid banishment of horse racing in the United States, including the threat to it in the richer Eastern bastions. The best horses were headed overseas, and stables were liquidating the others in order to get something/anything for their investments. Bona fide stars like Sir Martin, Tanya, etc. went directly to France or England. Otoh, horses much lower in the pecking order like Frizette were put on the domestic marketplace for budget buying.
....This is when (as you said) public sentiment for racing and gambling had turned the tide, NY racing was destined to close in 1910 for two years and Duryea brought Frizette to France seeing the handwriting on the wall. She raced for Duryea in France and won before he retired her to the breeding shed. She was put in foal to Irish Lad in 1909 and produced a classic winner with her first foal, Banshee. Duryea passed away in 1916 and Marcel Boussac bought much of Duryea's stock from his widow. Boussac, one of the most influential breeders in 20th century France, had the dubious recognition of sending this great producer to slaughter after being barren 2 years in a row.
As I stated in my previous post, the catalyst for the public interest about Frizette in ~1945 was Charles Hatton, rather than a sudden realization that Frizette had had a breeding impact. That had been known and considered for quite awhile, and had only developed minimal official recognition. Hatton seems to have revived and raised awareness, even though by that time it was her great grandkids who were doing the heavy lifting. Which, in the tradition of the sport, was an odd way to get a stakes race named after an otherwise ordinary runner.
...Yes, I agree Charles Hatton was the catalyst in the Frizette Stakes and a student of racing history. That's why I think it was the death of Keene in 1943 that sent Hatton on this quest to gain archival recognition and show the influence the Keene family had in racing, breeding and the development of Keeneland. In turn how Frizette also was front and center on opening day of his crowning achievement (Keeneland) when Myrtlewood (2nd dam Frizette) won three races at the first Keeneland meet. You're right though, I may be pushing this line of thought a bit too far:>) TJ