Gallant Fox (March 23, 1927 - November 13, 1954) was a
United States Thoroughbred horseracing champion.
Born at
Claiborne Farm in
Paris, Kentucky by
Sir Gallahad III out of the mare
Marguerite, Gallant Fox was a bay colt who became the second horse to win the
U.S. Triple Crown.
Owned by the
Belair Stud of
Collington, Maryland, Gallant Fox was ridden by
Earl Sande and trained by
Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons. After a mediocre campaign as a two-year-old, he was a winner at three in 9 out of 10 races; among them the 1930
Lawrence Realization Stakes, the
Wood Memorial Stakes and the Triple Crown races: the
Kentucky Derby,
Preakness Stakes, and the
Belmont Stakes. He also won the
Jockey Club Gold Cup. His only loss that year was to a 100 to 1 shot,
Jim Dandy, in the
Travers Stakes.
Gallant Fox was retired to
stud after the 1930 racing season and stood at stud for 22 years. Among his progeny were 1935 Triple Crown winner
Omaha and
Granville,
Horse of the Year. As well, he sired
Flares who in 1938 became only the second American-bred to ever win
England's Ascot Gold Cup.
Gallant Fox was first US Triple Crown winner to sire a second generation Triple Crown champion when his foal
Omaha won the US Triple Crown in 1935. Fifty eight years later, in 1993,
Affirmed became the second when one of Affirmed's foals,
Peteski, won the
Canadian Triple Crown.
Gallant Fox died on November 13, 1953, and was buried at Claiborne Farm. In 1957, he was inducted into the
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The
The Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the
top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century listed Gallant Fox at #28.
Breeding