Coaltown (KY)

Biography

Known for his extraordinary speed, Calumet Farm’s Coaltown set a world record, equaled two others, and broke four track records during his illustrious four-year career.

Trained by Hall of Famer Ben Jones, Coaltown was nicknamed “The Goose” by stable employees for his habit of outstretching his long, thin neck when he raced. Overshadowed by stablemate Citation as a 3-year-old in 1948, Coaltown finished second to the Triple Crown winner in the Kentucky Derby, but he beat older horses that year in the Phoenix Handicap and set a track record in the Blue Grass Stakes. Coaltown was recognized as 1948 Champion Sprint Horse and finished with a record of 8-3-2 from 13 starts and earnings of $104,650.

As a 4-year-old, Coaltown came into his own as Citation missed the year with an osselet problem. Coaltown won 12 of his first 13 starts, including the McLennan, Widener, Gallant Fox, Roger Williams, Stars and Stripes, Arlington, and Washington Park handicaps. He set a world record for one mile at Washington Park, equaled a world record for 1⅛ miles at Hialeah Park, and matched a world record for 1¼ miles at Gulfstream Park. He also set a track record at Arlington Park that year and equaled one at Hollywood Park. Overall, Coaltown posted a record of 12-3-0 from 15 starts and earnings of $276,125 in 1949 to be recognized by Turf and Sport Digest as Horse of the Year.

Coaltown had limited success the next two years, winning only three of 11 starts before being retired with a career record of 23-6-3 from 39 starts and earnings of $415,675. He was considered a disappointment as a sire and was sold to breeding interests in France, where he died at the age of 20 in 1965. 

Achievements

Champion Sprint Horse — 1948
Horse of the Year (Turf & Sport Digest) — 1949
Champion Handicap Horse — 1949