Good and Plenty (KY)

Biography

Regarded as the top American steeplechaser of the early 1900s, Good and Plenty arrived at the races as a 4-year-old in 1904 and won seven consecutive jump events that year, including the Westbury Steeplechase and Champion Steeplechase Handicap at Morris Park, the richest steeplechase of the season.

Bred in Kentucky by Frank B. Harper, Good and Plenty was owned by Thomas Hitchcock, Jr. and trained by Charles Kiernan. Good and Plenty finished his 4-year-old season with a record of 8-1-1 from 10 starts and earnings of $17,140.

As a 5-year-old, Good and Plenty won the New York Steeplechase Handicap and the Whitney Memorial Steeplechase in his only two starts. In 1906, at the age of 6, Good and Plenty won the Grand National at Belmont Park under 170 pounds, an impost that was not carried by another winner in that race for until 30 years later. Good and Plenty’s time of 5:25 for 2½ miles bettered the course record by 12 seconds. He also won a second Whitney Memorial that year.

The Thoroughbred Record described the action in the Grand National: “The run through the front stretch was sensational, as the horses were well-bunched. They took the water jump so well together and in such splendid style that the thousands in the stand rose to their feet with a mighty cheer. There have been greats in the past days of steeplechasing, but I am not ashamed to assert my opinion that Good and Plenty is the equal of any of them, if not the superior of all.”

Good and Plenty won his final race in 1907 as a 7-year-old to conclude his career with a record of 14-4-1 from 21 starts and earnings of $45,815. Suffering from chronic navicular disease, Good and Plenty was euthanized in 1907.