Housebuster (KY)

Biography

The first horse in more than 20 years to win consecutive division championships as a sprinter, Housebuster was known for decimating his competition by wide margins.

A bay son of Mount Livermore out of the Great Above mare Big Dreams, Housebuster was bred in Kentucky by Murphy Stable and Blanche P. Levy. He was owned by Robert P. Levy and trained as a 2-year-old by Ronald Benshoff before being transferred to Hall of Famer Warren A. "Jimmy" Croll, Jr.

A winner of 14 stakes, including 11 graded events, Housebuster won the Jerome Handicap by 13 lengths, the Lafayette Stakes by 11, the Morven Breeders’ Cup by seven, and the Vosburgh Stakes, Derby Trial, and Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash by five or more each.

As a 2-year-old in 1989, Housebuster won two of his three starts, each of which was at the Meadowlands. The following year, Housebuster posted a record of 9-0-1 from 11 starts and earned $651,236. He won the Grade 1 Jerome, the Grade 2 Withers and six Grade 3 events — the King’s Bishop, Sheridan, Derby Trial, Lafayette, Swale, and Hutcheson. From November of 1989 through early May of 1990, Housebuster fashioned an eight-race win streak. His brilliant 3-year-old campaign was rewarded with the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Sprinter.

Returning as a 4-year-old 1991, Housebuster won the Eclipse Award again as the sport’s top sprinter, as he won four of eight starts, including Grade 1 victories in the Vosburgh and Carter. He also won the Grade 2 Forego and the DeFrancis Dash, in which he defeated future Hall of Famer Safely Kept. He was the first sprinter since Ta Wee in 1970 and 1971 to win consecutive championships in the sprint division.

Housebuster was retired following his 1991 campaign with a career record of 15-3-1 from 22 starts and earnings of $1,229,696.  

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion Sprinter — 1990
Eclipse Award Champion Sprinter — 1991

Notable

Won the Derby Trial Stakes — 1990
Won the Hutcheson Stakes — 1990
Won the Jerome Handicap — 1990
Won the King's Bishop Stakes — 1990
Won the Lafayette Stakes — 1990
Won the Sheridan Stakes — 1990
Won the Swale Stakes — 1990
Won the Withers Stakes — 1990
Won the Carter Handicap — 1991
Won the Forego Handicap — 1991
Won the Vosburgh Stakes — 1991

Horse Profile for Housebuster | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information