Nashua (KY)

Bred by William Woodward, Sr. under his Belair Stud banner, Nashua was trained by Hall of Famer James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, who won the Triple Crown twice for Belair in the 1930s with Gallant Fox and Omaha. Unfortunately, Woodward died in 1953 and never had the opportunity to see Nashua’s brilliance on the racetrack.

Inducted

1965

Foaled

1952

Sire

Nasrullah

Dam

Segula

Damsire

Johnstown

Breeder

Belair Stud

Owner

Belair Stud
Leslie Combs II

Trainer

James E. "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons

Career

1954-1956

Earnings

$1,288,565

Racing Record

30

Starts

Year	Starts	First	Second	Third	Earnings
Year	Sts	1	2	3	$
1954	8	6	2	0	$192865 $192,865
1955	12	10	1	1	$752550 $752,550
1956	10	6	1	0	$343150 $343,150

Biography

Bred by William Woodward, Sr. under his Belair Stud banner, Nashua was trained by Hall of Famer James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, who won the Triple Crown twice for Belair in the 1930s with Gallant Fox and Omaha. Unfortunately, Woodward died in 1953 and never had the opportunity to see Nashua’s brilliance on the racetrack.

Campaigned initially by William Woodward, Jr., Nashua broke his maiden in his career debut on May 5, 1954, at Belmont Park. Regarded as the top 2-year-old of the year, Nashua won the Juvenile Stakes, Grand Union Hotel Stakes, Hopeful Stakes, and Futurity Stakes that year and finished second to Summer Tan in the Cowdin. Nashua concluded his juvenile season with a record of 6-2-0 from eight starts and earnings of $192,865.

Sent to Florida that winter, Nashua began his sophomore campaign with three consecutive victories, including the Flamingo Stakes and Florida Derby. Nashua then won the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, defeating Summer Tan with a desperate surge in the final yards.

Nashua, however, had his six-race win streak snapped by Swaps in the Kentucky Derby. Swaps returned to California following the Derby and Nashua went on to win the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, Dwyer Stakes, and Arlington Classic.

Fans clamoring for a rematch between Nashua and Swaps got their wish that summer in Chicago at Washington Park in a $100,000 match race. Nashua won easily by 6½ lengths, but questions about the soundness of Swaps lingered after the race. Nashua added a victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and closed out his year with a record of 10-1-1 from 12 starts and earnings of $752,550 to be named Horse of the Year.

Nashua was sent into auction after the tragic death of William Woodward, Jr., who was fatally shot by his wife when she mistook him for a burglar. A syndicate headed by Leslie Combs II bid a record $1,251,200 for Nashua. Fitzsimmons remained as trainer and Nashua won six major stakes as a 4-year-old in 1956: the Widener, Grey Lag, Camden, Suburban, and Monmouth handicaps, as well as his second consecutive Jockey Club Gold Cup (in record time).

Nashua was retired following his second Jockey Club Gold Cup victory with a career record of 22-4-1 from 30 starts and earnings of $1,288,565, which bested the previous career mark of Citation.

Nashua lived to the age of 30, spending his entire stud career at Combs’ Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky. He sired 77 stakes winners, including Hall of Fame member Shuvee. As a broodmare sire, Nashua sired the dams of 122 stakes winners, including the mighty stallion Mr. Prospector.