Fairmount (KY)
Bred and owned by Joseph E. Widener, Fairmount was one of the top jumpers of the 1920s, winning three consecutive editions of the prestigious Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase.
1985
1921
Fair Play
Sunflower
Rock Sand
Joseph E. Widener
Joseph E. Widener
J. Howard Lewis
1923-1931
$74,075
Racing Record
22
Starts
| 1923 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $0 $0 |
| 1925 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $3200 $3,200 |
| 1926 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | $30875 $30,875 |
| 1927 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | $21000 $21,000 |
| 1928 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | $17900 $17,900 |
| 1929 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | $1100 $1,100 |
| 1931 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $0 $0 |
Biography
Bred and owned by Joseph E. Widener, Fairmount was one of the top jumpers of the 1920s, winning three consecutive editions of the prestigious Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase.
A chestnut gelding by Fair Play out of the Rock Sand mare Sunflower, Fairmount was foaled in 1921 at Widener’s Elmendorf Farm, near Lexington, Kentucky. Like many other jumpers, Fairmount was tried initially for flat racing. He found little success in that discipline, finishing seventh in each of his three races as a 2-year-old in 1923.
Sent to Hall of Fame steeplechase trainer J. Howard Lewis, Fairmount spent 1924 training for steeplechase competition before returning to the races in 1925. In his first year as a jumper, Fairmount finished second to Hall of Famer Jolly Roger in a maiden event at Belmont. He was again second nine days later to the seasoned Brigadier General in the Bowling Brook Steeplechase Handicap. Lewis was encouraged by what he saw and sent Fairmount to Maryland in the fall. He won against maiden company in a canter by 40 lengths on Oct. 8 at Laurel Park before closing out his season a month later with a 10-length win in an allowance race at Pimlico.
Fairmount came into his own in 1926 with his first victory in the Temple Gwathmey, as well as wins in the Manly Memorial Steeplechase, Charles L. Appleton Memorial Steeplechase (by 20 lengths), and International Steeplechase (by 20 lengths). He won the Temple Gwathmey again 1927 and also in 1928. His victories in the race helped Widener win the Temple Gwathmey six consecutive years (1925 through 1930).
In each of his Temple Gwathmey wins, Fairmount defeated the younger sensation Jolly Roger. Fairmount carried 170 pounds in winning both the 1927 and 1928 editions of the Temple Gwathmey.
In 1927, Fairmount also won the Broad Hollow Steeplechase under 165 pounds, giving the runner-up 22 pounds. Fairmount raced with success through 1929. He was retired after one final race as a 10-year-old in 1931 with a career record of 12-5-0 from 22 starts and earnings of $74,075.
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