Voter, Etc

[SaratogaTB]

I just returned from a relaxing holiday visit to my parents at home in Saratoga. Mom has quite the collection of racing treasures, and I noted the beautiful framed photos of two horses, each from about 1904. One of the horses is named Voter, and the other is Chuctanunda. I’ve found references to each, most notably that Voter is the Sire of Ballot. What I don’t understand is why neither of these horses in in Equibase? Does Equibase only start at a certain year and they raced before that?

Interestingly they were each stabled at a farm over 30 miles from Saratoga, I believe called Hurricana which later was called Sanford. Story is that they were walked to Saratoga for the races. Thirty miles!

[LaurieB]

I am guessing that the horses are just too old for Equibase. Neither Bristnet nor Equineline has a listing for Voter either (though Brisnet does show a mare named Voterina born in 1914.)

[Linny]

They were part of the fabled Sanford family stables. Mr. Sanford was a wealthy carpet maker from Amsterdam who established a very successful breeding and racing outfit. The farm raised and broke the horses and they were always pointed for the biggest races at Saratoga. The farm even had an indoor gallop back in the early 1900’s. The day the horses left the farm by rail to Saratoga each year was a festive occasion in Amsterdam as the Sanford factory was closed so the workers could see the horses off.
Sadly, despite efforts of many, the property is now a strip mall. At a party recently, I met the son of one of the Sanford jockeys. He’d worked at the farm in his youth.
The Sanford Stakes is named for the family.

[SaratogaTB]

I heard there is a pile of Sanford monuments somewhere in Amsterdam that the national racing museum would love. Any idea who to speak with to try to preserve those?

[vineyridge]

Ballot, is, of course, most famous today as the sire of Rose Leaves, Bull Lea’s dam.

Her son, Bois des Rose, was the sire of Cormac; her son, Espino, was the sire of Wait A Bit; both were sires of excellent jumping horses.

According Thoroughbred Heritage, Voter was bred by Foxhall Keene in Great Britain, brought with his dam as a yearling to the US in 1894, and owned and raced by the famous James P. Keene. After his career he was retired to stud at the Keene’s famous Castleton Stud in Kentucky where Ballot was bred and raced by the Keenes.

It was only after Keene died that Voter was purchased by Sanford, per TB Heritage.

[gotpaints]

Unfortunately, horses born before a certain period have a lot of incomplete history (if they are listed at all) on both Equineline and Equibase. It’s always hit or miss when you look up the older horses on both sites.

[Linny]

http://www.sanfordstudfarm.org/wp/

[CVPeg]

I lived in Galway in the 80’s, and was often on the road. Well remember the beautiful property on Rte 30 in Amsterdam, but wasn’t aware of this history - just that it was horse related “back in the day”. I believe my father drove me past when I was young.

From 2014-15 worked near Saratoga, and the days I’d commute home, would go through Amsterdam. One night grabbing a salad at Wendy’s, realized where I was.

ETA: Love Barbara Livingston’s article on the website. Thanks for the link, Linny.