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© St. Petersburg Times, published June 6, 2002
Gallant Fox was not only the second Triple Crown winner, he was a turning point in American thoroughbred breeding.
In need of a stock horse for Claiborne Farm in 1925, Kentucky breeder Arthur B. Hancock sought out Sir Gallahad III, a former French champion at stud in Normandy. After arranging a purchase for about $150,000, Hancock and his three-man syndicate brought the stud to Kentucky in private quarters on a passenger liner from London and rail car from New York.
The pretense was justified. On March 23, 1927, the dam Marguerite gave birth to a bay colt with a blaze face. Owner William Woodward named him Gallant Fox.
The colt was an intimidator, tall, heavy, with a "wild" right eye that had too much white around the pupil and was said to spook horses running alongside, not that many got the chance. Gallant Fox won the 1930 Triple Crown by improving each time out, but out of order by modern schedules.
He first claimed the Preakness by three-quarters of a length, the Kentucky Derby eight days later by 2 and the Belmont three weeks later by 3.
Gallant Fox sired Triple Crown-winner Omaha in 1935. The success of Gallant Fox bred imitation, and American horsemen began introducing more European stock into this country in the next several decades, drastically improving American racing.