Aristides (horse) - Lineage

Lineage

A chestnut thoroughbred with a white star and two hind stockings, Aristides was bred by Hal Price McGrath and foaled in 1872. He was sired by the great English stud Leamington, which made him a half brother to another great sire, Hall of Famer Longfellow, who, during his racing career, was called "King of the Turf." And yet, Hal McGrath did not consider Aristides first rate, even though his dam (Sarong) was out of one of the United States' greatest sires Lexington, whose bloodline went back to Glencoe and Hall of Famer Boston.

Aristides (named for his breeder's good friend and fellow horse breeder, the Pennsylvanian Aristides Welch who owned Erdenheim Stud and who had imported Leamington into the United States) was foaled late in the season, and was small, never standing taller than about 15 hands. It was his stablemate and half-brother, the bay Chesapeake, was expected to do well at the races.

Price McGrath was born to poverty in Woodford County, Kentucky, and had gone west for the great California Gold Rush. He did well enough to open a gambling house in New York. In a single night he won $105,000, which allowed him to return to Kentucky and establish a stud farm.

Both Aristides and Chesapeake were born and bred on the McGrathiana Farm in Fayette County, Kentucky, a short canter from Lexington.