Fonso (1877–1903) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and was the winner of the 1880 Kentucky Derby under jockey George Garret Lewis.[1] Fonso was bred in Kentucky[2] and was a chestnut colt sired by King Alfonso out of the mare Weatherwitch.

Fonso
SireKing Alfonso
GrandsirePhaeton
DamWeatherwitch
DamsireWeatherbit
SexStallion
Foaled1877
CountryUnited States
ColourChestnut
BreederA. J. Alexander
OwnerJohn Snell Shawhan
TrainerTice Hutsell
Record12: 5-3-2
Earnings$8,175
Major wins
Maiden Stakes (1879)
Colt Stakes (1879)
Phoenix Stakes (1880)

American Classic Race wins:
Kentucky Derby (1880)

Fonso won the Phoenix Stakes as a three-year-old over Luke Blackburn who finished third, but is best remembered for going on to beat the favored Kimball in the 1880 Kentucky Derby.[3] The track was particularly dry and the dust, up to 5 inches thick, Fonso kicked up obscured the path for the other contenders.[4] Fonso finished the race with a one length lead at a time of 2:37.50 and won $3800. The owner of Kimball called a foul in the race against Fonso, but the placing was not altered. Fonso had a career record of 12 starts, 5 wins, 3 places and 2 shows.[2][4]

Fonso died at the age of 26 while standing as stud at the Oakwood Stud Farm in Lexington, Kentucky in 1903.[3] His most notable offspring was the mare Fondling (br. 1886, out of Kitty Heron by Chillicothe), who produced the champion filly Imp.

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Fondo
Sire
King Alfonso

1872

Phaeton

1865

King Tom Harkaway
Pocahontas
Merry Sunshine Storm
Falstaff Mare
Capitola

1858

Vandal Glencoe I
Tranby Mare
Margrave Mare Margrave
Mistletoe
Dam
Weatherwitch

1858

Weatherbit

1842

Sheet Anchor Lottery
Morgiana
Miss Letty Priam
Orville Mare
Birdcatcher Mare

1850

Birdcatcher Sir Hercules
Guiccioli
Hetman Platoff Mare Hetman Platoff
Whim

References

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  1. ^ "Kentucky Derby Winners". Churchill Downs Incorporated. 1880-05-18. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  2. ^ a b Fonso's Pedigree
  3. ^ a b "Fonso dead" (PDF). The New York Times. 14 July 1903. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  4. ^ a b "1880 Derby notes". Archived from the original on 2008-03-23. Retrieved 2009-05-05.