Print size 17″ X 22″, Image Size 9″ X 11″

This print has been in storage since 1967 and has slight discolorations around the print border which does not distract from the beauty of the print and would be easily covered up when matted and framed.

Dark Star (foaled 1950 in Kentucky) was an American thoroughbred racehorse and sire. During his racing career he won six races, most notably the 1953 Kentucky Derby, in which he defeated Native Dancer.

Dark Star was sired by Royal Gem (also known as Royal Gem II), an Australian stallion who was imported to the United States to stand at Hermitage Stud in Kentucky. As a yearling, Dark Star was consigned to the Keeneland sales, where he was bought for $6,500 by Harry Frank Guggenheim. He raced in the colors of Guggenheim’s Cain Hoy Stable.

As a two-year-old, Dark Star worked impressively but seemed unable to reproduce his form on the track. He started his racing career early, running at Hialeah February and winning a three-furlong race there in early March. In his biggest test, he finished third to Native Dancer in the Belmont Futurity in September and ran unplaced in the Champagne Stakes.

In February 1953, Dark Star won a sprint race at Hialeah, then lost to Money Broker in the Florida Derby in March. On the Tuesday before the Kentucky Derby, Dark Star reversed his earlier form by beating Money Broker by four lengths in the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs. He covered the one mile distance in a near-record time of 1:36.00 to confirm his place in the Derby field.