swaps head 1500

SWAPS – 1955 Kentucky Derby Winner

Print size 17″ X 20″, Image Size 10″ X 10″

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.

One of the fleetest and gamest horses ever to look through a bridle, Swaps set or equaled five world time records at distances from a mile to 1 5/8 miles within a span of little more than three months during his four-year-old season, when he was named “Horse of the Year” in all the seasonal polls. That was an honor that many racing observers believed he should also have been accorded the previous year.

Bred and raced by Rex C. Ellsowrth, and trained by Meshach A. Tenney, the chestnut son of *Khaled – Iron Reward, by *Beau Pere, was a good but not sensational two-year-old, winning half his six starts, including the June Juvenile Stakes. Thirds in the Westchester and Haggin Stakes brought his juvenile earnings to $20,950.

He then won his first eight starts t three, including the San Vicente, Will Rogers, Californian and Westerner Stakes, Sana Anita, Kentucky and American Derbies. He set a new world record of 1:40 3/5 in the 1 3/16-mile California, in which he beat older horses; and equaled the American grass-course record of 1:54 3/5 in the 1 3/16-mile American Derby. But he lost the famous match race with Nashua; and that result, at least partially excused by Swaps’ ailing forefoot, decided year-end honors. Nonetheless, he collected $418,550 that season.

The following year he left no doubt of his superiority, as out of 10 starts he again gained eight victories, including the Los Angeles County Fair, Broward, Argonaut, Inglewood, American, Sunset and Washington Park Handicaps, and Hollywood Gold Cup. He should also have won a second running of the Californian Stakes, but his jockey eased the colt prematurely and he was just beaten. Swaps set world records of 1:33 1/5 for a mile, 1:39 3/5 for a mile and 70 yards, 1:39 for 1 1/16 miles (lowering his own standard of the previous year) and 2:38 1/5 for 1 5/8 miles; equaled the world mark of 1:46 4/5 for 1 1/8 miles; and established new track records of a mile in 1:33 2/5 at Washington Park and 1 ¼ miles in 1:59 3/5 at Hollywood Park. Carrying never less than 127 pounds and most of the time 130, he earned $409,400 that season.

That brought his total record to $848,900 from 19 wins, two seconds, two thirds and two unplaced efforts in 25 starts.

John W. Galbreath bought a half interest in Swaps that fall, but the colt broke a cannon bone in training nd never raced again. After several weeks in a sling, he recovered sufficiently to stand the 1957 stud season at the Ellsowrth Ranch in California. Later Mr. Galbreath purchased the remaining interest in Swaps, at a cost of reportedly in the vicinity of $2,000,000; and the son of *Khaled now sands at Mr. Galbreath’s Darby Dan Farm, Lexington, Ky.

His first crop is three years old in 1961; and it includes the crack filly Primonetta, winner of the Marguerite, Prioress, Miss Woodford and Alabama Stakes, and Delaware oaks. The best development so far in Swaps’ second crop has been the Tremont Stakes victor Clover Leaf.