2003 Hollywood Gold Cup Winner
April 20 - Congaree
This is maybe Bob McNair's favorite horse and possibly his best horse. Bob McNair got into horse racing with a couple of horses and that was as big as he intended it to get. However, Bob was a success magnet, and the racing operation grew into a breeding farm in Kentucky and a training operation in Aiken (or Camden) South Carolina, and then another farm in Saratoga, NY that butted upon against the race course.
Bob is the man who brought pro football back to Houston, TX when he was granted a new franchise, the Houston Texans. Bob McNair decided that he wanted to give full-time attention to his football organization, in one of the more amazing deals of all time. Bob's equine advisor, John Adger, put a deal together selling all three farms and all their horses totaling several hundred to Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai. Part of that package included a colt named Midshipman who would go on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile the following year.
And for good measure - McNair’s Stonerside Farm had one of its last stakes winners named Bob and John, named after Bob McNair and John Adger. It's fun to walk the streets of Paris, Kentucky and see the horse’s shoes in the concrete sidewalks. It's nice to see Congaree and Bob and John.
I was told that the painting was at the Saratoga farm's main house. I was also told that there was a discussion as to whether the Congaree painting was part of the transaction when the farm sold.
Sire: Arazi
Grandsire: Blushing Groom
Dam: Mari's Sheba
Damsire: Mari's Book
Other relatives: Unknown
Sex: Stallion
Foaled: 1998
Country: United States
Colour: Chestnut
Breeder: Stonerside Stable
Owner: Stonerside Stable
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Record: 25: 12-2-4
Earnings: $3,267,490
Major races: Wood Memorial Stakes (2001), Metropolitan Handicap (2002), Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap (2002), Cigar Mile Handicap (2002 & 2003)
Awards: Champion Sprinter (2001)
Post Career: entered stud in 2005 at Adena Springs, KY in 2010 at Highcliff Farm, NY in 2013 at Mill Creek, NY in 2016 at Lane's End, TX in 2017 at Valor Farm, TX - pensioned 2020 Euthanized on November 22, 2020 at Valor Farm.
Congaree met with success as a stallion, siring eight stakes winners from his first two crops to race, including multiple Gr.1 winner Jeranimo and multiple Gr. III winner Mythical Power. Other progeny include Don't Tell Sophia, Killer Graces, Shrinking Violet, Maoineach, Rockin' Rockstar, and Conchacer
Congaree was a tough and talented runner who showed up for the big races during one of the most exciting eras in American racing. He was foaled in 1998 and trained by the legendary Bob Baffert. His sire was Arazi, the brilliant European two year old who shocked the world in the 1991 Breeders Cup Juvenile but never lived up to that promise on the Triple Crown trail. Congaree was out of the mare Mari's Sheba, and his pedigree carried inbreeding to the great Northern Dancer.
On the track, Congaree was known for his blazing early speed and his ability to keep going when other horses faded. He won the 2001 Wood Memorial by beating future Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. In the 2001 Kentucky Derby, Congaree ran a huge race, setting the fastest opening mile in Derby history, but he tired late and finished third behind Monarchos and Invisible Ink. He came back to run third again in the Preakness Stakes, proving he could handle the very best of his class.
As he matured, Congaree turned into one of the top older horses in the country. He became the first and still only horse to win the Cigar Mile twice, taking it in 2002 and 2003. His 2002 win was run in 1:33.11, the fastest mile ever run on dirt in North America at that time. He also won the 2003 Hollywood Gold Cup, the 2003 Carter Handicap, the San Antonio Handicap, the San Pasqual Handicap, and the Lone Star Handicap. He retired with 12 wins from 25 starts and over 3.2 million dollars in earnings.
After his racing days, Congaree stood at stud at Adena Springs in Kentucky before moving to New York and later to Texas. He sired some useful runners but never became a top sire. He passed away in November 2020 at the age of 22. Congaree is remembered as a horse with rare speed, durability, and class, a true warrior of the early 2000s.
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