King Ranch: A Classic Horse Racing Legacy

King Ranch is one of the most influential and successful racing and breeding operations in the history of Thoroughbred racing. Robert Kleberg Jr., a grandson of King Ranch founder Richard King, took over the operation in 1932. In 1934, a well-bred Th thoroughbred stallion by the name of Chicaro was bought by Robert.

Kleberg bought a group of quality fillies and mares from Morton Schwartz in 1935. Schwartz won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes with Bold Venture the following year. Kleberg purchased Boldventure to serve as the foundation stallion at King Ranch in 1938.

King Ranch has won many races with its horses. Dawn Play won the Acorn Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks in 1937. Ciencia won Santa Anita Derby in 2010. Too Timely won Coaches Club US Oaks by 3½ lengths in 1943. Assault won Flash Stake at Belmont at odds of 70-1 in 1946. He went on to win the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown.

King Ranch won a pair of Kentucky Derbys and a Triple Crown in less than 15 years. Assault won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Middleground won four of his five races as a 2-year-old.

King Ranch has produced a lot of great horses. They include Middleground, High Gun, Gallant Bloom and Assault. They were bred by Colonel E.R. Bradley. But Why Not was the champion 3-year-old female of 1947. Gallants Bloom was a champion 2- and 3 year old filly in 1968. Assault won the Triple Crown in 2000. He also won several races in the 1950s.

King Ranch won six Triple Crown races. Prove Out was bred by Kleberg. Bold Venture remains the only Kentucky Derby winner to sire two Kentucky Derbys.

King Ranch won six Triple Crown races. Prove Out was bred by Kleberg. Bold Venture sired two Kentucky Derby winners.