Flying Heels

Flying Heels (1927–1940) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that won stakes races at age two through six, including a number which are Grade I events today. Bred and raced by Gifford A. Cochran, he was sired by the 1925 Kentucky Derby winner, Flying Ebony and out of the racemare Heeltaps.

Flying Heels
SireFlying Ebony
GrandsireThe Finn
DamHeeltaps
DamsireUltimus
SexStallion
Foaled1927
CountryUnited States
ColorBay/Brown
BreederGifford A. Cochran
Owner1) Gifford A. Cochran
2) John J. Curtis
Trainer1) Henry McDaniel
2) J. Simon Healy
Record43: 17-16-1
EarningsUS$123,435
Major wins
Nursery Handicap (1929)
Pimlico Futurity (1929)
Remsen Stakes (1929)
Manhattan Handicap (1930)
Delaware Handicap (1930)
Carter Handicap (1930, 1931)
Blemton Handicap Plate (1931)
Fleetwing Handicap (1931)
Hialeah Inaugural Handicap (1932)
New Hampshire Handicap (1933)
Speed Handicap (1933)
Honors
Flying Heels Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack

Flying Heels was trained for Gifford Cochran by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Henry McDaniel.[1] However, Cochran died on December 5, 1930[2] and at a May 23, 1931 Fasig-Tipton dispersal sale Flying Heels was sold by his Estate to John J. Curtis who turned his training over to the very capable Simon Healy.[3]

At stud

Retired at the end of the 1933 racing season having won seventeen times with earnings of $123,435, Flying Heels was sent to stand at stud at Timberlawn Stock Farm in Bourbon County, Kentucky, owned by Edwin K. Thomas. Horses from his first crop foaled in 1935 which began racing in 1937 included nine who were race winners with Spindletop, Shining Heels and Flying Wild winning stakes races.[4]

From his second crop in 1936, his daughter Flying Lill would further enhance Flying Heels' reputation as a sire. Racing at age three in 1939 for owners Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Cleary, among her wins that year Flying Lill captured the prestigious Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in May and the Matron Stakes in July at Arlington Park.[5][6] Flying Lill followed that up with another Arlington Park win in the July 19th Springfield Handicap that marked her eighth win out of ten starts for the year.[7] Although Flying Heels was the sire of a number of other winners, none met with his own success or that of Flying Lill.

Flying Heels died on May 8, 1940, in a nighttime barn fire at Timberlawn Stock Farm. [8]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Flying Heels, chestnut stallion, 1927
Sire
Flying Ebony
1922		 The Finn Ogden Kilwarlin
Oriole
Livonia Star Shoot
Woodray
Princess Mary Hessian Watercress*
Colonial
Royal Gun Royal Hampton
Spring Gun
Dam
Heeltaps
1920		 Ultimus Commando Domino*
Emma C
Running Stream Domino*
Dancing Water
Queen of the Water Water Boy Watercress*
Zealandia
Planutess Planudes
Countess Wanda (family: A4)

* Flying Heels is inbred 4S × 4D to the stallion Watercress, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

* Flying Heels is inbred 4D × 4D to the stallion Domino, meaning that he appears twice fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

References
  1. National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
  2. New York Times - December 6, 1930
  3. New York Times - May 24, 1931
  4. "Hard Work Brings Breeding Success". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1942-06-30. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  5. "Easy For Flying Lill: Wins Kentucky Oaks by Six Lengths From Bala Ormont". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1939-05-15. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  6. "Flying Lill First in Matron Stakes". New York Times, Section Sports, page 6. 1939-07-02. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  7. "Flying Lill Scores Under Longdens Guidance: Cleary Filly Lasts to Win Springfield Handicap by Head Margin". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1939-07-19. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  8. "E. K. Thomas". Danville Advocate-Messenger, page 1. 1940-05-09. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
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