Lexington in Fayette County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt

1912 - 1999

By Ken Smith, July 12, 2012

1. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Marker

Inscription. Son of a sporting coachman, who went down on the Lusitania, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt took over his family's Sagamore Farm in Maryland after his 21st birthday in 1933. He soon purchased Discovery, which campaigned across the country for several years as one of America's most rugged Thoroughbred champions. Vanderbilt also was drawn into race track management. Pimlico Race Course, and its Preakness Stakes, prospered under his presidency, and Vanderbilt had two stints as president of New York tracks. After service in the Pacific as a P-T boat commander, Vanderbilt continued breeding and racing and turned out a series of champions including Next Move, Bed 'o Roses, and Native Dancer. Bred at Dan Scott farm outside Lexington, Vanderbilt's "Gray Ghost" Native Dancer was the nation's first Thoroughbred television idol. He won 21 of 22 races from 1952-54, his only loss being an upset by Dark Star in the Kentucky Derby. As sire of Raise a Native and grandsire of Northern Dancer, the gray champion became internationally predominant in Thoroughbred pedigrees.

Location. 38° 2.517′ N, 84° 29.409′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Kentucky, in Fayette County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of East Main Street (U.S. 60) and Midland Avenue (U.S. 60), on the right

By Ken Smith, July 12, 2012

2. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Marker

when traveling west. Touch for map. Located in Thoroughbred Park. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Midland Avenue, Lexington KY 40508, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lucille Parker Markey (here, next to this marker); HRM Queen Elizabeth II (a few steps from this marker); Ogden Phipps (a few steps from this marker); C. V. Whitney (a few steps from this marker); Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. (a few steps from this marker); Allen Paulson (a few steps from this marker); Leslie Combs II (a few steps from this marker); Col. Phil T. Chinn (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.

Also see . . . Start with this plaque. The page for this plaque has a Related Markers list of all the plaques in Thoroughbred Park. You can use that list to easily page through all of the markers. (Submitted on August 19, 2012.)

Categories. • Animals • Entertainment • Sports •

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on August 11, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 337 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 11, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.