H. Price McGrath facts for kids
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H. Price McGrath (1813-July 1881) was a famous "sporting man" from Kentucky. He was known for breeding racehorses. One of his most famous horses was Aristides, who won the very first Kentucky Derby in 1875.
Early Life and Career
H. Price McGrath was born in Versailles, a town in Woodford County, Kentucky. His father was a tailor, and he taught McGrath the same job. However, McGrath was interested in other things. He became very skilled at card games.
He traveled around the southern and western parts of America. In 1852, he opened a popular place in New Orleans, Louisiana. Here, people could place bets on sports and other events. It became very successful, and many people wanted to enter.
McGrathiana Farm
With the money he earned, McGrath bought a large piece of land. It was about 500 acres, located near Lexington, Kentucky. This land became a very important farm for raising horses. He named it "McGrathiana."
McGrathiana became one of the best horse farms in the United States. McGrath bred many excellent racehorses there. His most famous horse was Aristides, who made history by winning the first-ever Kentucky Derby in 1875. McGrath lived a very comfortable life. He managed his businesses fairly and always supported his own horses in races. When he passed away, he left behind a large estate worth $200,000.
