Spendthrift Farm

This is an original 1969 photo of trainer Johnny Longden aboard Majestic Prince during a workout at Belmont Park.

According to the back of the photo, a decision would be made whether Majestic Prince would run in the Belmont Stakes.

Majestic Prince was bred by Leslie Combs II and Frank McMahon.

He was owned by Frank McMahon, who by purchasing him for $250,000 at the 1967 Keeneland Yearling Sales, in effect bought out Combs’ share. The price that was paid was at the time a world record price for a yearling.

Majestic Prince was by Raise A Native out of the unraced Gay Hostess by Royal Charger, the winner of the 1946 Queen Anne Stakes.

He was a full brother:

to Crowned Prince: 1971 English Champion Two Year Old C**t;

to Our Queen: finished third in the 1972 Princess Margaret Stakes;

to Meadow Blue: the dam of Nureyev's Best, the winner of the 1988 Prix Finlande who produced: Andujar, the winner of the 2005 Milady Breeders Cup Handicap. Meadow Blue was the second dam of Real Quiet, the 1998 Champion Three Year Old C**t, and the sire of Midnight Lute.

He was a half brother:

to Lovely Gypsy: the winner of the 1965 Miss Chicago Stakes;

to Betty Loraine: finished third in the 1967 Junior Miss Stakes and was the dam of Caracolero, the 1974 French Champion Three Year Old C**t; and the second dam of Secreto, the winner of the 1984 Derby Stakes.

Majestic Prince made 10 starts with 9 wins 1 second earning $414,200.

At two in 1968, he made two starts winning both.

At three in 1969, Majestic Prince won: the Kentucky Derby over Arts and Letters, the 1969 Horse of the Year, and D**e, the winner of the 1969 Wood Memorial Stakes; the Preakness Stakes over Arts and Letters, and Jay Ray, the winner of the 1969 California Derby; the Santa Anita Derby by eight lengths over Mr. Joe F., the winner of the 1969 El Camino Stakes, and Lonny’s Secret; the San Jacinto Stakes by four lengths over Mr. Joe F., and Elect the Ruler, the winner of the 1969 San Felipe Stakes; the San Vicente Stakes by five lengths over Elect the Ruler and Inverness Drive, the winner of the 1969 Santa Catalina Stakes; the Los Feliz Stakes by four lengths over Right Cross, the winner of the 1970 San Simeon Handicap; and the Stepping Stone Purse setting a new stakes record over Fast Hilarious, the winner of the 1969 American Derby, and Texas Dancer.

He was second in the Belmont Stakes to Arts and Letters and ahead of D**e. Majestic Prince was injured in the race and was retired to Spendthrift Farm.

Trainer Johnny Longden was against running the horse in the Belmont Stakes because Majestic Prince was very tired and had lost too much weight after his two previous races. At first McMahon agreed with Longden and was not going run him, but he changed his mind and bowed to the pressure to win the Triple Crown.

With his victory in the 1969 Kentucky Derby, jockey Bill Hartack tied Eddie Arcaro for most wins, five, in the Louisville Classic.

His trainer Johnny Longden became the only jockey to both ride and train a Kentucky Derby winner. He joined Louis Schaefer as the only other jockey to both ride and train a Preakness winner. Schaefer rode Dr. Freeland to victory in the 1929 Preakness Stakes and trained Challedon, the winner of the 1939 edition of the race.

Majestic Prince was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

At stud Majestic Prince was sixth on the 1979 Leading Sire List.

Some of his best runners were:

Coastal: the winner of the 1979 Belmont Stakes.

Eternal Prince: the winner of the 1985 Wood Memorial Stakes.

Majestic Light: the winner of the 1977 Man o’ War Stakes and the sire of: Lite Light, the winner of the 1992 Coaching Club American Oaks; Wavering Monarch, the winner of the 1982 Haskell Invitational Handicap; Christiecat, the winner of the 1991 Diana Handicap; and Hidden Light, the winner of the 1986 Santa Anita Oaks and the dam of Artie Schiller, the winner of the 2005 Breeders Cup Mile.

Oui Mon Capitaine: the winner of the 1982 Gran Premio d’Italie.

Sensitive Prince: the winner of the 1978 Jerome Handicap.

Lovin Touch: the winner of the 1983 Selene Stakes and the dam of Caressing, the 2000 Champion Two Year Old Filly and who produced West Coast, the winner of the 2017 Travers Stakes.

Charge My Account: the winner of the 1983 Cardinal Handicap.

Majestic Empire: the winner of the 1987 John F. Reilly Handicap.

Regal Realm: unraced, the dam of Kalookan Queen, the winner of the 2002 Santa Monica Handicap.

Paris Breeze: the dam of Well Decorated, the winner of the 1980 Arlington Washington Futurity.

Yale Coed: the winner of the 1974 Starlet Stakes and the dam of Interco, the winner of the 1984 Santa Anita Handicap.