10/21/2026
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🎽 Behind the Silks | William du Pont Jr. and Foxcatcher Farm
By WinningStride
Every Stride Tells a Story
Some racing operations are remembered for their champions. Others leave a legacy that extends far beyond the racetrack.
For William du Pont Jr., Foxcatcher Farm accomplished both.
Born into one of America’s most prominent industrial families, du Pont developed an important Thoroughbred racing and breeding operation with deep connections to Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.
His distinctive racing silks were sapphire blue with a gold fox on the front and back, colors that became associated with some remarkable horses.
And perhaps no victory was more memorable than the one against Seabiscuit.
On February 27, 1937, Rosemont defeated Seabiscuit by a nose in the Santa Anita Handicap, with Harry Richards aboard. What made the victory especially impressive was the weight difference. Rosemont carried 124 pounds, while Seabiscuit carried 114.
Rosemont was already an accomplished runner. In 1935, he defeated future Triple Crown winner Omaha in the Withers Stakes and later captured the 1936 Narragansett Special.
But Foxcatcher’s success extended well beyond Rosemont.
In 1938, Dauber captured the Preakness Stakes by seven lengths. He had finished second to Lawrin in the Kentucky Derby and would finish second again in the Belmont Stakes, placing among the first two in all three Triple Crown races.
Dauber also carried a fascinating bloodline connection. Through his dam, Ship of War, he was a grandson of the legendary Man o’ War.
The fillies became another defining part of Foxcatcher’s history.
Fairy Chant, bred by du Pont, won the 1940 Pimlico Oaks. She was ranked the leading 3-year-old filly of 1940 by The Blood-Horse and earned champion handicap female recognition in 1941.
Then came Parlo, one of the operation’s outstanding performers. In 1954, she captured the Alabama Stakes, Delaware Oaks, Beldame Handicap, and Firenze Handicap. The following year, she added the Delaware Handicap and Top Flight Handicap.
Parlo’s importance extended beyond her racing career.
Her daughter All Beautiful was purchased by Paul Mellon for $165,000 during the dispersal of du Pont’s breeding stock in February 1966. At the time, she was carrying a foal who would become Arts and Letters, the 1969 Horse of the Year and Belmont Stakes winner.
Arts and Letters never raced for Foxcatcher, but his maternal family represented another chapter in the breeding legacy du Pont helped develop. That broader family would also produce Silverbulletday, the two-time champion filly and Hall of Famer.
Another remarkable Foxcatcher champion was Berlo, the 1960 champion 3-year-old filly.
Her victories included the Mother Goose Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks, Gazelle Handicap, Beldame Stakes, and Ladies Handicap.
And there was a fascinating connection to the operation’s earlier glory days: Berlo was a granddaughter of Rosemont through her dam, Faberose.
The horse who defeated Seabiscuit in 1937 was still influencing Foxcatcher’s champions more than two decades later.
There was also a remarkable connection within the operation’s female families. Fairy Palace, the dam of Parlo, was a half sister to Fairy Chant, linking two important Foxcatcher performers through the same maternal line.
Yet du Pont’s contributions went far beyond breeding and racing horses.
He was instrumental in establishing Delaware Park, which opened on June 26, 1937. Du Pont took a personal interest in its design and development, helping create a major new racing venue in the Mid-Atlantic region.
His vision also extended to Fair Hill, Maryland.
Beginning in the 1920s, du Pont assembled thousands of acres and developed an extraordinary equestrian property, including training grounds, steeplechase courses, and facilities inspired by traditional English racing.
Fair Hill would eventually become one of the region’s most important centers for Thoroughbred training and equestrian competition.
William du Pont Jr. died in 1965, but his influence did not end with his passing.
Rosemont’s victory over Seabiscuit remains one of the memorable finishes of the 1930s. Dauber’s Preakness triumph secured Foxcatcher’s place in American classic racing. Fairy Chant, Parlo, and Berlo added championship achievements, while the breeding families associated with the operation continued influencing future generations.
And beyond the horses, Delaware Park and Fair Hill became enduring parts of the American racing landscape.
A nose victory over Seabiscuit. A Preakness winner. Multiple champion fillies. Influential bloodlines. And two landmarks in Mid-Atlantic racing history.
The gold fox may no longer appear on the racetrack as it once did.
But the legacy of Foxcatcher Farm lives on.
Closing thought:
Which part of Foxcatcher’s legacy impresses you most: Rosemont defeating Seabiscuit, the champions and bloodlines, or William du Pont Jr.’s contributions to Delaware Park and Fair Hill?
