Fashion

A color print of a horse standing to the side. It is a liver bay held by a jockey standing in front of her. A race track rail is in the background.

Fashion was bred in 1837 by William Gibbons, Esq. of Madison, Morris County, NJ. Her sire was Trustee and her dam was Bonnets o’ Blue. Under the training of Samuel Laird, she won 32 of her 36 starts and gathered $41,500 in prize money. Her races were highly publicized. The North versus South Match Race against Boston in 1842 saw a crowd of 70,000 supporters. Despite Boston’s three mile lead, Fashion won with a time of 7:32 ½ for a four mile race. He next rival was the southern Peytona, who defeated Fashion in the first match but lost in the two rematches. Fashion raced until age 11 and then produced 10 foals in stud. She was sold to John Reber of Lancaster, Ohio in 1855. She died in 1860 and was eventually inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1980. She was the namesake of a steamboat, several hotels, a brand of ladies’ gloves, and men’s cigars.

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