Citation was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse, who, in 1948, became was the eighth winner of the Triple Crown and was the first horse to win over $1,000,000 USD.

 

During the peak of his career, Citation set records with his 16-race winning streak and, along with his Triple Crown victory, was rewarded with the U.S Horse of the Year in 1948. His biggest wins came that same year, with victories in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, American Derby, Hollywood Gold Cup, American Handicap and San Francisco Breeders’ Cup Mile.

 

His three-year-old season in 1948 saw him win 19 out of 20 starts and earned over $709,470 USD, a record for the time. He picked up an injury at the end of the season, which kept him out of racing for 1949, but he returned in 1950 where he resumed his impressive form. His 16-race winning streak, stood as in major U.S. stakes horseracing until it was equaled in 1994 by Cigar.

 

He had been brought back to attempt to become the first racehorse to win one million dollars, but it took until his Hollywood Gold Cup victory in 1951 for him to achieve the record earnings.

 

After the Gold Cup, he was retired and sent to stud at Calumet Farm, where he enjoyed some success. He sired multiple stakes winner Silly Spoon and 1956 Preakness Stakes winner, Fabius. Citation’s pedigree includes sire Bull Lea, who was the foundation sire of the hugely successful Calumet Farm racing stables. Aside from his sire, much of Citation’s pedigree was European and included 1918 British Triple Crown winner, Gainsborough.