Broad Brush (April 16, 1983 - May 15, 2009) was an American thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Maryland. He was out of the Hoist The Flag mare, Hay Patcher, by the Hall of Fame stallion, Ack Ack.
Bred and owned by Robert E. Meyerhoff, and trained by Richard W. Small, Broad Brush won a number of stakes races at age two before being prepped for the 1986 Kentucky Derby.
Three year old season
At age three, Broad Brush won a number of stakes races, including the Inner Harbor Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, the grade two Jim Beam Stakes at Turfway Park, the grade one Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack, the grade three Federico Tesio Stakes (also called the "Preakness Trial") at Pimlico, the grade two Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park, the grade two Ohio Derby at Thistledown and the grade two Meadowlands Cup. The Pennsylvania Derby win was notable for the colt bolting to the outside rail on the final turn, seemingly costing him the race. Jockey Angel Cordero, Jr was able to gather the colt and he stormed down the outside rail for the implausible win.
Broad Brush also placed third in two of the most coveted races in the country in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing showing in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He finished a close third behind Ferdinand only two lengths back and Bold Arrangement (by a head) in the grade one Kentucky Derby in 1986 in a large field of 16 colts. Broad Brush also had a strong third as the local Maryland favorite in the $1,000,000 grade one Preakness Stakes behind eventual Eclipse Award winner Snow Chief and Derby champ Ferdinand. Snow Chief was named the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse in large part due to his Preakness win.
Four-year-old season
At age four, Broad Brush won some of the most prestigious races in the handicap division with his wins in both the $1,000,000 grade one Santa Anita Handicap and the grade one Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park. He placed second in the Massachusetts Handicap and Grade I San Fernando Stakes, placing third in the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap, Grade I Strub Stakes, and Grade I Whitney Handicap.
Retirement
Upon retirement in April 1988, Broad Brush became a very successful sire, being awarded Leading sire in North America for 1994. He was one of the leading draws for his breeding operation at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky and ranked in the top 10 winners list as a sire in four straight years. His progeny include the stakes-winning Concern, Include, Farda Amiga, Hesanoldsalt, Nobo True, Best Of Luck, the Japanese champion mare Broad Appeal, and Justenoughheart, dam of the champion filly Dreaming of Anna as well as Arlucea, dam of 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Fort Larned. Broad Brush was pensioned in 2004, and was euthanized on May 15, 2009.
