This is an original 1940 photo of Porter’s Cap and Ralph Neves winning a 5 1/2 furlong Allowance Race at Hollywood Park.
He was bred in Virginia by A. B. Gay and was owned by Charles S. Howard who purchased him for$1,300 at the Saratoga Yearling Sales.
Porter’s Cap was trained by Tom Smith.
He was by The Porter, the 1937 Leading Sire, out of The Blonde, by Mad Hatter, the 1921 Co-Champion Handicap Horse with Exterminator.
Porter’s Cap made 102 starts with 19 wins 14 seconds 22 thirds earning $141,800.
At two in 1940, he won the Washington Park Futurity over Silvestra, the winner of the 1944 Black Helen Handicap, and Valdina Groom, the winner of the 1941 Dan Hardy Purse.
Porter’s Cap finished third in the Eastern Shore Handicap behind Little Beans, and Level Best, the 1940 Champion Two Year Old Filly.
At three in 1941, he won: the Santa Anita Derby over Bull Reigh, the winner of the 1941 San Felipe Handicap, and Copperman; and the Chesapeake Stakes over Little Beans and Cavalier, the winner of the 1941 Chelton Purse.
Porter’s Cap was second: in the Hollywood Derby to Staretor and ahead of Paperboy, the winner of the 1944 Narragansett Special; and in the San Vicente Handicap to Good Turn and ahead of Valdina Groom.
He finished third: in the San Felipe Handicap behind Bull Reigh and After Dawn; and in the Withers Stakes behind King Cole, the winner of the 1941 Paumonock Handicap, and Robert Morris, the winner of the 1941 Peter Pan Handicap.
Porter’s Cap finished fourth in the 1941 Kentucky Derby behind Whirlaway and did not run in either the Preakness or the Belmont Stakes.
At four in 1942, he finished third: in the Yellow Tail Handicap behind Olympus and Yankee Party; and in the U.S. Marines Handicap behind Corydon and Lumiere.
At five in 1943, Porter’s Cap won the Rapides Handicap and was second in the Happy Scott Purse.
At six in 1944, he was second: in the Rowe Memorial Handicap to Pensive, the 1944 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, and ahead of Sun Again, the winner of the 1943 Riggs Handicap; and in the Harford Handicap to Sollure, and ahead of New Moon, the winner of the 1945 Capital Handicap.
Porter’s Cap finished third: in the Baltimore Spring Handicap; and in the Jennings Handicap behind Sollure and New Moon.
At stud his best were:
Baffin Bay: the winner of the 1954 Coronation Futurity.
Scotch Port: was second in the 1954 California Governor’s Handicap.
Garden Star: finished third in the 1956 My Dear Stakes.