Original Press Photo of Osprey with his trainer Earl Linnell and jockey E Petzoldt at the track in Tijuana. Some newspaper writers called him, as relayed in the Dec 24, 1925 Humboldt Times," the best horse in training in America." Osprey was a handsome chestnut bred by the late Maj. Auguste Belmont of New York and owned by millionaire John P. Mills as Leslie Stable.
He was five years old at the time of this photo. He was a champion the previous season at Tijuana. He set track marks and ran in sprints and distance races while carrying extra weight. With 123 pounds he was a fast closing second to A.B. Spreckels Runstar by a head while HOR Exterminator ran 4th in the 1924 Coffroth Handicap (later known as the Aqua Caliente Handicap).
Osprey a multiple stakes winner was the son of HOF Fair Play. His dam was Olympia by Rock Sand. Fair Play was the sire of Man O' War from Mahubah, another daughter of Rock Sand. He had a great bloodline. His record is difficult to determine because he ran in Tijuana and records are not available. Osprey's full sister was Oval (Fair Play - Olympia) who was unraced but was the dam of Goose Egg (Chicle - Oval) a multiple stakes winner that won the 1929 Spinaway Stakes, Goose Egg was the Dam of Shut Out (Equipoise - Goose Egg) the 1942 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner.
The 1925 press photo of Osprey at Tijuana with his jockey and trainer measures 8" x 10". It has a small puncture in the upper right corner. Please look at the attached pictures for the condition of the photograph listed.
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