The Track to Change: How 20th Century America Shaped Thoroughbred Racing
Supporting the War Effort on the Home Front
Guiding Question
How has horse racing helped Americans?
In the 1930s, Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, began expanding its territory, starting with the annexation of Austria and the invasion of Czechoslovakia while Japan was pursuing imperial expansion. Tensions in the Pacific escalated, and the United States imposed economic sanctions on Japan, further straining relations. On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S., leading to the United States' official entry into World War II.
During WWII, Americans on the home front made significant contributions to the war effort through rationing, war production, and military enlistment. Factories shifted to produce war materials such as weapons, tanks, and airplanes, while citizens conserved resources like food, rubber, and gasoline through government-mandated rationing programs. As you go through this activity, notice how the American horse racing industry also shifted to support the war effort during World War II. Pictured: Program from Belmont Park (Museum Collection)
In 1941, a horse named Whirlaway competed in his 3-year-old race season, making an indelible mark on the world of horse racing. Born in 1938 at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, Whirlaway quickly became a standout, showcasing exceptional speed and stamina. During his 3-year-old season, he raced in the prestigious Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes, the three jewels of the American Triple Crown. By June, Whirlaway had triumphed in all three races, securing an impressive 8-length victory in the Kentucky Derby, setting a new record for the race. With the Triple Crown secured and having solidified his place in history as one of the greatest horses in American racing, Whirlaway ended 1941 on a career high with plans to head to the West Coast for the 1942 spring racing season.
Pictured: Triple Crown collage featuring photographs from Whirlaway's Triple Crown victories (Credit: Turf Pix)
On December 7, 1941, the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii was attacked in a surprise military strike by Japanese forces, marking a pivotal moment in World War II. The devastating assault resulted in the loss of over 2,000 American lives, the destruction of 20 naval ships, including the battleship USS Arizona, and the crippling of over 300 airplanes stationed at the base. The following day, in response to this unprovoked attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress, calling for the declaration of war against Japan. This was swiftly approved, bringing the United States into World War II and dramatically shifting the global conflict.
Pictured: Wreckage of USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Credit: Library of Congress)
In 1942, America officially entered World War II and 3.9 million Americans served in the U.S. military that year. With that many Americans, mostly men, serving in the military, women in America entered the workforce. By the end of World War II, nearly six million women had entered the workforce. Women filled the positions previously occupied by men in addition to new jobs which were created to increase production supporting the troops and home front.
Pictured: We Can Do It! Rosie the Riveter. (Credit: Library of Congress)
On February 23, 1942, a Japanese submarine attack off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, heightened fears of a potential Japanese invasion of the West Coast, prompting increased security measures across the region. In response to growing anti-Japanese sentiment, horse racing was suspended on the West Coast, and Santa Anita Park, once a popular venue for thoroughbred racing, was repurposed as an internment camp. The park became one of the largest detention centers, housing more than 18,000 Japanese immigrants and Japanese-American citizens throughout 1942. These individuals were forced to live in horse stables and makeshift military barracks constructed to accommodate them, enduring harsh conditions as part of the broader effort to forcibly relocate and imprison Japanese-Americans during the war.
Pictured: Miche by Lee Townsend, 1952. Miche, the gray horse, is pictured here at Santa Anita Park. (Credit: Gift: Muriel Vanderbilt Adams)
To support the U.S. war effort during World War II, the Thoroughbred Racing Association (TRA) announced in 1942 that instead of purchasing tickets to attend the races, patrons would be required to buy war bonds. These bonds were sold to the public to finance military operations without raising taxes, allowing ordinary citizens to contribute to the war effort while also receiving a return on their investment. The funds raised from these bonds were used not only for military needs but also to support the USO (United Service Organizations) shows, which provided entertainment to soldiers stationed abroad, boosting morale during the war. The TRA set a goal of raising $2 million through the sale of war bonds, contributing significantly to the overall war financing efforts.
Pictured: War bond race at Churchill Downs, October 28-30, 1942 (Credit: Caulfield and Shook, courtesy Ken Grayson)
Having won the Triple Crown the previous year, Whirlaway was the most celebrated and sought-after horse to see race in 1942. During the span of eight months, he raced an impressive 22 times at 12 different tracks, captivating fans with his speed. His races not only attracted large crowds but also played a key role in raising funds for the war effort, as Whirlaway's races sold more war bonds than any other horse’s events. Through the sale of war bonds, Whirlaway’s races helped fund USO shows and provided entertainment for troops fighting abroad who became familiar with his name through radio broadcasts. Throughout 1942, half a million spectators attended his races, raising an astonishing $5 million for the War Relief Fund, which played a critical role in supporting both the military and the morale of the nation during the war. Whirlaway was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1959.
Pictured: Whirlaway, George Woolf up, winning the 1942 Jockey Club Gold Cup (Credit: Museum Collection)
IIn 1945, the U.S. government decided to temporarily suspend horse racing across the country to better focus resources on the War effort. On January 2, James F. Byrnes, the War Mobilization Director, requested the suspension so that vital resources, such as transportation and manpower, could be redirected toward military needs. Just days later, on January 6, the Thoroughbred Club of America convened in Lexington, Kentucky, and agreed that halting racing would be the most effective contribution they could make to support the war. In a publication by The BloodHorse on the same day, it was noted that, “Track operators, breeders, horsemen could be proud of the spirit they had shown. They accepted the decision without bitterness, and without questioning the wisdom of it. In general they resolved to stand by the Government order and make it yield as much benefit as possible to the war effort.”
Pictured: The Jockey Club ad calling for donations of binoculars for the United States Navy (Credit: Patricia Johnson Guy)
On September 2, 1945, the Japanese government officially surrendered, marking the end of World War II. The formal signing of the surrender took place aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, where Japanese representatives signed the documents in the presence of Allied forces, officially bringing an end to the deadliest conflict in human history. The surrender followed the devastating atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, as well as the Soviet Union’s declaration of war against Japan.
Pictured: Racing's Victory Meeting Program from Belmont Park (Long Island, NY) on November 6-15, 1944 (Credit: Museum Collection)
With the conclusion of the war, the racing industry began to rebuild quickly. People flocked back to racetracks, eager for entertainment after years of war-related austerity. The economic boom of the 1950s brought new wealth into the sport, and racing began to reestablish itself as a significant part of American culture. During this period, some of the most iconic horses in history emerged, such as Citation, who won the Triple Crown in 1948, and Native Dancer, a legendary horse of the early 1950s. Both horses were inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1959 and 1963, respectively. The post-WWII era not only restored thoroughbred racing's place in American life but also set the stage for the sport's continued growth into a major part of the American sports landscape.
Pictured: Armed before racing in the Naragansett Special, September 14, 1946 (Credit: B.A. and H.A. "Jimmy" Jones Collection)