HERBERT HASELTINE (1877-1962)

Kentucky-bred Tom Fool was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse awarded American Horse of the Year after going undefeated in ten races in 1953, and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1960. He sired an award-winning bloodline of racehorses including most recently the 2015 Triple Crown winner, American Pharaoh. The present bronze has descended in the family of Tom Fool's owners, Mrs. Charles Payson and John Hay Whitney, who acquired him as a yearling for their major thoroughbred stable known as Greentree Stable. This rare sculpture was probably commissioned directly from the artist who likely only produced less than ten casts total.