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Fonso (1877 – September 3rd, 1900)^[1] was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and was the winner of the 1880 Kentucky Derby under jockey Garret Lewis.^[2] Fonso was bred in Kentucky^[3] and was a chestnut colt sired by King Alfonso out of the mare Weatherwitch.

Fonso won the Phoenix Stakes as a three-year-old over Luke Blackburn who finished third, but is best remembered for going on to beat the favored Kimball in the 1880 Kentucky Derby.^[4] The track was particularly dry and the dust, up to 5 inches (13 cm) thick, Fonso kicked up obscured the path for the other contenders.^[5] Fonso finished the race with a one length lead at a time of 2:37.50 and won $3800. The owner of Kimball called a foul in the race against Fonso, but the placing was not altered. Fonso had a career record of 12 starts, 5 wins, 3 places and 2 shows.^[3][5]

Fonso died at the age of 22 or 23 while standing stud at the Oakwood Stud Farm in Lexington, Kentucky on September 3rd, 1900. is death also reported in an article in 1903.^[4] His most notable offspring was the mare Fondling (br. 1886, out of Kitty Heron by Chillicothe), who produced the champion filly Imp.

* Fonso is inbred 5S x 4S to the stallion Glencoe, meaning that he appears fifth generation (via Pocahontas) and fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree.