Smith Burr

Smith Burr (September 22, 1803 – April 6, 1887) was an American horse breeder and hotelier.

Early life Smith Burr was born on September 22, 1803, in Commack, New York, United States.

His lineage traced back to Benjamin Burr, an early Massachusetts settler who came to New England aboard the Winthrop Fleet in 1630. He was also related to Aaron Burr. Smith's side of the family settled on Long Island in the 1700s, eventually holding significant farmland in East Northport and Commack. The Burr family of Commack, New York, of which he was a member, acquired 166 acres of land.

Career Burr managed a Long Island farm and a hotel at Townline and Burr Roads, with a talent for spotting good horses.

At the 1853 American Institute of the City of New York livestock show, Smith Burr received 1st premium, earning a silver cup for the best three-year-old colt and a certificate for his stallion Columbus. Columbus, one of Burr's prized horses, fetched $3,000 from buyers in Detroit, Michigan. Around this time, two full sister fillies by "Burr's Napoleon" were purchased by a supporter of Napoleon III and presented to the French Emperor, who prized and drove them in his prime.

His grandson was American politician Carll S. Burr Jr.

Death Smith Burr died in Commack, New York, United States, on April 6, 1887.

Legacy Smith Burr established the Burr family's reputation in the horse industry. He was among the first to realize that breeding horses for trotting speed could become a major business. The name Burr held national prestige for three generations in harness racing and the breeding of trotting horses.

Smith Burr owned foundation stock trotting horses such as the renowned Napoleon, Washington, and Columbus.

Credited with building the first sulky in America, Smith Burr repurposed a doctor's gig, removing the top and altering the structure to create a lighter, faster rig. His grandson noted that this design was a major breakthrough for trotters. Burr also believed light equipment was essential to developing speed, and through this insight and his deep knowledge of horses, he transformed the training process.