Duke of Magenta (horse)
Duke of Magenta (1875–1899) was one of the most successful racehorses in the United States in the 19th century.
| Duke of Magenta | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Lexington |
| Grandsire | Boston |
| Dam | Magenta |
| Damsire | Yorkshire |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1875 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Woodburn Stud |
| Owner | George L. Lorillard |
| Trainer | R. Wyndham Walden |
| Record | 19: 15-3-1 |
| Earnings | $45,412 |
| Major wins | |
| Flash Stakes (1877) Dixie Stakes (1878) Kenner Stakes (1878) Withers Stakes (1878) Travers Stakes (1878) Jerome Handicap (1878)
American Classics wins: | |
| Honours | |
| American Co-Champion 2-Year-Old Colt (1877) U.S. Champion 3-year-Old Colt (1878) United States Racing Hall of Fame (2011) | |
| Last updated on June 4, 2011 | |
Background
Foaled in 1875 at the Woodburn Stud near Lexington, Kentucky, he was owned by New York City tobacco tycoon George L. Lorillard and trained by Hall of Famer R. Wyndham Walden. Duke of Magenta was one of the last sons of the Thoroughbred sire Lexington.
Racing career
In 1878, Duke of Magenta won the Preakness Stakes, the Withers Stakes, the Belmont Stakes, and the Travers Stakes, a feat accomplished since by only two other colts: Man o' War and Native Dancer. Using the pre-1984 era of the Grand Slam of Thoroughbred Racing (when the Breeders' Cup Classic replaced the Travers as the fourth major in throughbred racing), nine horses have completed a "small slam" of three majors (seven before 1984, but Thunder Gulch and Point Given won the Travers after it lost its status as a major; Sunday Silence won two of the Triple Crown races and won the Classic in 1989) that did not consist of the traditional Triple Crown, compared to 13 horses have won the modern Triple Crown of Preakness, Belmont, and Kentucky Derby. Only Whirlaway (pre-1984 format) and American Pharoah (post-1984 format) have swept the four majors.
In Duke of Magenta's day, the Derby was a recently established race not yet considered important by East Coast breeders. Duke of Magenta died on September 20, 1899 at the farm of J. McCloud in Brookline, Massachusetts.[1]
Honors
In 2011, Duke of Magenta was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.[2]
References
- The American Stud Book. The Jockey Club. 1902.
- "Three 19th century stars to hall of fame". Bloodhorse, June 2011.
- Byerley Turk Line
- Herod Sire Line
- Duke of Magenta