Luke McLuke
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Luke McLuke (1911 – ) was a bay
Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
stallion born in the United States. He won the 1914
Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over the worldwide classic distance of . Colt (horseracing), Colt ...
, the Carlton Stakes, Kentucky Handicap, and Grainger Memorial Handicap among his four wins from six starts. After his racing career was over, he became a breeding stallion, siring 11 stakes winners. Two of his daughters were named as year-end Champions in the United States.


Breeding and background

Luke McLuke's sire was Ultimus, and his dam was an imported mare named Midge, a daughter of the English Thoroughbred Trenton. Midge's dam was another imported mare named Sandfly by the English stallion Isonomy.Hogan ''Index to Stakes Winners'' p. 339 Ultimus was
inbred Inbreeding is the production of offspring from the mating or breeding of individuals or organisms that are closely related genetically. By analogy, the term is used in human reproduction, but more commonly refers to the genetic disorders an ...
to
Commando A commando is a combatant, or operative of an elite light infantry or special operations force, specially trained for carrying out raids and operating in small teams behind enemy lines. Originally, "a commando" was a type of combat unit, as oppo ...
, as both his sire and dam were sired by
Domino Dominoes is a family of tile-based games played with gaming pieces. Each domino is a rectangular tile, usually with a line dividing its face into two square ''ends''. Each end is marked with a number of spots (also called '' pips'' or ''dots'' ...
. Ultimus never raced, however. Luke McLuke was bred by James R. KeeneHewitt ''Great Breeders'' pp. 66–67 at Castleton Stud, but was sold, along with the entire stock of the 1911 foal crop, in 1912 as
yearling Yearling may refer to: *Yearling (horse), a horse between one and two years old *''The Yearling ''The Yearling'' is a novel by American writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, published in March 1938. It was the main selection of the Book of the ...
s. He was initially bought as part of a group lot of all 16 of the colts, purchased by William A. Prime for $25,000 (), who promptly turned around sold the horses to Edward R. Bradley. Bradley then auctioned them off for a total of $57,650 () shortly after purchasing them. John W. Schorr of
Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...
, bought Luke McLuke for $1,700 ().Hewitt ''Great Breeders'' p. 109 Although unraced as a two-year-old, Luke McLuke raced as a three-year-old for Schorr. In Schorr's ownership, the stallion won the Belmont Stakes.Robertson ''History of Thoroughbred Racing'' p. 209 Luke McLuke was expected to be a sprinter, as his breeding, especially on his sire's side, mainly was raced at shorter distances.Hatton "Belmont Stakes" ''Daily Racing Form''


Racing career

Luke McLuke won the Belmont on June 20, 1914, carrying and with Merritt Buxton as his jockey. He earned a total of $3025 () for the win. The time for the race was 2 minutes and 20 seconds, beating Gainer and Charlestonian.Buck "The Belmont" ''Racing Calendar'' p. 172 On June 30, 1914, he ran in the Carleton Stakes, which was a -long race for three-year-olds. He earned $5,125 () for the win, which was made in 1 minute 38 and seconds. Luke McLuke carried in the race, and his jockey was Merritt Buxton. He beat Charlestonian again, as well as Stromboli and Figinny.Buck "The Carleton" ''Racing Calendar'' pp. 176–177 He also won the Kentucky Handicap and Grainger Memorial Handicap that year. The Grainger was a race for three-year-olds and up, at a distance of and was run at
Churchill Downs Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States that hosts the annual Kentucky Derby. It opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was prominent in Kentucky for many years. The first ...
in
Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...
. Luke McLuke carried in the race and was ridden by Andy Neylon for the win. Second place was Rudolfo, and third went to Solar Star. The win earned him $11,500 (), and the winning time was 2 minutes and 2 and seconds.Daily Racing Form ''1932 American Racing Manual'' p. 218 Luke McLuke was trained by Schorr's son, John F. Schorr. Luke McLuke's race wins in 1914 helped make the elder Schorr the leading owner for 1914, the second time he had earned that title. The younger Schorr was the leading trainer in 1914, the first time he topped that list.Robertson ''History of Thoroughbred Racing'' p. 218 The stallion's overall racing record was four wins in six starts with one second and one third. His total earnings on the racetrack were $22,050 ().Lasker and Lasker ''American Thoroughbred Stallion Register'' Volume II pp. 138–139


Breeding career and legacy

In 1925, Luke McLuke was owned by J. Oliver Keene and stood at stud at
Keeneland Stud Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky. It includes two distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for it ...
in
Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city coterminous with and the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the city's population was 322,570, making it the List of ...
. He sired 11 stakes winners, including
Nellie Morse Nellie Morse (1921–1941) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as the fourth filly to win the Preakness Stakes. After her retirement from racing, she became a successful and influential broodmare. Background Her sire was Luke ...
,
Anita Peabody Anita Peabody (1925–1934) was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by John and Fannie Hertz, she was born at their Leona Farm near Cary, Illinois. She was named after the wife of Stuyvesant Peabody, then President of the ...
, and Mr. Sponge.Hogan ''Index to Stakes Winners'' p. 616 Nellie Morse won the 1924
Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland (except in 2026 when it will move to Laurel Park (race track), Laurel Park dur ...
and was named the 1924 Champion Three-Year-Old-Filly. Anita Peabody won the Futurity Stakes and the Debutante Stakes and was named 1927 Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. In all, Luke McLuke sired 85 foals in 13 foal crops; 55 of his foals started races, with 40 of those starters winning races for a total of $449,783.Bloodhorse Research and Statistical Bureau ''Sires of American Stakes Horses'' p. 602 His daughter Nellie Morse was the dam of Nellie Flag, the 1934 Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. After her racing career was over, Nellie Flag went on to become one of the foundation broodmares at
Calumet Farm Calumet Farm is a Thoroughbred breeding and training farm established in 1924 in Lexington, Kentucky, United States by William Monroe Wright, founding owner of the Calumet Baking Powder Company. Calumet is located in the heart of the Bluegrass ...
in Kentucky.Hunter ''American Classic Pedigrees'' p. 46 A grandson was Three Bars, out of a Luke McLuke daughter named Myrtle Dee. Three Bars went on to become an influential sire of
Quarter Horse The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of or less; some have been clocked at speeds up to . ...
s,Simmons ''Legends'' pp. 54–55 and was named to the
American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum was created by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), based in Amarillo, Texas. Ground breaking construction of the Hall of Fame Museum began in 1989. The distinction is earned by people and ...
in 1989.American Quarter Horse Foundation "Three Bars Biography" ''Hall of Fame Biographies'' Another daughter,
Nursemaid A nursemaid (or nursery maid) is a mostly historical term for a female domestic worker who cares for children within a large household. The term implies that she is an assistant to an older and more experienced employee, a role usually known as ...
, produced the 1966
Kentucky Broodmare of the Year The Kentucky Broodmare of the Year is selected each year by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. The title is considered the highest honor an American thoroughbred broodmare can receive, as the majority of American breeding s ...
, Juliet's Nurse.Thoroughbred Heritage "Kentucky Broodmare of the Year" ''Historic Dams'' Luke McLuke's granddaughter Nellie Flag was, in turn, the dam of Mar-Kell, the 1943 Champion Handicap Mare.Hewitt ''Great Breeders'' p. 186 The ''
Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...
'' reported the death of Luke McLuke in February 1929, but noted the horse had died suddenly in his exercise paddock at the farm of John Hertz many weeks before the press release.Lane "Luke McLuke, Famous Sire of Anita Peabody, Dies ''Chicago Tribune'' He was recorded as dead in the 1932 edition of the '' American Racing Manual''.Daily Racing Form ''1932 American Racing Manual'' p. 886


Pedigree


Citations


References

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{Use mdy dates, date=July 2017 1911 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States Belmont Stakes winners Thoroughbred family 2-h