Luke McLuke

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Luke McLuke
SireUltimus
GrandsireCommando
DamMidge
DamsireTrenton
SexStallion
Foaled1911
CountryUnited States
ColorBay
BreederJames R. Keene
OwnerCastleton Stud
William A. Prime
Edward R. Bradley
John W. Schorr
J. Oliver Keene
TrainerJohn F. Schorr
Record6: 4-1-1
Earnings$22,050 (equivalent to $696,000 in 2023)
Major wins
Carlton Stakes (1914)
Kentucky Handicap (1914)

American Classics wins:
Belmont Stakes (1914)

Last updated on November 18, 2010

Luke McLuke (1911 – c. 1929) was a bay Thoroughbred stallion born in the United States. He won the 1914 Belmont Stakes, 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.[1] Ultimus was inbred to Commando, as both his sire and dam were sired by Domino. Ultimus never raced, however.[2]

Luke McLuke was bred by James R. Keene[3] at Castleton Stud, but was sold, along with the entire stock of the 1911 foal crop, in 1912 as yearlings. He was initially bought as part of a group lot of all 16 of the colts, purchased by William A. Prime for $25,000 (equivalent to $789,000 in 2023),[4][5] who promptly turned around sold the horses to Edward R. Bradley. Bradley then auctioned them off for a total of $57,650 (equivalent to $1,820,000 in 2023) shortly after purchasing them.[4][5] John W. Schorr of Memphis, Tennessee, bought Luke McLuke for $1,700 (equivalent to $54,000 in 2023).[4][5] 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.[6]

Luke McLuke was expected to be a sprinter, as his breeding, especially on his sire's side, mainly was raced at shorter distances.[7]

Racing career

Luke McLuke won the Belmont on June 20, 1914, carrying 126 lb (57 kg) and with Merritt Buxton as his jockey. He earned a total of $3025 (equivalent to $92,000 in 2023) for the win.[4][8] The time for the 1+38 mi (2.2 km) race was 2 minutes and 20 seconds, beating Gainer and Charlestonian.[8] On June 30, 1914, he ran in the Carleton Stakes, which was a 1-mile (1.6 km)-long race for three-year-olds. He earned $5,125 (equivalent to $156,000 in 2023) for the win,[4][9] which was made in 1 minute 38 and 45 seconds. Luke McLuke carried 126 lb (57 kg) in the race, and his jockey was Merritt Buxton. He beat Charlestonian again, as well as Stromboli and Figinny.[9] He also won the Kentucky Handicap and Grainger Memorial Handicap that year.[1] The Grainger was a race for three-year-olds and up, at a distance of 1+14 mi (2.0 km) and was run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Luke McLuke carried 100 lb (45 kg) 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 (equivalent to $350,000 in 2023),[4][10] and the winning time was 2 minutes and 2 and 45 seconds.[10]

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.[2] The younger Schorr was the leading trainer in 1914, the first time he topped that list.[2] 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 (equivalent to $696,000 in 2023).[4][11]

Breeding career and legacy

In 1925, Luke McLuke was owned by

Champion Handicap Mare.[14]

The Chicago Tribune 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.[19] He was recorded as dead in the 1932 edition of the American Racing Manual.[20]

Pedigree

Domino
Commando
Emma C
Ultimus
Domino
Running Stream
*Dancing Water
Luke McLuke[11]
Musket
Trenton
Frailty
*Midge
Isonomy
*Sandfly
Sandiway

Citations

  1. ^ a b Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 339
  2. ^ a b c Robertson History of Thoroughbred Racing p. 218
  3. ^ Hewitt Great Breeders pp. 66–67
  4. ^ a b c d e f g 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Hewitt Great Breeders p. 109
  6. ^ Robertson History of Thoroughbred Racing p. 209
  7. ^ Hatton "Belmont Stakes" Daily Racing Form
  8. ^ a b Buck "The Belmont" Racing Calendar p. 172
  9. ^ a b Buck "The Carleton" Racing Calendar pp. 176–177
  10. ^ a b Daily Racing Form 1932 American Racing Manual p. 218
  11. ^ a b c Lasker and Lasker American Thoroughbred Stallion Register Volume II pp. 138–139
  12. ^ Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 616
  13. ^ Bloodhorse Research and Statistical Bureau Sires of American Stakes Horses p. 602
  14. ^ a b Hewitt Great Breeders p. 186
  15. ^ Hunter American Classic Pedigrees p. 46
  16. ^ Simmons Legends pp. 54–55
  17. ^ American Quarter Horse Foundation "Three Bars Biography" Hall of Fame Biographies
  18. ^ Thoroughbred Heritage "Kentucky Broodmare of the Year" Historic Dams
  19. ^ Lane "Luke McLuke, Famous Sire of Anita Peabody, Dies Chicago Tribune
  20. ^ Daily Racing Form 1932 American Racing Manual p. 886

References