Master Derby

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Master Derby
Sire
Louisiana Handicap (1976)
Oaklawn Handicap
(1976)

Honours
Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame (1992)
Last updated on 2 April 2021

Master Derby (April 24, 1972 – January 22, 1999) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1975 Preakness Stakes.[1]

Background

He was bred by Robert E. Lehmann at his Golden Chance Farm in

mare Madam Jerry, and sired by Lehmann's 1970 Kentucky Derby winner, Dust Commander.[2]

Racing career

1974: Two-year-old season

Conditioned for racing by trainer Smiley Adams,[3] at age two Master Derby made twelve starts, finishing either first or second in all of them. His best stakes race results were wins in the Grade 3 Kindergarten Stakes, a sprint race at Keystone Racetrack,[4] and a division of the Grade 3 Dragoon Stakes at Liberty Bell Park Racetrack.[5] He also earned a second-place finish in the important 1974 Breeders' Futurity Stakes and the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.

1975: Three-year-old season

Racing as a three-year-old, Master Derby began his season with two straight losses in six-furlong sprints but then won the much longer 1 1/16 miles

Calumet Purse and the Blue Grass Stakes.[7]

With McHargue as his rider in the 1975 U.S. Triple Crown races, Master Derby ran fourth in the Kentucky Derby to the heavily favored winner Foolish Pleasure, then won the Preakness Stakes before finishing third in the Belmont Stakes to winner Avatar.

1976: Four-year-old season

At age four, Master Derby won the 1976

Louisiana, and Oaklawn Handicaps,[9] and ran second in the Metropolitan Handicap to Hall of Fame inductee Forego
.

Stud record

Retired to

In 1992, Master Derby was inducted into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame.[11]

In January 1999, due to the infirmities of old age, the twenty-seven-year-old Master Derby was humanely euthanized at Notjustanother Farm in Chino, California.

Breeding

Pedigree of Master Derby
Sire
Dust Commander

ch. 1967

Bold Commander

bay 1960

Bold Ruler Nasrullah
Miss Disco
High Voltage Ambiorix
Dynamo
Dust Storm

ch. 1956

Windy City Wyndham
Staunton
Challure Challedon
Captivation
Dam
Madam Jerry

ch. 1961

Royal Coinage

bay 1952

Eight Thirty Pilate
Dinner Time
Canina
Bull Dog
Coronium
Our Kretchen

ch. 1955

Crafty Admiral Fighting Fox
Admiral Lady
Adjournment Court Martial
Blank Day

References

  1. ^ Prescott Courier - May 18, 1975
  2. ^ Master Derby's pedigree
  3. ^ Louisville, Kentucky Courier - Journal - June 21, 2003
  4. ^ New York Times - September 1, 1974
  5. ^ New York Times - July 14, 1974
  6. ^ New York Times - Mar 23, 1975
  7. ^ Washington, Pennsylvania Observer-Reporter - April 25, 1975
  8. ^ Bowling Green, Kentucky Daily News - March 12, 1976
  9. ^ Chicago Tribune - June 22, 1976
  10. ^ Master Derby's progeny
  11. ^ "Fair Grounds Hall of Fame" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2012-06-02.