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  Domino
graphic


Domino  
 
Brown colt, 1891.
By Himyar - Mannie Gray by Enquirer.
Darley Arabian Sire line:
Camel Branch.
Family #23 - b.





Himyar
His sire, Himyar
 


Domino was a horse of extremes, both during his short life, and after his death. He was the most famous horse that leading owner James R. Keene was ever associated with, yet, Keene was not enthused about acquiring the colt as a yearling. Domino was brilliantly fast, virtually unbeatable at a mile or less, but his record was less than stellar at longer distances. But as a stallion, he sired three major stakes winners--Commando, Cap and Bells, and Disguise-- that ran their best races at 1-1/4 miles and beyond. Domino sired only 19 named foals, yet almost every Thoroughbred today carries Domino in their family tree.

His breeder was Major Barak Thomas, master of Dixiana Stud near Lexington, Kentucky. Thomas had trained Hegira, bred and owned by Thomas's brother, Charles. The Thomas brothers were split in their loyalties during the Civil War, with Charles remaining loyal to the Union and Barak joining the Confederate Army. That proved the financial undoing for Barak. His fortunes were salvaged when he became the owner of a filly by Lexington out of Hegira. Named Hira, her stakes winnings strengthened Thomas' anemic finances.

Hira became an important member of the Dixiana broodmare band. Her fourth foal, Himyar, by the speedy Alarm, was a major winner on the Kentucky circuit. One of his best performances was a second place finish to Day Star in the 1878 Kentucky Derby. Himyar was tough and versatile, winning half of his 28 starts at distances up to two miles. He could race successfully in heat races, and he could win on dry or wet tracks. Himyar had everything to recommend him as a stallion prospect--a good pedigree, a fine race record, speed and the ability to carry it a distance. But when he was sent to stud at Dixiana, he was overshadowed by the stallions already in residence, Fellowcraft and King Ban, and did not serve the best mares until 1890, at age fifteen, after King Ban had died and Fellowcraft had been sold. When put to more and better mares, he rapidly ascended the sire lists, and with son Domino's assistance became, in 1893, the first U.S. sire to surpass the $200,000 mark in progeny earnings, a record that stood until his grandson, Commando, surpassed it fourteen years later.

The little black mare, Mannie Gray, had joined Thomas' broodmare band at Dixiana in 1880, and was bred to King Ban or Fellowcraft every year between 1881 and 1887, when she was put to Himyar, producing the speedy filly Correction . By Enquirer and out of Lizzie G., by War Dance, she was inbred, carrying multiple crosses of Lexington, Boston, Reel, and Glencoe. She was a winner of only one race at three before being sold to Major Thomas. She had produced four stakes winners by the time she foaled Domino, on May 4, 1891, including the colt's full sister, Correction (1888), who was racking up victories in New York while her brother romped in the fields of Dixiana with his dam.

Domino was a striking colt. He had a dark brown coat, nearly black, with two white hind socks, a small star and snip of white on his nose. Maj. Thomas offered him, along with the rest of his 1891 crop as yearlings, at Tattersalls in New York in June, 1892. At the sale was the famous Wall Street financier James R. Keene and his son, Foxhall. Keene had enjoyed success in racing, with the likes of Belmont Stakes winner Spendthrift and Grand Prix de Paris winner Foxhall. He was seemingly unimpressed with the Himyar-Mannie Gray colt, and was certain that the colt would go for a hefty price given that Correction was such a brilliant runner. His son, Foxhall, on the other hand, was smitten with the sleek colt, and was not so easily dissuaded. He purchased him for $3,000 (the rest of the Dixiana crop averaged $875).

Domino on the Turf

The colt was broken as a yearling by Albert Cooper. In his early breezes, Domino demonstrated the blinding speed that was to become his hallmark. Cooper nearly ruined him after two rigorous trials in the space of two days, and the result was that Domino bowed both front tendons, consequently plagued with soreness throughout his racing life. Cooper was dismissed as the colt's trainer and veteran horseman William Lakeland was hired to train Domino, racing the colt in front bandages to support his sore legs. When Lakeland took over the training, Foxhall Keene and his father merged their stables, and it was agreed Domino would race in James Keene's name, though father and son remained partners.

Domino blazed to easy victories in his first six races. His first start took place at Sheepshead Bay on May 22, 1893, where Domino won by six lengths in a field of 13. Domino was partnered for the first time by jockey Fred Taral, who rode the colt his entire career. Following that maiden win came victories in the Great American, Great Eclipse, Great Trial, Hyde Park, and Produce Stakes. Then came the rich Futurity Stakes, with a purse of over $45,000. Because of the purse, astronomical for those days, a field of 20 faced the starter, including a tough chestnut colt, Dobbins, owned by Richard Croker. This marked the first race in which Domino was ever tested, and it marked the beginning of Domino's hatred for his rider, Fred Taral.

Because of his unbeaten skein, Domino was assigned 130 pounds. During the running of the race, his stablemate, Hyder Abad, fell, and Domino almost went down trying to avoid him. He stayed on his feet and resumed his run, but was mercilessly punished by Taral with the whip. At the end, Domino was the victor by a head over Galilee, with Dobbins another head away in third. Domino was exhausted after this grueling race, but Keene could not resist the idea of a special match race proposed by Croker between his colt and Dobbins. The purse was for $10,000, to take place only two days after the Futurity.

The match race was a thriller, and both colts were stretched to their utmost. A newspaper account was dramatic in its description of the race--
"Once, twice, thrice, the lash descended on Domino's quivering flanks, but still Dobbins crept nearer and nearer...A furlong from home Dobbins' muzzle showed ahead. Taral shifted his whip from his right to his left hand and played a tattoo on Domino's ribs that could be heard half a mile away. His heels were busy, and Domino's sides ran blood...The game colt that had never known defeat, struggled on, and 100 yards from the finish there was not a man alive capable of predicting the winner."
Match Race
The Great $10,000 Match Race
Matron Stakes
Domino coming in, the Matron Stakes

The judges were not able to separate the two colts at the wire, and the race was declared a dead heat. Domino was so exhausted from the race that he did not come out again until a month later, when, with no Dobbins in the field, he easily won the Matron Stakes, running the six furlongs in 1:09, a new record. The victory put Domino's earnings for the season at $170,790, a juvenile earnings record which stood until 1931, when the filly Top Flight topped it with $219,000.

Following those two races, Domino was not the same. The colt began to work himself into a frenzy at the sight or sound of his rider. He would try to savage the jockey, and finally, it became necessary to put a blanket over his head for Taral to mount. He was also sore, having a tender foot as well as the delicate front tendons.

Domino was not as dominant at three, but remained unbeatable at sprint distances. He won five of eight starts at three--the Withers Stakes, the Culver Stakes, the Flying Stakes, and the Ocean Handicap. He also won a match race with the previous year's three-year-old champion colt, Clifford, and in yet another match race, against Henry of Navarre, winner that year of the Belmont Stakes and the Travers, Domino ran courageously to force a dead heat.

Domino's biggest loss was in the American Derby, run at 1-1/2 miles, a distance well beyond his capabilities. Keene and Lakeland thought he might stay if he were rated, but Domino fought his rider bitterly and finished ninth and last in the worst performance of his career. Domino's last race at three was a special match against both Clifford and Henry of Navarre. Domino re-injured his foot and finished last as Clifford beat Henry of Navarre.

At four, Domino won four of eight, his stakes wins coming in the Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay Handicaps. He lost twice to Henry of Navarre, and also failed to get 1-1/4 miles in the Suburban Handicap, finishing a well beaten fourth. Again, Keene and Lakeland instructed Taral to try and rate him, and again, Domino only fought against the restraint.

All told, Domino won 19 of 25 races; he was second twice and third once. His earnings totaled $193,650--a record that stood until Man o' War broke it in 1920.

Domino's Race Record
Year Age Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Unplaced Earnings
1893 2 9 9 0 0 0 $170,890
1894 3 8 6 0 1 1 19,150
1895 4 8 4 2 0 2 3,610
Total -- 25 19 2 1 3 $193,650
Domino may not have been effective at distances of 1-1/8 miles or more, but he dazzled racing fans with his raw speed and dominance when kept to sprinting, earning the nickname "The Black Whirlwind." And no one ever questioned his courage, in victory or defeat.

Domino in the Stud

Domino was sent to stud at Keene's Castleton Farm near Lexington. On the train journey, he fell ill and had to be treated in Cincinnati, where he recovered, then went on to his new home to begin life as a stallion. Keene was enthused about a breeding theory based on mating stout British mares to American speed and with the aim, had purchased several mares in his native England. He had bred the stout campaigner Kingston, a winner of 89 races, along those lines. Consequently, at Castleton, there was a large harem of regally bred English mares waiting to go to the court of Domino.

Domino served only two seasons before he died. His two years at stud yielded only twenty foals, yet the resulting quality was extraordinary.

From his first crop, Domino was the sire of:

DISGUISE: a brown colt out of Bonnie Gal, by Galopin. Disguise raced in England, and proved he was very high class. He ran third to Diamond Jubilee in the Derby Stakes, beat that colt in the Jockey Club Stakes, and at four, ran third to Epsom Lad in the Eclipse Stakes. As a stallion, standing first at Castleton and later in California, Disguise was quite a success. His best offspring was the filly Maskette, winner at two of the Spinaway, Futurity, and Matron Stakes, and at three, the Gazelle, Alabama, and Ladies Handicap. Disguise also sired such good ones as Iron Mask, winner of the Grand Union Hotel Stakes; Helmet, winner of the Hopeful, Matron, and Champagne Stakes; and Court Dress, winner of the Fashion and Spinaway Stakes. The offspring of Disguise excelled as juveniles, but his daughters produced several good horses capable of getting a distance, including John P. Grier; Pillory, winner of the Preakness and Belmont; and Questionnaire, a top handicap campaigner.

DOUBLET, a chestnut colt (later gelded) out of Lucy Wallace, by War Dance or Ballinkeel. He was a stakes winner who ran for many years.

Disguise
Disguise won the Jockey Club Stakes in England

Sweep
Stakes Winner and Leading Sire Sweep, out of Pink Domino and by Ben Brush

Cap and Bells
Cap and Bells won the Epsom Oaks

Commando
Commando, good race horse and great sire

Ultimus
The In-bred Ultimus, by Commando and out of Domino daughter Running Stream

Celt
Stakes Winner and Sire Celt, by Domino's son Commando

Colin
The Unbeaten Champion Colin, by Commando

Peter Pan
Stakes Winner and Sire Peter Pan, by Commando

Theodore Cook
Theodore Cook, out of Domino Daughter Climax and by Ben Brush
PINK DOMINO, a bay filly out of Belle Rose, by Beaudesert. A winner, she was an influential broodmare. Her most notable offspring was the Ben Brush colt Sweep, winner of the Futurity at two and the Belmont at three. Sweep was a multiple leading sire, with major winners The Porter and champion filly Untidy to his credit. His daughters produced Kentucky Derby winner Bubbling Over and two American Triple Crown champions--War Admiral and Whirlaway. In an interesting instance of inbreeding, Pink Domino's daughter, Curiosity, produced, to the cover of Disguise, the filly Wonder, dam of the aforementioned John P. Grier, a gritty little horse who gave Man o' War a run in the 1920 Dwyer Stakes.

RUNAWAY GIRL, a chestnut filly out of Fair Vision, by Touchet. A minor stakes winner at two, she became the second dam of Upset, the colt who handed Man o' War his only defeat in the 1919 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga.

UNMASKED, a brown colt (later gelded) out of Mere Hill, by Macgregor. He was a durable sprinter.

BAY COLT out of Ella T., by War Dance. This colt died young, probably as a yearling.



Domino sired 14 named foals in his second and last crop, they being:

CAP AND BELLS, a brown filly out of Ben-My-Chree, by Galopin. She was a stakes winner in the United States at two, and then became the first American-bred filly to capture the Epsom Oaks at three.

CLIMAX, a brown filly out of Orchis, by Bend Or, second dam Lizzie Agnes. This beautifully bred filly was unraced, but she produced several winners. Her best was the Ben Brush colt Theo. Cook, who went on to become a major sire.

COMMANDO, a bay colt out of Emma C., by Darebin. Defeated only once as a juvenile and a classic winner of the Belmont Stakes at three, Commando was the most important of Domino's three sons that served at stud. His offspring included the unbeaten champion Colin, Belmont Stakes winner Peter Pan, and major stakes winners Celt, Transvaal, Peter Quince, and Superman. Commando's unraced son Ultimus was a major sire, with such animals as High Time, Stimulus, and Supremus to his credit. As a stallion, Celt enjoyed his greatest fame as the broodmare sire of Triple Crown champion Gallant Fox. Colin, though a shy breeder, became the next link in the thread to the survival of Domino's male line. Despite siring only 83 foals in his 23 years at stud, he came up with a son, Neddie, who kept the sire line going. In 1971, the North American Horse of the Year, Ack Ack, was a direct male line descendant of Colin's son Neddie, and Ack Ack kept things going with his son, Broad Brush, North America's leading sire in 1994 and sire of a number of promising sons that will hopefully keep Domino's male line from becoming extinct.

COSTUME, a bay filly out of Miss Tilly, by The Miser. She produced several winners.

DOMINOES, a chestnut filly out of Editha, by Master Kildare. She was unraced. Her best offspring was the brilliant juvenile colt Dominant, by Delhi, winner of the Hopeful, Saratoga Special, and the Grand Union Hotel Stakes. At stud, Dominant sired another crack juvenile colt in Dice.

DOUBLE SIX, a bay filly out of Gloaming, by Sir Modred. She was a minor winner and a minor producer, as she only produced two living foals.

GINGHAM, a chestnut filly out of Calico, by Hampton. She produced several winners, including three English stakes winners.

KIMBERLEY, a chestnut colt (later gelded) out of Elsie, by See-Saw. Kimberley was a good winner for a number of years.

MARDI GRAS, a chestnut colt (later gelded) out of Paradox, by Rayon d' Or. Was a winner in England.

NOONDAY, a chestnut filly out of Sundown, by Springfield. A stakes winner as a juvenile, she became one of Domino's finest producing daughters. Noonday was the dam of five stakes winners, including High Noon, by Voter and his full sister, Suffragette. The former captured the Toboggan Handicap and the latter captured the Surf and Junior Champion Stakes. Noonday's most important offspring was the highly-inbred colt High Time, by Domino's grandson, Ultimus. High Time won the Hudson Stakes, and although severely limited in his stamina, was America's leading sire in 1928 and sired the hickory-tough Sarazen, who could run at virtually distance.

OLYMPIAN, a chestnut colt out of Belle of Maywood, by Hunter's Lexington. This colt was stakes-placed at two in the United States, then raced in England at three. He returned to the United States to serve at stud, but was soon sold and exported to France. Like English classic winner Minoru and the great trotting stallion Cresceus, Olympian disappeared, presumably killed during the tumult of World War I.

RUNNING STREAM, a chestnut filly out of Dancing Water by Isonomy, second dam Pretty Dance by Doncaster. Running Stream was a beautifully bred filly who also had high class on the racetrack. Raced in England, she won the important July Stakes at Newmarket. Returned to Castleton, she became a fine producer. Her son Pebbles, by Ben Brush, was a very good juvenile, placing in the Saratoga Special and Hopeful Stakes, both races won by the brilliant filly Regret. The next year, Pebbles placed second again to Regret in the Kentucky Derby and then finished third in the Belmont Stakes. Running Stream's sons, Cataract, by Ben Brush, and Runnymede, by Voter, both won stakes races in England. Her most important offspring, though, was her unraced son, the aforementioned Ultimus, sired by Domino's son Commando. Tragically, Running Stream was burned to death in a stable fire in the spring of 1913, along with her colt by Voter. Twenty-six other mares and foals perished in the same fire.

SPRY, a bay filly out of Dart Maiden by St. Gatien. A minor winner, she only produced two recorded foals in nine years at Castleton, and was sold to go to Argentina.

THE REGENT, a bay colt (later gelded) out of Royal Gem, by Napsbury. A winner.

Of Domino's 19 named foals, seven were stakes winners, nearly 40%, extraordinary when the average percentage of stakes winners for a sire was 3%. Of his 20 total foals, nine were colts. One died young, five were gelded, and one, Olympian, covered only a handful of mares. That left Commando and Disguise, with the former more successful, although he, too, suffered an early death. But against all these negative odds, Domino's line has survived, and his daughters spread his name further into pedigrees. What he would have accomplished had he been blessed with a normal lifespan and larger books of mares is staggering to imagine. Domino's life ended at the young age of six. His end was recorded in The Bloodstock Breeders' Review in 1934:
"Domino, then six years old a month after finishing his second season at the stud, had been turned out in his paddock at Castleton in apparently perfect health and condition. Not long afterwards he was found lying on the ground, unable to rise and almost completely paralyzed. Major Daingerfield immediately summoned all available veterinary assistance and within a short time six of the best practitioners of Lexington were working over the horse in the effort to get him on his feet. But everything was fruitless. In a few hours, the horse was dead. The cause officially assigned was spinal meningitis. There is little doubt, however, that the real cause was an accident. Domino, one of the sweetest-tempered of stallions, was also of exuberant spirits. When turned out he had a habit of rearing on his hind legs, flinging his forefeet high in the air, and doing so repeatedly before he quieted down. It was, and is, the belief of those most familiar with the son of Himyar and Mannie Gray that while doing this that morning, he made a misstep, tripped, crossed his legs or in some way was thrown so heavily as to cause paralysis and death."
The death of the great horse was a shock to everyone associated with him. James Keene requested that the champion be buried at the farm of his breeder, Major Thomas. The major agreed, and Domino's body was brought to Major Thomas's Hira Villa Farm by wagon from Castleton the day after his death. Again, the Bloodstock Breeders' Review illustrated the scene vividly:

"On Friday, July 30, 1897, a strangely impressive scene was enacted near Lexington, Kentucky. At Hira Villa, not far back from the Huffman Mill Pike...a group of men and women stood with bared heads about the grave into which the body of a stallion, shrouded in a white winding sheet, was being lowered by reverent hands. At the head of the grave stood the horse's breeder, Major Barak G. Thomas; at its foot was Major Foxhall A. Daingerfield, his manager. Gathered around were fifty or more men and women, members of the families, close friends or trusted employees of the two gentlemen. As the clods of earth fell upon the sheeted form of the animal, until gradually it was lost to sight, tears might be seen running down the cheeks of some of the mourners. No word broke the silence. When at length the interment had been completed, Major Thomas laid upon the center of the mound a large wreath of flowers, and the company slowly dispersed."

In unmarked graves nearby were Domino's granddam, Hira, and his dam, Mannie Gray, who had died the previous year. Domino's grave was soon to be adorned with a large stone marker. At the request of James Keene, the monument read, "Here lies the fleetest runner the American turf has ever known, and one of the gamest and most generous of horses." Though weathered by time, the monument still stands over the great horse's grave, a testament to the legend that was Domino.

--Elizabeth Martiniak

Domino's Grave
Photo © Elizabeth Martiniak



DOMINO, brown colt - Family # 23 - b
Himyar
b. 1875
Alarm
b. 1869
Eclipse
b. 1855
Orlando
Gaze
Maud
b. 1859
Stockwell
Countess of Abemarle
Hira
ch. 1864
Lexington
b. 1850
Boston
Alice Carneal
Hegira
ch. 1846
Ambassador
Flight
Mannie Gray
blk. 1874
Enquirer
b. 1867
Leamington
br. 1853
Faugh-a-Ballagh
Mare by Pantaloon
Lida
b. 1858
Lexington
Lize
Lizzy G.
b. 1867
War Dance
ch. 1860
Lexington
Reel
Mare by LeComte
b. 1857
LeComte
Edith


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