Luke Blackburn (1877–1904) was a
thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...
race horse
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic pr ...
born and bred in
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
by Capt. James Franklin. He was inducted into the
US Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1956.
Background
Sired by
Bonnie Scotland
''Bonnie Scotland'' is a 1935 American film directed by James W. Horne and starring Laurel and Hardy. It was produced by Hal Roach for Hal Roach Studios. Although the film begins in Scotland, a large part of the action is set in British India.
...
, his dam was Nevada out of perhaps the most influential
stallion
A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded (castrated).
Stallions follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" nec ...
America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
ever produced, the great
Lexington. A bay foal, he was sold at two to Capt. Jim Williams who paid $510 for him. Just over a decade since the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
, only former officers could afford racehorses, hence the copious amount of captains associated with the horse.
Williams named the colt for
Luke P. Blackburn, the governor of the state of
Kentucky
Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...
at the time, and he proceeded to race him thirteen times. Luke won twice. When the horse turned three, Capt. Williams sold him to the
Dwyer Brothers for $2,500, and the Dwyer Brothers placed him in the hands of the future
Hall of Fame
A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...
trainer,
James G. Rowe, Sr.
Racing career
During his first start at three, Luke lost again (to a colt named
Fonso who would win the
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year ...
that year), but he then won twenty three of his next twenty four races, and he won them by six lengths or ten lengths or even fifteen, breaking records as he did. When his jockeys rode him, they complained that Luke Blackburn was too strong and pulled too hard. Sports writers wrote that he was the most muscular horse in America although he stood only 15 and a quarter hands high.
The famous Hall of Fame
jockey
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...
,
Jim McLaughlin, said Luke could not be held back. He also said he was the best horse he had ever ridden. McLaughlin had the mount on
Hindoo,
Hanover
Hanover (; german: Hannover ; nds, Hannober) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony. Its 535,932 (2021) inhabitants make it the 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-largest city in Northern Germany ...
,
Miss Woodford
Miss Woodford (1880–1899) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who was one of the top American fillies of all time, winning 16 consecutive races.
Background
Miss Woodford was bred in Kentucky by the Ezekiel Clay & Catesby Woodford b ...
,
Firenze
Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...
,
Kingston,
George Kinney,
Tremont,
Tecumseh
Tecumseh ( ; October 5, 1813) was a Shawnee chief and warrior who promoted resistance to the expansion of the United States onto Native American lands. A persuasive orator, Tecumseh traveled widely, forming a Native American confederacy and ...
and
Salvator
Salvator, original spelling of Salvador, may refer to:
* Paulaner Salvator, the original doppelbock brand
* Salvator (lizard), ''Salvator'' (lizard), a genus of lizards
* Salvator (horse) (1886–1909), an American thoroughbred racehorse
* Salvato ...
.
In his final start as a three-year-old, Luke was injured, but he came back to the races at four. After two races, he was retired. The injury had proved the end of his days on the track.
Stud career
Luke Blackburn was sent to General
William Hicks Jackson
William Hicks "Red" Jackson (October 1, 1835 – March 30, 1903) was a career United States Army officer who graduated from West Point. After serving briefly in the Southwest and resigning when the American Civil War broke out, he served in th ...
's
Belle Meade Stud near
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
. One horse he produced was
Proctor Knott, the only horse Salvator could never beat.
In 1904, at the age of twenty seven, Luke Blackburn was sold at auction for $20 to a W.H. Allison. He died within months.
References
{{reflist
* "The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America" by William H.P. Roberton, Bonanza Books, New York, 1964
Luke Blackburn’s pedigreeLuke Blackburn in the Hall of FameJames Rowe, Sr. at the Hall of Fame
1877 racehorse births
1904 racehorse deaths
Thoroughbred family 12-b
Racehorses bred in Tennessee
United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees