Luke McLuke (USA)

Luke McLuke (1911 – ) 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.Hogan ''Index to Stakes Winners'' p. 339 Ultimus was inbred to Commando, as both his sire and dam were sired by Domino. 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 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 (), 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, 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 in Louisville, Kentucky. 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 in Lexington, Kentucky. He sired 11 stakes winners, including Nellie Morse, Anita Peabody, and Mr. Sponge.Hogan ''Index to Stakes Winners'' p. 616 Nellie Morse won the 1924 Preakness Stakes 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 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 Horses,Simmons ''Legends'' pp. 54–55 and was named to the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1989.American Quarter Horse Foundation "Three Bars Biography" ''Hall of Fame Biographies'' Another daughter, Nursemaid, produced the 1966 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, 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'' 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

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{{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