Commando (1898–1905) was an American Hall of Fame

Champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, 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 ...

racehorse.

Racing career

Bred at Castleton Stud by owner James R. Keene, Commando raced at age two, winning five of his six starts and finishing second in the other as a result of jockey error. At age three, Commando raced only three times, winning the Belmont Stakes and the Carlton Stakes. In the Belmont Stakes at

Morris Park Racecourse Morris Park Racecourse was an American Thoroughbred horse race, thoroughbred horse racing facility from 1889 to 1904. It was located in a part of Westchester County, New York that was annexed into the Bronx in 1895 and later developed as the neighb ...

he faced two opponents, only one of whom, The Parader was seen as a serious rival. Commando made almost all the running before going clear in the straight and winning easily. Although he finished second, an injury in the

Lawrence Realization Stakes The Lawrence Realization Stakes was an American horse race first run on the turf in 1889. The race, for three-year-old Thoroughbred colts, geldings and fillies, was last run in 2005. History Inaugurated at the Sheepshead Bay Race Track at Gravese ...

ended his racing career.

Stud record

Retired to stand at

stud Stud may refer to the following terms: Animals * Stud (animal), an animal retained for breeding ** Stud farm, a property where livestock are bred Arts and entertainment * Stud (band), a British progressive rock group * The Stud (bar), a gay ba ...

at Castleton Farm, Commando proved to be a successful sire. Unfortunately he died on 13 March 1905 at age seven after developing

tetanus Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is a bacterial infection caused by ''Clostridium tetani'', and is characterized by muscle spasms. In the most common type, the spasms begin in the jaw and then progress to the rest of the body. Each spasm usually ...

from a cut sustained to his foot. He was buried at Castleton Farm. Although his breeding career was limited to four seasons, Commando produced 10 stakes winners from 27 foals and posthumously topped the U.S. sire list in 1907. Among his progeny were Hall of Fame champions Colin and

Peter Pan Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythi ...

Honors

In 1956, Commando was inducted posthumously into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Commando at the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame A painting of Commando by equine artist Charles L. Zellinsky is on display as part of the Museum's collection.

Pedigree

References

{{short description, 20th-century American Thoroughbred race horse and member of the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame 1898 racehorse births 1905 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States American Champion racehorses American Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Belmont Stakes winners United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees United States Champion Thoroughbred Sires Thoroughbred family 12-b