Domino (horse)

Won Great American Stakes (USA, 5FD, Gravesend)
Won Great Eclipse Stakes (USA, 6FD, Morris Park)
Won Great Trial Stakes (USA, 6FD, Sheepshead Bay)
Won Hyde Park Stakes (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
Won Produce Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
Won Futurity Stakes (USA, 6FD, Sheepshead Bay)
Won Matron Stakes (USA, 6FD, Morris Park)
Won match race w/Dobbins (USA, about 6FD, Sheepshead Bay; dead heat)

1894:

Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Morris Park)
Won Culver Stakes (USA, 6FD, Gravesend)
Won Flying Stakes (USA, 6FD, Sheepshead Bay)
Won Ocean Handicap (USA, 8FD, Sheepshead Bay)
Won a match race with Clifford (USA, 8FD, Sheepshead Bay)
Won Third Special (a match race w/Henry of Navarre) (USA, 9FD, Gravesend; dead heat)
3rd match race with Henry of Navarre and Clifford (USA, 9FD, Morris Park)

1895:

Won Coney Island Handicap (USA, 6FD, Sheepshead Bay)
Won Sheepshead Bay Handicap (USA, 8FD, Sheepshead Bay)
2nd Fall Handicap (USA, 6FD, Sheepshead Bay)

Honors

National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1955)
American Horse of the Year (1893)
American champion 2-year-old male (1893)
American co-champion 3-year-old male (1894)

As an individual

A handsome, well-balanced horse, Domino supposedly bowed tendons in both forelegs during a trial as a yearling. He was also troubled by a chronic foot injury at ages 3 and 4. He did not stay much if anything beyond a mile but was indifferent as to track conditions and carried weight well. He required little work to stay in condition. His coat was an unusual shade that appeared dark liver chestnut, brown or black depending on the lighting.

As a stallion

Domino sired 19 named foals. Of those, 15 (78.9%) won and seven (36.8%) were stakes winners.

Notable progeny

Cap and Bells II (USA), Commando (USA), Disguise (USA)

Notable progeny of daughters

Dominant (USA), High Time (USA), Sweep (USA), Ultimus (USA)

Connections

Domino was bred in Kentucky by Major Barak G. Thomas at his Dixiana Farm. He was owned by James R. Keene and his son Foxhall Keene. He was trained by William Lakeland. He stood in Kentucky at Castleton Stud. Domino's death at the early age of six was officially attributed to spinal meningitis, although many of those familiar with the young stallion suspected that the sudden paralysis preceding his death might have been the result of a paddock accident as he had apparently been in good health when turned out in his paddock a few hours earlier.

Pedigree notes

Domino is inbred 3x4x4 to Lexington and 4x5x5x5 to Lexington's sire Boston. He is a full brother to the notable speedster Correction, whose son Yankee (by Hanover) won the 1901 Futurity Stakes, and to Mannie Himyar, dam of 1903 Excelsior Handicap winner Blacklock (by Hanover) and the notable broodmare Adana (by Adam). He is also a half brother to 1884 Tennessee Derby winner Ten Strike (by Ten Broeck) and to 1886 Ladies' Handicap winner Bandala (by King Ban), fourth dam of 1923 American Horse of the Year Zev and American co-champion 3-year-old fillies Florence Nightingale (1925) and Edith Cavell (1926). In addition, Domino is a half brother to stakes winner Lady Reel (by Fellowcraft), dam of 1898 American Horse of the Year Hamburg (by Hanover).

Domino's dam Mannie Gray is a winning full sister to juvenile stakes winner Goodnight, considered an extremely fast horse. She was produced from Lizzie G., a daughter of Lexington's good sire son War Dance out of an unnamed daughter of Lecomte.

Books and media

Domino's three-cornered rivalry with Henry of Navarre and Clifford was featured as the first chapter of Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries (2008, Eclipse Press), a compilation produced by the staff of The Blood-Horse.
Domino is one of 50 stallions profiled in Joe Palmer's Names in Pedigrees (1939, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; reprinted in 1974).

Fun facts

A normally good-natured horse, Domino hated his regular jockey, Fred Taral, and would try to savage him whenever possible. By the end of Domino's career, Lakeland had to throw a blanket over Domino's head before Taral could mount. In fairness to Domino, Taral was a notorious whip rider whose free use of whip and spur earned him the soubriquet, “The Demon Dutchman.”
James Keene originally did not want to buy Domino when the colt was offered as a yearling and only acquiesced after Foxhall Keene bought Domino for US$3,000. The reason for his reluctance is uncertain; some accounts state that the elder Keene thought the colt would be too expensive, while others state that he didn't like the colt's looks.
Domino was the leading North American money-winning Thoroughbred at the time of his retirement. His juvenile earnings record of US$170,790 stood until 1931, when it was broken by the filly Top Flight.
Domino's epitaph was composed by James Keene. It reads, “Here lies the fleetest runner the American turf has ever known, and one of the gamest and most generous of horses.” Domino's tombstone can still be seen at Mount Brilliant Farm, Kentucky.

Photo credit

Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.

Last updated: July 4, 2024