J. O. Tobin (USA)
March 28, 1974 – 1994
Never Bend (USA) x Hill Shade (USA), by Hillary (USA)
Family 3-m
March 28, 1974 – 1994
Never Bend (USA) x Hill Shade (USA), by Hillary (USA)
Family 3-m
Best remembered in the United States as the horse who knocked Seattle Slew from the ranks of the unbeaten, J. O. Tobin was a brilliantly fast horse at his best and was a member of an elite group of Thoroughbreds that have earned championships on both sides of the Atlantic. His stud career was fairly useful but did not come close to measuring up to his prowess as a racehorse.
Race record
21 starts, 12 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$659,665 (including converted English and French earnings)
1976:
1977:
1978:
Honors
Assessments
Highweighted at 133 pounds on the Free Handicap for English-raced juveniles of 1976, 5 pounds above second-ranked Godswalk.
Earned a Timeform rating of 130 pounds at 2, one pound below the publication's top-rated juvenile of 1976, French champion 2-year-old male Blushing Groom, and equal to Irish champion 2-year-old male The Minstrel.
Rated at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1978, 8 pounds below champion Seattle Slew but tied for second with Affiliate.
Highweighted at 132 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1978, 4 pounds above second-rated What a Summer (a mare). (The year's other co-champion sprinter, Dr. Patches, was assigned a rating of 119 pounds on the Free Handicap for older males.)
As an individual
An impressive dark bay or brown horse standing 16.2 hands, J. O. Tobin had a moody disposition which did not always lend itself to racing.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, J. O. Tobin sired 271 winners (54.2%) and 23 stakes winners (4.6%) from 500 named foals. None of his foals showed anything remotely close to his own ability.
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, J. O. Tobin was bred and owned by George A. Pope, Jr., and was trained by Noel Murless while a juvenile in England. He was trained by John H. Adams at 3 and by Laz Barrera at 4. He entered stud in 1979 in Kentucky at Spendthrift Farm. He died in 1994 in Corrales, New Mexico.
Pedigree notes
J. O. Tobin is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 1973 One Thousand Guineas and Oaks Stakes winner Mysterious (by Crepello), third dam of Grade 2 winner Quest. He is also a half brother to stakes winner Fairy Dance (by Northern Dancer), third dam of 2006 Puerto Rican champion imported 3-year-old filly Batavia Light, and to Lightly (by Decidedly), dam of the minor stakes winner Ron Rivers (by Valdez).
Hill Shade, the dam of J. O. Tobin, won the 1968 Nassau Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes in England. She is a full sister to Shady Hill, second dam of Buckle Down Ben, and a half sister to She's Decided (by Decidedly), second dam of Peruvian Group 3 winner Concretero.
Hill Shade and her sisters were produced from 1958 Santa Susana Stakes winner Penumbra (by Imperium), whose half sister Chicha (by Imbros) won the 1953 Santa Barbara Handicap before producing 1968 Lakeside Handicap winner Hill Shine (by Hillary). Penumbra's full sister Fallen Leaf is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Madera Sun.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 21, 2024
Race record
21 starts, 12 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$659,665 (including converted English and French earnings)
1976:
- Won Laurent Perrier Champagne Stakes (ENG-G2, 7FT, Doncaster)
- Won Richmond Stakes (ENG-G2, 6FT, Goodwood)
- 3rd Grand Criterium (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
1977:
- Won Swaps Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- Won Coronado Handicap (USA, 8FT, Hollywood)
1978:
- Won Californian Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Malibu Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won San Bernardino Handicap (USA-G2, 9FT, Santa Anita)
- Won Los Angeles Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Hollywood)
- Won Premiere Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Tom Fool Handicap (USA, 7FD, Belmont)
- 2nd San Fernando Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Charles H. Strub Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
- Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame (inducted in 2021)
- English champion 2-year-old male (1976)
- Eclipse Award, American co-champion sprinter (1978)
- Maryland-bred Horse of the Year (1978)
- Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old male (1976)
- Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old male (1977)
- Maryland-bred champion older male (1978)
- Maryland-bred champion turf horse (1978)
Assessments
Highweighted at 133 pounds on the Free Handicap for English-raced juveniles of 1976, 5 pounds above second-ranked Godswalk.
Earned a Timeform rating of 130 pounds at 2, one pound below the publication's top-rated juvenile of 1976, French champion 2-year-old male Blushing Groom, and equal to Irish champion 2-year-old male The Minstrel.
Rated at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1978, 8 pounds below champion Seattle Slew but tied for second with Affiliate.
Highweighted at 132 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1978, 4 pounds above second-rated What a Summer (a mare). (The year's other co-champion sprinter, Dr. Patches, was assigned a rating of 119 pounds on the Free Handicap for older males.)
As an individual
An impressive dark bay or brown horse standing 16.2 hands, J. O. Tobin had a moody disposition which did not always lend itself to racing.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, J. O. Tobin sired 271 winners (54.2%) and 23 stakes winners (4.6%) from 500 named foals. None of his foals showed anything remotely close to his own ability.
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, J. O. Tobin was bred and owned by George A. Pope, Jr., and was trained by Noel Murless while a juvenile in England. He was trained by John H. Adams at 3 and by Laz Barrera at 4. He entered stud in 1979 in Kentucky at Spendthrift Farm. He died in 1994 in Corrales, New Mexico.
Pedigree notes
J. O. Tobin is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 1973 One Thousand Guineas and Oaks Stakes winner Mysterious (by Crepello), third dam of Grade 2 winner Quest. He is also a half brother to stakes winner Fairy Dance (by Northern Dancer), third dam of 2006 Puerto Rican champion imported 3-year-old filly Batavia Light, and to Lightly (by Decidedly), dam of the minor stakes winner Ron Rivers (by Valdez).
Hill Shade, the dam of J. O. Tobin, won the 1968 Nassau Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes in England. She is a full sister to Shady Hill, second dam of Buckle Down Ben, and a half sister to She's Decided (by Decidedly), second dam of Peruvian Group 3 winner Concretero.
Hill Shade and her sisters were produced from 1958 Santa Susana Stakes winner Penumbra (by Imperium), whose half sister Chicha (by Imbros) won the 1953 Santa Barbara Handicap before producing 1968 Lakeside Handicap winner Hill Shine (by Hillary). Penumbra's full sister Fallen Leaf is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Madera Sun.
Fun facts
- J. O. Tobin was named for a longtime friend of owner George Pope.
- J. O. Tobin's return from England to the United States may have been prompted by the retirement of his trainer, Sir Noel Murless.
- The Eclipse Award ties between J. O. Tobin and Dr. Patches in the sprint division and Candy Eclair and It's in the Air in the 2-year-old filly division led to a revamp of Eclipse Award voting to prevent future ties in divisional championship voting.
Last updated: September 21, 2024