Nodouble (USA)
March 4, 1965 – 1990
Noholme II (AUS) x Abla-Jay (USA), by Double Jay (USA)
American Family 1
March 4, 1965 – 1990
Noholme II (AUS) x Abla-Jay (USA), by Double Jay (USA)
American Family 1
Known to his fans as the “Arkansas Traveler” for his state of birth and cross-country racing campaigns (he ran at 14 different tracks during his career), Nodouble was talented, hardy, and honest and was probably the best horse produced by American Family 1 since the days of Exterminator and Regret. Despite a rather offbeat pedigree, he also became an important sire. He made his most lasting mark on the Thoroughbred through his daughter No Class, the 1985 Canadian Broodmare of the Year and a matriarch whose influence is continuing to expand.
Race record
42 starts, 13 wins, 11 seconds, 5 thirds, US$846,749
1967:
1968:
1969:
1970:
Honors
American co-champion handicap male (1969, 1970)
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1968, 6 pounds below divisional co-champion Stage Door Johnny and 5 pounds below the division's other co-champion, Forward Pass.
Highweighted on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1969 with 132 pounds, 6 more than second-rated Figonero. (The co-champion in the handicap male division was Horse of the Year Arts and Letters, a 3-year-old who was assigned 136 pounds on the Free Handicap for 3-year-old males.)
Rated at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1970, 2 pounds below highweighted Arts and Letters; Fort Marcy, who shared the handicap male championship with Nodouble, was rated at 132 pounds on the Free Handicap for American turf runners but was not assigned a rating on the older male handicap.
As an individual
A chestnut horse standing 16 hands, Nodouble was described by Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form as "a nicely balanced, workmanlike racehorse, with no exaggerated physical features," only marred by sickle hocks and rather long hind cannons. His action was good and his bone broad and flat, and he was an honest and resolute competitor on the track, though a hard puller at exercise.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, he sired 428 winners (66.5%) and 88 stakes winners (8.4%) from 644 named foals; Thoroughbred Times credited Nodouble with 91 stakes winners (13.7%). His progeny had above-average durability and usually stayed well. Nodouble is a Classic/Professional chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Per Thoroughbred Record (later Thoroughbred Times):
Notable progeny
Hungria (USA), Magnificent Lindy (USA), Mairzy Doates (USA), No Class (CAN), No Review (USA), Overskate (CAN), Shocker T. (USA), Singletta (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Al Bahathri (USA), Always a Classic (CAN), Classy 'n Smart (CAN), Grey Classic (CAN), Proper Reality (USA), Regal Classic (CAN), Sky Classic (CAN)
Connections
Nodouble was bred and owned by Gene Goff and raced in the colors of Goff's Verna Lea Farms. He was trained by James Bert Sonnier. He entered stud at El Rancho Murieta in California in 1971. After standing there and at Domino Stud in Kentucky without meeting expectations, he was moved to Lasater Farm in Florida, where he was a marked success. His final home was at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky, where he died at the age of 25.
Pedigree notes
Nodouble's pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Grade 1-placed Grade 3 winner Break Up the Game and a half brother to Kawana (by King's Bishop), dam of 1994 Panamanian champion imported 2-year-old male El Andarin (by Blue Ensign) and juvenile stakes winner Uwana Kawana (by Hold Your Peace). Kawano is also the second dam of Grade 3 winner Star's Proud Penny.
Nodouble was produced from Abla-Jay, a durable but not very classy mare who won eight of her 68 starts. She was produced from the winner Ablamucha, whose sire, the Argentine import Don Bingo, won the 1943 Suburban Handicap but proved a poor sire.
The next dam in Nodouble's tail-female line, the Challenger II mare Sweet Betty, also produced Melanie Mack (by Athanasius), dam of juvenile stakes winner Melanies Boots (by Page Boots). Sweet Betty, in turn, is out of the Sweep mare Betty Dalme.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 30, 2022
Race record
42 starts, 13 wins, 11 seconds, 5 thirds, US$846,749
1967:
- 2nd Freshman Derby (USA, 6.5FD, Hazel Park)
- 3rd Heritage Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Thistledown)
- 3rd To Market Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Hawthorne)
- 3rd Graduation Stakes (USA, 8f+70yD, Detroit)
1968:
- Won Arkansas Derby (USA, 9FD, Oaklawn)
- Won Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap (USA, 9FD, Detroit)
- Won Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hawthorne; equaled track record 1:59-1/5)
- 2nd American Derby Stakes (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico; moved up from fourth by disqualification)
1969:
- Won Santa Anita Handicap (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Californian Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hawthorne)
- 2nd Charles H. Strub Stakes (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita; disqualified from first)
- 2nd Gulfstream Park Handicap (USA, 10FD, Gulfstream)
- 2nd Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Woodward Stakes (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Aqueduct)
1970:
- Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont; new track record 1:34-3/5)
- Won San Pasqual Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita; new track record 1:40-2/5)
- 3rd Californian Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
Honors
American co-champion handicap male (1969, 1970)
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1968, 6 pounds below divisional co-champion Stage Door Johnny and 5 pounds below the division's other co-champion, Forward Pass.
Highweighted on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1969 with 132 pounds, 6 more than second-rated Figonero. (The co-champion in the handicap male division was Horse of the Year Arts and Letters, a 3-year-old who was assigned 136 pounds on the Free Handicap for 3-year-old males.)
Rated at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1970, 2 pounds below highweighted Arts and Letters; Fort Marcy, who shared the handicap male championship with Nodouble, was rated at 132 pounds on the Free Handicap for American turf runners but was not assigned a rating on the older male handicap.
As an individual
A chestnut horse standing 16 hands, Nodouble was described by Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form as "a nicely balanced, workmanlike racehorse, with no exaggerated physical features," only marred by sickle hocks and rather long hind cannons. His action was good and his bone broad and flat, and he was an honest and resolute competitor on the track, though a hard puller at exercise.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, he sired 428 winners (66.5%) and 88 stakes winners (8.4%) from 644 named foals; Thoroughbred Times credited Nodouble with 91 stakes winners (13.7%). His progeny had above-average durability and usually stayed well. Nodouble is a Classic/Professional chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 1981; 4th in 1985; 8th in 1978 and 1986; 9th in 1982; 10th in 1988.
- 6th on the American broodmare sire list in 1989; 10th in 1992.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 1981.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1981; 4th in 1985; 8th in 1978 and 1986; 10th in 1982.
- 8th on the American broodmare sire list in 1989.
- 10th on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1985.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1981.
Per Thoroughbred Record (later Thoroughbred Times):
- Led the American general sire list in 1981.
Notable progeny
Hungria (USA), Magnificent Lindy (USA), Mairzy Doates (USA), No Class (CAN), No Review (USA), Overskate (CAN), Shocker T. (USA), Singletta (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Al Bahathri (USA), Always a Classic (CAN), Classy 'n Smart (CAN), Grey Classic (CAN), Proper Reality (USA), Regal Classic (CAN), Sky Classic (CAN)
Connections
Nodouble was bred and owned by Gene Goff and raced in the colors of Goff's Verna Lea Farms. He was trained by James Bert Sonnier. He entered stud at El Rancho Murieta in California in 1971. After standing there and at Domino Stud in Kentucky without meeting expectations, he was moved to Lasater Farm in Florida, where he was a marked success. His final home was at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky, where he died at the age of 25.
Pedigree notes
Nodouble's pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Grade 1-placed Grade 3 winner Break Up the Game and a half brother to Kawana (by King's Bishop), dam of 1994 Panamanian champion imported 2-year-old male El Andarin (by Blue Ensign) and juvenile stakes winner Uwana Kawana (by Hold Your Peace). Kawano is also the second dam of Grade 3 winner Star's Proud Penny.
Nodouble was produced from Abla-Jay, a durable but not very classy mare who won eight of her 68 starts. She was produced from the winner Ablamucha, whose sire, the Argentine import Don Bingo, won the 1943 Suburban Handicap but proved a poor sire.
The next dam in Nodouble's tail-female line, the Challenger II mare Sweet Betty, also produced Melanie Mack (by Athanasius), dam of juvenile stakes winner Melanies Boots (by Page Boots). Sweet Betty, in turn, is out of the Sweep mare Betty Dalme.
Fun facts
- Gene Goff bought Nodouble's dam Abla-Jay for just US$3,200 from the 1963 Keeneland fall mixed sale. The mare later failed to make her reserve on a US$100,000 bid at the 1968 Keeneland fall sale, though she was carrying a full sibling to Nodouble at the time.
- Nodouble is the last male-line descendant of Hyperion to have headed the American general sire list.
- Nodouble had a taste for occasionally eating hot dogs or hamburgers—on a bun, of course. It is not recorded as to whether he took his treats with ketchup or mustard.
Last updated: May 30, 2022