From the private collection of Dale Wyatt. Used by permission.
Perhaps the best stayer among Commando's sons, Peter Pan was not as brilliant as Colin or Celt but was still very well-regarded in his day, enough so to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in its second year. Like most other Whitney stallions, he had little access to outside mares and had to compete with Broomstick, Hamburg, Burgomaster and Whisk Broom II for those Whitney mares free of Domino blood--this after having stood at James Keene's Castleton Stud, where his competitors in his own stallion barn included Ben Brush, Voter, Celt, Disguise, Sweep, Ultimus and Colin. These conditions limited his opportunities, but Peter Pan nonetheless made a mark at stud, getting two good sire sons and several fillies of some significance as either racers or producers.
Race record
17 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$115,450
1906:
1907:
Honors
As an individual
A ruggedly made bay horse, Peter Pan had a good shoulder but was not quite as strong in the hindquarters as some of his near relatives; photographs suggest that he may have been sickle-hocked. He bowed a tendon shortly after his final start, the Brighton Handicap, in which he had been badly bumped at the start. He was a very good-natured horse both on the track and as a stallion.
As a stallion
Peter Pan's highest ranking on the American general sire list was fifth in 1926; he was also ninth in 1920. In addition, he was third on the French general sire list in 1916 and ranked four times among the top 10 American broodmare sires including a runner-up finish in 1931. According to Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse), he sired 48 stakes winners (19.6%) from 245 foals. Peter Pan is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Notable progeny
Black Toney (USA), Laurano (USA), Nixie (USA), Pennant (USA), Prudery (USA), Prudish (USA), Tryster (USA), Vexatious (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky at Castleton Stud, Peter Pan was bred and owned by James R. Keene. He was trained by James Rowe, Sr. He initially entered stud at Castleton Stud in 1908. Following Keene's death, his horses were dispersed in an auction on September 2, 1913, and Rowe bid US$38,000—the top price of the sale—to secure the stallion for Payne Whitney, outbidding Colonel E. R. Bradley. Payne Whitney, in turn, gave the horse to his brother, Harry Payne Whitney. Peter Pan was pensioned after the 1931 breeding season and was found dead in his stall in December 1933.
Pedigree notes
Peter Pan is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to stakes winner Von Tromp (by Ben Brush); to Fairy Sprite (by Voter), dam of stakes winner Gnome (by Whisk Broom II); and to Fairy Slipper (by St. Serf), dam of juvenile stakes winner Footpad (by Disguise) and second dam of 1920 Futurity Stakes winner Step Lightly and the good juvenile Bulse.
Cinderella, the dam of Peter Pan, won the 12-furlong Gratwicke Stakes as a 3-year-old in England. She was produced from the See Saw mare Mazurka, a juvenile stakes winner whose produce included Common Dance (by Common), dam of 1905 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) and Prix Royal-Oak (French St. Leger) winner Clyde (by Childwick) and second dam of the good French stakes winner Olibrius. Mazurka also produced Galop (by Galopin), dam of the good English juvenile Ella Tweed (by Salisbury; second dam of 1911 Grand Criterium winner Montrose); juvenile stakes winner Simon's Bay (by St. Simon); and Simoom (by St. Simon), dam of the good stakes filly Elba (by Prisoner).
Books and media
Peter Pan is profiled in Chapter 41 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released by Eclipse Press in 2006).
Fun facts
Race record
17 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$115,450
1906:
- Won Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Surf Stakes (USA, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Flash Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Double Event Stakes #2 (USA, 6FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 3rd Saratoga Special (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
1907:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- Won Brooklyn Derby (USA, 12FD, Gravesend)
- Won Brighton Handicap (USA, 10FD, Brighton Beach)
- Won Advance Stakes (USA, 11FD)
- Won Standard Stakes (USA, 10FD)
- Won Tidal Stakes (USA, 10FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 2nd Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Carlton Stakes (USA, 8FD, Gravesend)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1956)
- American champion 3-year-old male (1907)
As an individual
A ruggedly made bay horse, Peter Pan had a good shoulder but was not quite as strong in the hindquarters as some of his near relatives; photographs suggest that he may have been sickle-hocked. He bowed a tendon shortly after his final start, the Brighton Handicap, in which he had been badly bumped at the start. He was a very good-natured horse both on the track and as a stallion.
As a stallion
Peter Pan's highest ranking on the American general sire list was fifth in 1926; he was also ninth in 1920. In addition, he was third on the French general sire list in 1916 and ranked four times among the top 10 American broodmare sires including a runner-up finish in 1931. According to Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse), he sired 48 stakes winners (19.6%) from 245 foals. Peter Pan is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Notable progeny
Black Toney (USA), Laurano (USA), Nixie (USA), Pennant (USA), Prudery (USA), Prudish (USA), Tryster (USA), Vexatious (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky at Castleton Stud, Peter Pan was bred and owned by James R. Keene. He was trained by James Rowe, Sr. He initially entered stud at Castleton Stud in 1908. Following Keene's death, his horses were dispersed in an auction on September 2, 1913, and Rowe bid US$38,000—the top price of the sale—to secure the stallion for Payne Whitney, outbidding Colonel E. R. Bradley. Payne Whitney, in turn, gave the horse to his brother, Harry Payne Whitney. Peter Pan was pensioned after the 1931 breeding season and was found dead in his stall in December 1933.
Pedigree notes
Peter Pan is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to stakes winner Von Tromp (by Ben Brush); to Fairy Sprite (by Voter), dam of stakes winner Gnome (by Whisk Broom II); and to Fairy Slipper (by St. Serf), dam of juvenile stakes winner Footpad (by Disguise) and second dam of 1920 Futurity Stakes winner Step Lightly and the good juvenile Bulse.
Cinderella, the dam of Peter Pan, won the 12-furlong Gratwicke Stakes as a 3-year-old in England. She was produced from the See Saw mare Mazurka, a juvenile stakes winner whose produce included Common Dance (by Common), dam of 1905 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) and Prix Royal-Oak (French St. Leger) winner Clyde (by Childwick) and second dam of the good French stakes winner Olibrius. Mazurka also produced Galop (by Galopin), dam of the good English juvenile Ella Tweed (by Salisbury; second dam of 1911 Grand Criterium winner Montrose); juvenile stakes winner Simon's Bay (by St. Simon); and Simoom (by St. Simon), dam of the good stakes filly Elba (by Prisoner).
Books and media
Peter Pan is profiled in Chapter 41 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released by Eclipse Press in 2006).
Fun facts
- Peter Pan was named for the title character from a popular play by J. M. Barrie. The play was later adapted as a novel, as a Disney movie (the first of several movies based on Barrie's characters) and as a Broadway musical.
- The competition for mares at the Keene and Whitney studs can be measured by the fact that Peter Pan averaged only 10.8 foals per crop during his long career in spite of his success as a racehorse and sire.
- The Peter Pan Stakes was inaugurated in 1940. After lapsing following the 1960 renewal, it was reinstated at Aqueduct in 1975, moving to Belmont Park in 1976. A major prep for the Belmont Stakes (USA-I), it is currently a Grade III race for 3-year-olds over 9 furlongs on dirt.