One of the better English-based juveniles of his crop, Star Shoot developed a wind infirmity that curtailed his racing career at 3 and greatly reduced his marketability at stud in England. Thus, he was put on the market and was sold for export to the United States, where he was a great stud success. Ironically, it was not his breathing problem that minimized his long-term impact at stud; instead, it was his tendency to transmit bad feet, which probably would have been less of a problem on the turf courses of England. While his name still survives in pedigrees through his son Uncle and several daughters, he failed to establish a lasting sire line.
Race record
10 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds
1900:
As an individual
Considered an exceptionally handsome individual, Star Shoot was a chestnut of commanding presence. He had thin-walled feet, which he tended to transmit to his progeny. The best-known photograph of the horse suggests that he also had rather short pasterns and rough-looking ankles. He went blind in his later years.
As a stallion
Star Shoot led the American sire list five times (1911, 1912, 1916, 1917 and 1919) and was runner-up on three occasions. He was also the leading American sire of juveniles by number of winners seven times and led the American broodmare sire list five times in 1924-1929 (no statistics having been kept in 1927). Part of his success was due to the fact that he was one of the most prolific stallions of his time (he bred 90 mares during his first season at Hamburg Place), but he got quality as well as quantity. According to The Blood-Horse Silver Anniversary Edition, Star Shoot sired 298 winners (58.4%) and 61 stakes winners (12.0%) from 510 named foals. Star Shoot is an Intermediate chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Notable progeny
Audacious (USA), Daylight Saving (USA), Fairy Wand (USA), Grey Lag (USA), Sir Barton (USA), Uncle (USA), Wing Ting (USA), Wistful (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Eyrefield Stud Lodge in Ireland. Star Shoot was bred and owned by Major Eustace Loder. He was trained by John Huggins. After the colt failed to place in his only two starts at 3, he was sold to John Hanning and was imported to the United States. Hanning, in turn, sold Star Shoot to Colonel Catesby Woodford, who stood the horse in partnership with Colonel Ezekiel Clay at their Runnymede Farm until November 1912. At that time, Star Shoot was sold to John E. Madden, who stood him at his Hamburg Place until the stallion's death from pneumonia in 1919.
Pedigree notes
Star Shoot is inbred 5x3 to 1851 St. Leger Stakes winner and two-time English leading sire Newminster--perhaps not coincidentally, a horse that also suffered from chronic foot problems. He is a full brother to L'Etoile, dam of the good French stakes winner Ecouen. He is also a half brother to the Manchester November Handicap winner Telescope (by Tyrant). Star Shoot's dam Astrology was produced from Stella (by Brother to Strafford), whose full sister Lady Paramount produced the good English stakes winner St. Mirin (by Hermit).
Books and media
Star Shoot 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
Race record
10 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds
1900:
- Won National Breeders' Produce S. (ENG, 5FT, Sandown; dead heat with Ian, to whom Star Shoot conceded 9 pounds)
- Won Hurst Park Foal Plate (ENG, Hurst)
- Won British Dominion Two-Year-Old Plate (ENG, 5FT, Sandown)
- 2nd Summer Breeders' Foal Plate (ENG, 5FT, Manchester)
- 3rd Middle Park Plate (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd New Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Ascot)
- 3rd Champagne Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Doncaster)
As an individual
Considered an exceptionally handsome individual, Star Shoot was a chestnut of commanding presence. He had thin-walled feet, which he tended to transmit to his progeny. The best-known photograph of the horse suggests that he also had rather short pasterns and rough-looking ankles. He went blind in his later years.
As a stallion
Star Shoot led the American sire list five times (1911, 1912, 1916, 1917 and 1919) and was runner-up on three occasions. He was also the leading American sire of juveniles by number of winners seven times and led the American broodmare sire list five times in 1924-1929 (no statistics having been kept in 1927). Part of his success was due to the fact that he was one of the most prolific stallions of his time (he bred 90 mares during his first season at Hamburg Place), but he got quality as well as quantity. According to The Blood-Horse Silver Anniversary Edition, Star Shoot sired 298 winners (58.4%) and 61 stakes winners (12.0%) from 510 named foals. Star Shoot is an Intermediate chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Notable progeny
Audacious (USA), Daylight Saving (USA), Fairy Wand (USA), Grey Lag (USA), Sir Barton (USA), Uncle (USA), Wing Ting (USA), Wistful (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Eyrefield Stud Lodge in Ireland. Star Shoot was bred and owned by Major Eustace Loder. He was trained by John Huggins. After the colt failed to place in his only two starts at 3, he was sold to John Hanning and was imported to the United States. Hanning, in turn, sold Star Shoot to Colonel Catesby Woodford, who stood the horse in partnership with Colonel Ezekiel Clay at their Runnymede Farm until November 1912. At that time, Star Shoot was sold to John E. Madden, who stood him at his Hamburg Place until the stallion's death from pneumonia in 1919.
Pedigree notes
Star Shoot is inbred 5x3 to 1851 St. Leger Stakes winner and two-time English leading sire Newminster--perhaps not coincidentally, a horse that also suffered from chronic foot problems. He is a full brother to L'Etoile, dam of the good French stakes winner Ecouen. He is also a half brother to the Manchester November Handicap winner Telescope (by Tyrant). Star Shoot's dam Astrology was produced from Stella (by Brother to Strafford), whose full sister Lady Paramount produced the good English stakes winner St. Mirin (by Hermit).
Books and media
Star Shoot 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
- Within a few days of his foaling, Star Shoot was stricken by a fever and given up for lost by his owner. The colt was saved by Eyrefield Lodge stud groom Dan McNally, who wrapped the youngster up in blankets and put him in front of a roaring fire until the fever broke.
- The theories of Bruce Lowe, which were much in fashion during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, may have played a significant role in Star Shoot's export. According to Lowe, stallions tracing in direct female lineage to the Vintner Mare (Family 9) were very unlikely to make good sires. Ironically, Star Shoot was a contemporary of Fair Play and Cyllene, who like Star Shoot enjoyed great success as sires in the early 20th century despite tracing to Family 9. All three stallions descend from Maid of Masham, an 1845 daughter of 1838 St. Leger Stakes winner Don John and a 14th-generation descendant of the Vintner Mare.
- Star Shoot was 18 when Sir Barton was foaled, making him the oldest stallion to have sired a winner of the American Triple Crown.
- The Star Shoot Stakes was inaugurated in 1956. It is currently run at Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario, Canada, and is contested as a 6-furlong sprint on the main track for 3-year-old fillies.