The Doge was not a great racehorse, but he was a good, honest sprinter-miler not far below his full brother Johns Joy in ability. He proved a useful speed sire from moderate opportunities and left two important legacies to his breed in his son Swoon's Son, a member of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, and his daughter Fun House, a good racer and an important broodmare.
Race record
91 starts, 25 wins, 14 seconds, 13 thirds, US$156,013
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
Assessments
A measure of The Doge's ability at maturity is that the year's champion sprinter, Polynesian, beat him a length while conceding 12 pounds in the 1947 Janney Handicap at season's end. Polynesian beat him even more convincingly in other encounters at 4 and 5 with less of a weight edge, suggesting that he was at least 15-20 pounds superior to The Doge on any given day.
As an individual
A brown horse, The Doge was muscular and full-bodied but not coarse and had an attractive head; his limbs were strong and clean with good bone. He could carry his speed up to nine furlongs but was more effective at shorter distances.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, The Doge sired 167 winners (74.2%) and 13 stakes winners (5.8%) from 225 named foals.
Notable progeny
Fun House (USA), Swoon's Son (USA)
Connections
The Doge was bred by Coldstream Stud. He was owned by Pentagon Stable and was trained by Frank A. Bonsal.
Pedigree notes
The Doge is inbred 4x5 to the important English and French sire Bay Ronald. He is a full brother to another tough stakes horse in Johns Joy and to juvenile stakes winner Carolina Queen. He is also a full brother to Amita, dam of juvenile stakes winner Judge M. (by Valdina Orphan). In addition, he is a half brother to Cousin (by Priam II), winner of the 1951 Hopeful Stakes.
A stakes-placed full sister to 1937 Bryan and O'Hara Memorial Handicap winner Busy K., My Auntie is by 1922 Blue Grass Stakes winner Busy American (by North Star III) out of Babe K., a winning daughter of 1920 Hopeful Stakes winner Leonardo II (by Sweep). Babe K. is a half sister to Cristar (by North Star III), whose Bull Dog daughter Albania is the dam of 1945 Roamer Handicap winner Chief Barker (by Sickle) and 1947 Louisiana Derby winner Carolyn A. (by Questionnaire) and the second dam of 10 stakes winners including 1953 American champion 3-year-old filly Grecian Queen, the high-class stakes horse My Request and 1965 Dwyer Handicap winner Staunchness.
Babe K. and Cristar were produced from the Fair Play mare Cri de Coeur, a full sister to stakes winner Tailor Maid and to Mlle. Dazie, dam of 1930 American co-champion 2-year-old male Jamestown. The next dam in the tail-female line, Toggery, is by Rock Sand out of Tea's Over (by Hanover) and is a full sister to 1915 Tremont Stakes winner Tea Caddy and a half sister to two-time American champion Ort Wells and the top Midwestern stakes winner Dick Welles, both by King Eric.
Fun facts
Last updated: March 30, 2020
Race record
91 starts, 25 wins, 14 seconds, 13 thirds, US$156,013
1944:
- Won Endurance Handicap (first division) (USA, 8F+70yD, Bowie)
- Won Sanford Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Eastern Shore Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
- 2nd Richard Johnson Stakes (USA, 6FD, Laurel)
- 3rd Walden Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Albany Handicap (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Sagamore Stakes (second division) (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
1945:
- Won Capital Handicap (second division) (USA, 6FD, Laurel)
- Won Laurel Stakes (USA, 8FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Ritchie Handicap (second division) (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Janney Handicap (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Kent Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Delaware)
- 3rd Diamond State Stakes (USA, 9FD, Delaware)
1946:
- Won Camden Handicap (USA, 6FD, Garden State)
- Won Susquehanna Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
- 2nd Atlantic City Inaugural Handicap (USA, 6FD, Atlantic City)
- 3rd Pageant Handicap (USA, 6FD, Atlantic City)
- 3rd Jennings Handicap (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
1947:
- Won Valley Forge Handicap (USA, 8FD, Garden State)
- Won Quaker City Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- Won Laurel Stakes (first division) (USA, 8FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Janney Handicap (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Camden Handicap (USA, 6FD, Garden State)
Assessments
A measure of The Doge's ability at maturity is that the year's champion sprinter, Polynesian, beat him a length while conceding 12 pounds in the 1947 Janney Handicap at season's end. Polynesian beat him even more convincingly in other encounters at 4 and 5 with less of a weight edge, suggesting that he was at least 15-20 pounds superior to The Doge on any given day.
As an individual
A brown horse, The Doge was muscular and full-bodied but not coarse and had an attractive head; his limbs were strong and clean with good bone. He could carry his speed up to nine furlongs but was more effective at shorter distances.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, The Doge sired 167 winners (74.2%) and 13 stakes winners (5.8%) from 225 named foals.
Notable progeny
Fun House (USA), Swoon's Son (USA)
Connections
The Doge was bred by Coldstream Stud. He was owned by Pentagon Stable and was trained by Frank A. Bonsal.
Pedigree notes
The Doge is inbred 4x5 to the important English and French sire Bay Ronald. He is a full brother to another tough stakes horse in Johns Joy and to juvenile stakes winner Carolina Queen. He is also a full brother to Amita, dam of juvenile stakes winner Judge M. (by Valdina Orphan). In addition, he is a half brother to Cousin (by Priam II), winner of the 1951 Hopeful Stakes.
A stakes-placed full sister to 1937 Bryan and O'Hara Memorial Handicap winner Busy K., My Auntie is by 1922 Blue Grass Stakes winner Busy American (by North Star III) out of Babe K., a winning daughter of 1920 Hopeful Stakes winner Leonardo II (by Sweep). Babe K. is a half sister to Cristar (by North Star III), whose Bull Dog daughter Albania is the dam of 1945 Roamer Handicap winner Chief Barker (by Sickle) and 1947 Louisiana Derby winner Carolyn A. (by Questionnaire) and the second dam of 10 stakes winners including 1953 American champion 3-year-old filly Grecian Queen, the high-class stakes horse My Request and 1965 Dwyer Handicap winner Staunchness.
Babe K. and Cristar were produced from the Fair Play mare Cri de Coeur, a full sister to stakes winner Tailor Maid and to Mlle. Dazie, dam of 1930 American co-champion 2-year-old male Jamestown. The next dam in the tail-female line, Toggery, is by Rock Sand out of Tea's Over (by Hanover) and is a full sister to 1915 Tremont Stakes winner Tea Caddy and a half sister to two-time American champion Ort Wells and the top Midwestern stakes winner Dick Welles, both by King Eric.
Fun facts
- In history, a doge was a chief magistrate of the city-states of Venice and Genoa.
Last updated: March 30, 2020