An unsound horse who never made it to the track, Ultimus vindicated the experiment in intense inbreeding that had produced him by becoming a top sire of juveniles and speedsters. Against all odds, he also became a sire of sires and an influential broodmare sire.
Race record
Unraced “due to accidental injury” according to his stallion advertisements. He had reportedly shown "great promise" in trials.
As an individual
Ultimus stood 15.3 hands. He was an attractive, muscular chestnut but had badly conformed forelegs and rather short, upright pasterns. His shoulder was excellent and he had powerful hindquarters. His stallion advertisements indicated a docile disposition.
As a stallion
According to Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse), Ultimus sired 26 stakes winners (20.1%) from 126 named foals. He was a notable influence for speed, but many of his stock developed unsoundness after relatively short racing careers. Ultimus is a Brilliant 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):
Notable progeny
High Time (USA), Luke McLuke (USA), Stimulus (USA), Supremus (USA), Sweetheart (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Apogee (USA), Bold Venture (USA), Case Ace (USA), Dreadnaught (USA), Flying Heels (USA), Happy Gal (USA), Lady Baltimore (USA), Tattling (USA)
Connections
Ultimus was officially bred by James R. Keene, although both Keene's stud manager Foxhall Daingerfield and Keene's son Foxhall Keene took credit for actually planning the mating that produced him. Ultimus stood at Keene's Castleton Stud until after Keene's death in 1913. At the dispersal of Keene's stock, the stallion was sold to Price McKinney's Wickliffe Stud for US$11,500. He was later purchased by Hal Price Headley and William Miller and moved to Headley's Beaumont Farm, where he died of colic in 1921.
Pedigree notes
Ultimus is inbred 2x2 to Domino. He is a half brother to 1914 American champion 2-year-old male Pebbles (by Ben Brush) and to English stakes winners Runnymede (by Voter) and Cataract (by Ben Brush). He is also a half brother to Stepping Stone (by Ben Brush), dam of stakes winner Climber (by Voter). His dam, Running Stream, won the 1900 July Cup as a juvenile in England and is a half sister to the good stakes winner Restigouche (by Domino's son Commando).
Books and media
Ultimus is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
Fun facts
Last updated: January 6, 2023
Race record
Unraced “due to accidental injury” according to his stallion advertisements. He had reportedly shown "great promise" in trials.
As an individual
Ultimus stood 15.3 hands. He was an attractive, muscular chestnut but had badly conformed forelegs and rather short, upright pasterns. His shoulder was excellent and he had powerful hindquarters. His stallion advertisements indicated a docile disposition.
As a stallion
According to Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse), Ultimus sired 26 stakes winners (20.1%) from 126 named foals. He was a notable influence for speed, but many of his stock developed unsoundness after relatively short racing careers. Ultimus is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1924.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1924; 8th in 1923.
- 4th on the American broodmare sire list in 1936; 9th in 1929; 10th in 1930.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1924; 8th in 1923.
- 4th on the American broodmare sire list in 1936; 9th in 1930.
Notable progeny
High Time (USA), Luke McLuke (USA), Stimulus (USA), Supremus (USA), Sweetheart (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Apogee (USA), Bold Venture (USA), Case Ace (USA), Dreadnaught (USA), Flying Heels (USA), Happy Gal (USA), Lady Baltimore (USA), Tattling (USA)
Connections
Ultimus was officially bred by James R. Keene, although both Keene's stud manager Foxhall Daingerfield and Keene's son Foxhall Keene took credit for actually planning the mating that produced him. Ultimus stood at Keene's Castleton Stud until after Keene's death in 1913. At the dispersal of Keene's stock, the stallion was sold to Price McKinney's Wickliffe Stud for US$11,500. He was later purchased by Hal Price Headley and William Miller and moved to Headley's Beaumont Farm, where he died of colic in 1921.
Pedigree notes
Ultimus is inbred 2x2 to Domino. He is a half brother to 1914 American champion 2-year-old male Pebbles (by Ben Brush) and to English stakes winners Runnymede (by Voter) and Cataract (by Ben Brush). He is also a half brother to Stepping Stone (by Ben Brush), dam of stakes winner Climber (by Voter). His dam, Running Stream, won the 1900 July Cup as a juvenile in England and is a half sister to the good stakes winner Restigouche (by Domino's son Commando).
Books and media
Ultimus is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
Fun facts
- The Ultimus Handicap was run at Woodbine in 1956-1979. It was won by Canadian champions New Providence, Jammed Lucky, Canebora, Victoria Era, and Overskate, among others.
Last updated: January 6, 2023