Used by permission from Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin).
Uncle had talent, but he also had bad feet that even Sam Hildreth's wizardry couldn't keep sound enough for racing. His main claim to fame is as a sire, where he outshone sons of Star Shoot with much better race records such as Sir Barton and Grey Lag. His name survives in pedigrees primarily through the descendants of his daughter Uncle's Lassie, a key mare in American Family 4, and through his maternal grandson Stimulus.
Race record
12 starts, 7 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$16,915
1907:
- Won Holly Stakes (USA, 6FD, Gravesend)
- Won Rancho Del Paso Stakes (USA, 6FD, Morris Park)
- Won Triumph Stakes (USA, 8FD, Brighton Beach)
- 2nd Saratoga Special (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Junior Champion Stakes (USA, about 5.75FD, Gravesend)
As an individual
Like many others sired by Star Shoot, Uncle had thin-walled, thin-soled feet. He was otherwise a handsome, well-balanced individual with an exceptionally good hind leg. A chestnut, he stood just under 15.3 hands.
As a stallion
Uncle ranked six times among the top 10 American sires, reaching his peak in 1913 when he was sixth on the list. He also did fairly well as a broodmare sire, ranking among the top 10 American broodmare sires four times. According to The Blood-Horse Silver Anniversary Edition, Uncle sired 142 winners (72.4%) and 23 stakes winners (11.7%) from 196 named foals. Hall of Fame member Old Rosebud was by far the best of his progeny. His last foals were registered in 1927.
Notable progeny
Old Rosebud (USA), Uncle's Lassie (USA)
Connections
Uncle was bred, owned, and trained by John E. Madden, who sold the colt to trainer Sam Hildreth for $30,000 (then a high price) during the Saratoga meeting of Uncle's juvenile season. In Uncle's next race, he finished only a length behind the great Colin in the Saratoga Special, but he went lame during a workout a few days later. After several attempts to get him back to the races. Hildreth finally admitted defeat and retired Uncle in November 1908.
Pedigree notes
Uncle is inbred 5x4 to the “Emperor of Stallions,” dual English Classic winner Stockwell, and 5x5 to the 1834 St. Leger Stakes winner and four-time leading English sire Touchstone. He is a half brother to La Colonia (by Hindoo), dam of multiple stakes winner Lady Amelia (by Ben Brush; second dam of the good stakes winner Ladkin), and to Matanza (by Hanover), dam of stakes winner Lady Bedford (by Ogden, and dam of stakes winner Copper Demon, by Ormondale). Uncle's dam The Niece is a half sister to 1888 American co-champion 3-year-old male and 1901 American leading sire Sir Dixon and to the good stakes winner Belvidere (both by Billet). She is also a half sister to Lady Pepper (by Hindoo), dam of 1902 Alabama Stakes winner Par Excellence (by Kanaka), and to Mattie T. (by Billet), dam of stakes winners Colonel Bill and Bohemia (both by Wagner). Uncle's second dam Jaconet (by Leamington) is out of the great 19th-century foundation mare Maggie B.B. and is a full sister to 1881 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes winner Iroquois, 1879 Preakness Stakes winner Harold and the stakes-winning fillies Pera and Francesca. Jaconet is also a half sister to 1884 Belmont Stakes winner Panique (by Alarm) and the important producer Red-and-Blue (by Alarm).