Damrosch was not a particularly impressive colt as an individual or as a racehorse. He is remembered only as the winner of the 1916 Preakness Stakes, for which he was an added starter. He finished his racing career running in selling handicaps and was a failure at stud.
Race record
13 wins, US$17,869
1915:
1916:
1917:
1918:
1919:
1920:
As an individual
Damrosch was a dark bay or brown colt with a weedy, unimpressive build. He won the Preakness running on the front end from start to finish.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Damrosch sired only 40 named foals, of which 20 (50.0%) won. He did not sire any stakes winners.
Connections
Damrosch was bred by August Belmont II. He was sold to Captain W. F. Presgrave as agent and trainer for Commander J. K. L. Ross. Albert G. Weston took over the colt's training during Damrosch's 3-year-old season.
Pedigree notes
Damrosch is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Disparity (by Singleton), dam of stakes winner Adequate (by Pennant). Damrosch's dam, Dissembler, is a half sister to Admiration (by Kingston), dam of stakes winner Detective (by Meddler). Dissembler's dam Hypocrite (by Longfellow) won three stakes races.
*The tail-female line to which Damrosch belongs traditionally has been traced to a mare foaled in the early to mid-1760s by Jack of Diamonds out of Diana, a 1754 mare by the Cullen Arabian who is considered to be the foundation mare of Bruce Lowe family 12-b. However, modern research into mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is passed only through the direct female line, indicates that an error occurred in the recorded female line somewhere in the eight generations between Diana and an unnamed daughter of imported Tranby who was foaled in 1835. Adding to the confusion, a second line of descent erroneously attributed to Diana also traces to a daughter of Jack of Diamonds who cannot be either identical to or a full sister of the mare who is the ancestor of Damrosch because the two’s known descendants have different mtDNA haplotypes.
Books and media
Damrosch is profiled in Chapter 4 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: October 27, 2024
Race record
13 wins, US$17,869
1915:
- 3rd Great American Stakes (USA, 5FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Hudson Stakes (USA, 5FD, Aqueduct)
1916:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9FD, Pimlico)
- Won Woodstock Plate Handicap (CAN, 9FD, Woodbine)
1917:
- 2nd Connaught Cup (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Govan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
1918:
- Won Willet Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Susquehanna Handicap (USA, 8f+70yD, Havre de Grace)
- 3rd Myrtle Selling Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
1919:
- Won Garden City Selling Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Myrtle Selling Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
1920:
- Won Hyde Park Selling Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Bayside Selling Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Belmont)
As an individual
Damrosch was a dark bay or brown colt with a weedy, unimpressive build. He won the Preakness running on the front end from start to finish.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Damrosch sired only 40 named foals, of which 20 (50.0%) won. He did not sire any stakes winners.
Connections
Damrosch was bred by August Belmont II. He was sold to Captain W. F. Presgrave as agent and trainer for Commander J. K. L. Ross. Albert G. Weston took over the colt's training during Damrosch's 3-year-old season.
Pedigree notes
Damrosch is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Disparity (by Singleton), dam of stakes winner Adequate (by Pennant). Damrosch's dam, Dissembler, is a half sister to Admiration (by Kingston), dam of stakes winner Detective (by Meddler). Dissembler's dam Hypocrite (by Longfellow) won three stakes races.
*The tail-female line to which Damrosch belongs traditionally has been traced to a mare foaled in the early to mid-1760s by Jack of Diamonds out of Diana, a 1754 mare by the Cullen Arabian who is considered to be the foundation mare of Bruce Lowe family 12-b. However, modern research into mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is passed only through the direct female line, indicates that an error occurred in the recorded female line somewhere in the eight generations between Diana and an unnamed daughter of imported Tranby who was foaled in 1835. Adding to the confusion, a second line of descent erroneously attributed to Diana also traces to a daughter of Jack of Diamonds who cannot be either identical to or a full sister of the mare who is the ancestor of Damrosch because the two’s known descendants have different mtDNA haplotypes.
Books and media
Damrosch is profiled in Chapter 4 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Damrosch was named in honor of Walter Damrosch, a German-born conductor and composer who became the long-term director of the New York Symphony Orchestra.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: October 27, 2024