Deputy Minister (CAN)
May 17, 1979 – September 10, 2004
Vice Regent (CAN) x Mint Copy (CAN), by Bunty's Flight (CAN)
Family 10-a
May 17, 1979 – September 10, 2004
Vice Regent (CAN) x Mint Copy (CAN), by Bunty's Flight (CAN)
Family 10-a
A first-rate juvenile, Deputy Minister became the first Canadian-bred to lead the Experimental Free Handicap for juveniles raced in the United States. Injury prevented him from showing the same form as a 3-year-old, but he returned at age 4 to win two Grade 2 races. He proved a first-rate stallion despite some inconsistency and was a marked success both as a sire of winners and as a sire of broodmares.
Race record
22 starts, 12 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$696,964
1981:
1983:
Honors
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Timely Writer at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1981.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1983, 5 pounds below champion Bates Motel.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse of classic Thoroughbred type, Deputy Minister stood 16.2-1/2 hands. He had a good hip and an excellent shoulder and was game and determined on the track. John Tammaro, Jr., remembered him as follows: "He was unsound in the feet and ankles at all times, but he had a great temperament." Brookdale Farm owner Fred Seitz said of him, "He was a tough, masculine horse. He was a handful, but in a good sense." Others who knew the horse well described him as intelligent.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Deputy Minister sired 611 winners (52.3%) and 90 stakes winners (7.7%) from 1162 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Always a Classic (CAN), Awesome Again (CAN), Better Than Honour (USA), Clear Mandate (USA), Dehere (USA), Deputy Commander (USA), Diva's Debut (CAN), Eloquent Minister (USA), Fabulously Fast (USA), French Deputy (USA), Go Deputy (USA), Go for Wand (USA), Hello Seattle (CAN), Keeper Hill (USA), Miss Shop (USA), Mongol Warrior (USA), Mr Purple (USA), Open Mind (USA), Salt Lake (USA), Silver Deputy (CAN), Touch Gold (USA), Victory Speech (USA), Well Chosen (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Abel Tasman (USA), Bahamian Pirate (USA), Campesino (ARG), Curlin (USA), Golden Ticket (USA), Halfbridled (USA), Jazil (USA), Persistently (USA), Rags to Riches (USA), Redattore (BRZ), Request for Parole (USA), Sarava (USA), Serenading (USA), Strong Mandate (USA), Tapizar (USA), Telling (USA), To Honor and Serve (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Deputy Minister was bred by Mort and Marjoh Levy's Centurion Farms. The Levys sold a half interest in Deputy Minister to Kinghaven Farms while the colt was still a juvenile. In January 1982, Robert Brennan's Due Process Stables acquired a half interest in Deputy Minister at a reported price of US$6 million, later becoming the colt's sole owner in 1983. Deputy Minister was initially trained by Bill Marko, moving to the barn of John Tammaro after scoring his sixth straight victory in the Bull Page Stakes on August 2, 1981. After Deputy Minister was injured in February 1982, Michael Tammaro saddled the colt for his comeback race in a Woodbine allowance race in October. John Tammaro took back over for the colt's final start of 1982, the Sport Page Handicap, and Reynaldo H. Nobles handled the training duties during Deputy Minister's 4-year-old season.
Deputy Minister entered stud at Windfields Maryland in 1984, moving to Brookdale Farm near Lexington in 1989 when Windfields Maryland closed. He died of apparent cardiac failure on September 10, 2004; he had been undergoing treatments at the Ohio State Veterinary Hospital for a mass in his sinuses. He was buried in the equine cemetery behind the stallion barn at Brookdale.
Pedigree notes
Deputy Minister is inbred 5x3 to Bunty Lawless, generally acknowledged as the best Canadian racehorse of the first half of the 20th century, and 5x4 to 1947 American champion sprinter Polynesian. His dam Mint Copy is a stakes-placed half sister to four-time Canadian stakes winner Hopeful Answer (by Northern Answer).
The next dam in the tail-female line, Shakney (Jabneh x Grass Shack, by Polynesian), is a full sister to Hutsville, dam of stakes winner Loggy Bayou, and to Terra Verta, dam of stakes winner Budgerigar (by Cormorant) and third dam of 1996 Jamaican champion older female Irie. She is a half sister to 1969 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Clover Lane (by Tudor Way), dam of stakes winner Cricket Club (by Dr. Fager), second dam of seven stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Dr. Bobby A. and French Group 3 winner Love of Silver, and third dam of 2000 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Collect the Cash, multiple Grade 2 winner Aikenite, and Grade 3 winner Nome. Shakney is also a half sister to Well Stacked (by Solidarity), dam of multiple stakes winner Prince Papule (by Admiral Lea) and third dam of 2007 Pattison Canadian International Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Cloudy's Knight, and to Grass Roots (by Discovery), dam of stakes winner Fleet Discovery (by Fleet Nasrullah) and third dam of 1990 Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks (IRE-G1) winner Knight's Baroness. In addition, Shakney is a half sister to Come Ashore (by Tudor Way), dam of Grade 2 winner Sail to Rome (by Proudest Roman) and third dam of 2002 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (USA-G1) winner D'Wildcat, and to Polynesian Charm (by What a Pleasure), second dam of 1999 American Horse of the Year Charismatic, 1997 Czech champion 2-year-old filly Sun Shine Clare, 2001 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1) winner Millennium Wind, and Grade 2 winner Tossofthecoin.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: August 20, 2024
Race record
22 starts, 12 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$696,964
1981:
- Won Young America Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, The Meadowlands)
- Won Laurel Futurity (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Laurel)
- Won Youthful Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Colin Stakes (CAN, 6FD, Woodbine)
- Won Clarendon Stakes (CAN, 5.5FD, Woodbine)
- Won Victoria Stakes (CAN, 5FD, Woodbine; new track record :57-1/5)
- Won Bull Page Stakes (CAN, 6FD, Woodbine)
1983:
- Won Donn Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Tom Fool Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Belmont)
- Won Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship Handicap (USA-L, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Meadowlands Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, The Meadowlands)
- 2nd Stuyvesant Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Vosburgh Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Belmont)
Honors
- Canadian Racing Horse Hall of Fame (inducted in 1988)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian Horse of the Year (1981)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (1981)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 2-year-old male (1981)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Timely Writer at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1981.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1983, 5 pounds below champion Bates Motel.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse of classic Thoroughbred type, Deputy Minister stood 16.2-1/2 hands. He had a good hip and an excellent shoulder and was game and determined on the track. John Tammaro, Jr., remembered him as follows: "He was unsound in the feet and ankles at all times, but he had a great temperament." Brookdale Farm owner Fred Seitz said of him, "He was a tough, masculine horse. He was a handful, but in a good sense." Others who knew the horse well described him as intelligent.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Deputy Minister sired 611 winners (52.3%) and 90 stakes winners (7.7%) from 1162 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 1997 and 1998; 10th in 1989.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 2002, 2003, and 2008; 3rd in 2004, 2005, and 2010.
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 2nd on the North American broodmare sire list in 2012; 3rd in 2010, 2011, and 2013; 4th in 2014 and 2015; 9th in 2016
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 2007; 2nd in 2002, 2003, and 2008; 3rd in 2006 and 2011; 5th in 2005; 6th in 2004, 2009, 2010, and 2015; 7th in 2001, 2011, and 2013; 9th in 2014.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1997 and 1998; 5th in 1996.
- 2nd on the American broodmare sire list in 2002 and 2003; 5th in 2004 and 2005; 7th in 2001.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1997 and 1998.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 2007.
Notable progeny
Always a Classic (CAN), Awesome Again (CAN), Better Than Honour (USA), Clear Mandate (USA), Dehere (USA), Deputy Commander (USA), Diva's Debut (CAN), Eloquent Minister (USA), Fabulously Fast (USA), French Deputy (USA), Go Deputy (USA), Go for Wand (USA), Hello Seattle (CAN), Keeper Hill (USA), Miss Shop (USA), Mongol Warrior (USA), Mr Purple (USA), Open Mind (USA), Salt Lake (USA), Silver Deputy (CAN), Touch Gold (USA), Victory Speech (USA), Well Chosen (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Abel Tasman (USA), Bahamian Pirate (USA), Campesino (ARG), Curlin (USA), Golden Ticket (USA), Halfbridled (USA), Jazil (USA), Persistently (USA), Rags to Riches (USA), Redattore (BRZ), Request for Parole (USA), Sarava (USA), Serenading (USA), Strong Mandate (USA), Tapizar (USA), Telling (USA), To Honor and Serve (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Deputy Minister was bred by Mort and Marjoh Levy's Centurion Farms. The Levys sold a half interest in Deputy Minister to Kinghaven Farms while the colt was still a juvenile. In January 1982, Robert Brennan's Due Process Stables acquired a half interest in Deputy Minister at a reported price of US$6 million, later becoming the colt's sole owner in 1983. Deputy Minister was initially trained by Bill Marko, moving to the barn of John Tammaro after scoring his sixth straight victory in the Bull Page Stakes on August 2, 1981. After Deputy Minister was injured in February 1982, Michael Tammaro saddled the colt for his comeback race in a Woodbine allowance race in October. John Tammaro took back over for the colt's final start of 1982, the Sport Page Handicap, and Reynaldo H. Nobles handled the training duties during Deputy Minister's 4-year-old season.
Deputy Minister entered stud at Windfields Maryland in 1984, moving to Brookdale Farm near Lexington in 1989 when Windfields Maryland closed. He died of apparent cardiac failure on September 10, 2004; he had been undergoing treatments at the Ohio State Veterinary Hospital for a mass in his sinuses. He was buried in the equine cemetery behind the stallion barn at Brookdale.
Pedigree notes
Deputy Minister is inbred 5x3 to Bunty Lawless, generally acknowledged as the best Canadian racehorse of the first half of the 20th century, and 5x4 to 1947 American champion sprinter Polynesian. His dam Mint Copy is a stakes-placed half sister to four-time Canadian stakes winner Hopeful Answer (by Northern Answer).
The next dam in the tail-female line, Shakney (Jabneh x Grass Shack, by Polynesian), is a full sister to Hutsville, dam of stakes winner Loggy Bayou, and to Terra Verta, dam of stakes winner Budgerigar (by Cormorant) and third dam of 1996 Jamaican champion older female Irie. She is a half sister to 1969 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Clover Lane (by Tudor Way), dam of stakes winner Cricket Club (by Dr. Fager), second dam of seven stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Dr. Bobby A. and French Group 3 winner Love of Silver, and third dam of 2000 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Collect the Cash, multiple Grade 2 winner Aikenite, and Grade 3 winner Nome. Shakney is also a half sister to Well Stacked (by Solidarity), dam of multiple stakes winner Prince Papule (by Admiral Lea) and third dam of 2007 Pattison Canadian International Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Cloudy's Knight, and to Grass Roots (by Discovery), dam of stakes winner Fleet Discovery (by Fleet Nasrullah) and third dam of 1990 Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks (IRE-G1) winner Knight's Baroness. In addition, Shakney is a half sister to Come Ashore (by Tudor Way), dam of Grade 2 winner Sail to Rome (by Proudest Roman) and third dam of 2002 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (USA-G1) winner D'Wildcat, and to Polynesian Charm (by What a Pleasure), second dam of 1999 American Horse of the Year Charismatic, 1997 Czech champion 2-year-old filly Sun Shine Clare, 2001 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1) winner Millennium Wind, and Grade 2 winner Tossofthecoin.
Books and media
- Deputy Minister 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.
- Deputy Minister is one of the older Thoroughbreds profiled in photographs and essays in Barbara Livingston's Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2002, The Blood-Horse, Inc.).
Fun facts
- Deputy Minister's tie with Timely Writer on the Experimental Free Handicap marked the first time that two colts had tied for highweight honors since Porterhouse and Turn-to shared the palm for the 1953 season.
- Deputy Minister has been honored by stakes races named for him at Gulfstream Park and at Woodbine.
- Deputy Minister's dam, Mint Copy, proved quite a bargain as she was claimed for US$6,500 during her racing career.
Last updated: August 20, 2024