Donau (USA)
1907 – February 1913
Woolsthorpe (GB) x Al Lone (USA), by Albert (GB)
Family 4-r
1907 – February 1913
Woolsthorpe (GB) x Al Lone (USA), by Albert (GB)
Family 4-r
The hardest-raced Kentucky Derby winner of all time, Donau broke his maiden on January 12 of his juvenile year and made 41 of his 111 starts before he had even turned 3. His temper deteriorated following his Kentucky win and he was gelded later in the summer of that same year. He was an extremely erratic performer during the remainder of his racing career but was popular with fans nonetheless, perhaps precisely because he was so unpredictable.
Race record
111 starts, 30 wins, 18 seconds, 30 thirds, US$20,156
1909:
1910:
1911:
As an individual
An extremely fast horse, Donau had a fiery, dominant disposition even as a yearling but became more cantankerous as his racing career progressed and was gelded at the 1910 Saratoga meeting. His disposition did not improve notably after that and if anything got worse. Physical issues may have been behind the horse's increasingly bad disposition and unwillingness to race as he was observed to be visibly lame while going to the post for a race at 5. Despite his problems, he was thoroughly game when in competition.
Connections
Foaled at Brookdale Farm in Kentucky, Donau was bred by Milton Young. He was owned by William Gerst, who purchased the colt for US$350 as a yearling for his Vinehill Stables. Donau was trained by James Blute while in California at 2 and by George Ham after coming east. He was being retrained for steeplechasing at age 6 when he died in an epidemic early in 1913.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the hardly racer Woolsthorpe (an English import who was fairly successful as a sire in the United States), Donau is inbred 5x4 to 1860 Derby Stakes winner Thormanby, 5x5 to duel Classic winner and seven-time English champion sire Stockwell and 5x5 to the Great Yorkshire Stakes winner Rifleman. He is a half brother to Pickaninny (by Cesarion), dam of stakes winner Ikey T. (by Waldo).
Al Lone, the dam of Donau, was produced from the Glengarry mare Fronie Louise. The next dam in the tail-female line, Rosa Clark (by Australian—Kitty Clark, by Glencoe) is a full sister to Kith, dam of the good juvenile King Fish (by Virgil) and 1882 Dixie Handicap winner Monarch (by Monarchist). She is a half sister to 1865 Travers Stakes winner Maiden (by Lexington), dam of the great gelding Parole (by Leamington) and stakes winners Perfection (by Leamington) and Parthenia (by Alarm). Rosa Clark is also a half sister to La Henderson (by Lexington), dam of 1879 American champion 3-year-old filly Ferida (by Glenelg),1881 Ladies Handicap winner Aella (by Glenelg), 1882 Preakness Stakes winner Vanguard (by Virgil), and stakes winner Ferona (by Glenelg).
Fun facts
Last updated: January 17, 2020
Race record
111 starts, 30 wins, 18 seconds, 30 thirds, US$20,156
1909:
- Won Wakefield Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Empire City)
- 2nd San Gabriel Stakes (USA, 4.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Junior Handicap (USA, 4.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Essex Handicap (CAN, 5FD, Windsor)
- 3rd Cincinnati Trophy (USA, 5.5FD, Latonia)
- 3rd Bashford Manor Stakes (USA, 4.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Also set a new world record of :46-1/5 for a half-mile on dirt at Santa Anita
- Also equaled the world record of :40 for 3-1/2 furlongs on dirt at Santa Anita.
1910:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Camden Handicap (USA, 9FD, Lexington)
- 3rd Latonia Derby (USA, 12FD, Latonia)
1911:
- 3rd Brewers' Selling Stakes (USA, 8FD, Lexington)
As an individual
An extremely fast horse, Donau had a fiery, dominant disposition even as a yearling but became more cantankerous as his racing career progressed and was gelded at the 1910 Saratoga meeting. His disposition did not improve notably after that and if anything got worse. Physical issues may have been behind the horse's increasingly bad disposition and unwillingness to race as he was observed to be visibly lame while going to the post for a race at 5. Despite his problems, he was thoroughly game when in competition.
Connections
Foaled at Brookdale Farm in Kentucky, Donau was bred by Milton Young. He was owned by William Gerst, who purchased the colt for US$350 as a yearling for his Vinehill Stables. Donau was trained by James Blute while in California at 2 and by George Ham after coming east. He was being retrained for steeplechasing at age 6 when he died in an epidemic early in 1913.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the hardly racer Woolsthorpe (an English import who was fairly successful as a sire in the United States), Donau is inbred 5x4 to 1860 Derby Stakes winner Thormanby, 5x5 to duel Classic winner and seven-time English champion sire Stockwell and 5x5 to the Great Yorkshire Stakes winner Rifleman. He is a half brother to Pickaninny (by Cesarion), dam of stakes winner Ikey T. (by Waldo).
Al Lone, the dam of Donau, was produced from the Glengarry mare Fronie Louise. The next dam in the tail-female line, Rosa Clark (by Australian—Kitty Clark, by Glencoe) is a full sister to Kith, dam of the good juvenile King Fish (by Virgil) and 1882 Dixie Handicap winner Monarch (by Monarchist). She is a half sister to 1865 Travers Stakes winner Maiden (by Lexington), dam of the great gelding Parole (by Leamington) and stakes winners Perfection (by Leamington) and Parthenia (by Alarm). Rosa Clark is also a half sister to La Henderson (by Lexington), dam of 1879 American champion 3-year-old filly Ferida (by Glenelg),1881 Ladies Handicap winner Aella (by Glenelg), 1882 Preakness Stakes winner Vanguard (by Virgil), and stakes winner Ferona (by Glenelg).
Fun facts
- Donau was named for the Danube River ("Donau" being the river's German name). The second-longest river in Europe, the Danube rises in Germany and flows southeast for 1,770 miles before emptying into the Black Sea.
- Donau came by his hardiness honestly. His sire Woolsthorpe was very hard raced by English standards, running for 10 seasons and making 63 starts, and his dam Al Lone made 128 starts.
- As a 4-year-old, Donau had gotten to the point where he disliked carrying a rider for workouts and would behave erratically when saddled, though he would still tolerate a rider for racing. His trainer resorted to having him broken to harness and training him from a cart.
- By age 5, Donau had become so recalcitrant about racing that he would plant his feet and refuse to budge when he came to the track, sometimes even lying down to emphasize his refusal. Churchill Downs assistant starter Henry Morrissey took over temporarily for trainer George Ham and “cured” the horse by using a long whip as a persuader, but Donau continued to be a bad actor at the post and frequently wound up on the schooling list.
Last updated: January 17, 2020