Luke McLuke had ability, but he also had poor underpinnings inherited from his sire Ultimus. That limitation kept him from reaching championship status. Nonetheless, he proved a good sire and managed to make significant contributions to both the Thoroughbred and the American Quarter Horse through his daughters.
Race record
6 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$22,500
1914:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- Won Carlton Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Kentucky Handicap (USA, 10FD, Douglas Park)
As an individual
A good-bodied bay colt with strong muscling extending into his forearms and gaskins, Luke McLuke was rather heavy-topped and had less than ideal forelegs. He did not race as a juvenile or after his 3-year-old season.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records Luke McLuke sired 42 winners (52.5%) and eight stakes winners (10.0%) from 80 named foals. Richard Ulbrich's Peerage of Racehorses and The Blood-Horse's Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 both credit Luke McLuke with 15 stakes winners (12.2%) from 123 foals. Luke McLuke's daughter Myrtle Dee is the sire of Three Bars, who became an important sire of racing Quarter Horses.
Notable progeny
Anita Peabody (USA), Nellie Morse (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Juliets Nurse (USA), Nellie Flag (USA)
Connections
Luke McLuke was bred by James R. Keene. He was owned by John W. Schorr, who bought Luke McLuke for US$1,700 from a group of 16 yearling colts originally purchased from Keene's estate by William A. Prime. (When Prime found himself in a financial bind, his friend E. R. Bradley bailed him out for US$25,000 and then had the colts auctioned off a few weeks later, bidding in four for himself.) Luke McLuke was trained by John Schorr's son J. F. Schorr. Following Luke McLuke's retirement, J. O. Keene bought an interest in Luke McLuke and stood the horse at his Keeneland Farm in Kentucky. Keene later bought out Schorr's interest in the horse and afterward stood Luke McLuke in partnership with his brother “Ham” Keene. In 1924, Luke McLuke was sold to John D. Hertz for a price reported to be in excess of US$50,000 and moved to Hertz' Leona Farm in Illinois, where he died suddenly in his paddock during the winter of 1928-1929.
Pedigree notes
Luke McLuke is inbred 4x3 to the great English runner Isonomy, a two-time winner of the Ascot Gold Cup, and 5x4 to 1873 Derby Stakes winner Doncaster. He is a half brother to stakes winner Pandean (by Peter Pan), while his dam Midge is a half sister to Mosquito (by Commando), dam of stakes winner Stinger (by Voter) and second dam of 1925 Metropolitan Handicap and Suburban Handicap winner Sting. Midge is also a half sister to Morocco (by Morion), second dam of 1918 Deutches Derby (German Derby) winner Marmor, and to Shad Fly (by Hippodrome), second dam of 1930 Latonia Oaks winner Banner Bright.
Luke McLuke's second dam, Sandfly (by Isonomy), is a half sister to the minor English stakes winner Adderly (by Ayrshire), second dam of 1916 Travers Stakes winner Spur and third dam of two-time Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Dark Secret. She is also a half sister to Sanderling (by St. Simon), second dam of 1915 Travers Stakes winner Lady Rotha and fourth dam of 1925 Kentucky Oaks winner Deeming.
Books and media
Luke McLuke is profiled in Chapter 4 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Luke McLuke was a major factor in making his owner, Schorr, the leading American owner by money won in 1914.
- While some references list Luke McLuke as winner of both the Kentucky Handicap and the Grainger Memorial Handicap, these are in fact the same race, which was known as the Kentucky Handicap prior to 1924 and the Grainger Memorial Handicap afterwards. The race was run at Douglas Park prior to 1919 and at Churchill Downs afterwards.
- According to famed sportswriter and sportscaster Clem McCarthy, Luke McLuke was named for a cartoon character originated by Cincinnati sportswriter Jim Hastings, also said to have been the namesake for 1896 Belmont Stakes winner and two-time American champion sire Hastings.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: April 5, 2023