Bred on the same cross of Fair Play to Rock Sand mares that produced the immortal Man o' War, Mad Hatter was quite a good horse in his own right. Quick enough to win against top sprinters at six furlongs, he could stretch out to two miles with equal success and was durable enough to win top races through his 8-year-old season. Unfortunately, he proved subfertile when finally retired to stud. While he sired a solid percentage of stakes winners, more was expected of him in terms of quality given the caliber of mares he was provided.
Race record
98 starts, 32 wins, US$194,525
1918:
1919:
1920:
1921:
1922:
1923:
1924:
Honors
American co-champion handicap male (1921)
Assessments
Ranked fourth among American 3-year-old males of 1919 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fifth among American older males of 1920 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked second among American older males of 1922 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fourth among American older males of 1924 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A late-maturing dark bay or brown horse, Mad Hatter was tough, sound and durable but was difficult and inclined to sulk. He had the good shoulder, high withers and clean legs typical of the Fair Play tribe.
As a stallion
According to Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse), Mad Hatter sired 22 stakes winners (12.4%) from 177 foals, but most were fairly modest in stature. The Jockey Club credits him with 106 winners (59.6%) from 178 foals, while Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com) states that he sired 23 stakes winners.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Snowflake (USA), The Nut (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Flying Lee (USA), Porter's Cap (USA), Repetoire (USA), Sunglow (USA)
Connections
Mad Hatter was bred and owned by August Belmont II, who sold him to Harry F. Sinclair's Rancocas Stable prior to the horse's 3-year-old season. He was trained by Sam Hildreth. Following his racing career, he stood at Harry Payne Whitney's stud. His last foals were born in 1936.
Pedigree notes
Mad Hatter is inbred 5x5 to 1875 Derby Stakes winner and three-time English champion sire Galopin and to 1867 Derby Stakes winner and seven-time English champion sire Hermit. He is a full brother to 1924 Belmont Stakes winner Mad Play and to Mill Maid, dam of 1929 Astoria Stakes winner The Spare (by John P. Grier) and second dam of five stakes winners including 1934 Florida Derby winner Time Clock.
Mad Hatter's dam Madcap is a full sister to Mileage, second dam of three-time American champion handicap male Sun Beau, and a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Madman (by Hastings). Madcap's dam Lady Madge (by Rayon d'Or) is out of juvenile stakes winner Lady Margaret (by The Ill-Used), making her a full sister to the minor stakes winner Lady Marian (dam of juvenile stakes winner Marjoram, by Hastings) and a half sister to 1902 Belmont Stakes winner Masterman (by Hastings), 1896 Preakness Stakes winner Margrave (by St. Blaise), and 1903 Tremont Stakes winner Magistrate (by Hastings). Lady Madge is also a half sister to Masthead (by Hastings), dam of 1918 Carter Handicap winner Old Koenig (by Golden Maxim) and stakes winner Mainmast (by Superman).
A full sister to 1892 American champion juvenile filly Lady Violet (dam of 1911 Preakness Stakes winner Watervale, by Watercress, and second dam of the good French stakes winner and useful sire Vulcain), Lady Margaret is out of 1880 Champagne Stakes winner Lady Rosebery (by Kingfisher), herself a full sister to 1884 Ladies' Handicap and Monmouth Oaks winner Duchess, dam of two-time American champion Clifford (by Bramble), and a half sister to 1875 Maturity Stakes winner The Countess (by Kentucky). Lady Rosebery, in turn is out of Lady Blessington (by Eclipse), whose family had an excellent record of winner production in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but was disappointing as a source of sires.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: July 2, 2024
Race record
98 starts, 32 wins, US$194,525
1918:
- Won Bellerose Stakes (USA, 5FD, Aqueduct)
1919:
- Won Pimlico Autumn Handicap (USA, 10FD, Pimlico)
- Won Mineola Handicap (USA, 8.5FD Jamaica)
- Won Latonia Championshp Stakes (USA, 14FD, Latonia)
- 2nd Maryland Handicap (USA, 10FD, Laurel)
- 3rd Bowie Handicap (USA, 12FD, Pimlico)
1920:
- Won Yorktown Handicap (USA, 10FD, Empire City)
- Won Bowie Handicap (USA, 12FD, Pimlico)
- Won Pimlico Fall Serial #2 (USA, 8FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Champlain Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Pimlico Fall Serial #3 (USA, 9FD, Pimlico)
1921:
- Won Kings County Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
- Won October Handicap (USA)
- 2nd Long Beach Handicap (USA, 9FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD. Belmont)
- 2nd Champlain Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
1922:
- Won Kings County Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
- Won Champlain Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Pierrepont Handicap (USA)
- 2nd Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Excelsior Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Long Beach Handicap (USA, 9FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Edgemere Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Yorktown Handicap (USA, 9FD, Empire City)
- 3rd Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
1923:
- Won Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
1924:
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Queens County Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
Honors
American co-champion handicap male (1921)
Assessments
Ranked fourth among American 3-year-old males of 1919 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fifth among American older males of 1920 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked second among American older males of 1922 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fourth among American older males of 1924 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A late-maturing dark bay or brown horse, Mad Hatter was tough, sound and durable but was difficult and inclined to sulk. He had the good shoulder, high withers and clean legs typical of the Fair Play tribe.
As a stallion
According to Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse), Mad Hatter sired 22 stakes winners (12.4%) from 177 foals, but most were fairly modest in stature. The Jockey Club credits him with 106 winners (59.6%) from 178 foals, while Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com) states that he sired 23 stakes winners.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1929
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 7th on the American general sire list in 1932; 10th in 1929.
- 9th on the American broodmare sire list in 1942.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 7th on the American general sire list in 1932; 10th in 1929.
- 9th on the American broodmare sire list in 1942
Notable progeny
Snowflake (USA), The Nut (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Flying Lee (USA), Porter's Cap (USA), Repetoire (USA), Sunglow (USA)
Connections
Mad Hatter was bred and owned by August Belmont II, who sold him to Harry F. Sinclair's Rancocas Stable prior to the horse's 3-year-old season. He was trained by Sam Hildreth. Following his racing career, he stood at Harry Payne Whitney's stud. His last foals were born in 1936.
Pedigree notes
Mad Hatter is inbred 5x5 to 1875 Derby Stakes winner and three-time English champion sire Galopin and to 1867 Derby Stakes winner and seven-time English champion sire Hermit. He is a full brother to 1924 Belmont Stakes winner Mad Play and to Mill Maid, dam of 1929 Astoria Stakes winner The Spare (by John P. Grier) and second dam of five stakes winners including 1934 Florida Derby winner Time Clock.
Mad Hatter's dam Madcap is a full sister to Mileage, second dam of three-time American champion handicap male Sun Beau, and a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Madman (by Hastings). Madcap's dam Lady Madge (by Rayon d'Or) is out of juvenile stakes winner Lady Margaret (by The Ill-Used), making her a full sister to the minor stakes winner Lady Marian (dam of juvenile stakes winner Marjoram, by Hastings) and a half sister to 1902 Belmont Stakes winner Masterman (by Hastings), 1896 Preakness Stakes winner Margrave (by St. Blaise), and 1903 Tremont Stakes winner Magistrate (by Hastings). Lady Madge is also a half sister to Masthead (by Hastings), dam of 1918 Carter Handicap winner Old Koenig (by Golden Maxim) and stakes winner Mainmast (by Superman).
A full sister to 1892 American champion juvenile filly Lady Violet (dam of 1911 Preakness Stakes winner Watervale, by Watercress, and second dam of the good French stakes winner and useful sire Vulcain), Lady Margaret is out of 1880 Champagne Stakes winner Lady Rosebery (by Kingfisher), herself a full sister to 1884 Ladies' Handicap and Monmouth Oaks winner Duchess, dam of two-time American champion Clifford (by Bramble), and a half sister to 1875 Maturity Stakes winner The Countess (by Kentucky). Lady Rosebery, in turn is out of Lady Blessington (by Eclipse), whose family had an excellent record of winner production in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but was disappointing as a source of sires.
Fun facts
- Mad Hatter's name alludes to the insanity common among English hatmakers of the 18th and 19th centuries. The cause was the neurotoxic metal mercury, which was used in felting the material used for hats.
- According to Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form, Mad Hatter was so contrary that if hard urged, he was apt to pull himself up, yet would attempt to run off with his rider if the jockey hauled at the reins.
- In the 1924 Suburban Handicap, Mad Hatter faced off against his five-years-younger full brother, Mad Play. Mad Hatter won with Mad Play unplaced.
- Mad Hatter was among the number of top runners and bad or sterile stallions trained by Hall of Famer Sam Hildreth. Hildreth was widely rumored to use a mix of strychnine and arsenic known as Fowler's solution to “hop” his horses, and Fowler's solution was believed to damage a horse's reproductive capacity. While the rumors were never proved, the fact remains that not one of the high-class horses Hildreth trained lived up to expectations as a sire.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: July 2, 2024