A chance-bred horse, McGee was honest, durable and sound on the track but not very classy; he could best be described as a hard-knocking sprinter. At stud he was that rarity of rarities, a horse that became a champion sire in spite of his lack of racing or pedigree credentials. Adding to the improbability of his story, his best runners generally stayed well. Although McGee had relatively little long-term influence on American pedigrees, his accomplishments are still quite remarkable.
Race record
53 starts, 24 wins, 14 seconds, 5 thirds, US$18,450
1903:
As an individual
A bay horse, McGee had a strong body with an excellent shoulder and powerful hindquarters. A surviving photograph of the horse suggests that he was over at the knee and sickle-hocked. He developed a reputation for viciousness in his early years at stud but proved sensible and without significant meanness after being moved to another stud farm where he received larger quarters and better treatment.
As a stallion
McGee sired 182 winners (56.7%) and 28 stakes winners (8.7%) from 321 named foals according to The Blood-Horse Silver Anniversary Edition (Blood-Horse); Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse) credits him with 29 stakes winners (9.0%).
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):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Donerail (USA), Exterminator (USA), In Memoriam (USA), Viva America (USA)
Connections
McGee was bred by Lord Bradford, who sold McGee to Ed Corrigan for the equivalent of US$125 when the colt was a yearling. McGee entered stud in Kentucky in 1905 at Corrigan's Freeland Stud near Lexington. He was sold to C. W. Moore for US$1,300 in 1908 at the dispersal of Corrigan's stock and moved to Mere Hill Stud, where he stood for the rest of his career. He was pensioned in 1929 and died in 1931.
Pedigree notes
McGee is inbred 5x5x3 to 1851 St. Leger Stakes winner and two-time English champion sire Newminster. He was the last of 12 foals from his dam Remorse, who was a winning daughter of 1868 Goodwood Stewards' Cup winner Vex. A winner at up to 12 furlongs, Vex is a full sister to the great Galopin, the unquestioned champion of the 1875 crop in England and a three-time champion sire in that country.
Books and media
McGee is profiled in Chapter 81 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released by Eclipse Press in 2006).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the estate of Walter Vosburgh and now in the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 13, 2022
Race record
53 starts, 24 wins, 14 seconds, 5 thirds, US$18,450
1903:
- Set an American record of 1:05-1/5 for 5.5 furlongs on dirt at Harlem in an overnight event called the Fleetfoot Handicap
As an individual
A bay horse, McGee had a strong body with an excellent shoulder and powerful hindquarters. A surviving photograph of the horse suggests that he was over at the knee and sickle-hocked. He developed a reputation for viciousness in his early years at stud but proved sensible and without significant meanness after being moved to another stud farm where he received larger quarters and better treatment.
As a stallion
McGee sired 182 winners (56.7%) and 28 stakes winners (8.7%) from 321 named foals according to The Blood-Horse Silver Anniversary Edition (Blood-Horse); Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse) credits him with 29 stakes winners (9.0%).
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 1922.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 1922; 2nd in 1920; 3rd in 1921; 5th in 1913, 1915, and 1923; 6th in 1916 and 1918; 7th in 1914 and 1919.
- 2nd on the American broodmare sire list in 1925; 6th in 1924; 7th in 1926; 9th in 1928 and 1934.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1922; 2nd in 1920; 3rd in 1921; 5th in 1913, 1915, and 1923; 6th in 1916 and 1918; 7th in 1914.
- 9th on the American broodmare sire list in 1934.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1922.
Notable progeny
Donerail (USA), Exterminator (USA), In Memoriam (USA), Viva America (USA)
Connections
McGee was bred by Lord Bradford, who sold McGee to Ed Corrigan for the equivalent of US$125 when the colt was a yearling. McGee entered stud in Kentucky in 1905 at Corrigan's Freeland Stud near Lexington. He was sold to C. W. Moore for US$1,300 in 1908 at the dispersal of Corrigan's stock and moved to Mere Hill Stud, where he stood for the rest of his career. He was pensioned in 1929 and died in 1931.
Pedigree notes
McGee is inbred 5x5x3 to 1851 St. Leger Stakes winner and two-time English champion sire Newminster. He was the last of 12 foals from his dam Remorse, who was a winning daughter of 1868 Goodwood Stewards' Cup winner Vex. A winner at up to 12 furlongs, Vex is a full sister to the great Galopin, the unquestioned champion of the 1875 crop in England and a three-time champion sire in that country.
Books and media
McGee is profiled in Chapter 81 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released by Eclipse Press in 2006).
Fun facts
- McGee was the only foal sired by White Knight, an unraced son of 1892 Derby Stakes winner Sir Hugo who was gelded soon after McGee's conception.
- McGee was named for Ed Corrigan's personal secretary, Thomas McGee.
- McGee became the second stallion to sire winners of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks in the same year in 1918, when he was responsible for 1918 Derby winner Exterminator and 1918 Oaks winner Viva America. The other stallions to complete the double are King Alfonso, sire of 1885 Derby winner Joe Cotton and 1885 Oaks winner Lizzie Dwyer; Bull Lea, sire of 1952 Derby winner Hill Gail and 1952 Oaks winner Real Delight; and Native Dancer, sire of 1966 Derby winner Kauai King and 1966 Oaks winner Native Street.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the estate of Walter Vosburgh and now in the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 13, 2022