One of the best handicap horses of 1925, Sting would be forgotten today had he not outbred himself by siring the high-class Questionnaire. He had little other opportunity to contribute to American bloodlines as he stood in Westchester County, New York, and had little access to good-class mares. His main significance is as a link in the male line of 1898 Kentucky Derby winner Plaudit that extends to 1994 American Horse of the Year Holy Bull, 2000 American champion 2-year-old male Macho Uno and 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1) winner Mucho Macho Man.
Race record
18 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds, US$44,713
1923:
1924:
1925:
Assessments
Ranked second among American older males of 1925 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay, Sting was somewhat sickle-hocked and tended to transmit this trait. He pulled up lame with a career-ending injury after his second-place finish in the 1925 Brooklyn Handicap.
As a stallion
Sting sired 77 winners (63.1%) and 2 stakes winners (1.6%) from 122 named foals according to records kept by The Jockey Club.
Notable progeny
Questionnaire (USA)
Connections
Foaled in New York, Sting was bred and owned by James Butler, a grocery tycoon who owned the Empire City race track. He stood at Butler's East View Stud in Westchester County, New York.
Pedigree notes
Sting is inbred 4x4 to 1884 Coronation Stakes winner and St. Leger Stakes runner-up Sandiway and 4x5x5 to 1893 American champion sire Himyar. His dam Gnat is a full sister to juvenile stakes winner Stinger and is out of Mosquito (by Commando), whose half sister Midge (by Trenton) produced 1914 Belmont Stakes winner Luke McLuke (by Ultimus) and 1914 Champlain Handicap winner Pandean (by Peter Pan). Mosquito is also a half sister to Shad Fly (by Hippodrome), second dam of 1930 Latonia Oaks winner Banner Bright, and to Morocco (by Morion), second dam of 1918 Deutches Derby (German Derby) winner Marmor.
Mosquito and her siblings were produced from Sandfly (by Isonomy), whose stakes-winning half sister Adderly (by Ayrshire) is the second dam of Sting's sire Spur, winner of the 1916 Travers Stakes, and the third dam of two-time Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Dark Secret. Sandfly, in turn, is out of Sandiway (by Doncaster) and is 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.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. Pictured following his victory in the 1925 Metropolitan Handicap, Bennie Breuning up. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: August 28, 2023
Race record
18 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds, US$44,713
1923:
- Won Wakefield Handicap (USA, 5.5FD, Empire City)
- 3rd Ardsley Handicap (USA, 8FD, Empire City)
- 3rd Hartsdale Stakes (USA, about 6FD, Empire City)
1924:
- Won Empire City Handicap (USA, 10FD, Empire City; new track record 2:03)
1925:
- Won Excelsior Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica; new track record 1:42-3/5)
- Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Also set new world record of 1:41-1/5 for 1 mile 70 yards on dirt at Jamaica in the Montana Handicap (an overnight event)
Assessments
Ranked second among American older males of 1925 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay, Sting was somewhat sickle-hocked and tended to transmit this trait. He pulled up lame with a career-ending injury after his second-place finish in the 1925 Brooklyn Handicap.
As a stallion
Sting sired 77 winners (63.1%) and 2 stakes winners (1.6%) from 122 named foals according to records kept by The Jockey Club.
Notable progeny
Questionnaire (USA)
Connections
Foaled in New York, Sting was bred and owned by James Butler, a grocery tycoon who owned the Empire City race track. He stood at Butler's East View Stud in Westchester County, New York.
Pedigree notes
Sting is inbred 4x4 to 1884 Coronation Stakes winner and St. Leger Stakes runner-up Sandiway and 4x5x5 to 1893 American champion sire Himyar. His dam Gnat is a full sister to juvenile stakes winner Stinger and is out of Mosquito (by Commando), whose half sister Midge (by Trenton) produced 1914 Belmont Stakes winner Luke McLuke (by Ultimus) and 1914 Champlain Handicap winner Pandean (by Peter Pan). Mosquito is also a half sister to Shad Fly (by Hippodrome), second dam of 1930 Latonia Oaks winner Banner Bright, and to Morocco (by Morion), second dam of 1918 Deutches Derby (German Derby) winner Marmor.
Mosquito and her siblings were produced from Sandfly (by Isonomy), whose stakes-winning half sister Adderly (by Ayrshire) is the second dam of Sting's sire Spur, winner of the 1916 Travers Stakes, and the third dam of two-time Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Dark Secret. Sandfly, in turn, is out of Sandiway (by Doncaster) and is 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.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. Pictured following his victory in the 1925 Metropolitan Handicap, Bennie Breuning up. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: August 28, 2023