War Cloud carried on a spirited three-cornered rivalry with his fellow Classic winners Johren and Jack Hare Jr. during 1918 but lost the Kentucky Derby, for which he started as a heavy favorite. The winner of that contest, the gelded Exterminator, would go on to eclipse all three as a racing legend and popular favorite. Nonetheless, War Cloud was a good colt in his own right and was reasonably considered a fine stallion prospect. Unfortunately, he broke a leg as a 7-year-old, and his only top representative on the racetrack was 1927 American champion 3-year-old filly Nimba. His name appears in pedigrees almost solely through his stakes-winning daughter Bonnie Maginn, whose daughter Bonnie Beryl was a good race mare and a fine producer.
Race record
28 starts, 11 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds, US$40,170
1917:
1918:
1919:
Assessments
Rated second among American 3-year-old males of 1918 by The Blood-Horse.
Rated ninth among American older males of 1919 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay horse, War Cloud was at his best over 8 or 9 furlongs.
As a stallion
Records kept by The Jockey Club show War Cloud as having sired 20 winners (66.7%) and four stakes winners (13.3%) from 30 named foals.
Notable progeny
Nimba (USA)
Connections
War Cloud was bred by Jack B. Joel. He was owned by A. K. Macomber, who imported the colt to the USA in 1916. He was trained by Walter Jennings. War Cloud was sent to France in 1919 at the conclusion of his racing career and entered stud at Haras du Quesnay, where he stood in 1920-1922. He returned to the USA in 1923 and was leased to Claiborne Farm but stood only one season there before breaking a leg, necessitating his humane destruction.
Pedigree notes
War Cloud is inbred 3x4 to Hampton, 5x4 to 1867 Derby Stakes winner and seven-time English champion sire Hermit, and 5x5 to 1851 St. Leger Stakes winner and two-time English champion sire Newminster, 1873 Derby Stakes winner Doncaster and Young Melbourne. He is a half brother to 1921 Louisville Cup winner Bit of White (by Black Jester), a tiny filly who was a great favorite of her owner, Colonel E. R. Bradley. Following her racing career, Bit of White produced stakes winner B'ar Hunter (by Black Servant). War Cloud's dam Dreamy II is out of the Saraband mare Rousseau's Dream, making her a half sister to Pansy (by Polymelus), whose son Vertigern (by Rossendale) was a major winner in Australia and New Zealand.
Books and media
War Cloud is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: May 19, 2022
Race record
28 starts, 11 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds, US$40,170
1917:
- Won Annapolis Stakes (USA, 6FD, Laurel)
- Won Walden Stakes (USA, 8FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Nursery Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
1918:
- Won Preakness Stakes (first division) (USA, 9FD, Pimlico)
- Won Dwyer Stakes (USA, 9FD, AQU)
- Won New Rochelle Handicap (USA, 8FD, Empire City)
- Won Roslyn Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Scarsdale Handicap (USA, 8f+70yD, Empire City)
- 2nd Belmont Stakes (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Edgemere Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Travers Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Pierrepont Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
1919:
- Won Belmont Park Autumn Stakes (USA, 9FD, Belmont; new track record 1:50-1/5)
- Won Bayview Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Saratoga Handicap (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
Assessments
Rated second among American 3-year-old males of 1918 by The Blood-Horse.
Rated ninth among American older males of 1919 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay horse, War Cloud was at his best over 8 or 9 furlongs.
As a stallion
Records kept by The Jockey Club show War Cloud as having sired 20 winners (66.7%) and four stakes winners (13.3%) from 30 named foals.
Notable progeny
Nimba (USA)
Connections
War Cloud was bred by Jack B. Joel. He was owned by A. K. Macomber, who imported the colt to the USA in 1916. He was trained by Walter Jennings. War Cloud was sent to France in 1919 at the conclusion of his racing career and entered stud at Haras du Quesnay, where he stood in 1920-1922. He returned to the USA in 1923 and was leased to Claiborne Farm but stood only one season there before breaking a leg, necessitating his humane destruction.
Pedigree notes
War Cloud is inbred 3x4 to Hampton, 5x4 to 1867 Derby Stakes winner and seven-time English champion sire Hermit, and 5x5 to 1851 St. Leger Stakes winner and two-time English champion sire Newminster, 1873 Derby Stakes winner Doncaster and Young Melbourne. He is a half brother to 1921 Louisville Cup winner Bit of White (by Black Jester), a tiny filly who was a great favorite of her owner, Colonel E. R. Bradley. Following her racing career, Bit of White produced stakes winner B'ar Hunter (by Black Servant). War Cloud's dam Dreamy II is out of the Saraband mare Rousseau's Dream, making her a half sister to Pansy (by Polymelus), whose son Vertigern (by Rossendale) was a major winner in Australia and New Zealand.
Books and media
War Cloud is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- The 1918 Preakness Stakes marked the only year in which the race was run in two divisions. Jack Hare Jr. (who won the other division) and War Cloud had already met in the Nursery Handicap and the Annapolis Handicap as juveniles, with Jack Hare Jr. winning the former and War Cloud (in receipt of 7 pounds) the latter. At 3, they met in the 1918 Dwyer Stakes at level weights with War Cloud the winner; both outfinished Belmont Stakes winner and eventual Horse of the Year Johren, who was third.
- War Cloud was the first horse to run in all three events of the modern American Triple Crown series. Ironically the race he won, the Preakness, was the only one for which he was not favored. He was second in the Belmont and fourth in the Kentucky Derby.
Last updated: May 19, 2022