Gen. Duke
Encyclopedia
Gen. Duke was an American Thoroughbred
racehorse who won the 1957 Florida Derby
.
, who was by the imported stallion Bull Dog and out of Rose Leaves by Ballot. Gen. Duke's dam was Wistful
, a daughter of Sun Again by Sun Teddy. Wistful earned the 1949 Filly Triple Crown by winning the Kentucky Oaks
, the Pimlico Oaks
, and the Coaching Club American Oaks
. Gen. Duke's second dam, or maternal grandmother, was Easy Lass by the imported stallion Blenheim II. Easy Lass was the 1949 Broodmare of the Year. Gen. Duke was foaled on April 15, 1954, and bred by Calumet Farm
, in Lexington, Kentucky
. He was named for General Duke
, the 1868 Belmont Stakes
winner as well as Basil Duke, a Confederate
general in the American Civil War
.
at Tropical Park
, won the Everglades Stakes
and then came in second to Bold Ruler
in the Flamingo Stakes
, and then won the Florida Derby on March 30. His winning time equaled the world record for one and an eighth mile, finishing the race in 1 minute and seconds. Before the Kentucky Derby
, he came in second in the Derby Trial
, but became lame, and did not run again the rest of the year. It was determined finally in July that he had a slight fracture in his hoof, and would need a long rest to recover. His earnings in 1957 were $139,385 ($ currently), with $133,010 ($ currently) coming from stakes race earnings.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse who won the 1957 Florida Derby
Florida Derby
The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on the Saturday closest to the end of March or the first of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade 1 race is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt...
.
Background
Gen. Duke was sired by Bull LeaBull Lea
Bull Lea was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known as the foundation sire responsible for making Calumet Farm one of the most successful racing stables in American history...
, who was by the imported stallion Bull Dog and out of Rose Leaves by Ballot. Gen. Duke's dam was Wistful
Wistful (horse)
Wistful was an American Thoroughbred filly racehorse. The daughter of Sun Again and granddaughter of Sun Teddy is best remembered for wins in the Kentucky Oaks, the Coaching Club American Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course...
, a daughter of Sun Again by Sun Teddy. Wistful earned the 1949 Filly Triple Crown by winning the Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Oaks
The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
, the Pimlico Oaks
Pimlico Oaks
The Pimlico Oaks was a listed Thoroughbred horse race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Run at the beginning of April at a distance of 1 1/16 miles on dirt, its purse was $200,000....
, and the Coaching Club American Oaks
Coaching Club American Oaks
The Coaching Club American Oaks is a race for thoroughbred three-year old fillies and the second leg of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. Originally run at Belmont Park, the Grade I $250,000 stakes race was moved to Saratoga Race Course in 2010....
. Gen. Duke's second dam, or maternal grandmother, was Easy Lass by the imported stallion Blenheim II. Easy Lass was the 1949 Broodmare of the Year. Gen. Duke was foaled on April 15, 1954, and bred by Calumet Farm
Calumet Farm
Calumet Farm is a Thoroughbred breeding and training farm established in 1924 in Lexington, Kentucky, United States by William Monroe Wright, founding owner of the Calumet Baking Powder Company. Calumet is located in the heart of Lexington's blue grass country, the finest horse breeding region in...
, in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. He was named for General Duke
General Duke (horse)
General Duke was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the second running of the Belmont Stakes in 1868.-Early life:General Duke was sired by Lexington, and out of Lilla, who was by the imported stallion Yorkshire. General Duke was foaled in 1865, and was a chestnut stallion. He was bred by...
, the 1868 Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
winner as well as Basil Duke, a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
general in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Racing Career
Gen. Duke raced twice as a two-year-old, winning once and coming in third once. As a three-year-old, he came in second in the Bahamas StakesBahamas Stakes
The Bahamas Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in January at Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida. A seven furlong race on dirt, it was the first important test of the calendar year for newly turned three-year-olds. The race was used by prospective U.S. Triple Crown...
at Tropical Park
Tropical Park
Tropical Park is a urban park in metropolitan Miami, Florida. The park is located just southwest of the intersection of the Palmetto Expressway and Bird Road , just east of South Miami.-History:...
, won the Everglades Stakes
Everglades Stakes
The Everglades Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Hialeah Park in Hialeah, Florida. For three-year-old horses, the 1 1/8 mile race was run on dirt until 1994 when it was converted to a race on turf...
and then came in second to Bold Ruler
Bold Ruler
Bold Ruler was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse.Bred by the Wheatley Stable of Gladys Mills Phipps, Bold Ruler was foaled on April 6, 1954 at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky to Nasrullah and Miss Disco by Discovery...
in the Flamingo Stakes
Flamingo Stakes
The Flamingo Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in March at the Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida. Run over a distance of nine furlongs, the inaugural race took place in 1926 at the Tampa, Florida racetrack...
, and then won the Florida Derby on March 30. His winning time equaled the world record for one and an eighth mile, finishing the race in 1 minute and seconds. Before the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
, he came in second in the Derby Trial
Derby Trial
The Derby Trial Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of April at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Held one week before the Kentucky Derby, it was first run in 1924 and every year since, with the exception of 1928...
, but became lame, and did not run again the rest of the year. It was determined finally in July that he had a slight fracture in his hoof, and would need a long rest to recover. His earnings in 1957 were $139,385 ($ currently), with $133,010 ($ currently) coming from stakes race earnings.