Duke of Magenta (horse)


Duke of Magenta was one of the most successful racehorses in the United States in the 19th century.

Background

Foaled in 1875 at the Woodburn Stud near Lexington, Kentucky, he was owned by New York City tobacco tycoon George L. Lorillard and trained by Hall of Famer R. Wyndham Walden. Duke of Magenta was one of the last sons of the Thoroughbred sire Lexington.

Racing career

In 1878, Duke of Magenta won the Preakness Stakes, the Withers Stakes, the Belmont Stakes, and the Travers Stakes, a feat accomplished since by only two other colts: Man o' War and Native Dancer. Using the pre-1984 era of the Grand Slam of Thoroughbred Racing, nine horses have completed a "small slam" of three majors that did not consist of the traditional Triple Crown, compared to 13 horses have won the modern Triple Crown of Preakness, Belmont, and Kentucky Derby. Only Whirlaway and American Pharoah have swept the four majors.
In Duke of Magenta's day, the Derby was a recently established race not yet considered important by East Coast breeders. Duke of Magenta died on September 20, 1899 at the farm of J. McCloud in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Honors

In 2011, Duke of Magenta was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Sire line tree