Donerail

American Thoroughbred racehorse

Donerail

Donerail after winning the 1913 Kentucky Derby

Sire| McGee
Grandsire| White Knight
Dam| Algie M
Damsire| Hanover
Sex| Stallion
Foaled| 1910
Country| United States
Colour| Bay
Breeder| Thomas P. Hayes
Owner| Thomas P. Hayes
Trainer| Thomas P. Hayes
Record| 62: 10-11-10
Earnings| $15,156
Major wins
Kentucky Derby (1913)
Canadian Sportsmen's Handicap (1913)
Hamilton Cup (1914)
Last updated on 4/15/2016

Donerail (1910 – after 1918) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that was the upset winner of the 1913 Kentucky Derby. His win stands as the biggest longshot victory in the history of the Kentucky Derby. Going off at 91–1, Donerail provided a $184.90 payoff for a $2 bet.

## Background

[edit]

Donerail was a bay colt sired by McGee and foaled by Algie M.[1] He was owned, bred, and trained by Thomas P. Hayes near Lexington, Kentucky. His jockey was Roscoe Goose.

### Before the Derby

[edit]

Due to growing popularity, Churchill Downs underwent major renovations in preparation for the derby, the record 30,000 expected attendees and the $6,600 purse. A new era of betting also opened in 1913 as the minimum bet was reduced to $2, making betting more affordable. As a Louisville native, Thomas Hayes was unsure about Donerail's ability to win, regardless of its promise, so decided that the expense and potential loss would not be worth it. But jockey Roscoe Goose convinced Hayes to race Donerail.[2]

Because of the overcrowding at the 1913 Kentucky Derby, there were not enough stables, so Donerail was housed at Douglass Park, about three miles away from Churchill Downs, and would have to walk that distance before the start. This circumstance only added to Hayes’ hesitation about the race. His direction to Goose was not to win, but rather to “get a piece of the purse” by crossing the finish line.[2]

## Career

[edit]

In the 1913 Kentucky Derby, various horses had the lead, and for a time it was Ten Point first, Foundation in second, and Yankee Notions third. Roscoe Goose kept Donerail away from the pacesetters but within striking distance. As the horses turned into the stretch, Ten Point was still leading, but Donerail closed to gain the lead. He crossed the wire half a length ahead of Ten Point. Donerail was drawing away at the finish and set a track record with a time of 2:04 4/5. Donerail's victory was the largest upset of Kentucky Derby history, a record still held to this day, with odds of 91–1 against him.

After the 1913 Kentucky Derby, Donerail continued racing but did not find major success. Of 62 starts, Donerail won 10, placed in 11, and showed in 10. His other major victories came in the Canadian Sportsmen's Handicap and the Hamilton Cup. His career earnings amounted to $15,156.

## Later life

[edit]

It is not known when Donerail died, and much of what became of him after his racing career ended remains a mystery; however, he was retired in 1917 and briefly used as breeding stallion in Lexington, where he commanded a stud fee of $50.[3] In December 1917, Hayes donated Donerail to the Remount Service for use as a sire of cavalry horses.[4] Gelded and sold to John E. Madden, Donerail reappeared on the turf on May 27, 1918, in New York, where he was eased and dropped out of competition in a mile-long race.[5][6]

## Pedigree

[edit]

Pedigree of Donerail  Sire
McGee

1900

| White Knight

1895

| Sir Hugo  | Wisdom

|
|
|

Manoeuvre
Whitelock  | Wenlock
White Heather
Remorse

1876

| Hermit | Newminster
Seclusion
Vex  | Vedette
Flying Duchess
Dam
Algie M

1898

| Hanover

1884

| Hindoo | Virgil
Florence
Bourbon Belle  | Bonnie Scotland
Ella D
Johnetta

1890

| Bramble  | Bonnie Scotland
Ivy Leaf
Guildean  | Ballinkeel
Orphan Girl

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Donerail Horse Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
2. ^ a b Bartholomew, Kaeli (2021-03-09). "Donerail: The 91-1 Longshot Kentucky Derby Winner". Champs of the Track. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
3. ^ Staff (February 21, 1917). "Present day American stud fees". Daily Racing Form. Triangle Publications. Retrieved 9 July 2014.[permanent dead link]
4. ^ Staff (December 11, 1917). "Central Kentucky benefitted". Daily Racing Form. Triangle Publications. Retrieved 9 July 2014.[permanent dead link]
5. ^ Staff (May 28, 1918). "Brentwood first in steeplechase". Daily Racing Form. Triangle Publications. Retrieved 9 July 2014.[permanent dead link]
6. ^ Staff (29 May 1918). "Results at Louisville". The Philadelphia Inquirer.

* Donerail's pedigree with photo
* Donerail's Kentucky Derby
* Article about Donerail's jockey, Roscoe Goose

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Kentucky Derby winners

* 1875 Aristides
* 1876 Vagrant
* 1877 Baden-Baden
* 1878 Day Star
* 1879 Lord Murphy
* 1880 Fonso
* 1881 Hindoo
* 1882 Apollo
* 1883 Leonatus
* 1884 Buchanan
* 1885 Joe Cotton
* 1886 Ben Ali
* 1887 Montrose
* 1888 Macbeth II
* 1889 Spokane
* 1890 Riley
* 1891 Kingman
* 1892 Azra
* 1893 Lookout
* 1894 Chant
* 1895 Halma
* 1896 Ben Brush
* 1897 Typhoon II
* 1898 Plaudit
* 1899 Manuel
* 1900 Lieut. Gibson
* 1901 His Eminence
* 1902 Alan-a-Dale
* 1903 Judge Himes
* 1904 Elwood
* 1905 Agile
* 1906 Sir Huon
* 1907 Pink Star
* 1908 Stone Street
* 1909 Wintergreen
* 1910 Donau
* 1911 Meridian
* 1912 Worth
* 1913 Donerail
* 1914 Old Rosebud
* 1915 Regret ♥
* 1916 George Smith
* 1917 Omar Khayyam
* 1918 Exterminator
* 1919 Sir Barton ₩
* 1920 Paul Jones
* 1921 Behave Yourself
* 1922 Morvich
* 1923 Zev
* 1924 Black Gold
* 1925 Flying Ebony
* 1926 Bubbling Over
* 1927 Whiskery
* 1928 Reigh Count
* 1929 Clyde Van Dusen
* 1930 Gallant Fox ₩
* 1931 Twenty Grand
* 1932 Burgoo King
* 1933 Brokers Tip
* 1934 Cavalcade
* 1935 Omaha ₩
* 1936 Bold Venture
* 1937 War Admiral ₩
* 1938 Lawrin
* 1939 Johnstown
* 1940 Gallahadion
* 1941 Whirlaway ₩
* 1942 Shut Out
* 1943 Count Fleet ₩
* 1944 Pensive
* 1945 Hoop Jr.
* 1946 Assault ₩
* 1947 Jet Pilot
* 1948 Citation ₩
* 1949 Ponder
* 1950 Middleground
* 1951 Count Turf
* 1952 Hill Gail
* 1953 Dark Star
* 1954 Determine
* 1955 Swaps
* 1956 Needles
* 1957 Iron Liege
* 1958 Tim Tam
* 1959 Tomy Lee
* 1960 Venetian Way
* 1961 Carry Back
* 1962 Decidedly
* 1963 Chateaugay
* 1964 Northern Dancer
* 1965 Lucky Debonair
* 1966 Kauai King
* 1967 Proud Clarion
* 1968 Forward Pass (Dancer's Image disqualified)
* 1969 Majestic Prince
* 1970 Dust Commander
* 1971 Canonero II
* 1972 Riva Ridge
* 1973 Secretariat ₩
* 1974 Cannonade
* 1975 Foolish Pleasure
* 1976 Bold Forbes
* 1977 Seattle Slew ₩
* 1978 Affirmed ₩
* 1979 Spectacular Bid
* 1980 Genuine Risk ♥
* 1981 Pleasant Colony
* 1982 Gato Del Sol
* 1983 Sunny's Halo
* 1984 Swale
* 1985 Spend a Buck
* 1986 Ferdinand
* 1987 Alysheba
* 1988 Winning Colors ♥
* 1989 Sunday Silence
* 1990 Unbridled
* 1991 Strike the Gold
* 1992 Lil E. Tee
* 1993 Sea Hero
* 1994 Go for Gin
* 1995 Thunder Gulch
* 1996 Grindstone
* 1997 Silver Charm
* 1998 Real Quiet
* 1999 Charismatic
* 2000 Fusaichi Pegasus
* 2001 Monarchos
* 2002 War Emblem
* 2003 Funny Cide
* 2004 Smarty Jones
* 2005 Giacomo
* 2006 Barbaro
* 2007 Street Sense
* 2008 Big Brown
* 2009 Mine That Bird
* 2010 Super Saver
* 2011 Animal Kingdom
* 2012 I'll Have Another
* 2013 Orb
* 2014 California Chrome
* 2015 American Pharoah ₩
* 2016 Nyquist
* 2017 Always Dreaming
* 2018 Justify ₩
* 2019 Country House (Maximum Security disqualified)
* 2020 Authentic
* 2021 Mandaloun (Medina Spirit disqualified)
* 2022 Rich Strike
* 2023 Mage
* 2024 Mystik Dan
* 2025 Sovereignty

Legend – ₩ = Triple Crown winners, ♥ = Filly
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