General Duke was an American Thoroughbred

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 second running of the 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...

 in 1868.

Early life

General Duke was sired by Lexington

Lexington (horse)

Lexington was a United States Thoroughbred race horse who won six of his seven race starts. Perhaps his greatest fame came however as the most successful sire of the second half of the nineteenth century; he was the Leading sire in North America 16 times, and of his many brood mare and racer...

, and out of Lilla, who was by the imported stallion Yorkshire. General Duke was foaled in 1865, and was a chestnut

Chestnut (coat)

Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...

 stallion. He was bred by Robert A. Alexander

Robert A. Alexander

Robert Aitcheson Alexander was an American breeder of Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses. Born on a farm near Midway, Woodford County, Kentucky, he and his siblings inherited the property on his father's death....

 at Woodburn Stud

Woodburn Stud

Woodburn Stud was an American horse breeding farm located in Woodford County, Kentucky about ten miles from the city of Lexington. It was established in the 18th century as an original land grant property of General Hugh Mercer to whom it had been granted for his military services during the...

 in Kentucky.

Racing career

General Duke's first start on the racetrack was in 1867, in the Saratoga Stakes on August 9. He placed third in that race, which was 3/4 mi and limited to two-year-old horses. He carried 90 pounds (40.8 kg) and raced for McConnell and Harness. The winner's time was 1 minute 20 seconds. He then raced on August 12, for the same owners, at the same distance in a race for two-year-olds, which he won in 1 minute 20 seconds. Both of these races were at Saratoga Race Course

Saratoga Race Course

Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...

 in New York. On September 26, 1867, General Duke started a race at Cincinnati, Ohio, the Cincinnati Stakes. This was a 1 miles (1,609.3 m) race for two-year-olds, which General Duke won in 1 minute 45 seconds carrying 86 pounds (39 kg). He was at that time still owned by McConnell and Harness.

As a three-year-old, General Duke first started at the Secaucus Racetrack in New Jersey, on May 29, 1868. This race was a mile-heat race, run as three separate 1 miles (1,609.3 m) races. Racing again for McConnell and Harness, General Duke finished 3 in each of the three heats. The next race he started was the Belmont Stakes, on June 10, 1868, which was run at the Jerome Park Racetrack

Jerome Park Racetrack

Jerome Park Racetrack was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility.-History:It opened in 1866 in the northwest part of Fordham, Westchester County , New York....

. The Belmont was run at a 1+5/8 mi. General Duke won the race, while carrying 110 pounds (49.9 kg), in a time of 3 minutes and 2 seconds. His jockey for the race was R. Swim. On June 17, he came in second in a sweepstakes race at 2 miles (3,218.7 m) distance. On July 2, he won a sweepstakes race for three-year-olds at a distance of a 1+3/4 mi. On August 10, at Saratoga, he won the Sequel Stakes over 2 miles (3,218.7 m), in a time of 3 minutes 40 seconds. He carried 115 pounds (52.2 kg) in that race. On August 25, 1868, he won the Providence Stake at Narragansett Race Track

Narragansett Race Track

Narragansett Park was an American race track for Thoroughbred horse races in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. On May 18, 1934 a special election was held, where by a 4-1 margin, pari-mutual wagering was made legal. Walter E. O'Hara formed the Narragansett Racing Association and was named president and...

, in Rhode Island. This race was a 1+1/2 mi, and he carried 110 pounds (49.9 kg) during his winning time of 2 minutes and 44 seconds. The same day, he won a heat race, with two 2 miles (3,218.7 m) heats, placing first in both heats. He next started at the Jerome Park Racetrack in New York on October 7, 1868 in a cup race over 2+1/8 mi. He placed second while carrying 95 pounds (43.1 kg). His last start of the year was on October 8, when he won a 1+3/4 mi race with a time of 3 minutes and 13 seconds.

General Duke's final racing career totals were 32 starts and 18 wins, with total earnings on the track of $17,915 (approximately $ as of ). He was named Champion Three-Year-Old in 1868.

After General Duke's racing career, he was known as Judge Curtis.