Joe Cotton was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 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 that is best known as the winner of the 1885 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 was by King Alfonso who was the sire of the 1880 winner Fonso

Fonso

Fonso was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and was the winner of the 1880 Kentucky Derby. Fonso was bred in Kentucky and was a chestnut colt sired by King Alfonso out of the mare Weatherwitch....

. The horse was reportedly named after a bookie.

Joe Cotton was killed, along with another Thoroughbred called Sam Keene, on September 11, 1888 during the third race at the Mystic Park race track in Boston, Massachusetts. Joe Cotton broke one of his legs, necessitating his destruction, when he fell over the body of Sam Keene, the other horse having fallen and broken its neck while colliding with another foundering racehorse named Zero.