Tomy Lee
Encyclopedia
Tomy Lee was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
who won the 1959 Kentucky Derby
defeating Sword Dancer, First Landing
, Royal Orbit
and the filly
Silver Spoon
.
Foaled in England
, Tomy Lee was purchased for $6,762 as a weanling
by Fred Turner, Jr. as a companion to a colt
he really wanted, a son of the famous Tulyar. That horse (called Tuleg), cost him $25,000. Turner believed horses need company, so both were brought to the United States as weanlings. Tuleg could not race at two because of an injury, and at three bowed a tendon. But Tomy Lee, at two, stood 16 hands and weighed a bit over a thousand pounds and was sound. The press called the bay with four white stockings a greyhound, slim and perfectly proportioned. Sent to California
for his first year on the track, he won his first six races. Then he was sent East to run in two more, both jousts with First Landing, his only losses that year, and in each case he was closing fast. At age three, he won four of seven races, one the Blue Grass Stakes
, with two 2nd place finishes. At age two and three, he was runner-up in the voting for Champion male.
Bill Shoemaker, who had ridden Sword Dancer to a win in the Stepping Stone Purse a week before the Kentucky Derby
, had already agreed to ride Tomy Lee in the Derby itself. Early on Tomy Lee was involved in a speed duel with a horse called Troilus, and won it, so when Sword Dancer made his move under Bill Boland
, Shoemaker thought Tomy Lee was spent and Sword Dancer might take the Derby. Seeing Boland come up, he actually called out, "Good luck, I hope you win it." But Tomy Lee took heart when Sword Dancer took over the lead by half a length. He wouldn't give up. In mid stretch, he came on again, only behind by a head. In this second duel for Tomy Lee, both horses bumped several times. At the wire, Tomy Lee won by a nose. Boland claimed a foul but the judges disallowed it after deliberating for 17 minutes. First Landing came in third, three and a half lengths behind these two, and Royal Orbit
, who would go on to win the Preakness Stakes
that year, came from last to fourth. A creditable fifth was Silver Spoon
, the first filly
to enter the Derby since 1945, and the last until 1980.
After his hard fought win by a nose in the Kentucky Derby, the colt did not run in the remaining two U.S. Triple Crown races
. His trainer, Frank Childs, said he didn't like races too close together, so was instead returned to California to rest. Later that year Tomy Lee managed only a sixth place finish in the Cinema Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack, a race won by Silver Spoon. Shoemaker could not ride Tomy Lee in this race since he was committed to Sword Dancer in the Belmont Stakes
(which they won) so Tomy Lee was guided by Don Pierce. Turner felt that Pierce mishandled his colt, who needed "special care" and understanding, something only Shoemaker could give him. In anger, he took his horse out of training for six months. At the end of the year, Johnny Longden
rode him to a good win in a 6 furlong
race.
He ran twice at four and was unplaced both times. Between 1960 and 1963, he earned just $27,697. Tomy Lee was retired to stud at L.P. Doherty's Stallion Station in Kentucky
. But Tomy Lee proved to have an odd condition as a stallion. His sperm did not live long enough to impregnate a mare. He was put back into training and won four more races before being returned to stud.
Tomy Lee died in 1971. He is buried at Pillar Stud in Lexington, Kentucky
.
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
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
who won the 1959 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...
defeating Sword Dancer, First Landing
First Landing (horse)
First Landing was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Turn-To, a grandson of the great Nearco, he was out of the mare Hildene, whose sire was the 1926 Kentucky Derby winner, Bubbling Over...
, Royal Orbit
Royal Orbit
Royal Orbit was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as the winner of the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown races....
and the filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
Silver Spoon
Silver Spoon (horse)
Silver Spoon , a multiple stakes winning American Thoroughbred race horse, was well named. She was a daughter of the great Triple Crown winner Citation. Citation was by Bull Lea, the foundation sire of Calumet Farm...
.
Foaled in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Tomy Lee was purchased for $6,762 as a weanling
Weanling
A weanling is an animal that has just been weaned. The term is usually used to refer to a type of young horse, a foal that has been weaned, usually between the ages of 6 months and a year. Once a year old, the horse is referred to as a yearling.-References:...
by Fred Turner, Jr. as a companion to a colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
he really wanted, a son of the famous Tulyar. That horse (called Tuleg), cost him $25,000. Turner believed horses need company, so both were brought to the United States as weanlings. Tuleg could not race at two because of an injury, and at three bowed a tendon. But Tomy Lee, at two, stood 16 hands and weighed a bit over a thousand pounds and was sound. The press called the bay with four white stockings a greyhound, slim and perfectly proportioned. Sent to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for his first year on the track, he won his first six races. Then he was sent East to run in two more, both jousts with First Landing, his only losses that year, and in each case he was closing fast. At age three, he won four of seven races, one the Blue Grass Stakes
Blue Grass Stakes
The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, currently sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is an American Grade 1 horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in mid April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky....
, with two 2nd place finishes. At age two and three, he was runner-up in the voting for Champion male.
Bill Shoemaker, who had ridden Sword Dancer to a win in the Stepping Stone Purse a week 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...
, had already agreed to ride Tomy Lee in the Derby itself. Early on Tomy Lee was involved in a speed duel with a horse called Troilus, and won it, so when Sword Dancer made his move under Bill Boland
William Boland
William N. "Bill" Boland is a retired American Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing....
, Shoemaker thought Tomy Lee was spent and Sword Dancer might take the Derby. Seeing Boland come up, he actually called out, "Good luck, I hope you win it." But Tomy Lee took heart when Sword Dancer took over the lead by half a length. He wouldn't give up. In mid stretch, he came on again, only behind by a head. In this second duel for Tomy Lee, both horses bumped several times. At the wire, Tomy Lee won by a nose. Boland claimed a foul but the judges disallowed it after deliberating for 17 minutes. First Landing came in third, three and a half lengths behind these two, and Royal Orbit
Royal Orbit
Royal Orbit was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as the winner of the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown races....
, who would go on to win the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
that year, came from last to fourth. A creditable fifth was Silver Spoon
Silver Spoon (horse)
Silver Spoon , a multiple stakes winning American Thoroughbred race horse, was well named. She was a daughter of the great Triple Crown winner Citation. Citation was by Bull Lea, the foundation sire of Calumet Farm...
, the first filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
to enter the Derby since 1945, and the last until 1980.
After his hard fought win by a nose in the Kentucky Derby, the colt did not run in the remaining two U.S. Triple Crown races
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
. His trainer, Frank Childs, said he didn't like races too close together, so was instead returned to California to rest. Later that year Tomy Lee managed only a sixth place finish in the Cinema Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack, a race won by Silver Spoon. Shoemaker could not ride Tomy Lee in this race since he was committed to Sword Dancer in 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...
(which they won) so Tomy Lee was guided by Don Pierce. Turner felt that Pierce mishandled his colt, who needed "special care" and understanding, something only Shoemaker could give him. In anger, he took his horse out of training for six months. At the end of the year, Johnny Longden
Johnny Longden
John Eric Longden was an American Hall of Fame jockey. He was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England but his father wanted to build a better life for his family so in 1909 emigrated to Canada, settling in Taber, Alberta. By 1912 Longden Sr. had saved enough money to send for his wife and young son...
rode him to a good win in a 6 furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
race.
He ran twice at four and was unplaced both times. Between 1960 and 1963, he earned just $27,697. Tomy Lee was retired to stud at L.P. Doherty's Stallion Station in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. But Tomy Lee proved to have an odd condition as a stallion. His sperm did not live long enough to impregnate a mare. He was put back into training and won four more races before being returned to stud.
Tomy Lee died in 1971. He is buried at Pillar Stud 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...
.