Alonso and staff
Photography of horse sports
The staff of owner, breeder, and trainer John E. Madden (third from left) tend to Alonso while Madden confers with prospective buyers; circa 1900
John C. Hemment
Hemment v1 p85 i830
Circa 1900
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King James
Photography of horse sports
Head shot of the American Thoroughbred King James with groom.
King James, son of Plaudit (1898 Kentucky Derby winner) out of Unsightly, was bred and foaled by John Madden in Kentucky.
He raced through age seven, primarily in the New York racing circuit, with earnings in excess of $100,000.
John C. Hemment
Hemment v.6 4485
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Star Shoot
Photography of horse sports
Conformation shot of the Thoroughbred Star Shoot.
Star Shoot was foaled in Ireland in 1898 and had a promising two-year-old season in Britain. After developing respiratory problems, Star Shoot was brought to the U.S. in 1901. He stood at stud at Runnymede Farm in Paris, Kentucky, until 1912, when he was purchased by John Madden and transferred to Hamburg Place Stud in Lexington.
Start Shoot was the North American leading sire in 1911, 1912, 1916, 1917, and 1919; and the leading North American broodmare sire for five consecutive years from 1924 through 1929 (records not kept in 1927). He was the sire of first ever Triple Crown sinner, Sir Barton.
Charles Christian Cook
Cook 621
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Hamburg
Photography of horse sports
Photograph of the American Thoroughbred Hamburg.
Hamburg, foaled in 1895, was purchased by John Madden in 1896 for $1,200. In his two-year-old season, he won 12 of his 16 starts, earning over $38,000 for Madden.
His overwhelming success led to Hamburg’s record-breaking sale to Marcus Daly for $40,001. Madden invested the money from the sale to establish Hamburg Place Stud from which he launched his long-standing breeding empire.
Hamburg was retired after his 1898 season with a career record of 16-3-2 from 21 starts and earnings exceeding $60,000. Williams Collins Whitney purchased Hamburg in 1900, standing him to stud at La Belle Stud in Kentucky until Whitney’s death in 1904.
Harry Payne Whitney then acquired Hamburg, continuing Hamburg’s stud career at Brookdale Stud in New Jersey.
Hamburg, the country’s top sire in 1905, sired 27 stakes winners.
Charles Christian Cook
Cook 616
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John E. Madden
Photography of horse sports
This is a photograph of John Edward Madden, inductee of both the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame and the Harness Racing Hall of Fame.
Madden was a prominent Thoroughbred and Standardbred owner, breeder, and trainer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He ran his breeding operations from Hamburg Place Stud in Lexington, Kentucky, from 1897 until his death in 1929.
His champions included Sir Barton, Old Rosebud, Paul Jones, The Finn, Zev, Flying Ebony, Grey Lag, and Plaudit.
Charles Christian Cook
Cook 3206
This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. Physical rights are retained by the Keeneland Library. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.
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William 'Billy' Walker
Photography of horse sports
This is a digitized daguerreotype of the jockey William 'Billy' Walker.
Billy Walker (1860-1933) was an African-American jockey born into slavery near Versailles, Kentucky. Walker rode Baden-Baden (trained by black trainer Edward Dudley Brown) to victory in the 1877 Kentucky Derby.
James Stead
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