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
Donerail was a bay colt sired by McGee and foaled by Algie M. He was owned, bred, and trained by Thomas P. Hayes near Lexington, Kentucky. His jockey was Roscoe Goose.
Before the Derby
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 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, so he decided that the expense and potential loss would not be worth it. But jockey Roscoe Goose convinced him to race the horse.
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 had to walk over before the start. This circumstance 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. In December 1917, Hayes donated Donerail to the Remount Service for use as a sire of cavalry horses. 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.
Pedigree
References
- Donerail's pedigree with photo
- Donerail's Kentucky Derby
- Article about Donerail's jockey, Roscoe Goose