Tomy Lee
| Tomy Lee | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Tudor Minstrel |
| Grandsire | Owen Tudor |
| Dam | Auld Alliance |
| Damsire | Brantome |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | May 7, 1956 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | D. H. Wills |
| Owner | Mr. and Mrs. Fred Turner, Jr. Colors: White, Yellow "T", White Band on Yellow Sleeves, Yellow and White Cap. |
| Trainer | Frank E. Childs |
| Record | 31: 14-4-3 |
| Earnings | $405,014 |
| Major wins | |
|
Haggin Stakes (1958) Kentucky Derby (1959) |
|
| Last updated on September 10, 2008 | |
Haggin Stakes (1958)
Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (1958)
Del Mar Futurity (1958)
Forerunner Stakes (1959)
Blue Grass Stakes (1959)
Tomy Lee (May 7, 1956 – October 29, 1971) was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1959 Kentucky Derby defeating Sword Dancer, First Landing, Royal Orbit and the filly Silver Spoon. Tomy Lee became only the second non-American bred horse to ever win the Kentucky Derby and Bertie Kerr became the first non-American agent to buy a winner.
Tomy Lee was a bay horse bred in England by D. H. Wills. As a weanling he was purchased by Fred Turner, Jr., a millionaire oilman and rancher from Texas. In 1956, bloodstock agent Bertie Kerr attended the Newmarket sales, acting on behalf of Turner. Kerr was instructed to buy two horses that Turner had picked out of the catalogue. Turner was chiefly interested in a son of Tulyar that came to be named Tuleg. Since he believed that horses needed company, he also wanted to buy a second horse in order to provide Tuleg with a travelling companion. That second horse was Tomy Lee. Shortly after Tomy Lee won the 1959 Kentucky Derby, Kerr relayed to Michael O'Hehir the story behind the purchase. O'Hehir then retold the story in the Daily Racing Form. After viewing Turner's first choice for Tuleg's travelling companion, Kerr was less than impressed and cabled him, advising him not to buy this particular foal. Instead Kerr recommended another colt he had seen at the sale. Turner gave Kerr the go ahead "to bid up to $15,000," and Kerr got Tomy Lee for $6,762. Tuleg was purchased for $25,000 but proved to be a dud. He could not race at two because of an injury and at three bowed a tendon.
...
Wikipedia