This is an original 1914 photo of Star Shoot.
He was bred in Ireland and owned by Major Eustace Loder
Star Shoot was by Isinglass, the 1893 English Triple Crown winner, out of Astrology, finished third in the Molyneux Stakes, by Hermit, the winner of the 1867 Derby Stakes.
He was a full brother:
to L’Etoile: the dam of Ecouen, the winner of the 1910 Grand Criterium;
He was a half brother:to Telescope: the winner of the 1896 Manchester Handicap.
Shortly after he was born, Star Shoot nearly died from a virus. Dan McNally, one of the stud grooms nursed him back to health.
Star Shoot made 10 starts with 3 wins 1 second 3 thirds
At two in 1900, Star Shoot won: the Hurst Park Foal Plate carrying 134 over Arc Royal and Gasalt; the National Breeders Produce Stakes carrying 135 where he dead heated with Ian, with Bay Melton, the winner of the 1900 New** Stakes third; and the British Dominion Two Year Old Race.
He was second in the Summer Breeders Foal Plate to Princess Melton.
Star Shoot finished third: in the Middle Park Plate behind Floriform and Orchid, the winner of the 1900 Seaton Delaval Stakes; in the Champagne Stakes behind Orchid and Veles, the winner of 1900 Wynyard Plate; and in the New Stakes behind Bay Melton and Orchid
His racing career ended because of a breathing problem. Inspite of his excellent breeding, the wind issue made him undesirable as a stallion in England as his owner was reluctant to see this trait passed on to future generations.
Star Shoot also had thin-walled feet. Ironically it would be his egg-shell feet that was passed on to his progeny not his breathing issue.
Star Shoot was sold and exported to the United States in 1901 by John Hanning. He initially stood stud at Runnymede Farm until 1912 when John Madden purchased him and stood him at Hamburg Place.
Star Shoot was very successful at stud. He was the 1911, 1912, 1916, 1917 and 1919 Leading Sire; and was second in 1914, 1915, and 1921; and third in 1913 and 1918; fourth once and twice he was fifth. Star Shoot was never out of the top twenty leading sires through 1923.
He was also the Leading Juvenile Sire By Number of Winners on at least seven occasions.
Star Shoot was the 1924-1929 Leading Broodmare Sire.
Unusual for that day, Star Shoot had large crops at Hamburg Place where he was bred to 90 mares getting at least 52 or more in foal. He was able to get stakes winners and champions from top quality mares as well as mediocre ones.
In his later years, Star Shoot went completely blind. Inspite of his blindness, Star Shoot was exercised daily behind a cart. He died in 1919 from pneumonia.
At stud some of his best runners were:
Addie M.: the 1914 Champion Three Year Old Filly.
Lillie Turner: the winner of the 1907 Latonia Oaks.
Kentucky Beau: the winner of the 1906 Champagne Stakes.
Grey Lag: the 1921 Horse of the Year; 1921 Champion Three Year Old; the 1922 Co-Champion Handicap Horse; and the 1923 Champion Handicap Horse; and Hall of Fame inductee in 1957.
Sir Barton: the 1919 Triple Crown winner; the 1919 Horse of the Year, the 1919 Champion Three Year Old Colt, and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1957.
Uncle: the winner of the 1907 Triumph Stakes. He was an excellent sire in his own right being in the top ten leading sires on six occasions and four times in the top Broodmare Sires. He was the sire of Old Rosebud, the 1913 Champion Two Year Old Colt, the 1915 Champion Handicap Horse, the 1917 Horse of the Year and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1968.
Uncle also sired Uncle’s Lassie: she finished third in the 1918 Tomboy Stakes. She was the dam: of Clyde Van Dusen, the winner of the 1929 Kentucky Derby; and of Betty Derr, the winner of the 1931 Latonia Oaks. This is the family of: Swaps, the winner of the 1955 Kentucky Derby; No Robbery, the winner of the 1963 Wood Memorial Stakes; Primonetta, the 1962 Champion Handicap Mare; Chateaugay, the 1963 Champion Three Year Old Colt; Althea, the 1983 Champion Two Year Old Filly; Numbered Account, the 1971 Champion Two Year Old Filly; California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year; the 2014 Champion Three Year Old Colt; 2016 Horse of the Year and Member of the Hall of Fame in 2023; and many others.
Daylight Saving: unraced. The dam of: Gusto, the winner of the 1932 Jockey Club Gold Cup; Clock Tower, the winner of the 1931 Maryland Handicap and the sire of Dawn Play, the 1937 Champion Three Year Old Filly; and One Hour, the winner of the 1927 Beldame Stakes and the dam of Hoop Jr., the winner of the 1945 Kentucky Derby. One Hour factors in the pedigrees of: Victory Morn the winner of the 1958 Dwyer Stakes; Amber Morn, the winner of the 1960 Bowling Green Handicap; Royal Chocolate, the winner of the 1973 Queen’s Plate; Amber Herod, the winner of the 1974 Queen’s Plate; and many others.
Georgie: the winner of the 1921 Interborough Handicap.
Wing Ting: the winner of the 1907 Kentucky Oaks.
Hildur: the winner of the 1920 Belmont Nursery Stakes.
Fairy Wand: the winner of the 1917 Arverne Handicap. The dam of: Genie, the winner of the 1928 Dwyer Stakes; and Epithet, the winner of the 1930 Hopeful Stakes.
Stargazer: the winner of the 1917 Manhattan Handicap.
Wistful: the winner of the 1917 Coaching Club American Oaks.
Christmas Star: the dam of Mars, the winner of the 1926 Travers Stakes.
Livonia: the winner of the 1909 Willow Handicap. The dam of The Finn, the winner of the 1915 Belmont Stakes and the sire of Zev, the winner of the 1923 Kentucky Derby and Flying Ebony, the winner of the 1925 Kentucky Derby.
**now known as the Norfolk Stakes.
