Black Toney (1911–1938) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire, owned and raced by Edward R. Bradley.
Background Black Toney was bred by James R. Keene's Castleton Lyons Farm. Keene, whose health was failing (he died in 1913), sold all his holdings in 1912 to Colonel Edward R. Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Some confusion occurred over this sale, and Bradley resold most of the lot, but he kept a very dark brown yearling he named Black Toney. The price tag for the son of future Hall of Famer Peter Pan, whose sire was another future Hall of Famer, Commando, by Domino, was $1,600. Black Toney's dam was Belgravia, the best daughter of future Hall of Famer Ben Brush. This meant that the almost-black yearling with no white markings and a fine head and body was a member of the last crop bred by Keene from his famous Domino/Ben Brush cross.
Racing career Black Toney raced for four years, coming in the money in 31 of his 40 starts.
Stud record Black Toney became a very successful breeding stallion, siring many of the horses for which the Idle Hour Stock Farm became famous. The names of Bradley's horses all began with a "B," a quirk of Bradley's, often attributed to his first stakes winner, Bad News. Bad News earned his name because, according to Bradley, "bad news travels fast."
Bradley bred him sparingly and yet, even from 21 small crops and a total of 221 foals, the quality of his get was very high. Overall, he sired 40 stakes winners, which amounts to 18 percent of his foals. Black Toney was 10 times among the top 20 American sires by earnings. He was second on the general sire list in 1933 and fifth in 1939.
Black Toney spent his whole stud career at Idle Hour, producing many fine broodmares as well as winners. He died there on September 19, 1938, at the age of 27 of an apparent heart attack. Colonel Bradley commissioned a bronze statue that he placed over his greatest stallion's grave. It is still there today, on a part of the Darby Dan Farm.
The best of his offspring included:
Miss Jemima - American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, 1919 Black Servant - Second in the 1921 Kentucky Derby, sire of Blue Larkspur, Big Pebble, Baba Kenny Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1930, Barn Swallow won 1933 Kentucky Oaks Black Gold - U. S. Racing Hall of Fame Bimelech - American Champion Colt at two and three, U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Brokers Tip - 1933 Kentucky Derby winner Balladier- American Champion Two-Year-Colt of 1934, sire of Spy Song Black Maria - 1926 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, 1927 and 1928 American Champion Older Female Horse Black Helen - 1935 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, U.S. Racing Hall of Fame Big Hurry - the dam of Searching and Bridal Flower Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 1946 Bridal Colors - dam of Relic Crotala - dam of the leading broodmare Boat
Sire line tree
Black ToneyDarley Arabian Line: Camel BranchJumpers: Darley Arabian Sire LineSire Line: CamelThe Dynasty of DominoPortrait: Black ToneyAmerican Classic Pedigree: Black Toney Black ServantAmerican Classic Pedigree: Black Servant Blue LarkspurPortrait: Blue LarkspurHall of Fame: Blue LarkspurAmerican Classic Pedigree: Blue Larkspur Boxthorn Skylarking Blue Flyer Best Seller Crowfoot Jamie K Easy Spur Blue SwordsAmerican Classic Pedigree: Blue Swords Blue ManAmerican Classic Pedcigree: Blue Man Blue Volt Revoked Rejected Reneged Three Rings OedipusAmerican Classic Pedigree: Oedipus Blue Gay Hawley Big Pebble Beau Butler Black GoldHall of Fame: Black GoldAmerican Classic Pedigree: Black GoldBLACK GOLD (1921–1928) Broadway Jones Black Panther Brokers TipAmerican Classic Pedigree: Brokers Tip Market WiseAmerican Classic Pedigree: Market Wise To MarketAmerican Classic Pedigree: To Market High BidAmerican Classic Pedigree: High Bid Oink Viking Spirit Hurry to Market Rising Market Wise Margin BalladierAmerican Classic Pedigree: Balladier Bold And Bad Bold Minstrel2018 Bold MinstrelBold Minstrel – National Show Hunter Hall Of Fame Inductee – International Show Jumper – Olympic EventerBold Minstrel: King of Versatility Spy SongAmerican Classic Pedigree: Spy Song Duc de Fer Bon NouvelHall of Fame: Bon NouvelImage: Bon NouvelBloodline Analysis of the American Hall of Fame SteeplechasersSteeplechase History: Sixties and Seventies Royal Note Little Tumbler Forgotten Dreams Crimson SatanAmerican Classic Pedigree: Crimson SatanLest We Forget: Crimson Satan Burned Hot During Championship Season Oil Power Whitesburg Brilliant Sandy Play the Red Double JayAmerican Classic Pedigree: Double JayImage: Double Jay Tick Tock Bagdad Drin Old Bag Saber Mountain Fiddle Isle Tarboosh Jay Fox Noble Jay Tan Jay Sunrise Flight Bupers Repeating Spring Double Deux Coup Double Reefed Traveling Music Rose Argent Gusty O'Shay50 Years Ago: September 1973The Hopeful goes to an unlikely winnerA Cold Day In August When 'Gusty' Came Honey Jay Mr Music Mr Jive BimelechHall of Fame: BimelechAmerican Classic Pedigree: Bimelech Brookfield Invigorator Burning Dream Bymeabond Blue Border Better SelfAmerican Classic Pedigree: Better Self Time Tested Az Igazi Guillotine Bassanio Bradley Hilarious Fast Hilarious Hail Hilarious Torch Of War Jabneh Laugh Getthere Jack
Pedigree
Black Toney is inbred 5D x 4D to the mare Queen Mary, meaning that she appears fifth generation (via Bonnie Scotland) and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.
References
External links Black Toney’s pedigree Extensive view of pedigree from Influential Sires Bradley's statue of Black Toney at Darby Dan