The transformation from heat races for older horses to single dashes for younger horses takes place in 1893. When Domino won the rich Futurity at Sheepshead Bay heat racing was all but erased and the present took its place. Domino became the leading money winner of all time replacing the 9 year old Kingston who was still racing in 1893 and was the all time money earner with $138,917. Kingston won 89 races in 138 starts many of which were in heat races. Kingston still holds the record for the most wins by an American horse with his 89 wins. Domino in three months passed Kingston’s 9 year earnings record prompting racing to switch to short dashes in lieu of long heat battles.
It was more economical to train a horse for two years that to train it for 8 or 9 years just to get the same earnings. Domino, The Black Whirlwind, in 3 years amassed $192,550 in earnings to become the top money winning horse in history. Domino was the first major undefeated two year old in the era of short dashes as we know racing today winning 9 for 9 at two. It took the Mighty Man O War to break Domino`s earnings record thirty years later with $249,465. Domino is the grandsire of Colin the last major undefeated horse in America. James Keene and his son Foxhall Keene owned Kingston, Domino and Colin.
Domino was bred to Emma C. to produce Commando, a star in his own right, and Commando was bred to Pastorella to produce Colin. Much of Colin’s prowess as a two year old was inherited from Domino! Heat racing died out by 1912.
