Tom Fool

Tom Fool (March 31, 1949 – August 20, 1976) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, a winner of the American Horse of the Year award and a Hall of Fame inductee. He sired the outstanding racehorses Buckpasser and Tim Tam.

Background

He was bred by Duval A. Headley and owned by Greentree Stables. Tom Fool was a bay colt by the racehorse and sire Menow out of Gaga by Pharamond II. He was a half-brother to the good two-year-old Aunt Jinny, and was a great-grandson of the broodmare Laughing Queen, whose other descendants included the Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander. Greentree Stables purchased Tom Fool privately as a yearling for $20,000.

Racing record

Tom Fool was trained by John M. Gaver, Sr. and ridden by Ted Atkinson. In his two-year-old season, he had five wins and two seconds in seven starts, which earned him Champion 2-Year-Old Colt honors for 1951.

After he finished second in the Wood Memorial Stakes at age 3, the horse's veterinarian discovered he had raced with a high fever. The illness sidelined Tom Fool for more than two months, and he missed the Triple Crown races. Although his 1952 season was difficult, he won the majority of his races.

Tom Fool (spirit)

Tom Fool was a murderer who is reputed to have decapitated a carpenter. He also allegedly had an affair with the Abbess of Seaton Priory.

His spirit is now believed by some to haunt the Muncaster Castle.

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