Tom Fool was a bay colt by the racehorse and sire Menow out of Gaga by Pharamond II.

[1] He was a half-brother to the good two-year-old Aunt Jinny,[2] and was a great-grandson of the broodmare Laughing Queen, whose other descendants included the Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander.

After he finished second in the Wood Memorial Stakes at age 3, the horse's veterinarian discovered he had raced with a high fever.

Along with Tom Fool's many accomplishments, he sired notable champions including Tim tam and Stop the Music, who was also induced into the hall of fame.

In 1953, a healthy four-year-old Tom Fool was undefeated in ten races, He won at distances ranging from 5½ furlongs to 1¼ miles and became only the second horse to win New York's Handicap Triple Crown: the Metropolitan, Suburban and Brooklyn Handicaps.