In an October 11, 1886 article on famous jockeys, The Daily Alta California said that "The Donohue family is a great one in American racing affairs, but of the lot William Donohue is the best known.
"[1] William Donohue's first Classic win came in the June 10, 1876 Belmont Stakes at Jerome Park Racetrack in Westchester County, New York aboard Algerine.
[3] Donohue got his third Classic with Dunboyne in the Preakness Stakes run on May 13, 1887, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
[4] Among his other important jockey wins, in 1884 William Donohue rode General Monroe to win the inaugural running of the Suburban Handicap, a race that would soon rank as the most important American race open to older horses.
[5][6] During his career in racing William Donohue also trained horses, notably for the family of Canada's preeminent owner, the Seagram Stable.