A look back at the champions of the breed
Blue Hen Mare is a frequently used title in breeding, but in reality the term should be sparsely used. A “Blue Hen” is an elite mare in producing top level stakes winners on multiple occasions. Juddmonte Farm has had a few such mares in their realm. Toussaud definitely qualifies as an elite “Blue Hen Mare”. She was a remarkable Thoroughbred.
Read moreWe all have our favourite race horses. For one reason or another certain horses just seem to capture our hearts, whether it is due to performance, character, beauty or some other trait. During the late 1920’s and early 1930’s a brown gelding was the toast of racing fans in England. His name was Brown Jack, the undisputed darling of the
Read moreThe first two centuries of recorded Thoroughbred breeding emphasised endurance over sheer speed. The gradual change to shorter distances in racing, with increased purses to aim for, eventually made stallions of staying ability obsolete in the breeding world. One of the last true sources for staying blood came from a brown foal of 1911. His name was Son-In-Law, a name
Read moreThe world of horse racing is truly a global entity. All corners of the earth support the sport in one way or another. The country of Japan has been blessed with some outstanding horses in the past few decades due to a spirited and dedicated commitment to improve the quality of domestic bloodlines by enthusiastic and wealthy horsemen. Vast sums
Read moreHorse racing has a plethora of traditions that have been engrained in us which in many ways are taken for granted. Some traditions are so steeped in race culture that any change would seem a blasphemous crime to all who embrace this wonderful sport. As much as the excitement of racing draws us to keep returning, traditions are some of
Read moreHistory has a way of repeating itself. After a wait of thirty-seven years, we had the privilege to watch American Pharoah capture the Triple Crown. Three years later and we have just witnessed another Triple Crown winner when the undefeated Justify ran into immortality. When Secretariat won the Triple Crown back in 1973, he broke a twenty-five year drought for
Read moreTriple Crown winners are some of the more exulted horses in the thoroughbred world. Many are remembered for not only their talent and speed, but also for their determination and intelligence which made them so formidable. In the case of the fifth American Triple Crown winner Whirlaway, heart and smarts were not what he is fondly remembered for. He had
Read moreIt has been noted throughout racing history that many great race mares seldom become great broodmares once their racing days are finished. When a beloved champion is retired, high expectations for breeding success is placed on a mare by her connections and fans. The beloved Canadian champion Glorious Song bucked that trend being not only a multiple champion on the
Read moreCanadian racing had come a long way as to competitiveness on the world stage by the time Chief Bearhart burst onto the scene in the mid nineteen nineties. “The Chief” as he was known to his stable and fans, continued the new tradition of Canadian excellence in competing and winning many of the world’s biggest grass races on the racing
Read moreThere are many genetic factors that make a champion race horse what they are. When looking at a pedigree we generally notice the well known names within said pedigree and say “wow, nice breeding”! Smart breeders look not only for conformation matches and proven breeding successes, but also character traits and racing will. In the case of 1989 Canadian Triple
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