A look back at the champions of the breed
Breeding in Thoroughbred racing is everything. Oh sure there have been horses who became champions that were from families containing very few stakes winners, or were regarded as “unfashionable” in their pedigrees, but generally breeding is the key to winning the top level races worldwide. As a son of the great race mare Miesque and sired by the epoch sire
Read moreWhen well bred champions are retired from racing and enter the breeding arena, there is much expectation put on the horse to reproduce themselves at stud. Breeders can become anxious to the point of impatience when waiting for the progeny of said champion to strut their stuff on the track. Occasionally this impatience can lead to selling the stallion before
Read moreEvery once in a while, a horse with a catchy name with an abundance of charisma and speed, will grab the attention of the racing public and in so doing become the media darling of the moment. Smarty Jones is one such Thoroughbred. The chestnut son of Elusive Quality – I’ll Get Along by Smile was so popular with fans
Read moreGone West is one of Mr. Prospector’s best looking sons, a grade one stakes winner, and was a very successful sire. His dam is Secrettame, a daughter of the immortal Secretariat and Tamerett. Tamerett, by champion Tim Tam, is a foundation mare who is the ancestress of not only Gone West, but also Tentam, Known Fact, Terete, A.P.Jet, Tappiano, and
Read moreWhen Mr. Prospector went to stud in 1975 at Aisco Stud in Florida, the local breeders were quite excited to have such a well regarded new stallion available to them. Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud, the man responsible for the breeding suggestions for the powerful Tartan Farms as well as his own bloodstock, was no exception. When he evaluated
Read moreMr. Prospector has been a sensational sire and the strongest challenger to Northern Dancer’s crown as King of the Sires. A king in his own right, some turf enthusiasts argue that Mr. Prospector has surpassed Northern Dancer, and in some aspects he has, even though his 15.2% stakes winners from named foals and fewer champions are lower totals. He has
Read more