Here is a photo of Violet's great-grandpa, Blushing Groom. He is an amazing horse who raced in England and France before settling into a stud career from 1978-1992 in the U.S. at Gainesway Farms. When he was 2, he won 4 Grade 1 races, and then by the time he was 3, he had won 7 races, including the one that you can watch at the link below, the Grade 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains! His final record was 10: 7-1-2, and because of his talents, he was voted the Champion 2- and 3-year-old racer in France, and the Champion Miler in Europe. In 1985, he was 3rd on the French sire list, 4th on the British sire list, and 5th in the U.S. He was on the world-leading sires list! He died in 1992, put to sleep after a 4-year battle with cancer. He sired 13 foal crops, 512 foals total, 411 starters, 294 winners, and 92 stakes winners, a very high percentage!!!! His kids have earned $30,874,725!!Enjoy the race below. You see him just blaze away with those cute white socks just like my little ol' Violet!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=I9xJGkRACO0
You can also see a painting of him posted at the Aga Khan's webpage. Blushing Groom raced for him!
http://www.agakhanstuds.com/history/hors.asp?hcode=197400013