Okay, I'll just start by saying that not enough praise can be heaped upon the royal head of Northern Dancer, so this blog will only hint at his fabulousness. He is the Canadian colt who won the 1964 Kentucky Derby, my first Derby officially as a member of this planet! He was born very late, May 27, 1961, and was a small little guy. He did not sell at an auction, so his breeder, E.T. Taylor and his wife, Winnie, kept him. He went into training and did very well. He did exceptionally well in his second and third year, but still was not favored in the Derby.On Derby Day, Bill Hartack rode him to a tight win over Hill Rise. He was ridden also during his career by Ron Turcotte. What was amazing about Derby day was just how blistering fast he raced. He came from behind, got in front, Hill Rise put up a battle, but couldn't do it! The last quarter went in 24 seconds! His was the fastest Derby until Secretariat! He won the Preakness, but then went third in the Belmont. He won the Queen's Plate in Canada, to their true thrill and pleasure! But then was retired because of heat or a bowed tendon. His track record was 18: 14-2-2.
He stood at stud in Canada in 1965, but the demand was so strong for him that he was ultimately sent to stud in Maryland. It is impossible for me to tell you just how amazing his stud career was! Just impossible. His stud fee skyrocketed until it stood at more than $1 million. He was voted the 20th century's sire of sires. He had champion babies on four continents. When he was 21, a French syndicate put up $40 million for his breeding rights! In fact, in 2004, all 18 starters in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris were related to him! One of his yearlings, Snaafi Dancer, sold for $10.2 million! In 1984, all 14 of his yearlings averaged at sale at $3.3 million. He was pensioned in 1987, and died on November 16, 1990, being euthanized after a bout of colic. He was sent home to be buried at his birthplace, Taylor's Windfield Farms in Oshawa, Ontario. Ultimately, he had 635 registered foals, 467 winners, and 150 stakes winners. Get this, Northern Dancer is responsible for more Breeder's Cup winners than any other sire!
There's no way I can list all of his accomplishments, awards, recognitions, and memorials, so here's a little sampler. He was voted #43 of the Top 100 racehorses of the 20th century. He was inducted into the National Museum and Racing Hall of Fame in 1976. He was voted into Canada's Hall of Fame. He earned Champion 3-year-old colt! He earned the top of many sire lists. He made it to a Canadian postage stamp! He has streets named after him in the United States and Canada. Of course, he has statues of himself!
My girls are related to him most directly through Nearco, Hyperion, Mahmoud, Discovery, and Chicle.
You can see video of him and read about him at the following links. Upon his death, the CBC really did a lovely job of interviewing people who loved him about his special unique qualities. There's even a funny little story by one of his favorite track writers who said that Northern Dancer, while nice, had to be watched or he would kick your head into the bleachers! What a stud!! What a marvellous, wonderful, small little, kick-butt stud!
http://www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com/thoroughbred/1976/Northern_Dancer.asp
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Dancer
or
http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-41-365-2014-10/on_this_day/sports/northern_dancer_death
or
http://horseracing.about.com/od/latestnews/a/aa031605a.htm
or
http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=111
or
http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=14238
or
http://www.thoroughbredchampions.com/biographies/northernd.htm
or
http://www.spiletta.com/UTHOF/northerndancer.html
or
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE1DC1339F934A25752C1A966958260
or
http://www.cbc.ca/lifeandtimes/northerndancer.html