Kentucky 2007: Sir Gallahad's Grave

Here is a photograph of the beautiful Sir Gallahad's grave. His record in France was 23: 10-3-3 and in England 1: 1-0-0. He was a "big, robust colt of regal mien" and when A.B. Hancock, Sr. saw him in a photograph, he knew he had to bring him to America. Here's what a British reporter said of him, "When he gets into action he bids us look at him a second and yet a third time for he strides along in effortless style."


He was brought to the United States as part of the first stallion syndication ever, as Hancock and his friends, Wililam Woodward, R.A. Fairbairn and Marshall Field pulled together the $125,000 necessary. It was worth it! He was brought over in 1926 and in his first foal crop, he produced the 1930 Triple Crown winner, Gallant Fox. He was at the top of the leading sires list 4 times, and the lead broodmare sire 12 times, 10 times consecutively! He produced 567 foals in his lifetime. He was so successful as a sire that it inspired Hancock to go back to Europe and bring back Blenheim for syndication. And bingo, zappo, yazza! Blenheim produced the 1937 Triple Crown winner, Whirlaway, in his first crop. Yowza!

Here's the sweet thing. He was so sweet, affectionate, and goofy about flirting with his tongue. So gentle, that Hancock, Sr. once said, "Gallahad has given me more pleasure than any horse I ever was connected with." How nice is that!?


Anyway, his mama, through Teddy, is the superstar Plucky Liege. This filly produced 12 foals (5 fillies, 7 colts) and among her colts she produced 6 stakes winners, 3 of which were classic winners, and 4 who became leading sires. Violet has 3 of these great colts in her pedigree -- Sir Gallahad himself, Bull Dog, and Admiral Drake -- all hugely significant sires in the U.S. and Europe!


My cites for this blog entry are Hewitt's Sire Lines and Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments. Thanks to those sources!

Plucky Liege and My Girls!

My girls are related to Plucky Liege, one of the most important broodmares of the 20th century and a true Blue Hen!! She is the mother of Bull Dog and Sir Gallahad, leading sires in the United States, and Bois Roussel and Admiral Drake, sires of classic winners in Ireland, England, and France. She is the daughter of Spearmint who won the Epsom Derby and Grand Prix de Paris. She was named after Liege, France, a city whose townsfolk put up a big defense in World War I. She had 12 foals, 11 were winners, 6 won stakes, and 2 were classics winners. She was the oldest 20th century mare to produce an Epsom Derby winner, a foal she produced in her 23rd year of life! Nearly every major racer in the world has at least one line of her! Both my girls have Sir Gallahad and Violet has Bull Dog and Admiral Drake on top of that!! In this photo, you see her handsome son, Bull Dog!! You can read more about this important mare at the following link:

http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/PluckyLiege.html