Secretariat's Son D'Accord Dies

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D'Accord, a grade II winner by Secretariat who developed into a successful New York stallion, was euthanized Oct. 3 at Akindale Farm near Pawling, N.Y., because of complications from old age.

“He had troubled standing,” said farm manager Kate Feron about the pensioned 32-year-old stallion. “He couldn’t even get in a steady position to try to stand.”

“He was here 11 years,” said Feron, who remembered D’Accord as playful sort. “He’d stick his tongue out and was always playful. He’d push you around but wasn’t mean. He passed that behavior to his foals. The reason he lived so long was because of the care proved by his groom, Karin Mallard.” 

A member of Secretariat’s fifth crop of foals, D’Accord created a huge buzz at 2 in 1981 racing for owner and co-breeder Bertram Firestone. After finishing second in his first start, he broke his maiden by a 15 lengths at Belmont Park and then scored by a dozen lengths at Keeneland. He closed out the year with a 7 1/2-length triumph in the Breeders’ Futurity (gr. II) at Keeneland.

D’Accord was bothered by a virus during much of 1982, and captured only one of five starts. He finished fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland but was beaten more than 13 lengths. His sole win that year came at Saratoga.

D’Accord raced once at 4 in 1983, winning at Gulfstream Park before being retired that winter. D’Accord, who was bred by Firestone and his wife, Diana, was retired with five wins from 10 starts and earnings of $163,368.

Bertram Firestone sold D’Accord to John Hettinger, who owned Akindale prior to his death in 2008. D’Accord began his stallion career at Akindale in 1984. He also stood at Sugar Maple Farm and McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, both in New York, and at Jonabell Farm near Lexington. His last season at stud, in 1998, was at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

D’Accord sired 335 foals, of which 284 started and 219 won. His 21 stakes winners include grade I winner Montreal Red and grade II winners Lady d'Accord, North East Bound, Warfie, and Yestday's Kisses. D’Accord’s runners earned more than $15.3 million.

Montreal Red, whose major win came in the Futurity Stakes, stands at Black Diamond Farm in Florida.

As a broodmare sire, D’Accord is represented by grade I winners Buy the Sport, Franny Freud, and D'wildcat  , who stands at Vinery Florida.

D’Accord was produced from the Northern Dancer mare Fanfreluche, a Canadian Horse of the Year who was abducted at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky., in 1977 while carrying D’Accord’s year-older full brother. Fanfreluche later was found and returned to Claiborne. She foaled Sain Et Sauf (French for safe and sound) in 1978.

D’Accord also is a full brother to Canadian champion Medaille d’Oro and a half brother to twice Canadian Horse of the Year L'Enjoleur, Canada champion La Voyageuse, and stakes winner Grand Luxe.