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Stories from Cot Campbell: Horatio Luro

Horatio Luro was the larger-than-life trainer of Northern Dancer and many other stakes winners.

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Pedigree Analysis: Sires of Sires

by Anne Peters
Who will be next to join Storm Cat, Mr. Prospector, and A.P. Indy?

Pedigree Analysis: American Roots

by John P. Sparkman
No contemporary stallion has exerted as overpowering an influence as a sire of sires as the late, great Danehill.

Stories from Cot Campbell: Leslie Combs

Cot Campbell tells the tale of Leslie Combs and Los Angeles socialite Dolly Green during a high-flying evening at the 1980 Keeneland July yearling sale.

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Elnaawi - A New Face for a New Year

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Pedigrees don't win races, but on paper, none of the new faces to emerge so far in 2013 looks better than Elnaawi.

Union Rags Dealt Stamina in Genetic Shuffle

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Leading up to the 2012 classics, many speculated that Union Rags could be the horse to end the long wait for a 12th winner of the U.S. Triple Crown.

Classic Success Runs Deep in Pour Moi's Blood

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Both in the male line of sire Montjeu and the family of dam Gwynn, Pour Moi's bloodlines include a plethora of European classic winners.

Northern Dancer on display at Woodbine

Woodbine Entertainment Group will be celebrating the life of Northern Dancer from the end of May through the end of June.

Pomeroys Pistol Fires for Young Sire

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Sophomore Pomeroys Pistol gives her young sire a first graded-winning progeny. The filly's pedigree represents multiple generations of crossing Northern Dancer with Mr. Prospector.

Pedigree Profile: Franny Freud

INSIDE PEDIGREES
Les Brinsfield takes a look inside the pedigree the New York-bred Franny Freud, winner of the April 7 Beaumont Stakes (gr. II).

Will Eskendereya Mature Beyond Youth?

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Restoring new hope to a branch of the Almahmoud family of Northern Dancer, Eskendereya established himself as a legitimate Triple Crown contender with his Fountain of Youth win.

Windfields Equipment to be Auctioned

Historic Windfields Farm, breeder of 361 stakes winners, will hold a liquidation sale under the auspices of auctioneer Bob Dickenson at the Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, farm Saturday, March 6.

Historic Windfields Farm to Disperse, Close

Windfields Farm, the historic Canadian nursery that had a major impact on North American breeding, has announced it will close following the dispersal of its remaining bloodstock at this year's Keeneland November sale.

Successful Dan Holds Off Warrior's Reward

Morton Fink's homebred gelding Successful Dan kept his perfect record in tact when outdueling favored Warrior's Reward to win the $108,900 Northern Dancer (gr. III) by a head June 13 at Churchill Downs.

Horseman L. Clay Camp Dead at 78

L. Clay Camp, who sold the highest-priced yearling ever at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, died May 4 at his home in Charlottesville, Va.

Champs Elysees Wins Northern Dancer

Champs Elysees not only won the Sept. 7 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (Can-IT) at Woodbine, but became the fifth grade/group I winner out of the grand mare Hasili.

Woodbine Supporting Stakes Attract Stars

There is no doubt that the $1 million Woodbine Mile (Can-IT) will draw the majority of the public's attention Sept. 7 at the Canadian racetrack. But highlighted by several high-profile turfers vying for more than $1 million in purses, the two supporting stakes on Woodbine's 11-race card are very appetizing in their own right.

Canadian Breeder Helen Gardiner Dead

Helen Gardiner, owner of Gardiner Farms near Caledon, Ontario, died July 22 of pancreatic cancer.

Pyro's Heat Re-Found in Northern Dancer

Pyro's form of old returned June 14 at Churchill Downs as the son of Pulpit powered to a 1 3/4-length win over five fellow 3-year-olds in the Northern Dancer Stakes (gr. III). The Steve Asmussen-trained colt covered the 1 1/16 miles of the $190,925 race in 1:43.53.

Big Brown's Dam Bred to Stormy Atlantic

You know how it is with breeders. They breed one Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner, and the next thing you know, they're trying to come up with another.

Danzig Line Rebounding

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Big Brown's victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Hard Spun's second in the Derby last year are the latest indicators that the Danzig line is asserting some authority in America's premier dirt races. Want more proof? How about last year's older male champion Lawyer Ron (a son of Danzig's son Langfuhr)and the emerging sire Exchange Rate, who got two grade I winners in his first crop.

Big Brown and the Domino Factor

Floyd Oliver digs into the similarities between Kentucky Derby favorite Big Brown and Domino.

Doing Her Young Sire Proud

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Proud Spell stamped herself as a top contender for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) by winning the 8.5-furlong Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) in 1:44.01, a shade faster than the 1:44.44 that Pyro ran in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II). She is the leading runner to date for the second-crop sire Proud Citizen. Considering Proud Citizen ran better at 3, more of his runners are expected to blossom this year. Keep an eye in particular on those horses whose dams have Northern Dancer blood.

Hall of Famer Bill Hartack Dead

Bill Hartack, a Hall of Famer who rode five Kentucky Derby winners, was found dead Nov. 26 in a cabin near Freer, Texas.

PORTER ON PEDIGREES: Breeders' Cup Round-Up

At the end of a rain-soaked Breeders' Cup meeting, the Mr. Prospector line drowned all other sire lines, having be represented by six of the 11 winners. The Northern Dancer line scored twice, while three other lines tallied one apiece: Caro (IRE), Blushing Groom (FR), and Seattle Slew. Three of the winners were inbred within four generations to Northern Dancer (two of them) and Raise a Native, and four winners were inbred within five generations to Raise a Native.

Powerful Strike

Smart Strike's pedigree indicates he was born to greatness. And though he didn't have greatness thrust upon him as a racehorse, he has certainly achieved greatness as a sire. As evidence is the rare feat he enjoyed Sept. 30 when he had three grade I winners in one day.

Powerful Strike

Smart Strike's pedigree indicates he was born to greatness. And though he didn't have greatness thrust upon him as a racehorse, he has certainly achieved greatness as a sire. As evidence is the rare feat he enjoyed Sept. 30 when he had three grade I winners in one day.

Deep 'Reserve' for Forest Camp

The Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) wasn't the most prestigious race run in the U.S. on the Labor Day weekend in terms of graded standing, but with a $1 million purse, it certainly was the richest. In a close finish, the race went to Timber Reserve, who emerged as another notable from "second season" 3-year-olds by equaling the stakes record. The Pennsylvania Derby was only the sixth career start for Timber Reserve, who had broken his maiden in his third start at 2, and then ran fourth in the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) on his only other juvenile outing.

Kodiak Kowboy Poised for Run at Title

If the 2007 racing season ended right now, it would be hard to argue against Kodiak Kowboy as the champion 2-year-old male. With four straight wins under his girth, he is the most accomplished colt to emerge so far this season. Kodiak Kowboy is by Posse, who has has five stakes winners so far from 59 named foals of racing age, 29 of which have started and 13 have won. Three of Posse's stakes winners are out of mares from the Mr. Prospector sire line. Another pattern that has been frequently tried with Posse is inbreeding to Northern Dancer.

Blushing From Success

Few horses live up to their name as well as Blush With Pride. Already one of Blushing Groom's best racing daughter with four graded stakes victories, the daughter of Best in Show has gone to excel as a producer, especially when crossed with the Northern Dancer line.

Natalma, McNiven Among Those Nominated to Canadian Hall of Fame

Natalma, the dam of Northern Dancer, and Jack McNiven, one of the leading breeders of Standardbreds in Canada, have been nominated for election into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. They were among the 15 nominees put forward by the Thoroughbred and Standardbred Nominating Committees.

Private Vow Back After Derby Disappointment

Private Vow and High Cotton, the first two finishers in last fall's Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) at Churchill Downs, are back as the morning line favorites when they meet again in Saturday's $200,000-added Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup (gr. III) for 3-year-olds.

Majesterian Dies of Heart Attack

Majesterian, a son of Pleasant Colony owned by Drs. Lutz and Susanne Harfst, died March 22 of an apparent heart attack.

Woodbine Mile Gets New Sponsor; Race Named for Northern Dancer

Woodbine Entertainment Group released its 2006 stakes schedule, which includes two new races named for Canadian-bred champion Northern Dancer and sponsor Bell Canada.

Bowman's Band's First Foal at Shamrock Farm

Bowman's Band's first foal is a chestnut filly out of the Thirty Eight Paces mare Mrs. Bellerby foaled at Shamrock Farm in Maryland and owned by farm manager Jim Steele. The filly was born on Jan. 20.

Nydrie Stud on Market for $8.75 Million

National Thoroughbred Racing Association Commissioner and Breeders' Cup President D.G. Van Clief Jr. confirmed his family's 592-acre Nydrie Stud in Central Virginia is on the market for $8.75 million.

Storm Cat Scales New Heights at Keeneland Sale

There was a huge run on the market for sons and daughters of Storm Cat by the ultimate high-end buyers at the select sessions of the Keeneland September yearling sale. Leading the charge, of course, was the fall sale record $9.7 million bid by Sheikh Mohammed for a dark bay or brown colt by Storm Cat out of multiple grade I winner Tranquility Lake.

Training Limit No Problem for Don't Get Mad

Forced to miss a start in the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) last month due to a quarantine caused by equine herpes virus, Don't Get Mad returned to action Saturday with an impressive win as the odds-on choice in the $217,400 Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.

Lyphard Euthanized at Age 36

Lyphard, one of the great sires of recent times and certainly one of the longest living, was euthanized June 10 at Gainesway Farm near Lexington.

Northern Dancer's Son Jugah Pensioned in Australia

Jugah, a 24-year-old son of Northern Dancer, has been pensioned by owner Jenny Ingleton, ending a stage in his famous sire's direct influence through his sons in Australia.

Stablemates

By Joe Hickey -- Bonds made as classmates, teammates, roommates, shipmates, and soulmates often last a lifetime. And so, too, can bonds made among stablemates.

Suave's Smooth Move Wins Northern Dancer

Suave, ridden by Rafael Bejarano for red-hot trainer Paul McGee, came to life in the slop to register his first stakes triumph, drawing away in the $232,400 Northern Dancer (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs Saturday.

Churchill's Foster Card Loaded With Stakes

While some of racing's leading national stars compete in the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) and the $400,000-added Fleur de Lis (gr. II), there are four other stakes races on the "Stephen Foster Super Saturday" program that have attracted strong lineups of their own.

Pro Prado Likely to Go in Northern Dancer

Mrs. James Winn's Pro Prado, 13th to Smarty Jones in the May 1 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), is expected to make his next start in the $200,000-added Northern Dancer (gr. III) on the June 12 "Stephen Foster Super Saturday" card at Churchill Downs.

Another Stakes Winner for Northern Dancer

Northern Dancer, whose 146 stakes winners was a record for a time, is credited with another stakes winner.

On This Day...

March 28, 1964
Northern Dancer at Gulfstream Park

On This Day...

Feb. 24, 1964
Northern Dancer at Hialeah

Sadler's Wells Wins 12th Sire Title

Sadler's Wells' sire record keeps looking better and better the further back one goes. And we're talking all the way back to the late 1700s when the great English stallion Highflyer reigned supreme.

Derby Runner-Up Proud Citizen to Airdrie

Proud Citizen, second in last year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and third in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) to champion War Emblem, has been retired and will stand for $12,500 live foal at Brereton and Libby Jones' Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky.

Record Purses for Churchill's Foster Day

Purses for Saturday's four stakes races that make up Churchill Downs' "Stephen Foster Super Saturday" card started out at $1.35 million, but they will soar considerably higher when the "added money" portion of the purses enter the mix.