Robyn Dancer, who placed in the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I), was euthanized Dec. 21 after he kicked a stall wall and shattered his sesamoids in his hind leg. He had stood at Shady Lane Farm near Opelousas, La., since late 2006.
Racing for William Herrick and No Problem Stable, Robyn Dancer finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs behind surprise winner Sheikh Albadou from Europe and Pleasant Tap. The race was marred by the injury of 2-5 favorite Housebuster in the stretch.
By Crafty Prospector, Robyn Dancer won or placed in 18 of 35 races and earned $622,906 in four years of racing. Surprisingly, all nine of his wins came at 2 and 4.
Robyn Dancer won three stakes as a 2-year-old in 1989, including the Vanlandingham Stakes on turf, for J.E. Owens III Stables. Owens had bought Robyn Dancer for $22,000 from Vintage Acres, agent, at the 1989 Fasig-Tipton Florida March sale of 2-year-olds in training.
At 4 while racing for Herrick and No Problem, Robyn Dancer captured the Triple Bend Handicap (gr. III) and the Bay Meadows Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap.
Robyn Dancer, who began his stallion career at Farnsworth Farms in Florida, earned a reputation for siring sound horses. He is represented by 84% starters and 63% winners from foals and the earners of $28.7 million. His 53 stakes horses included 22 stakes winners, including graded winners Dancing Guy, King Robyn, and Lord Robyn.
Bred in Kentucky by Ollie A. Cohen, Robyn Dancer was produced from the Sword Dancer mare Double Dancer.