Blandford (horse)
Blandford (1919–1935) was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse best known as the three-time Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland who sired eleven British Classic Race winners including four which won The Derby. He was the Leading sire in France and also in England in the same year.[2]
| Blandford | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sire | Swynford |
| Grandsire | John O'Gaunt |
| Dam | Blanche |
| Damsire | White Eagle |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1919 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Brown[1] |
| Breeder | Irish National Stud |
| Owner | Samuel C. Dawson & Richard C. Dawson |
| Trainer | Richard C. Dawson |
| Record | 4: 3-1-0 |
| Earnings | not found |
| Major wins | |
| Princess of Wales's Stakes (1922) | |
| Awards | |
| Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland (1934, 1935, 1938) Leading sire in France (1935) | |
| Honours | |
| Blandford Stakes at Curragh Racecourse | |
| Last updated on 7 June 2011 | |
He was bred by the Irish National Stud at Tully. Blandford had pneumonia as a foal and was not ready for the early sale, but was later offered at the December Newmarket Sale where he sold for 720 guineas ro Messrs. RC & SC Dawson.[3]
Race record
Trained by co-owner Dick Dawson, Blandford raced only four times in his career. At age two he ran second in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot Racecourse and at three won the Princess of Wales's Stakes. Bad forelegs, inherited from his grandsire, John O'Gaunt, limited Blandford's career to four starts.
Stud record
When he was retired to stud he initially stood at a fee of £149 which was later raised to 400 guineas.[3] During 1924 his progeny earned £70,510.[4]
According to Thoroughbred Heritage, at stud Blandford proved to be one of the great sires of the English turf. Among his offspring were:
| Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins/Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | Trigo | Stallion | Epsom Derby (1929), St Leger Stakes (1929), Irish St. Leger (1929) |
| 1927 | Blenheim | Stallion | Epsom Derby (1930), Leading sire in North America (1941) |
| 1929 | Udaipur | Mare | Epsom Oaks |
| 1931 | Brantôme | Stallion | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1934) |
| 1931 | Campanula | Mare | 1000 Guineas Stakes |
| 1931 | Windsor Lad | Stallion | Epsom Derby (1934), St Leger Stakes (1934), Coronation Cup (1935) |
| 1932 | Bahram | Stallion | English Triple Crown (1935) |
| 1935 | Pasch | Stallion | 2000 Guineas Stakes |
| Harienero | Stallion | ||
| Midstream | Stallion | Leading sire in Australia |
Blandford was still successfully breeding at Whatcombe Stables in Wantage, Oxfordshire when he died unexpectedly on 24 April 1935 at age sixteen. He is buried in Whatcombe's equine cemetery. Blandford sired the winners of 308 races worth £327,840 in England, plus overseas winners.[3]
Pedigree
| Sire Swynford Black 1907 |
John o'Gaunt 1901 |
Isinglass | Isonomy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadlock | |||
| La Fleche | St. Simon | ||
| Quiver | |||
| Canterbury Pilgrim Chestnut 1893 |
Tristan | Hermit | |
| Thrift | |||
| Pilgrimage | The Palmer | ||
| Lady Audley | |||
| Dam Blanche 1912 |
White Eagle Chestnut 1905 |
Gallinule | Isonomy |
| Moorhen | |||
| Merry Gal | Galopin | ||
| Mary Seaton | |||
| Black Cherry 1892 |
Bendigo | Ben Battle | |
| Hasty Girl | |||
| Black Duchess | Galliard | ||
| Black Corrie (Family:3-o) |
References
- Wicks, B.M., “The Australian Racehorse”, Libra Books, Canberra, 1973 ISBN 0-909619-00-X
- Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), “Thoroughbred Breeding of the World”, Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970
- Leicester, Sir Charles, “Bloodstock Breeding”, J.A. Allen & Co, London, 1969
- Henry, Bill (ed.), "J.J. Miller's Sporting Annual, 1977", Herald & Weekly Times Ltd., Melbourne