Herbager (1956 – 25 March 1976)[1] was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire in both France and the United States.

Herbager
SireVandale
GrandsirePlassy
DamFlagette
DamsireEscamillo
SexStallion
Foaled1956
Died25 March 1976(1976-03-25) (aged 19–20)
CountryFrance
ColourBay
BreederM.L. Bara
OwnerSimone Del Duca
TrainerPierre Pelat
Record8: 6-1-0
Earnings850,510
Major wins
Prix Seraphine (1958)
Prix Greffulhe (1959)
Prix Hocquart (1959)
Prix du Jockey Club (1959)
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (1959)
Prix du Prince d'Orange (1959)
Awards
Timeform rating: 136
Last updated on 9 August 2017

Background

edit

Herbager was sired by Vandale, a stayer who won the 1946 Prix du Conseil Municipal and whom Herbager helped make the 1959 Leading sire in France. His dam was Flagette (by Escamillo), who was inbred 2x2 to St. Leger winner Firdaussi, meaning both her parents were sired by him.[2]

During his racing career he was owned by Simone Del Duca and trained by Pierre Pelat.

Racing career

edit

Herbager made two starts at age two, finishing second once and winning the Prix Seraphine. At age three, he was the best colt in his age group in France, winning important races including the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the Classic French Derby[3] in which he earned a Timeform rating of 136. In the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, he sustained a serious leg injury but finished only two lengths from the winner. This injury ended his racing career.[4]

Stud record

edit

Herbager was retired to stud for the 1960 season in France and in December 1964 was sold for US$700,000 to the prominent Kentucky breeder Bull Hancock. Hancock then syndicated Herbager and moved him to his Claiborne Farm.[5] At Claiborne Farm, the horse sired sixty-four stakes winners and became a major stamina influence.[1]

Major winners

edit

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins
1962 Grey Dawn c Grand Critérium, Prix de la Salamandre, Prix Morny. Leading broodmare sire in North America
1963 Appiani c Derby Italiano, sire of Star Appeal
1963 Sea Hawk c Critérium de Saint-Cloud, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, sire of Bruni
1966 Dike c Breeders' Futurity Stakes, Wood Memorial Stakes
1967 Loud c Travers Stakes
1968 Gleaming c Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap
1969 Big Spruce c San Luis Rey Handicap, Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap
1970 Bag of Tunes f Kentucky Oaks
1972 Yamanin c Widener Handicap
1974 Our Mims f Coaching Club American Oaks, Alabama Stakes
1974 Tiller g San Juan Capistrano, Tidal Handicap, Sword Dancer Handicap
1976 Anifa f Turf Classic Handicap
1977 Field Cat c Pan American Handicap

Damsire: Some of Herbager's daughters who produced foals that went on to racing success include:

Herbager died on 25 March 1976 at the age of twenty at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky and is buried in their main equine cemetery.[6]

Pedigree

edit
Pedigree of Herbager, bay stallion, 1956[2]
Sire
Vandale
bay 1943
Plassy
b. 1932
Bosworth
b. 1926
Son-in-Law
Serenissima
Pladda
b. 1926
Phalaris
Rothesay Bay
Vanille
b. 1929
La Farina
ch. 1911
Sans Souci
Malatesta
Vaya
b. 1909
Beppo
Waterhen
Dam
Flagette
chestnut 1951
Escamillo
ch. 1939
Firdaussi
ch. 1929
Pharos
Brownhylda
Estoril
ch. 1930
Solario
Appleby
Fidgette
ch. 1939
Firdaussi
ch. 1929
Pharos
Brownhylda
Boxeuse
b. 1931
Teddy
Spicebox (Family 16-c)

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Herbager". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  2. ^ a b "Herbager pedigree". www.equineline.com. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  3. ^ "HERBAGER, 9-5, SCORES; Favorite Heads Dan Cupid in $52,000 Jockey Club Prix". The New York Times. 1959-06-15. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  4. ^ Ahnert (editor in chief), Rainer L. (1970). Thoroughbred Breeding of the World. Germany: Pozdun Publishing. p. 253. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ "Hancock Buys French Horse". The New York Times. 1964-12-04. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  6. ^ "Grave Matters: Claiborne Farm". www.tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2017-08-10.