Lyphard (10 May 1969 – 10 June 2005) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and an important sire.

Lyphard
Lyphard at Gainesway Farm in 1981
SireNorthern Dancer
GrandsireNearctic
DamGoofed
DamsireCourt Martial
SexStallion
Foaled10 May 1969
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederJ. O. Burgwin
OwnerGermaine Wertheimer
TrainerAlec Head
Record12: 6–1–0
Earnings$202,332
Major wins
Prix Herod (1971)
Prix Daru (1972)
Prix Jacques Le Marois (1972)
Prix Lagrange (1972)
Prix de la Forêt (1972)
Awards
Champion 1st-season Sire in France & England (1976)
Leading sire in France (1978 & 1979)
Leading broodmare sire in France (1985)
Leading sire in North America (1986)
Timeform rating: 132
Last updated on 28 September 2023

Background

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American bred in Pennsylvania, Lyphard was a son of Northern Dancer out of the mare Goofed.[1] He was auctioned as a weanling at November's Keeneland Sales to Tim Rogers, a horseman from Ireland, who then put him up for sale at Newmarket in England. There, renowned French trainer and breeder Alec Head purchased him on behalf of Madame Germaine Wertheimer, widow of the prominent French horseman and owner of the famous House of Chanel, Pierre Wertheimer. Germaine Wertheimer gave Lyphard his name in honor of the Ukrainian-born French ballet dancer and choreographer Serge Lifar.[citation needed]

Racing career

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On the track, Lyphard competed in France, Ireland and England, winning six of his twelve starts, including the Group One Prix Jacques Le Marois and Prix de la Forêt.

Stud record

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Retired after the end of the 1972 racing season, Lyphard was sent to stand at stud at the Haras d'Etreham near Bayeux in Normandy. There, his offspring included the filly Durtal (foaled 1974), who won the Cheveley Park Stakes, plus the colt Pharly (1974), who won several important races in France, including the Group One Prix de la Forêt, Prix Lupin and Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

Madame Wertheimer died in 1974. In 1978, Lyphard was sent to stand at Gainsway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where he became famous as the sire of a number of important horses.[2] In all, he produced 115 graded stakes race winners, including:

Lyphard was the damsire of Hatoof, winner of the 1992 1,000 Guineas and the 1994 U.S. Champion Female Turf Horse. Lyphard was also the grandsire of 1993 Epsom Derby winner Commander in Chief. Among his other descendants are Deep Impact, Japan's Horse of the Year in 2005 & 2006, and the No.1 ranked horse in the world in 2006, Invasor.

At maturity, he reached 15.2 hands (62 inches, 157 cm) high.[4]

Retirement and death

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In 1996, Lyphard was pensioned from stallion duty at age 27 and lived another nine years. He was one of the oldest Thoroughbred horses in the world by the time he was humanely euthanised on 10 June 2005, as a result of the infirmities of very old age.

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Lyphard[5]
Sire
Northern Dancer
b. 1961
Nearctic
b. 1954
Nearco
b. 1935
Pharos
Nogara
Lady Angela
b. 1944
Hyperion
Sister Sarah
Natalma
b. 1957
Native Dancer
b. 1950
Polynesian
Geisha
Almahmoud
b. 1947
Mahmoud
Arbitrator
Dam
Goofed
b. 1960
Court Martial
b. 1942
Fair Trial
b. 1932
Fairway
Lady Juror
Instantaneous
b. 1931
Hurry On
Picture
Barra
b. 1950
Formor
b. 1934
Ksar
Formose
La Favorite
b. 1934
Biribi
La Pompadour, family 17-b

References

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  1. ^ "Horse: Lyphard". pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Welcome to Gainesway!". Archived from the original on 14 December 2006. Retrieved 3 February 2007. Lyphard's history at Gainesway Farm
  3. ^ "Record $1.7 Million Is Paid For Colt on Niarchos's Bid". New York Times. 23 July 1980.
  4. ^ "Pedigree Analysis: Is Bigger Always Better?". Blood Horse. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Lyphard Horse Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 5 June 2016.