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Nijinsky (horse)

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Nijinsky (21 February 1967 – 15 April 1992) was a Canadian-bred, Irish-trained champion Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the outstanding two-year-old in Europe in 1969 when he was unbeaten in five races. In the following season, he became the first horse for thirty-five years to win the English Triple Crown, a feat that has not been repeated as of 2023. He is regarded as one of the greatest European flat racehorses of the 20th century.[1][2]

Nijinsky
Nijinsky (Liam Ward) winning the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh in 1970
SireNorthern Dancer
GrandsireNearctic
DamFlaming Page
DamsireBull Page
SexStallion
Foaled21 February 1967
CountryCanada
ColourBay
BreederWindfields Farm
OwnerCharles W. Engelhard Jr.
TrainerVincent O'Brien
Record13: 11–2–0
Earnings$677,177
Major wins
Railway Stakes (1969)
Anglesey Stakes (1969)
Beresford Stakes (1969)
Dewhurst Stakes (1969)
Gladness Stakes (1970)
2,000 Guineas (1970)
Epsom Derby (1970)
Irish Derby (1970)
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1970)
St. Leger Stakes (1970)
Awards
15th UK Triple Crown Champion (1970)
Timeform Horse of the Year (1970)
British Horse of the Year (1970)
Leading sire in GB & Ireland (1986)
North American leading broodmare sire (1993 & 1994)
Honours
1970 Motion Picture – A Horse Called Nijinsky
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (1976)
Nijinsky Stakes (Canada)
Nijinsky Stakes (Ireland)
Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial
Timeform rating: 138
Last updated on 28 March 2022

He was also historically important for establishing the international reputation of his sire Northern Dancer, though Nijinsky was atypical of Northern Dancer progeny in size and conformation. Retired to stud, he became the leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland and the leading broodmare sire in North America. As a winner of top-class races from 6-14 furlongs, Nijinsky is also considered to be among the most versatile of the great horses of the 20th century.[3]

Background

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Nijinsky, a bay horse with a white heart on his forehead and three white feet, was bred at E. P. Taylor's Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. He was from the second crop of foals sired by Northern Dancer, the winner of the 1964 Kentucky Derby who went on to become one of the most influential sires of the 20th century. His dam, Flaming Page, by Bull Page, was a successful racemare, winning the 1962 Queen's Plate. At stud, she produced only two other foals. One of these was Fleur by Victoria Park, who produced the 1977 Epsom Derby winner The Minstrel by Northern Dancer; the other was Minsky, champion Irish two-year-old in 1970 and full brother to Nijinsky.[4] Nijinsky was a big, powerful and handsome horse with great presence, standing 16.3 hands (67 inches, 170 cm) high, resembling his dam rather than his sire in stature and conformation, traits he tended to pass on to his offspring.[5]

He was offered for sale at the Windfields Farm's annual yearling auction where he was bought for $84,000 (equivalent to $740,000 in 2023) by the American minerals magnate and industrialist Charles W. Engelhard Jr., acting on the advice of the Irish trainer Vincent O'Brien. It was Engelhard's wife Jane who decided that the colt should be named after the dancer Vaslav Nijinsky. Nijinsky was shipped to Ireland, where he was trained by O'Brien at Ballydoyle, County Tipperary.

Racing career

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1969: two-year-old season

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Nijinsky's first four races were all at the Curragh. In June, he started at odds of 4/11 and won the six-furlong Erne maiden race easily.[6] He followed up with wins in the Anglesey Stakes and the Railway Stakes. On his fourth appearance, he was extended for the first time in the Beresford Stakes. He won decisively from Decies, a colt who went on to win the Irish 2000 Guineas in 1970. Having proved himself the best of the Irish two-year-olds, he was sent to England in October to contest the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. Ridden for the first time by Lester Piggott, he was held up at the back of the six-horse field before moving through to take the lead inside the final furlong, earning top rating in the British Free Handicap.[7][8]

1970: three-year-old season

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Nijinsky at the 1970 Irish Derby

Spring

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On his first appearance as a three-year-old, Nijinsky beat the four-year-old Deep Run[9] in the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh in April. The colt was then sent back to Newmarket for the 2000 Guineas over one mile. He started the 4/7 favourite against thirteen opponents. Nijinsky took the lead two furlongs from the finish and, without being put under any pressure by Piggott,[10] pulled clear to win by two and a half lengths from Yellow God. The second had won the Ascot 2,000 Guineas trial and the previous year's Gimcrack Stakes, as well as finishing a close second in the Middle Park Stakes.

Summer

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Nijinsky's opposition in the Derby at Epsom was stronger and he started at odds of 11/8 – the only time he was ever odds against. His rivals were headed by the French-trained colts Stintino and Gyr.[11] The veteran French trainer Etienne Pollet had delayed his retirement for a year to guide Gyr, a son of his champion Sea-Bird, through his three-year-old season.[7] Nijinsky was held up by Piggott as usual before moving forward in the straight, by which time Gyr was in front and pulling clear of the Prix Lupin winner, Stintino. A furlong and a half from the finish, Piggott used his whip on Nijinsky. The favourite responded immediately, catching Gyr in a few strides and pulling ahead to win from him by two and a half lengths, with Stintino third.

The winning time of 2:34.68 was the fastest Epsom Derby since 1936.[12] Nijinsky's time for the last two furlongs of the race (10.6 and 11.25 seconds, respectively) was of sprint championship-winning standard.[13] Piggott claimed that he was "always cantering", while Bill Williamson, who rode Gyr, said that "Nijinsky was just too good".[14] Gyr subsequently franked the form by easily winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.[15]

On the day before the Derby, Nijinsky had overcome a severe bout of colic which could have threatened his life.[16]

On 27 June, Nijinsky followed up his Epsom win by taking the Irish Derby at the Curragh. Ridden by Liam Ward, he started at odds of 4/11 and accelerated late to win by three lengths from Meadowville.[17] In July, Nijinsky raced against older horses in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. His five opponents included winners of major races: Blakeney (1969 Epsom Derby), Karabas (Washington, D.C. International Stakes), Crepellana (Prix de Diane) and Caliban (Coronation Cup). Without being extended, Nijinsky moved through to take the lead a furlong from the finish and won by two lengths from Blakeney despite being eased down to a canter in the closing stages.[18]

In August, Nijinsky contracted ringworm, which seriously affected his training schedule. The horse lost most of the hair on his body.[16]

Autumn

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Nijinsky appeared to be recovering after being placed on a "rich" diet including raw eggs and Irish Stout,[19] and was sent to Doncaster for the St. Leger in September. In the one mile and six furlongs race, he was attempting to become the first horse since Bahram 35 years earlier to complete the English Triple Crown. He started the 2/7 favourite and won comfortably,[20] although his margin of victory over Meadowville was only one length. As of 2023, he is the last horse to accomplish the feat of sweeping the English Triple Crown: since 1970 only Reference Point (1987), Nashwan (1989), Sea The Stars (2009) and Camelot (2012) have won two of the three races, but Oh So Sharp won the filly's version of the Triple Crown in 1985.

In his next race, Nijinsky was sent to France for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris in October. Piggott produced Nijinsky in the straight to make his challenge but was baulked twice before making his run on the wide outside. However, 150m from the finish he caught front runners Miss Dan and Sassafras and took a slight lead. In the last strides, Nijinsky appeared to veer left away from Piggott's whip,[21] and Sassafras, ridden by Yves Saint-Martin, produced a renewed effort to regain the advantage and win by a head. While many, including his trainer Vincent O'Brien, felt that Piggott had given Nijinsky too much ground to make up and had left his challenge too late,[22] the jockey, who was heavily criticised by the media and racing public, said that in his opinion Nijinsky was past his peak for the year.[23] It is beyond dispute that Nijinsky was a most unlucky loser.[24] Piggott commented: "Certainly Nijinsky would have won had he not swerved almost in the shadow of the post, and certainly he would have won had his initial finishing run not been blocked on the final bend".[25]

Less than two weeks after his defeat in the Arc, Nijinsky ran his last race in the Champion Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket. Although he had been known to sweat freely before some of his previous races, Nijinsky on this occasion appeared to become particularly nervous and anxious before the start. In the race itself, he ran well below his best form and was beaten 3/4 length at odds of 4/11 by the five-year-old English horse Lorenzaccio.[26] O'Brien on this occasion concurred with Piggott, saying that Nijinsky appeared to have "lost his fire."[23] Nijinsky was retired to stand at stud at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky having been syndicated in August for $5,440,000.[27]

Assessment and honours

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Nijinsky was given a rating of 138 by Timeform, the second-highest for a winner of the Epsom Derby up to that time.[28] He was Timeform's Horse of the Year for 1970. Nijinsky was also voted British Horse of the Year by the Racecourse Association, gaining 38 of the 40 votes.[29]

In 2018 Nijinsky was rated the greatest-ever Epsom Derby winner by a panel of experts assembled by the Daily Telegraph.[30] In 2021, the Sporting Life ranked Nijinsky's Derby win no. 1, ahead of Sea Bird, in their top-40 runnings of the race.[31] In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Nijinsky as a "great" Derby winner and the best Irish racehorse of the 20th century.[32]

Vincent O'Brien named Nijinsky and Sir Ivor as the best horses he had trained, placing Nijinsky first "for brilliance."[33] Lester Piggott concurred: "I think Nijinsky probably on his day was the most brilliant horse I've ever ridden".[34] Piggott added later that Nijinsky, during the summer of 1970 when he won the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, was "an unbeatable horse"[35] Piggott was adamant, however, that running in the St Leger led to the horse not winning at Longchamps.[36]

The Manchester City footballer, Colin Bell, was given the nickname, Nijinsky, by his coach, Malcolm Allison, because of his (Bell's) unrivalled stamina.

In 1970, a film was made about his racing career entitled A Horse Called Nijinsky. Narrated by Orson Welles, it was released in British cinemas and in 1988 released on VHS video.[37] The Nijinsky team also was voted winners of the 1970 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Team Award.[38] Among the more unusual tributes, a Cabernet Sauvignon wine[39] and a variety of winter wheat[40] have been named in Nijinsky's honour. Bronze statues of him stand at Ballydoyle and at The Curragh racecourse.[41]

Stud record

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Having been sent to stand at stud in the United States, Nijinsky was registered there as Nijinsky II.[42]

The horse was an excellent sire. He sired 155 Stakes/Group winners (18.1% of 862 total foals)[43] and 519 individual winners (60.2%),[44] ranging over the full range of distances at which he excelled as a racehorse. He is the only sire to have a winner of the Kentucky and Epsom Derbies in the same year (1986). The horse was champion sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1986 and champion broodmare sire in the United States in 1993 and 1994.[45]

His notable progeny included:

Nijinsky was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth II and she visited him as often as possible at Claiborne Stud.[47]

Nijinsky was euthanised in April 1992 as a result of "the infirmities of old age"[42] after suffering from laminitis since 1985.[48] He is buried at Claiborne Farm.[49]

See also: Northern Dancer sire line

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Nijinsky (CAN), bay stallion, 1967[4]
Sire
Northern Dancer (CAN)
1961 		Nearctic (CAN)
1954 		Nearco Pharos
Nogara
Lady Angela Hyperion
Sister Sarah
Natalma (USA)
1957 		Native Dancer Polynesian
Geisha
Almahmoud Mahmoud
Arbitrator
Dam
Flaming Page (CAN)
1959 		Bull Page (USA)
1947 		Bull Lea Bull Dog
Rose Leaves
Our Page Blue Larkspur
Occult
Flaring Top (USA)
1947 		Menow Pharamond II
Alcibiades
Flaming Top Omaha
Firetop (Family:8f)[50]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ McKenna, P. G. (1 January 2015). "Vincent O'Brien Biography" – via ResearchGate.
  2. ^ “Nijinsky (1970)”. Daily Telegraph, 2 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Nijinsky II (horse)". American Classic Pedigrees.
  4. ^ a b "English Derby Winner: Nijinsky II". Chef-de-race.com. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  5. ^ Mitchell, Frank J. (2005). Great breeders and their methods ... – Frank J. Mitchell – Google Books. ISBN 9780929346786. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  6. ^ O'Brien, Jacqueline and Herbert, Ivor. Vincent O'Brien: The Official Biography (2005) Bantam Press ISBN 0-593-05474-1
  7. ^ a b Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
  8. ^ "Nijinsky II Destroyed at Claiborne Farm –". The New York Times. 16 April 1992. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  9. ^ Vamplew, Wray; Kay, Joyce (2005). Encyclopedia of British horseracing – Wray Vamplew, Joyce Kay – Google Books. ISBN 9780714653563. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  10. ^ "Nijinsky promoted Derby favourite". Glasgow Herald. 30 April 1970. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  11. ^ "It looks like Nijinsky's year". The Age. Melbourne. 3 June 1970. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  12. ^ "Nijinsky cops Derby". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 4 June 1970. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  13. ^ 'Rowleyfile: Analysing Nijinsky 50 years after he landed the Triple Crown'. Timeform, 6 September 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2022
  14. ^ "Nijinsky, one of the greatest | The Guardian". The Guardian. 1 June 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  15. ^ 'Nijinsky and Lester Piggott|Triple Crown winners'. Timeform, 5 June 2022, retrieved 15 June 2022
  16. ^ a b 'Nijinsky – Brough Scott'. Brough Scott MBE. Journalist, Author & Broadcaster. Racing Post, 1 January 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2022
  17. ^ "Nijinsky captures Irish Sweepstakes". Schenectady Gazette. 29 June 1970. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  18. ^ "Nijinsky wins 10th". The Press-Courier. 26 July 1970. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  19. ^ "Nijinsky goes on rich diet". Lewiston Daily Sun. 18 August 1970. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  20. ^ "Triple feat to Nijinsky". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 September 1970. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  21. ^ "Nijinsky's unbroken string snapped in French classic". The Gazette. Montreal. 5 October 1970. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  22. ^ Whitney Tower (26 October 1970). "Nijinsky's defeat after 11 straight victories raised – 10.26.70 – SI Vault". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  23. ^ a b Dink Carroll (20 October 1970). "Playing the field". The Gazette. Montreal. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  24. ^ O'Brien, Jacqueline and Herbert, Ivor. Vincent O'Brien: The Official Biography (2005) Bantam Press ISBN 0-593-05474-1
  25. ^ Sean Magee, 'The race that sealed Nijinsky's greatness'. Thoroughbred Racing Commentary, 8 September 2014, retrieved 15 June 2023
  26. ^ "Nijinsky beaten". The Age. Melbourne. 19 October 1970. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  27. ^ "Nijinsky will stand in Kentucky". Herald-Journal. 16 August 1970. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  28. ^ "Dosage". Chef-de-race.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  29. ^ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third ed.). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
  30. ^ 'Why Nijinsky reigns supreme as greatest champion of all'. Daily Telegraph, 2 June 2018.
  31. ^ 'Ben Linfoot counts down the 40 greatest renewals of the Derby from Diamond Jubilee to Nijinsky'. The Sporting Life, 31 May 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022
  32. ^ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
  33. ^ "Horse Racing: Lester loves Nijinsky. – Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  34. ^ "Great partnerships: Lester Piggott and Vincent O'Brien | Horse Racing News | Racing Post".
  35. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Lester Piggott relives Nijinsky's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes win" – via YouTube.
  36. ^ 'Piggott returns to scene of Nijinsky glory 40 years after Triple Crown'. Yorkshire Evening Post, 8 September 2010, retrieved 15 June 2023
  37. ^ "A Horse Called Nijinsky". IMDb. 12 June 1970.
  38. ^ "Press Office – Sports Personality of the Year: team winners key facts". BBC. 10 February 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  39. ^ "L'Esprit de Nijinsky". Wineonline.ie. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  40. ^ "Two New Outstanding Nickerson Wheat Varieties Added to the Hgca List! At Limagrain". Limagrain.co.uk. 1 December 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  41. ^ Hayward, Paul (14 September 2012). "Aidan O'Brien and Camelot ready for their race into the history books by completing Triple Crown with St Leger". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  42. ^ a b 'Stallion Dynasties: Nijinsky'. Past the Wire, 20 August 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2022
  43. ^ "Triple Crown Winner's Influence Lives on". 17 August 2016.
  44. ^ "Nijinsky: Triple Crown Champion –". 3 March 2015.
  45. ^ 'Nijinsky Influence Burns Bright Fifty Years On'. Thoroughbred Daily News, 26 December 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2022
  46. ^ "Nijinsky II Yearling Brings $13.1 Million". The New York Times. 24 July 1985.
  47. ^ 'Queen Elizabeth visiting Nijinsky'. The Tony Leonard Collection, undated. Retrieved 26 April 2022
  48. ^ "Nijinsky II made his mark". Star Telegram. 16 April 1992. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  49. ^ "Grave Matters Claiborne Farm". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  50. ^ Patricia Erigero Thoroughbred Heritage. "8 Bustler Mare". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 5 January 2012.

Further reading

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  • Sampson, Lesley I. Nijinsky: Blue Riband Sire (1985) J.A. Allen & Co Ltd ISBN 0-85131-411-2
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