La Troienne
| La Troienne | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Teddy |
| Grandsire | Ajax |
| Dam | Helene de Troie |
| Damsire | Helicon |
| Sex | Mare |
| Foaled | 1926 |
| Country | France |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Marcel Boussac |
| Owner |
1) Marcel Boussac 2) Edward R. Bradley 3) Greentree Stables |
| Record | 7: 0-1-1 |
| Earnings | $146 |
| Honours | |
| La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs | |
| Last updated on April 30, 2010 | |
La Troienne, (1926–1954) was one of the most famous and influential Thoroughbred broodmares in twentieth century America. She produced 10 winners while at stud.
She was a bay filly born in 1926 in France, and was sired by the French stallion Teddy, her dam was the winner, Helene de Troie by imported British stallion Helicon. Her breeder and owner was Marcel Boussac.[1]
Racing career
Racing in France, and almost always entered into events in which she was outclassed by better company, La Troienne started seven times and was once second and third once. By her last race, her earnings totaled $146.[2]
Breeding career
Sent by Boussac to England to the December 1930 Newmarket Sales, she sold for 1,250 guineas. At the time, she was in foal to Chef-de-Race Gainsborough. She was purchased by Colonel E. R. Bradley of the Idle Hour Stock Farm in Lexington, Kentucky and exported to the US in 1931.[3] The Gainsborough filly was born deformed and had to be killed.
La Troienne produced 14 foals. Twelve raced and ten were winners, including four stakes winners with seven stakes victories.
- Black Helen, by Black Toney, foaled in 1932, won four principal races, including the American Derby, the Florida Derby, the Maryland Handicap, and the Coaching Club American Oaks.[1]
- Baby League (1935), by Bubbling Over, became the dam of four stakes winners: the Hall of Fame filly Busher, Mr. Busher, Striking (3 wins, including Schuylerville Stakes), and Harmonizing.
- Big Hurry (1936), a filly by Black Toney, won four races, including the Selima Stakes and was the dam of 10 winners: Be Fearless, Bridal Flower, The Admiral, Great Captain, and Searching.[3]
- Bimelech (1937) by Black Toney. Bimlech won 11 races including the Belmont Stakes, the Preakness Stakes, and placed in the 1940 Kentucky Derby.
- Big Event (1938), a Blue Larkspur filly and dam of stakes winner Hall of Fame.
- Businesslike (1939), the dam of two stakes winners: Busanda (who was the dam of Buckpasser) and Auditing. Businesslike was not successful as a racer, losing both of her two starts, she proved a success in the breeding shed; her direct descendants include Busher, Easy Goer, Smarty Jones, Caerleon, Sea Hero, Go For Gin, Pleasant Tap, Mineshaft, Lite Light, Woodman, Princess Rooney, Prairie Bayou, Rhythm, Folklore, Shakespeare to name just a few.
- Besieged (1940), a colt by Balladier
- Broke Even (1941), a colt by Blue Larkspur
- Back Yard (1942), a gelding by Balladier
- Bee Ann Mac, by Blue Larkspur (1944)
- Belle Histoire, by Blue Larkspur (1945), was the dam of 8 winners, including stakes winner Royal Record.
- Belle of Troy in 1947, by Blue Larkspur, exported to the United Kingdom
- Trojan War (1948) gelding, by Shut Out.
Owing to the success of her descendants she was listed as a Cluster Mare, which is a Thoroughbred brood mare that has produced two or more winners of five or more of the eight most important and valuable races, within six generations.[4]
La Troienne came in time to be described as "the most important producer to be brought across the Atlantic Ocean in this century."
Later life
In 1938, at the age of 13, La Troienne was frightened by a thunderstorm and due to a loss of vision in her right eye, she bolted and collided with a tree. Her right shoulder was badly damaged and the veterinarians who examined her assured Colonel Bradley she would have to be destroyed. Col. Bradley said, "Put ten men with her night and day if it will help. We'll never get another like her." At the time La Troienne was carrying the filly Businesslike.
When Col. Bradley died in 1946, his stock was sold off. A syndicate including Greentree Stables, King Ranch, and Ogden Phipps received La Troienne.
After her foaling days had ended, La Troienne lived out her life in comfort. She died at Greentree Stud at the age of 28 on January 30, 1954.
The Grade II 7½ furlong La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs was named after her for many years, until the name was changed for the 2009 running to the Eight Belles Stakes.
Tabulated pedigree
| Sire Teddy b. 1913 |
Ajax b. 1901 |
Flying Fox b. 1896 |
Orme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vampire | |||
| Amie ch. 1893 |
Clamart | ||
| Alice | |||
| Rondeau 1900 |
Bay Ronald b. 1893 |
Hampton | |
| Black Duchess | |||
| Doremi ch. 1894 |
Bend Or | ||
| Lady Emily | |||
| Dam Helene de Troie b. 1916 |
Helicon b. 1908 |
Cyllene ch. 1895 |
Bona Vista |
| Arcadia | |||
| Vain Duchess b. 1897 |
Isinglass | ||
| Sweet Duchess | |||
| Lady of Pedigree 1910 |
St. Denis b. 1901 |
St. Simon | |
| Brooch | |||
| Doxa 1901 |
Melton | ||
| Paradoxical (1) |
References
- 1 2 Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), "Thoroughbred Breeding of the World", Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970
- ↑ Thoroughbred Heritage - La Troienne Retrieved on 2000-7-20
- 1 2 Pryor, Peter, "The Classic Connection", Cortney Publications, Luton, 1979
- ↑ Craig, Dennis, Breeding Racehorses from Cluster Mares, J A Allen, London, 1964