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.

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

Pedigree of La Troienne (FR), bay mare, 1926
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. 1 2 Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), "Thoroughbred Breeding of the World", Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970
  2. Thoroughbred Heritage - La Troienne Retrieved on 2000-7-20
  3. 1 2 Pryor, Peter, "The Classic Connection", Cortney Publications, Luton, 1979
  4. Craig, Dennis, Breeding Racehorses from Cluster Mares, J A Allen, London, 1964

External links

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