The Death of the Thoroughbred Triumvirate
The Thoroughbred Horse was established on the basis that it contained the blood of one of the three original foundation sires (the Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian, and Godolphin Arabian). These three oriental stallions, when crossed with native English stock, gave birth to the ancestors of the racehorse we know and love today. All three were extremely popular stallions who lived around the same time and had a profound impact on the world of racing.
After this original triumvirate came the second round of foundation stallions, horses who were examples of what the modern racehorse actually looked like. These three stallions were Matchem ( representing the Godolphin Arabian sire line) and the Duke of Cumberland’s duo, King Herod (representing the Byerly Turk sire line) and the undefeated Eclipse (representing the Darley Arabian sire line). Since 1804, England’s most prestigious race, the Epsom Derby, has been won by a horse who descended from one of these three. I, however, was not content to leave it there and my findings have been both troubling and insightful. In the process, I have developed a modern triumvirate.
The criteria for a foundation sire was that he be the most popular descendant of his branch, and that he stamp his descendants in the major modern races. Below are the three stallions who I found best represented the lines of Godolphin, Darley, and Byerley.
Man O’ War (1917 | Fair Play - Mahubah by Rock Sand)
Man O’ War, one of the most highly regarded horses of the past century, best represents the line of the Godolphin Arabian by way, of course, of Matchem. Through his son War Relic, he has passed along his sire line to top stallions Tiznow, Honour and Glory, and Bertrando.
Phalaris (1913 | Polymelus - Bromus by Sainfoin)
Phalaris is by far the most popular stallion worldwide. Through his descendants Native Dancer, Northern Dancer, and Nearco, he represents the Darley Arabian in being the sire of a good majority of the leading stallions of modern times. He traces, like many horses do, to the great Eclipse.
The Flying Dutchman (1845 | Grey Eagle - Blinkey by Muckle John)
A more obscure stallion, The Flying Dutchman is the ancestor of modern Australian star Dunaden, by way of King Herod to the Byerley Turk.
These three stallions dominate racing internationally today. Almost every American Classic Winner from the past forty years has descended through his sire line to one of these stallions, and every single one has descended in some way to this modern triumvirate. Below are the sire lines of the first three finishers of the Triple Crown since 1995.
2013 | Orb (Phalaris) | Oxbow (Phalaris) | Palace Malice (Phalaris) |
2012 | I’ll Have Another (Phalaris) | I’ll Have Another (Phalaris) | Union Rags (Phalaris) |
2011 | Animal Kingdom (Phalaris) | Shackleford (Phalaris) | Ruler on Ice (Phalaris) |
2010 | Super Saver (Phalaris) | Lookin at Lucky (Phalaris) | Drosselmeyer (Phalaris) |
2009 | Mine That Bird (Phalaris) | Rachel Alexandra (Phalaris) | Summer Bird (Phalaris) |
2008 | Big Brown (Phalaris) | Big Brown (Phalaris) | Da Tara (Man O’ War) |
2007 | Street Sense (Phalaris) | Curlin (Phalaris) | Rags to Riches (Phalaris) |
2006 | Barbaro (Phalaris) | Bernardini (Phalaris) | Jazil (Phalaris) |
2005 | Giacomo (Himyar>Eclipse) | Afleet Alex (Phalaris) | Afleet Alex (Phalaris) |
2004 | Smarty Jones (Phalaris) | Smarty Jones (Phalaris) | Birdstone (Phalaris) |
2003 | Funny Cide (Phalaris) | Funny Cide (Phalaris) | Empire Maker (Phalaris) |
2002 | War Emblem (Phalaris) | War Emblem (Phalaris) | Sarava (Phalaris) |
2001 | Monarchos (Phalaris) | Point Given (Phalaris) | Point Given (Phalaris) |
2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus (Phalaris) | Red Bullet (Phalaris) | Commendable (Phalaris) |
1999 | Charismatic (Phalaris) | Charismatic (Phalaris) | Lemon Drop Kid (Phalaris) |
1998 | Real Quiet (Phalaris) | Real Quiet (Phalaris) | Victory Gallop (Phalaris) |
1997 | Silver Charm (Phalaris) | Silver Charm (Phalaris) | Touch Gold (Phalaris) |
1996 | Grindstone (Phalaris) | Louis Quatorze (Phalaris) | Editor’s Note (Phalaris) |
1995 | Thunder Gulch (Phalaris) | Timber Country (Phalaris) | Thunder Gulch (Phalaris) |
Yes, you just read that right. 96% of our past Triple Crown races have been won by horses descending from Phalaris (Darley Arabian). Only a longshot winner could provide Man O’ War with a Belmont Stakes victory (2008), while The Flying Dutchman and the Byerley Turk didn’t show up here a single time.
And perhaps, if you were careful you also noticed another name: Himyar. Himyar is the American strain of the Eclipse > Darley Arabian line. He descends from the great American horses Lexington, Sir Charles, Boston, and Sir Archy. His descendants include the mighty Domino, Holy Bull, Broad Brush, Ack Ack, Alsab, undefeated Colin, and a living descendant, Include.
This information shows us the drastic superiority of the Phalaris line through its branches by way of Ribot, Native Dancer, and Northern Dancer. It shows us how inbred our horses are (to the Darley Arabian sire line) and how, though they are spread throughout the world, they are all essentially cousins.
But the information also has some damaging effects. Its superiority is so extreme that it could easily over take Man O’ War’s (Godolphin Arabian) line and it already has taken over The Flying Dutchman’s (Byerley Turk) line. Dunaden (standing in France) is virtually the only hope for the Byerley Turk's sire line to continue to exist, while Himyar’s hopes rest on the shoulders of Include (standing at Airdrie) and Giacomo (stood formerly Adena Springs). It’s scary to think we could lose all this outcrossing and the soundness and history it brings with the loss of a single horse.
Written by Colin K.