Inbreeding in 21st century Kentucky Derby winners by harry s watnik Most race horses have some five generation repetition of names; or what may be called in modern vernacular, “inbreeding”- classically speaking, inbreeding I would think would be something around 3x3 say for example to Northern Dancer or ND 3x3 - in my opine and I’m sure others interested in such notions might agree with that assessment- scenarios mixing names at 4x5 or 5x5 or even 3x5 may also be considered by some as inbreeding- if we were to look at a horse like Ultimus, a son of Commando, circa 1906 and a personage whose influence “speed & class” continue to be exhibited in pedigrees throughout the world, or if one looks back far enough chances are Ultimus, will appear- Ultimus, is what would be described as “intensely inbred” as black whirlwind Domino, is both his grandsire and dam sire!! This important horse was bred and owned by one of racing histories most magnetic figures, James Keene- and it should be remembered that as great a horseman as Mr. Keene was, he in a fit of rage ordered his subservient to immediately toss Commando’s dam Emma C. off the farm, because she was too “ugly” to really be a thoroughbred!! -- cooler heads prevailed and Commando, her son went on to sire Peter Pan and mighty Colin!! But whatever his displeasure was with Emma C. -Mr. Keene was very much right more often than not- and his scenario of Domino 2x2 in Ultimus, proved quite sagacious or so it may seem- did such a intense inbreeding regimen let loose a curse of trick-knees and other unsoundness into the breed? But that is not my concern at this particular moment- Having studied this matter for around 45 years -I’d offer the conclusion that the vast majority of good runners and G1 types have some inbreeding within five generations- of course our great American hoss - at least in my lifetime, Secretariat, was a out crossing for five generations - while superstar Animal Kingdom, whose magnificent Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup excursions mark him as a really outstanding runner and charismatic figure, shows inbreeding to Lyphard, a son of Northern Dancer 4x4 and the latter type of schedule is the rule rather than the exception- our learned friend horsewoman D. Rhodes of Missouri, recently posed a question, I believe it was- concerning inbreeding in recent Kentucky Derby winners- again I’ll look at the 21st century winners of the worlds greatest sporting event and hopefully some light will be shed in a world where a bat would feel most comfortable, the impenetrable caverns of race horse breeding- 2000- Fusaichi Pegasus - there is much inbreeding in this champion’s horoscope- notably Native Dancer 3x5 -the latter is the most familiar pedigree name of modern times, as he sired the dam, Natalma, of Northern Dancer, and he sent forth Raise A Native, sire of Mr. Prospector, the face who launched a 1000 stakes winners- also in the inbreeding picture for Fusaichi Pegasus, is Almahmoud, granddame of Northern Dancer, as Angel Fever, dam of the 2000 Kentucky Derby winner is inbred 4x4 to that central matron- also appearing in duplication is Nearco at 5x5- or: Native Dancer 3x5 Nearco 5x5 Almahmoud 5x5 - 2001-Monarchos Ribot 5x5 2002-War Emblem Five generation outcross 2003- Funny Cide (gelding) Ribot 5x5 2004- Smarty Jones Bold Ruler 5x5x5 2005- Giacomo Five generation outcross 2006- Barbaro Nashua 4x5 2007- Street Sense This champion son of Street Cry, has I believe the “Rasmussen” formula in his histology - this is accomplished when a horse is inbred to siblings - or herein Northern Dancer and Raise The Standard - Native Dancer 5x5 Natalma 5x4 2008- Big Brown Northern Dancer 3x3 Damascus 3x4 Round Table 4x5 2009- Mine That Bird - (gelding) Mr. Prospector 5x3 Northern Dancer 4x4 Nashua 5x5 2010- Super Saver Buckpasser 4x5x5 Raise A Native 5x4 2011- Animal Kingdom Lyphard 4x4 2012- I’ll Have Another Mr. Prospector 4x4 Danzig 4x4 Northern Dancer 5x5x5 2013- Orb Mr. Prospector 3x4 Bold Ruler 5x5 Thusly of the 14 winners considered in this application; 2 were geldings Funny Cide & Mine That Bird and 2 were out crossed thru five generation > long shot winners Giacomo and War Emblem- the dozen who have inbreeding within five generations all show only the very best “names” repeated- or in other worlds no derby winner in the 21st century has been inbred to Bingo On, or some such- interestingly Affirmed and Seattle Slew and mightiest of race horses Secretariat, have not had the honor of a derby winner with their names doubled or tripled in its pedigree dossier- nor does the 4th & 5th great cogs, Spectacular Bid or awesome Alydar- the only female duplication within five generation are Natalma and her dam Almahmoud! The list of those horses who appear more than once in the 5-generation pedigree profile-> Nearco Native Dancer Natalma Ribot Buckpasser Danzig Nashua Almahmoud Northern Dancer Mr. Prospector Lyphard Raise A Native Round Table Damascus Hsw @2014
Posted on: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 09:16:58 +0000
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