Northern Dancer and the Epsom Derby

re: Northern Dancer and the Epsom Derby

laney — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:35:52 GMT

Hi, just researching the Northern Dancer line as I have a 6yrold by Beat All out off Kashana. Never raced trained or named but I know he has it in him. I have researched his breeding and he's related to Nasrullah 5th generation on both sire and dam side. Sire side through Never Bend and dam through Red God. Am not familiar with TB inbreeding r linebreeding ...if anyone can shed any light on this??

re: Northern Dancer and the Epsom Derby

glenn canale — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:10:00 GMT

John, a very good article, you should do more of them. I feel that not enough Americans know much about racing outside of the United States.I was that way until I obtained a Kahyasi colt out of a Darshaan mare and a friend from England schooled me on racing and bloodlines in other parts of the world.The NTRA sums it up saying that Northern Dancer is one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history.Again good article and keep writting.

re: Northern Dancer and the Epsom Derby

Ryan — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:06:31 GMT

Hi John,

Thank you for writing this interesting article. Kudos to you on your first shot at journalism. Keep up the good work!

re: Northern Dancer and the Epsom Derby

Hal Dane — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 09:11:19 GMT

Byron., In the same period, you could say the same for the Derby winner Shirley Heights, or his sire the Derby winner Mill Reef.

I'm pointing out that the fourth, fifth, sixth, etc, etc, also had Northern Dancer somewhere in their pedigree, so what does it all mean.? except that today's pedigrees are all the same.

re: Northern Dancer and the Epsom Derby

Byron Rogers — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:46:29 GMT

Hal Dane,

John made it pretty clear that "his name has become almost all-pervasive in the breed".

The purpose of the post was not to make some type of qualifying statement - i.e you need Northern Dancer in some form to be successful, rather it was to show just how much influence the horse has had on the place-getters in the race.

re: Northern Dancer and the Epsom Derby

Hal Dane — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:22:56 GMT

When you consider that 96% of the whole field for the Derby Stakes, in the last 15 years.. had Northern Dancer in their pedigrees, is it so surprising the the first three carry his blood.?, how about all the horses that finished last in each Derby since then, they also carried Northern Dancer Blood.

re: Northern Dancer and the Epsom Derby

John T — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 04:44:19 GMT

You say Northern Dancer and the Epsom Derby, I say Northern Dancer and all races down to the lowest of claiming races.

In the history of thoroughbred racing I have never come across a sire like this one ''Truly A Sire Of Sires''

re: Northern Dancer and the Epsom Derby

sceptre — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 03:49:03 GMT

Nice work, and interesting stats on Northern Dancer's contribution to Epsom Derby top finishers. Many may take this as further evidence of Northern Dancer's positive contribution to the breed. His record as direct sire was certainly excellent, and he was arguably quite good as a sire of sires. But, while indicative of his popularity, the figures cited above, TAKEN ALONE, should not be seen as added testimony of his genetic prowess...As a small aside (and not as example of my point), the "% Influence" figures cited are not absolutes, but rather approximations (as we learn from meiosis).

re: Northern Dancer and the Epsom Derby

Terry M. — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:20:51 GMT

I'd love to see the influence on the Canadian and American Classic races. Huge! And the Breeders' Cup would be equally impressive.

re: Northern Dancer and the Epsom Derby

John Donnelly — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:56:43 GMT

Thanks MZ for reading it. It must be noted that the above is my first journalistic piece. I recall reading a reprinted interview which the Aga Khan gave to Pacemaker in 1988. He stated that he was not using Northern Dancer as a sire because he felt it was a small breed of horse physically and he preferred the Never Bend sire line. But now he has so many quality broodmares with relatively little or no Northern Dancer blood that can all be outcrossed to Northern Dancer line sires. He also has the sire Dalakhani who has no Northern Dancer blood.

Nijinsky appears on a lot of bottom lines in pedigrees. Dansili carries the Nijinsky line through his dam who is out of a mare by Kahyasi.

re: Northern Dancer and the Epsom Derby

mz — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:07:30 GMT

But of course. (Nothing more need be said about the St. Simon of the 20th Century)

However ... I am also interested in his influence in classics in other countries and I believe that it is as all prevasive in Australia. In France, although I do not believe the Aga Khan had many Northern Dancers, is it not as important through Lyphard? I am not so certain about Germany but Japan, despite Sunday Silence, still has some Northern Taste influences.

With respect to lines from ND: is Nijinksy hanging on? Too bad Golden Fleece didn't live longer.