Thursday, May 04, 2000
The Derby prayer: Give us this day a horse that's well-bred
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer Contributor
Good breeding has its own meaning at the Kentucky Derby, where accomplished Derby handicappers must be historians as well as a expert judges of pedigree in order to bet wisely.
But for the rest of the novice horse pickers planning to bet and watch the race Saturday, we offer today's theme: A Brief Lesson in Thoroughbred and Derby Champion Breeding.
ã1. How important is a horse's pedigree — its family background — when you're handicapping the Kentucky Derby?
In a word: very. Horses in Derby fields contain the blood of their ancestors and in many cases a semblance of their names. An experienced handicapper need only glance at a list of the field to pick out names or parts of names of previous winners among the current runners.
ã2. What is a Blue Hen — the University of Delaware's mascot, or some kind of racing term?
Actually, both. Among the equine set, a Blue Hen is a dam — a race horse's mother — that has produced at least two stakes winners or stakes producers (horses who come in second, third or fourth).
ã3. Which breed, or line of thoroughbred sires, is considered most likely to produce a Derby winner?
According to an article written by Ed Fountaine for the Daily Racing Form, it's the sires from the Darley Arabian-Eclipse line, because they are the direct male ancestors of more than 90 percent of all stallions standing at stud today.
In addition, two Eclipse stallions, Native Dancer and Nearco, have won 35 of 36 races between them, and their lines are recognized for exceptional speed.
ã4. How many Derby winners are descendants of Native Dancer and Nearco?
Mr. Fountaine's article lists seven. Native Dancer did not win, but five descendants — Northern Dancer, Majestic Prince, Affirmed, Alysheba and Strike the Gold — wore the blanket of roses. A Nearco stallion, Bold Ruler, ultimately produced two Triple Crown winners, Secretariat and Seattle Slew.
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