Ardan (horse)
Encyclopedia
Ardan was a French
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. He was bred and owned by Marcel Boussac
, the very prominent French horseman and owner of fashion house, House of Dior
. He was sired by Boussac's stallion Pharis
, a horse that Thoroughbred Heritage
says is "considered one of the greatest French-bred runners of the century". Ardan's dam, Adargatis, was by Asterus who had been a six-time Leading Sire of Broodmares in France. Pardal (1947), who won the Jockey Club Stakes and five other good races was a full brother to Ardan.
Ardan was trained by Charles Semblat, a champion jockey
who became one of the most successful horse trainer
s in French racing history and the last France-based trainer to ever win the British trainers' championship. At age two, the colt won the 1943 Prix Robert Papin
, one of France's important races for Two-Year-Olds. The following year, he was the dominant horse in the country. Under regular jockey
Jacques Doyasbere
he won seven major races in 1944, including the Grand Prix de Paris
in which he was then disqualified and set back to third. The highlight of his campaign
were wins in the Prix du Jockey Club
at Chantilly Racecourse
and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
held that year at Hippodrome du Tremblay.
In 1945, Ardan continued to win important races including the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
and in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, ran second to the great filly
Nikellora. Raced in 1946 at age five, Ardan won his second consecutive Prix Kergorlay
and at Epsom Downs
in England
, he won the Group One
Coronation Cup
. He also finished second in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
and in the only time he was ever unplaced in his career, finished fourth in that year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Retired at the end of the 1946 racing season, Ardan stood at stud
at Marcel Boussac's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
in Neuvy-au-Houlme
in Orne
. Three years later he was sent to one of America's
preeminent breeding operations, Spendthrift Farm
in Lexington, Kentucky
. While Ardan's offspring won a number of Conditions
/ Stakes races
, none achieved his level of success. One of his best horses was Hard Sauce who was a six furlong specialist and the sire of Hard Tack and Hard Ridden (Epsom Derby
). His last foal was born in the United States in 1960.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. He was bred and owned by Marcel Boussac
Marcel Boussac
Marcel Boussac was a French entrepreneur best known for his ownership of the Maison Dior and one of the most successful thoroughbred race horse breeding farms in European history....
, the very prominent French horseman and owner of fashion house, House of Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
. He was sired by Boussac's stallion Pharis
Pharis
Pharis was a French Thoroughbred racehorse who is "considered one of the greatest French-bred runners of the century," according to Thoroughbred Heritage...
, a horse that Thoroughbred Heritage
National Sporting Library
The National Sporting Library & Museum The National Sporting Library and Museum, located in beautiful, historic Middleburg, Virginia, is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and sharing the literature, art, and culture of horse and field sports...
says is "considered one of the greatest French-bred runners of the century". Ardan's dam, Adargatis, was by Asterus who had been a six-time Leading Sire of Broodmares in France. Pardal (1947), who won the Jockey Club Stakes and five other good races was a full brother to Ardan.
Ardan was trained by Charles Semblat, a champion jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
who became one of the most successful horse trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
s in French racing history and the last France-based trainer to ever win the British trainers' championship. At age two, the colt won the 1943 Prix Robert Papin
Prix Robert Papin
The Prix Robert Papin is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 1,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
, one of France's important races for Two-Year-Olds. The following year, he was the dominant horse in the country. Under regular jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
Jacques Doyasbere
Jacques Doyasbere
Jacques Doyasbère is a former Thoroughbred horse racing jockey in France.One of his country's top jockeys of all time, Doyasbere rode for such prominent owners as Marcel Boussac and Francois Dupre...
he won seven major races in 1944, including the Grand Prix de Paris
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
in which he was then disqualified and set back to third. The highlight of his campaign
were wins in the Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
at Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse is a Thoroughbred turf racecourse for flat racing in Chantilly, Oise, France, about north of the centre of the city of Paris....
and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
held that year at Hippodrome du Tremblay.
In 1945, Ardan continued to win important races including the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June.-History:...
and in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, ran second to the great filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
Nikellora. Raced in 1946 at age five, Ardan won his second consecutive Prix Kergorlay
Prix Kergorlay
The Prix Kergorlay is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 3,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
and at Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he won the Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
Coronation Cup
Coronation Cup
The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
. He also finished second in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June.-History:...
and in the only time he was ever unplaced in his career, finished fourth in that year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Retired at the end of the 1946 racing season, Ardan stood at stud
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
at Marcel Boussac's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard
Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard was a Thoroughbred horse breeding farm in Neuvy-au-Houlme in the Orne department in Lower Normandy purchased by Marcel Boussac in 1919. Widely respected, Marcel Boussac was called "the greatest of French breeders" by John P. Sparkman, an editor with Thoroughbred Times....
in Neuvy-au-Houlme
Neuvy-au-Houlme
Neuvy-Au-Houlme is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.Neuvy-Au-Houlme is home to the historic Thoroughbred horse breeding farm, Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard and the standardbred farm, Haras du Ribardon.-References:*...
in Orne
Orne
Orne is a department in the northwest of France, named after the river Orne.- History :Orne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution, on March 4, 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Normandy and Perche.- Geography :Orne is in the region of...
. Three years later he was sent to one of America's
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
preeminent breeding operations, Spendthrift Farm
Spendthrift Farm
Spendthrift Farm is a thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Lexington, Kentucky. It was founded by Leslie Combs II and named for the great stallion, Spendthrift, who was owned by Combs' ancestor, Daniel Swigert of Elmendorf Farm. Spendthrift was the great-grandfather of Man o' War.- Famous...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. While Ardan's offspring won a number of Conditions
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
/ Stakes races
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
, none achieved his level of success. One of his best horses was Hard Sauce who was a six furlong specialist and the sire of Hard Tack and Hard Ridden (Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
). His last foal was born in the United States in 1960.