Bald Eagle (horse)
Encyclopedia
Bald Eagle was an American-bred Thoroughbred
Eclipse Award
-winning racehorse
who competed successfully in both the United Kingdom and the United States. He won the Washington, D.C. International Stakes twice, in 1959 and 1960.
. His dam was a Group One
(G1) winner – Siama, sired by Tiger. Siama also produced a G1-winning brother to Bald Eagle in One-Eyed King, foaled in 1954 (a year before Bald Eagle's birth).
before his owner brought him to the U.S.; there, the colt enjoyed even more success. In 1960, at age five, Bald Eagle set new track records winning the Metropolitan
and Widener Handicap
s. That year, he also became the first horse to win the Washington, D.C. International twice. His performances in 1960 earned Bald Eagle the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
. In 23 starts he won nine races, finished second five times and third three times with lifetime earnings of US $676,442.
in Paris, Kentucky, Bald Eagle met with only modest success; he sired a dozen graded stakes race
winners. His daughter San San was purchased by Countess Margit Batthyany, owner of Haras du Bois-Roussel in Alençon, France; San San won the 1972 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
and Group One Prix Vermeille
races. Bald Eagle was the maternal grandsire of Capote
, the 1986 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
winner and American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.
In 1971, Bald Eagle was sent to new breeders in France. He died there in 1977.
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...
Eclipse Award
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
-winning 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...
who competed successfully in both the United Kingdom and the United States. He won the Washington, D.C. International Stakes twice, in 1959 and 1960.
Pedigree
He was the son of the champion sire Nasrullah; his grandsire was NearcoNearco
Nearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
. His dam was a 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...
(G1) winner – Siama, sired by Tiger. Siama also produced a G1-winning brother to Bald Eagle in One-Eyed King, foaled in 1954 (a year before Bald Eagle's birth).
Racing career
Racing at age two and three in England, Bald Eagle won several conditions racesConditions 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...
before his owner brought him to the U.S.; there, the colt enjoyed even more success. In 1960, at age five, Bald Eagle set new track records winning the Metropolitan
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
and Widener Handicap
Widener Handicap
The Widener Handicap at Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida was a Grade III stakes race for Thoroughbred racehorses 3-years-old and up. It was run over a distance of 1¼ miles until 1993 when it was modified to 1 1/8 miles. Initially called the Widener Challenge Cup Handicap, the race was...
s. That year, he also became the first horse to win the Washington, D.C. International twice. His performances in 1960 earned Bald Eagle the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
The title of American Champion Older Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a stallion or gelding, four years old and up. Prior to 1971, this award was referred to as "Champion Handicap Male Horse", and was open to any horse, three years old and up...
. In 23 starts he won nine races, finished second five times and third three times with lifetime earnings of US $676,442.
Stud career
Retired to stud at Claiborne FarmClaiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...
in Paris, Kentucky, Bald Eagle met with only modest success; he sired a dozen graded stakes race
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...
winners. His daughter San San was purchased by Countess Margit Batthyany, owner of Haras du Bois-Roussel in Alençon, France; San San won the 1972 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...
and Group One Prix Vermeille
Prix Vermeille
The Prix Vermeille is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares 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 in September.-History:The event was established in 1897, and it...
races. Bald Eagle was the maternal grandsire of Capote
Capote (horse)
Capote was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Franklin Groves' North Ridge Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, Capote was out of the mare Too Bald, a daughter of the 1960 American Champion Older Male Horse, Bald Eagle. He was sired by the 1977 U.S. Triple Crown champion, Seattle Slew. Trainer D...
, the 1986 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Breeders' Cup Juvenile
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships....
winner and American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.
In 1971, Bald Eagle was sent to new breeders in France. He died there in 1977.
External links
Further reading
Champions: the Lives, Times, and Past Performances of America's Greatest Thoroughbreds, The Daily Racing FormDaily Racing Form
The Daily Racing Form is a tabloid newspaper founded in 1894 in Chicago, Illinois by Frank Brunell. The paper publishes the past performances of race horses as a statistical service for bettors on horse racing in the United States....