Halo (horse)
Encyclopedia
Halo was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
and an important Champion
sire. Bred in Kentucky
by John R. Gaines, founder of the Breeders Cup, Halo was out of the mare Cosmah (who was the Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 1974), which made him a half-brother to the Hall of Fame
filly
Tosmah
. His sire was Hail To Reason
, the U.S. Champion 2-Year-Old Colt
and a great-grandson of the extremely important sire Nearco
.
Purchased by Charles W. Engelhard, Jr.
, owner of the great Nijinsky
, Halo raced under his Cragwood Stable banner. After having little success at age two racing on dirt tracks, in his three-year-old campaign his U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
trainer
MacKenzie Miller
switched him to racing on turf
, where he achieved better results. Although never a superstar horse, Halo raced for four years and in 1974, at age five, won the Grade I
United Nations Handicap
.
at the Maryland
division of Windfields Farm
, where his progeny included Sunny's Halo
and, through his mating with the mare Ballade, Devil's Bag
, Glorious Song
, and Saint Ballado
. In 1984, new majority owners moved Halo to stand at Arthur B. Hancock III's
Stone Farm
in Paris, Kentucky
, where he continued to produce notable offspring, the star of which was Sunday Silence
. In all, Halo sired seven champions and 62 stakes winners including two Kentucky Derby
winners. Twice, he was the leading sire in North America
.
Halo was pensioned in 1997 and died at Stone Farm in 2000 at age thirty-one.
Grandsire of:
Damsire of:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
and an important Champion
Leading sire in North America
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the year...
sire. Bred in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
by John R. Gaines, founder of the Breeders Cup, Halo was out of the mare Cosmah (who was the Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 1974), which made him a half-brother to the Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
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....
Tosmah
Tosmah
Tosmah was a champion Thoroughbred race horse bred in Kentucky by Eugene Mori.Her sire was the great Tim Tam, by Tom Fool out of Two Lea. Many consider Tim Tam's loss of Thoroughbred racing's American Triple Crown only a matter of fate...
. His sire was Hail To Reason
Hail To Reason
Hail To Reason was an American thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire. He was bred in Kentucky by the Bieber-Jacobs Stable, a partnership of prominent horsemen, Isadore Bieber and Hirsch Jacobs. He was sired by the English stakes winner Turn-To, a grandson of the very influential sire Nearco...
, the U.S. Champion 2-Year-Old Colt
Eclipse Award for Outstanding 2-Year-Old Male Horse
The American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971....
and a great-grandson of the extremely important sire Nearco
Nearco
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 ,...
.
Purchased by Charles W. Engelhard, Jr.
Charles W. Engelhard, Jr.
Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. was an American businessman who controlled an international mining and metals conglomerate, as well as a major owner in Thoroughbred horse racing, and a candidate in the 1955 New Jersey State Senate Elections.Engelhard made his fortune in the precious metals industry,...
, owner of the great Nijinsky
Nijinsky II
The racehorse Nijinsky was one of the greatest horses in Thoroughbred horse-racing history. He won the U.K. Triple Crown of racing. Retired to stud he became the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland and the Leading broodmare sire in North America.He was bred at E. P...
, Halo raced under his Cragwood Stable banner. After having little success at age two racing on dirt tracks, in his three-year-old campaign his U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
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...
MacKenzie Miller
MacKenzie Miller
Mackenzie Todd Miller was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer and owner/breeder. During his forty-six year career, he conditioned seventy-two stakes winners, including four Eclipse Award champions....
switched him to racing on turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
, where he achieved better results. Although never a superstar horse, Halo raced for four years and in 1974, at age five, won the Grade I
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...
United Nations Handicap
United Nations Handicap
The United Nations Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in July at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey. The race is open to horses, age three and up, going one and three-eighths miles on the turf. A Grade I event, it currently offers a purse of $750,000...
.
A Champion sire
After retiring from racing, in 1975 Halo was sent to stand at studHorse 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 the Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
division of Windfields Farm
Windfields Farm
Windfields Farm is a six square kilometre thoroughbred horse breeding farm founded by businessman E. P. Taylor in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. The first stable and breeding operation of E. P. Taylor originated with a property near the city of Toronto known as Parkwood Stable when it was owned by...
, where his progeny included Sunny's Halo
Sunny's Halo
Sunny's Halo was a Thoroughbred racehorse who became only the second Canadian-bred to win the Kentucky Derby and who as of 2006 is the all-time leading sire by progeny earnings in the state of Texas....
and, through his mating with the mare Ballade, Devil's Bag
Devil's Bag
Devil's Bag was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse who was syndicated as a two-year-old for US$36 million, the highest price for any 2-year-old in racing history.Bred by Canadian E. P...
, Glorious Song
Glorious Song
Glorious Song was a Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse who was a Champion in Canada and the United States and became an important broodmare. Bred by the prominent horseman E. P. Taylor at his Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario, she was sired by Halo and out of the mare Ballade, who also produced...
, and Saint Ballado
Saint Ballado
Saint Ballado was a thoroughbred racehorse born 1989 who later became a Leading North American Sire. Being the son of the Halo, sire of the great racer and sire Sunday Silence, and out of the Herbager mare Ballade, dam of Canadian Horse of the Year Glorious Song and Champion Two-Year-Old Devil's...
. In 1984, new majority owners moved Halo to stand at Arthur B. Hancock III's
Arthur B. Hancock III
Arthur Boyd Hancock III is an American owner of Thoroughbred racehorses, the owner of Stone Farm, a 2,000 acre horse breeding operation in Paris, Kentucky, and a composer of Bluegrass music....
Stone Farm
Stone Farm
Stone Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding farm in Paris, Kentucky. It was founded in 1970 by Arthur B. Hancock III, part of the prominent Hancock family of Claiborne Farm fame....
in Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
, where he continued to produce notable offspring, the star of which was Sunday Silence
Sunday Silence
Sunday Silence was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, earning distinction as 1989 American Horse of the Year over American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse Easy Goer. He was foaled in 1986, sired by Halo out of Wishing Well by Understanding. Though he was registered as a dark bay/brown, he was in...
. In all, Halo sired seven champions and 62 stakes winners including two Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
winners. Twice, he was the leading sire in North America
Leading sire in North America
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the year...
.
Halo was pensioned in 1997 and died at Stone Farm in 2000 at age thirty-one.
Offspring
Halo was the sire of:- Sunny's HaloSunny's HaloSunny's Halo was a Thoroughbred racehorse who became only the second Canadian-bred to win the Kentucky Derby and who as of 2006 is the all-time leading sire by progeny earnings in the state of Texas....
- won 1983 Kentucky DerbyKentucky DerbyThe Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry... - Sunday SilenceSunday SilenceSunday Silence was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, earning distinction as 1989 American Horse of the Year over American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse Easy Goer. He was foaled in 1986, sired by Halo out of Wishing Well by Understanding. Though he was registered as a dark bay/brown, he was in...
- won 1989 Kentucky Derby, Preakness StakesPreakness StakesThe Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
, Breeders' Cup ClassicBreeders' Cup ClassicThe Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
. The U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee is the most successful sire in the world by progeny earnings - Devil's BagDevil's BagDevil's Bag was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse who was syndicated as a two-year-old for US$36 million, the highest price for any 2-year-old in racing history.Bred by Canadian E. P...
- won Champagne Stakes, Laurel FuturityLaurel FuturityThe Laurel Futurity is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. Run over a distance of 1 1/16 miles on turf, at one time it was a Grade I stakes race on dirt, and one of the richest and most important races for two-year-old...
, voted 1983 U.S. Champion 2-Year-Old ColtEclipse Award for Outstanding 2-Year-Old Male HorseThe American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971.... - Glorious SongGlorious SongGlorious Song was a Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse who was a Champion in Canada and the United States and became an important broodmare. Bred by the prominent horseman E. P. Taylor at his Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario, she was sired by Halo and out of the mare Ballade, who also produced...
- 1980 & 1981 Canadian Champion Older Female HorseSovereign Award for Champion Older Female HorseThe Canadian Champion Older Female Horse is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honor created in 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada. It is part of the Sovereign Awards program and is awarded annually to the top Thoroughbred Filly four years of age and older competing in Canada.Past winners:...
, 1980 United States Champion Older Female HorseEclipse Award for Outstanding Older Female HorseThe Eclipse Award for Champion Older Female Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. The Daily Racing Form began naming an annual champion in 1936. Starting in 1950, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations began naming its own champion. The following list provides the name of the horses...
, 1980 Canadian Horse of the YearSovereign Award for Horse of the YearThe Canadian Horse of the Year is a thoroughbred horse racing honor given annually since 1951 by the Jockey Club of Canada. It is the most prestigious honor in Canadian thoroughbred horse racing.... - Saint BalladoSaint BalladoSaint Ballado was a thoroughbred racehorse born 1989 who later became a Leading North American Sire. Being the son of the Halo, sire of the great racer and sire Sunday Silence, and out of the Herbager mare Ballade, dam of Canadian Horse of the Year Glorious Song and Champion Two-Year-Old Devil's...
- won 1992 Arlington Classic Stakes, sire of Saint LiamSaint LiamSaint Liam was an American thoroughbred racehorse who was voted 2005 Eclipse Award Horse of the Year honors....
and AshadoAshadoAshado is American Thoroughbred mare racehorse. Highly successful in racing, she is a two-time Eclipse Award winner. At the end of the 2005 racing season her owner group, which included trainer Todd Pletcher, Paul Saylor, Johns Martin, and Mr. & Mrs... - Goodbye Halo - filly won six Grade I stakes, earned in excess of $1.7 million
- Jolie's Halo - won three Grade I stakes, equaled track record in winning the Philip H. Iselin HandicapPhilip H. Iselin HandicapThe Philip H. Iselin Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Open to horses three years of age and older, the race was first run in 1884...
, earned in excess of $1.2 million - Lively One - won Grade I Swaps StakesSwaps StakesThe Swaps Stakes is a race for Thoroughbred horses run annually at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. The race is open to three-year-old horses willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt. A Grade II event, it carries a purse of $350,000.Run in mid July, this race is...
, earned in excess of $1.5 million - Present Value - multiple stakes winner, earned in excess of $1.1 million
- Southern Halo - Leading Sire in Argentina for eleven years, sire of 170 stakes winners.
Grandsire of:
- Answer LivelyAnswer LivelyAnswer Lively was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse owned and bred by John Franks, a Louisiana oilman and winner of a record four Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Owner....
- 1998 U.S. Champion 2-Year-Old ColtEclipse Award for Outstanding 2-Year-Old Male HorseThe American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971.... - AshadoAshadoAshado is American Thoroughbred mare racehorse. Highly successful in racing, she is a two-time Eclipse Award winner. At the end of the 2005 racing season her owner group, which included trainer Todd Pletcher, Paul Saylor, Johns Martin, and Mr. & Mrs...
- Kentucky OaksKentucky OaksThe Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
, Breeders' Cup DistaffBreeders' Cup DistaffThe Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Known as the Breeders' Cup Distaff from its inception in 1984 through 2007, it is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders'...
winner, 2004 U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old fillyEclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old FillyThe American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a female horse in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971....
, 2005 U.S. Champion Older Female HorseEclipse Award for Outstanding Older Female HorseThe Eclipse Award for Champion Older Female Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. The Daily Racing Form began naming an annual champion in 1936. Starting in 1950, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations began naming its own champion. The following list provides the name of the horses... - Deep Impact - won 2005 Japanese Triple Crown, Japan Horse of the Year (2005, 2006)
- Devil His DueDevil His DueDevil His Due was multimillionaire American Thoroughbred racehorse and successful sire. Bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum and raced under the Blue Ribbon Farm banner, he had a record of 41: 11-12-3 with career earnings of $3,920,405. At the time of his retirement he was fourth on the all time...
- multiple Grade I stakes winner, earned in excess of $3.9 million - Heart's Cry - won the Dubai Sheema ClassicDubai Sheema ClassicThe Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in...
and Arima KinenArima KinenThe Arima Kinen is a Grade I flat horse race in Japan open to Thoroughbreds which are three-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,500 metres at Nakayama Racecourse, and it takes place annually in late December... - Saint LiamSaint LiamSaint Liam was an American thoroughbred racehorse who was voted 2005 Eclipse Award Horse of the Year honors....
- won Breeders' Cup ClassicBreeders' Cup ClassicThe Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
, 2005 U.S. Horse of the YearEclipse Award for Horse of the YearThe American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding.... - Taiki ShuttleTaiki ShuttleTaiki Shuttle is a Japanese Thoroughbred race horse who was voted Japanese Horse of the Year in 1998. He was bred and owned by Taiki Farm and trained by Kazuo Fujisawa....
- 1998 Japan Horse of the Year - Zenno Rob Roy - Multiple Grade I winner, 2004 Japan Horse of the Year
Damsire of:
- Coup de Genie - multiple Group I winner, 1993 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in France
- Machiavellian - 1989 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in France
- Pine BluffPine Bluff (horse)Pine Bluff was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by John Ed Anthony's Loblolly Stable, he was a son of Danzig and grandson of the 20th Century's most important sire, Northern Dancer...
- winner of the 1992 Arkansas DerbyArkansas DerbyThe Arkansas Derby is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt....
and Preakness StakesPreakness StakesThe Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb... - RahyRahyRahy was an Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in England and the United States. Bred by Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Lexington, he was a son of the very important sire Blushing Groom and out of the Eclipse Award winner and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame mare, Glorious Song.Rahy was purchased as a...
- sired Champions Fantastic LightFantastic LightFantastic Light is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He was foaled in the United States but was trained in England and Dubai during his racing career, which ran from August 1998 to his retirement following the Breeders' Cup Turf on October 2001...
, Serena's SongSerena's SongSerena’s Song is an American Thoroughbred race horse. She won 17 graded stakes races, including 11 Grade I , in three seasons for $3,286,388 in earnings....
and was the Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & IrelandLeading broodmare sire in Great Britain & IrelandThe list below shows the leading sire of broodmares in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1899. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won during the year by racehorses which were foaled by a daughter of the sire.-----References:*... - SingspielSingspiel (horse)Singspiel was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. The Bay horse was out of the Eclipse Award winner and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame mare, Glorious Song...
- won Canadian International StakesCanadian International StakesThe Canadian International Stakes is a $2 million Grade I Canadian stakes race on Turf for thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and up held annually in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario....
and Japan CupJapan CupThe is the most prestigious horse race run in Japan. It is contested at the end of November at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters over the grass. With a purse of ¥476 million , the Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world.The Japan Cup is an invitational event...
(1996), Dubai World CupDubai World CupThe Dubai World Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1996 and from 2010 at the Meydan Racecourse in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
(1997). Voted 1996 U.S. Champion Male Turf HorseEclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf HorseThe American Champion Male Turf Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. In 1971 it became part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to a Colt or Gelding, regardless of age, for their performance on grass race courses....