Natalma
Encyclopedia
Natalma was an American
-bred Thoroughbred
racehorse
best known as the Blue Hen Dam of the most important sire, and sire of sires, of the 20th Century, Northern Dancer
. Bred in Virginia
, she was purchased by Canadian business mogul E. P. Taylor
at the Saratoga, New York
yearling sales for $35,000.
Natalma won the 1959 Spinaway Stakes
but was disqualified and set back to third place. While in training for the 1960 Kentucky Oaks
she suffered a chipped bone in a knee and had to be retired from racing. Although late in the breeding season, she was sent to her owner's Windfields Farm
in Oshawa, Ontario
, Canada
to be bred to Nearctic
. That late pairing resulted in Northern Dancer being born on May 27, 1961. Natalma was bred to Nearctic two more times but a 1965 filly died as a yearling and their 1973 twins, a colt and a filly, both died. However, Natalma did produce stakes
winners Native Victor, Regal Dancer and Born A Lady, as well as four other stakes placed horses and notable producers, Raise the Standard, Arctic Dancer (dam of La Prevoyante
), and Spring Adieu (granddam of champion stallion Danehill
).
Natalma was humanely euthanized
on January 29, 1985 at the Windfields Farm satellite operation in Maryland
(now the Northview Stallion Station) after unsuccessful treatment for colic
. She was buried in the farm's equine cemetery.
In 2007, Natalma's contribution to the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing was recognized through her induction in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-bred 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...
best known as the Blue Hen Dam of the most important sire, and sire of sires, of the 20th Century, Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
. Bred in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, she was purchased by Canadian business mogul E. P. Taylor
E. P. Taylor
Edward Plunket Taylor was a Canadian business tycoon and famous breeder of thoroughbred race horses. Known to his friends as "Eddie", he is universally recorded as "E. P...
at the Saratoga, New York
Saratoga, New York
Saratoga is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,141 at the 2000 census. It is also the commonly used, but not official, name for the neighboring and much more populous city, Saratoga Springs. The major village in the town of Saratoga is Schuylerville which is...
yearling sales for $35,000.
Natalma won the 1959 Spinaway Stakes
Spinaway Stakes
The Spinaway Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to two-year-old fillies, it is a Grade I event contested at a distance of seven furlongs on dirt...
but was disqualified and set back to third place. While in training for the 1960 Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Oaks
The 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...
she suffered a chipped bone in a knee and had to be retired from racing. Although late in the breeding season, she was sent to her owner's 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...
in Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to be bred to Nearctic
Nearctic (horse)
Nearctic was an Canadian-bred Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by E. P. Taylor, he was out of the Irish mare Lady Angela, a daughter of the British Champion sire Hyperion...
. That late pairing resulted in Northern Dancer being born on May 27, 1961. Natalma was bred to Nearctic two more times but a 1965 filly died as a yearling and their 1973 twins, a colt and a filly, both died. However, Natalma did produce stakes
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 Native Victor, Regal Dancer and Born A Lady, as well as four other stakes placed horses and notable producers, Raise the Standard, Arctic Dancer (dam of La Prevoyante
La Prevoyante
La Prevoyante was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred race horse elected to the Racing Halls of Fame in the United States and Canada. A filly, she was bred and owned by Jean-Louis Lévesque...
), and Spring Adieu (granddam of champion stallion Danehill
Danehill (horse)
Danehill was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was bred in the United States. During his phenomenal stud career Danehill became a champion sire on both sides of the Equator...
).
Natalma was humanely euthanized
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
on January 29, 1985 at the Windfields Farm satellite operation in 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...
(now the Northview Stallion Station) after unsuccessful treatment for colic
Colic
Colic is a form of pain which starts and stops abruptly. Types include:*Baby colic, a condition, usually in infants, characterized by incessant crying*Renal colic, a pain in the flank, characteristic of kidney stones...
. She was buried in the farm's equine cemetery.
In 2007, Natalma's contribution to the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing was recognized through her induction in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was established in 1976 at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario to honor those who have made a significant contribution to the sport of harness and thoroughbred horse racing in Canada....
.