Nearco
Encyclopedia
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 (1,000m) to 1 mile 7 furlongs (3,000m), but also the patriarch of the most dominant sire line in Thoroughbred history.
, who also bred Ribot
, Nearco was sired by Pharos
out of Nogara by Havresac II. Nogara was a good racemare and bred eight good winners from her eight foals, including Niccolo Dell'Arca and Nakamuro. He was inbred twice in the fourth generation and twice again in the fifth generation of his pedigree to the great St. Simon
.
September 1937 Premio Menaggio San Siro - WON
September 1937 Premio Vimercate San Siro - WON
September 1937 Criterium Nazionale San Siro - WON
October 1937 Gran Criterium
San Siro - WON
October 1937 Premio Tevere Capannelle - WON
November 1937 Premio Chiusura
San Siro - WON
April 1938 Premio Parioli
(Italian 2000 Guineas) Capannelle - WON
May 1938 Premio Principe Emanuele Filliberto San Siro - WON
May 1938 Gran Premio del Re (Derby Italiano
) Capannelle - WON
May 1938 Gran Premio d'Italia
San Siro - WON
June 1938 Gran Premio di Milano
San Siro - WON
June 1938 Grand Prix de Paris
Longchamp - WON
aligning Italy with Germany
, in 1938 Federico Tesio sold Nearco to Martin H. Benson of Beech House Stud
in Newmarket, England
for £60,000 (a world-record for a sire in those days). The potential importance of Nearco's progency was forecast in the provision of a bomb shelter to ensure Nearco's survival should London be subject to an air raid. Nearco's legacy primarily comes from three of his sons: Nasrullah, Nearctic
and Royal Charger
. His other sons included Dante
, winner of the 1945 Epsom Derby
; Sayajirao
, winner of the 1947 St. Leger Stakes
; and Nimbus
, who won the Epsom Derby and 2,000 Guineas in 1949. In all, more than 100 of Nearco's sons have stood at stud around the world, which is a world record, apart from St Simon.
Nearco was also the damsire of the French multiple Group One winner Charlottesville, and damsire of the Epsom Derby winners Artic Prince (1948) and Tulyar
(1952).
He was an outstandingly prepotent sire, eclipsed only by his grandson Northern Dancer
. In England, Nearco sired the winners of 657½ races worth ₤501,665. He was 1st on the Sires List three times, 2nd once, 3rd twice, 4th four times and 5th once.
Some of Nearco's descendants were ranked among the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century
by The Blood-Horse magazine
: #2 Secretariat
, #9 Seattle Slew
, #19 Bold Ruler
, #24 Nashua
, #35 Ruffian
, (Ruffian was undefeated in 10 starts, setting new stakes records and track records in all of her races, under hand rides, she won her maiden by 15 lengths in record time, she is the 1st female on the top 100 list) #43 Northern Dancer
, and #86 Fort Marcy
. Other notable descendants were Ballymoss
, Shergar
, Arkle
, Never Say Die
, Mr. Prospector
, Nasrullah, Nijinsky II
(winner of the UK Triple Crown), Royal Palace
, Better Loosen Up
, Sir Ivor
, and Invasor
. Sireline descendants of Nearco include eight of the nine horses to earn over $10,000,000 in stakes wins. These horses are Deep Impact, Makybe Diva
, Narita Brian
, Sunline
, Symboli Kris S
, T M Opera O
, Viva Pataca
and Vodka
.
Nearco died from cancer
on 27 June 1957
and was buried at Beech House Stud.
According to France Galop
, from 1985 through to 2010 every Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
winner can trace a blood-line back to Nearco, his son Nasrullah, and his grandson Northern Dancer
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
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 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 (1,000m) to 1 mile 7 furlongs (3,000m), but also the patriarch of the most dominant sire line in Thoroughbred history.
Breeding
Bred by Federico TesioFederico Tesio
Federico Tesio was an Italian statesman and one of the most important breeders of Thoroughbreds in the history of horse racing.Born in Turin, Federico Tesio obtained a degree in science and architecture...
, who also bred Ribot
Ribot (horse)
Ribot was an Italian bay Thoroughbred racehorse, considered the strongest horse of all time.Undefeated in 16 races, he won over distances ranging from 5 furlongs to 1m 7f , in three different countries and in all types of track conditions...
, Nearco was sired by Pharos
Pharos (horse)
Pharos was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse and a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland.-Pedigree:Bred and raced by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, he was a brother to the stakeswinners, Fair Isle and Fairway who won 31 races and ₤71,635 between them...
out of Nogara by Havresac II. Nogara was a good racemare and bred eight good winners from her eight foals, including Niccolo Dell'Arca and Nakamuro. He was inbred twice in the fourth generation and twice again in the fifth generation of his pedigree to the great St. Simon
St. Simon (horse)
St. Simon was an undefeated British Thoroughbred racehorse and one of the most successful sires in the history of the Thoroughbred. In May 1886 The Sporting Times carried out a poll of one hundred experts to create a ranking of the best British racehorses of the 19th Century. St...
.
Two year old season
June 1937 Premio Colico San Siro - WONSeptember 1937 Premio Menaggio San Siro - WON
September 1937 Premio Vimercate San Siro - WON
September 1937 Criterium Nazionale San Siro - WON
October 1937 Gran Criterium
Gran Criterium
The Gran Criterium is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at San Siro, Milan, over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October....
San Siro - WON
October 1937 Premio Tevere Capannelle - WON
November 1937 Premio Chiusura
Premio Chiusura
The Premio Chiusura is a Group 3 flat horse race in Italy which is open to thoroughbreds aged two years or older. It is run at San Siro, Milan, over a distance of 1,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October or early November.-Winners since 1988:-References:* Racing...
San Siro - WON
Three year old season
February 1938 Premio Ministero Agricoltura e Foreste Pisa - WONApril 1938 Premio Parioli
Premio Parioli
The Premio Parioli, sometimes referred to as the Italian 2,000 Guineas, is a Group 3 flat horse race in Italy which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run at Capannelle, Rome, over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April.The event was...
(Italian 2000 Guineas) Capannelle - WON
May 1938 Premio Principe Emanuele Filliberto San Siro - WON
May 1938 Gran Premio del Re (Derby Italiano
Derby Italiano
The Derby Italiano is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Capannelle over a distance of 2,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
) Capannelle - WON
May 1938 Gran Premio d'Italia
Gran Premio d'Italia
The Gran Premio d'Italia is a Listed flat horse race in Italy which is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at San Siro, Milan, over a distance of 2,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
San Siro - WON
June 1938 Gran Premio di Milano
Gran Premio di Milano
The Gran Premio di Milano is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Milan over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
San Siro - WON
June 1938 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:...
Longchamp - WON
Stud career
Nearco retired undefeated after fourteen races. With the political turmoil and the possibility of war caused by Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
aligning Italy with Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, in 1938 Federico Tesio sold Nearco to Martin H. Benson of Beech House Stud
Beech House Stud
Beech House Stud is an English Thoroughbred racehorse breeding farm located on Cheveley Road near Newmarket, Suffolk currently owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Shadwell Racing operation....
in Newmarket, 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...
for £60,000 (a world-record for a sire in those days). The potential importance of Nearco's progency was forecast in the provision of a bomb shelter to ensure Nearco's survival should London be subject to an air raid. Nearco's legacy primarily comes from three of his sons: Nasrullah, 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...
and Royal Charger
Royal Charger
Royal Charger was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who was successful in racing but even more so as a sire. He was the son of the very important sire Nearco.-Racing career:As a three-year-old, Royal Charger finished third in the 2000 Guineas...
. His other sons included Dante
Dante (horse)
Dante was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who was the last horse trained in northern England to win the English Derby. He was sired by Nearco, the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland in 1947 and 1949, and one of the most important sires of the 20th century...
, winner of the 1945 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...
; Sayajirao
Sayajirao
Sayajirao was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. A full brother to 1945 Epsom Derby winner, Dante, he was out of the mare Rosy Legend and sired by the great Nearco who is described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important...
, winner of the 1947 St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
; and Nimbus
Nimbus V
Nimbus was a British Thoroughbred racehorse.-Background:One of several horses named Nimbus, he is designated as Nimbus "V" in accordance with his birth year. He was bred by William Hill who would go on to win the St. Leger Stakes in 1959 with Cantelo...
, who won the Epsom Derby and 2,000 Guineas in 1949. In all, more than 100 of Nearco's sons have stood at stud around the world, which is a world record, apart from St Simon.
Nearco was also the damsire of the French multiple Group One winner Charlottesville, and damsire of the Epsom Derby winners Artic Prince (1948) and Tulyar
Tulyar (horse)
Tulyar was an Irish bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the Epsom Derby, the St. Leger Stakes, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Ormonde Stakes and the Eclipse Stakes setting a record for a single season's earnings in England...
(1952).
He was an outstandingly prepotent sire, eclipsed only by his grandson 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"....
. In England, Nearco sired the winners of 657½ races worth ₤501,665. He was 1st on the Sires List three times, 2nd once, 3rd twice, 4th four times and 5th once.
Some of Nearco's descendants were ranked among the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century
Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century
In 1999, a panel for The Blood-Horse magazine was made up of distinguished horse racing people: Howard Battle, Lenny Hale, Jay Hovdey, William Nack, Pete Pedersen, Jennie Rees and Tommy Trotter. These experts compiled a list of what they considered to be the top 100 United States thoroughbred...
by The Blood-Horse magazine
The Blood-Horse magazine
The Blood-Horse is an international weekly news magazine about Thoroughbred horses, horse breeding, and horseracing. It was founded in 1916, the oldest continually published North American Thoroughbred magazine. The magazine is based in Lexington, Kentucky, the Horse Capital of the World...
: #2 Secretariat
Secretariat (horse)
Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby , and the Belmont Stakes —records that still stand today.Secretariat was sired by Bold...
, #9 Seattle Slew
Seattle Slew
Seattle Slew was an American Thoroughbred race horse who won the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1977, the tenth of eleven horses to accomplish the feat. He remains the only horse to win the Triple Crown while undefeated. In the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S...
, #19 Bold Ruler
Bold Ruler
Bold Ruler was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse.Bred by the Wheatley Stable of Gladys Mills Phipps, Bold Ruler was foaled on April 6, 1954 at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky to Nasrullah and Miss Disco by Discovery...
, #24 Nashua
Nashua (horse)
Nashua was an American-born thoroughbred racehorse, perhaps best remembered for a 1955 match race against the horse that had defeated him in the Kentucky Derby.Nashua's sire was the good, but temperamental, European champion Nasrullah...
, #35 Ruffian
Ruffian (horse)
Ruffian was an American champion thoroughbred racehorse. Ruffian is considered by many to be the greatest female racehorse in history. Ruffian is among the greatest U.S. racehorses of all time. Her story was told in 2007 film Ruffian.- Career :An almost coal black filly of 16 and a half hands,...
, (Ruffian was undefeated in 10 starts, setting new stakes records and track records in all of her races, under hand rides, she won her maiden by 15 lengths in record time, she is the 1st female on the top 100 list) #43 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"....
, and #86 Fort Marcy
Fort Marcy (horse)
Fort Marcy was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. His grandsire was the important Italian horse, Nearco. In 1970 he earned three Champion titles including Co-Horse of the Year honors. He competed for six years until his retirement at the end of the 1971 racing season.Fort Marcy died in 1991 at...
. Other notable descendants were Ballymoss
Ballymoss
Ballymoss was an Irish Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. The son of Mossborough, his grandsire was the extremely important Nearco. Out of the mare Indian call, the damsire of Ballymoss was Singapore whose sire was the 1918 U.K. Triple Crown winner Gainsborough.Ballymoss was sold by his breeder at...
, Shergar
Shergar
Shergar was an acclaimed Irish racehorse, and winner of the 1981 Epsom Derby by a record 10 lengths, the longest winning margin in the race's 226-year history. This victory earned him a spot in The Observer newspaper's 100 Most Memorable Sporting Moments of the Twentieth Century...
, Arkle
Arkle
Arkle was a famous Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. A bay gelding by Archive out of Bright Cherry, his grandsire was the unbeaten flat racehorse and prepotent sire Nearco. Arkle was bred at Ballymacoll Stud, County Meath by Mrs. Mary Alison Baker of Malahow House, near Naul, County Dublin...
, Never Say Die
Never Say Die (horse)
Never Say Die was a Thoroughbred racehorse foaled at Jonabell Farm in the United States and trained in Great Britain who won the Epsom Derby in 1954....
, Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
, Nasrullah, Nijinsky II
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...
(winner of the UK Triple Crown), Royal Palace
Royal Palace (horse)
Royal Palace was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In 1967 he won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby...
, Better Loosen Up
Better Loosen Up
Better Loosen Up was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Japan Cup in 1990 and was named Australia's champion racehorse in 1991. He campaigned from two to seven years of age, and won 17 of his 45 starts, including eight Group One races...
, Sir Ivor
Sir Ivor
Sir Ivor was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed from a base in Ireland. Owned by American businessman and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Raymond R...
, and Invasor
Invasor (horse)
Invasor is a Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Argentina by Haras Clausan. The winner of the 2005 Triple Crown in Uruguay, he was later purchased by Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum who paid approximately USD 1.4 million for the horse...
. Sireline descendants of Nearco include eight of the nine horses to earn over $10,000,000 in stakes wins. These horses are Deep Impact, Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings...
, Narita Brian
Narita Brian
Narita Brian was a Japanese racehorse, sired by Brian's Time, dammed by Pacificus, who in turn was the daughter of Northern Dancer....
, Sunline
Sunline
Sunline was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the world's highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She won successive...
, Symboli Kris S
Symboli Kris S
Symboli Kris S is a retired Japanese Thoroughbred race horse. He was voted Japanese Horse of the Year in 2002 and 2003. He was retired at the end of 2003 and was syndicated for $15-million. He stands at stud at Shadai Stallion Station on the island of Hokkaido in Japan.-References:**...
, T M Opera O
T M Opera O
T M Opera O was a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse, sired by Opera House, a son of Sadler's Wells, out of Once Wed, a daughter of Blushing Groom. T.M. Opera O was inducted into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 2004.T.M. Opera O was the world's all-time leading money-earner...
, Viva Pataca
Viva Pataca
Viva Pataca is a Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by the Dukes of Devonshire and Roxburghe, he was out of the mare Comic and sired by English Group One winner, Marju...
and Vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
.
Nearco died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on 27 June 1957
1957 in sports
1957 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* NFL Championship – Detroit Lions won 59-14 over the Cleveland Browns.*College football champions Auburn University-Association football:...
and was buried at Beech House Stud.
According to France Galop
France Galop
France Galop is the governing body of flat and steeplechase horse racing in France. It was founded on May 3, 1995 as the result of the amalgamation of four different industry organizations...
, from 1985 through to 2010 every 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...
winner can trace a blood-line back to Nearco, his son Nasrullah, and his grandson 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"....
.