Red Ransom
Encyclopedia
Red Ransom is an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. In his 2006 book Designing Speed in the Racehorse, author Ken McLean wrote that Red Ransom "was a sensationally fast juvenile."
Bred by Paul Mellon
and raced under his Rokeby Stables
banner, he was sired by the 1972 Epsom Derby
winner, Roberto
. His dam was Arabia, a daughter of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee, Damascus
.
Conditioned for racing by Hall of Fame trainer, MacKenzie Miller
, on August 3, 1989 the two-year-old Red Ransom won his debut race while setting a new Saratoga Race Course
record for five furlongs. He made his second start in early September at Belmont Park
, scoring another win in a six furlong allowance race. However, the colt suffered an injury to a shin that kept him out of racing until early March 1990.
Considered a strong contender for the 1990 U.S. Triple Crown series, Red Ransom made his return with a second-place finish at Florida's
Gulfstream Park
. Six days later while training he suffered a torn tendon sheath that ended his racing career.
for the 1991 season, Red Ransom stood in the United States until 1999 when owner Paul Mellon died and he was sold to a breeding syndicate. The horse was sent to stand at stud in Australia
and as at 2008 stands at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, England
.
During his stud career to date, Red Ransom has sired more than seventy stakes winners including:
In addition, Red Ransom sired millionaires Charge Forward (Australia), Ekraar (England), plus two in Japan
, Juno Pentagon and Roc de Cambes. He died in 2009 after undergoing surgery.
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...
. In his 2006 book Designing Speed in the Racehorse, author Ken McLean wrote that Red Ransom "was a sensationally fast juvenile."
Bred by Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon KBE was an American philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
and raced under his Rokeby Stables
Rokeby Stables
Rokeby Stables was an American thoroughbred racehorse breeding farm in Upperville, Virginia involved with both steeplechase and flat racing. The operation was established in the late 1940s by Paul Mellon who won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder in 1971 and again in 1986...
banner, he was sired by the 1972 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...
winner, Roberto
Roberto (horse)
Roberto was an American-bred Thoroughbred Champion racehorse who competed in Ireland and England.-Background:Roberto was bred by Galbreath at his Darby Dan Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. The son of the successful sire Hail To Reason out of the dam Bramalea, Roberto's grandsire was Turn-To, a...
. His dam was Arabia, a daughter of 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...
inductee, Damascus
Damascus (horse)
Damascus was a thoroughbred race horse sired by Sword Dancer out of Kerala foaled at the Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky...
.
Conditioned for racing by Hall of Fame trainer, 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....
, on August 3, 1989 the two-year-old Red Ransom won his debut race while setting a new Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
record for five furlongs. He made his second start in early September at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
, scoring another win in a six furlong allowance race. However, the colt suffered an injury to a shin that kept him out of racing until early March 1990.
Considered a strong contender for the 1990 U.S. Triple Crown series, Red Ransom made his return with a second-place finish at Florida's
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
. Six days later while training he suffered a torn tendon sheath that ended his racing career.
As a sire
Retired to studStud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
for the 1991 season, Red Ransom stood in the United States until 1999 when owner Paul Mellon died and he was sold to a breeding syndicate. The horse was sent to stand at stud in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and as at 2008 stands at Dalham Hall Stud 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...
.
During his stud career to date, Red Ransom has sired more than seventy stakes winners including:
- Casual LookCasual LookCasual Look was the winning racehorse in the Epsom Oaks in 2003. Owned and bred by William S. Farish III, she was out of the mare Style Setter, a daughter of Manila, the 1986 Breeders' Cup Turf winner and that year's American Champion Male Turf Horse. Her sire was Red Ransom whose career ended...
- winner of the 2003 British Classic, the Epsom OaksEpsom OaksThe Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. 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 early June.... - ElectrocutionistElectrocutionistElectrocutionist was a Thoroughbred racehorse. Electrocutionist won eight of his 12 career starts, including three Grade I's, and won more than $5.6 million. Racing four times for the operation based in both Dubai and Newmarket, he was scheduled to participate in the Emirates Airline Champion...
- won three Group OneGroup OneGroup 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...
races: Gran Premio di MilanoGran Premio di MilanoThe 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....
(2005), Juddmonte InternationalInternational StakesThe International Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
(2005) and 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...
(2006) with career earnings of £3,160,432 - Perfect StingPerfect StingPerfect Sting is an American Thoroughbred Championracehorse and broodmare. Bred by Frank Stronach's Adena Springs Farm and raced by his Stronach Stables, she was sired by Red Ransom and out of the mare Valid Victress....
- winner of the 2000 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfThe Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for fillies and mares, three years old and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.... - Typhoon TracyTyphoon TracyTyphoon Tracy is an outstanding Australian Thoroughbred racemare who has won six group one races and was crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year for 2009/10.-Breeding:...
, won six group one (G1) races and Australian Racehorse of the Year for 2009/10.
In addition, Red Ransom sired millionaires Charge Forward (Australia), Ekraar (England), plus two in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Juno Pentagon and Roc de Cambes. He died in 2009 after undergoing surgery.