Royal Anthem (horse)
Encyclopedia
Royal Anthem is a retired Thoroughbred
racehorse
and active sire bred in the United States
.
, Royal Anthem's grandsire was Nureyev
and his damsire was U.S. Hall of Famer
Ack Ack
.
Purchased by The Thoroughbred Corp.
, he first raced from a base in England
, where he was trained by Henry Cecil
and ridden by jockey
Kieren Fallon
.
at Ascot Racecourse
. After finishing third behind winner Swain
in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the highlight of Royal Anthem's year was a victory at Woodbine Racetrack
in Toronto
, Canada
. Ridden by American jockey Gary Stevens, the colt beat defending champion and future Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
inductee Chief Bearhart
in the Canadian International Stakes
after which he was sent to Churchill Downs
in Kentucky
to compete in the 1998 Breeders' Cup Turf
. The betting favorite with U.K. bookmaker
s, six days before the race his trainer revealed that Royal Anthem was "hopping lame." Over the next few days the horse appeared to get better but in the end apparently was not and finished 7th in the race.
to Daylami
, a five-year-old who would be his nemesis for the rest of the year. He finished second again in the Hardwicke Stakes
after which his handlers brought American jockey Gary Stevens to ride him in the Juddmonte International Stakes
. Following an impressive eight-length win, Royal Anthem was being hailed by some in the United Kingdom as 'the best in the world'. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60175075.html However, in his next outing, he finished fifth to winner Daylami in the Irish Champion Stakes
and second to Daylami again in the 1999 Breeders' Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park
in Florida
.
where his conditioning was taken over by U.S. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott who had trained Royal Anthem's sire
, Theatrical. In February 2000, the horse made his first start for Bill Mott with a win in the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap
under jockey Jerry Bailey. He was scheduled to compete in the March 25th Dubai Sheema Classic
at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
but a swollen tendon
in his left foreleg prevented him from competing and would end his racing career.
at Hopewell Farm in Midway, Kentucky
. He now stands at stud at Tullogher House Stud in Kilkenny, Ireland as a successful dual purpose sire.
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 active sire bred in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Background
A son of TheatricalTheatrical (horse)
Theatrical is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1987 Breeders' Cup Turf and is a successful sire.A son of Nureyev, who in turn was sired by Northern Dancer, out of the mare Tree Of Knowledge who won the 1974 Hollywood Gold Cup, Theatrical was bred by Bertram & Diana Firestone at...
, Royal Anthem's grandsire was Nureyev
Nureyev (horse)
Nureyev was a Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and champion sire. As a racehorse he was best known as the disqualified "winner" of the 2000 Guineas in 1980.-Background:...
and his damsire was U.S. Hall of Famer
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...
Ack Ack
Ack Ack (horse)
Ack Ack was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. He raced with success at age two to four, scoring wins in the important 1969 Withers Stakes and Arlington Classic. In 1971 at age five, Ack Ack blossomed into the year's most dominant horse...
.
Purchased by The Thoroughbred Corp.
The Thoroughbred Corp.
The Thoroughbred Corporation is a Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operation established in 1994 by principal partner Prince Ahmed bin Salman of the Saudi Arabian royal family...
, he first raced from a base in England
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where he was trained by Henry Cecil
Henry Cecil
Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes....
and ridden by jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
Kieren Fallon
Kieren Fallon
Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times....
.
1998: Three-year-old season
Royal Anthem began racing at age three. He won the first two races he entered and went on to capture the 1998 King Edward VII StakesKing Edward VII Stakes
The King Edward VII Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
at Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
. After finishing third behind winner Swain
Swain (horse)
Swain is a European Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Ireland. From the mare Love Smitten, he was sired by Nashwan. His grandsire was Blushing Groom, a son of Nasrullah from Nearco. His damsire Key To The Mint, a son of Graustark, was the 1972 U.S...
in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the highlight of Royal Anthem's year was a victory at Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack is a Canadian racetrack for Thoroughbred horse races located at 555 Rexdale Blvd. in the city of Toronto, Ontario. It is the only horseracing track in North America which stages, or is capable of staging, thoroughbred and standardbred horseracing programs on the same day...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, 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...
. Ridden by American jockey Gary Stevens, the colt beat defending champion and future 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....
inductee Chief Bearhart
Chief Bearhart
Chief Bearhart is a retired Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. A turf specialist, he won six Sovereign Awards and was voted American Champion Male Turf Horse for 1997.-Background:...
in the Canadian International Stakes
Canadian International Stakes
The 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....
after which he was sent to Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
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...
to compete in the 1998 Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
. The betting favorite with U.K. bookmaker
Bookmaker
A bookmaker, or bookie, is an organization or a person that takes bets on sporting and other events at agreed upon odds.- Range of events :...
s, six days before the race his trainer revealed that Royal Anthem was "hopping lame." Over the next few days the horse appeared to get better but in the end apparently was not and finished 7th in the race.
1999: Four-year-old season
At age four in 1999, Royal Anthem finished second in the June 4th Coronation CupCoronation Cup
The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. 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 June....
to Daylami
Daylami
Daylami is a retired Thoroughbred Champion racehorse and active sire who was bred in Ireland, but trained in France, Dubai and the United Kingdom. In a career which lasted from 1996 and 1999, he raced in five different countries and won seven Group 1/Grade I races...
, a five-year-old who would be his nemesis for the rest of the year. He finished second again in the Hardwicke Stakes
Hardwicke Stakes
The Hardwicke Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
after which his handlers brought American jockey Gary Stevens to ride him in the Juddmonte International Stakes
International Stakes
The 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....
. Following an impressive eight-length win, Royal Anthem was being hailed by some in the United Kingdom as 'the best in the world'. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60175075.html However, in his next outing, he finished fifth to winner Daylami in the Irish Champion Stakes
Irish Champion Stakes
The Irish Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1976, and...
and second to Daylami again in the 1999 Breeders' Cup Turf at 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....
in Florida
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...
.
2000: Five-year-old season
After the Breeders' Cup race, his disappointed owner sent Royal Anthem to the Payson Park thoroughbred training facility near Indiantown, FloridaIndiantown, Florida
Indiantown is a census-designated place in Martin County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,588 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Port St. Lucie Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
where his conditioning was taken over by U.S. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott who had trained Royal Anthem's sire
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
, Theatrical. In February 2000, the horse made his first start for Bill Mott with a win in the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap
Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap
The Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida....
under jockey Jerry Bailey. He was scheduled to compete in the March 25th Dubai Sheema Classic
Dubai Sheema Classic
The 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...
at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse is a former Thoroughbred horse racing facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates opened in 1986. It has a 2,200 metre left-handed dirt race track and a left-handed turf course of the same distance...
but a swollen tendon
Tendon
A tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that usually connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension. Tendons are similar to ligaments and fasciae as they are all made of collagen except that ligaments join one bone to another bone, and fasciae connect muscles to other...
in his left foreleg prevented him from competing and would end his racing career.
Stud career
Royal Anthem was retired 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 Hopewell Farm in Midway, Kentucky
Midway, Kentucky
Midway is a city in Woodford County, Kentucky, United States. Its population was 1,620 at the 2000 census. It is located midway between Frankfort and Lexington along the single-track railroad between them. It is part of the Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is home to a...
. He now stands at stud at Tullogher House Stud in Kilkenny, Ireland as a successful dual purpose sire.