English Channel (April 9, 2002 – November 11, 2021) was an American

Champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, Competition, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional/provincial/state, national, continental and world champi ...

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

and a leading sire of turf horses in North America. In four years of racing, he competed in 23 races, winning 13, finishing second in four, and finishing third in one. His final victory came at the 2007

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 ...

, where he set a record for this race when he won by seven lengths. Following this race, he was retired to

stud Stud may refer to: Animals * Stud (animal), an animal retained for breeding ** Stud farm, a property where livestock are bred Arts and entertainment * Stud (band), a British progressive rock group * The Stud (bar), a gay bar in San Francisco * ...

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city coterminous with and the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the city's population was 322,570, making it the List of ...

Background

Bred in Kentucky by Keene Ridge Farm, English Channel was sired by

Smart Strike Smart Strike (May 21, 1992, in Ontario – March 25, 2015) was a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse. The son of the Champion sire, Mr. Prospector, and out of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame mare Classy 'n Smart, Smart Strike is a half-brot ...

out of the

Theatrical Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The performers may communic ...

mare A mare is an adult female horse or other equidae, equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more th ...

Belva. He was sold at the 2003 Keeneland September Sale for $50,000 to James T. Scatuorchio. He was trained by

Todd Pletcher Todd Pletcher (born June 26, 1967, in Dallas, Texas) is an American thoroughbred horse trainer. He won the Eclipse Award eight times as Trainer of the Year, four of these in consecutive years. His horses Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming ( ...

Racing career

Two-Year-Old Campaign

English Channel made his first start at the age of two in a 1 1/16 mile maiden race on the turf at Saratoga. Ridden by

John Velazquez John R. Velazquez (born November 24, 1971) is a Puerto Rican jockey in Thoroughbred horse race, Thoroughbred horse racing. He began his career in Puerto Rico and moved to New York in 1990. In 2004 and 2005 he was the United States Champion Jockey ...

, he got off to a slow start, running midpack almost throughout before accelerating to the lead and pulling away to break his maiden by a length.

Daily Racing Form The ''Daily Racing Form'' (DRF) (referred to as the ''Racing Form'' or "Form" and sometimes "telegraph" or "telly") is a tabloid newspaper founded in 1894 in Chicago, Illinois, by Frank Brunell. The paper publishes the past performances of rac ...

2006 Breeders' Cup Past Performances

Three-Year-Old Campaign

Seven months later, in March 2005, English Channel made his second career start in an allowance at

Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park is a Thoroughbred racing, Thoroughbred horse race track, casino and outdoor entertainment and shopping destination in Hallandale Beach, Florida, Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States. It is among the most important venues for ...

. Once again he ran midpack, but unlike in his maiden race, he was unable to close ground on the eventual winner, Drum Major, and finished fourth. Exactly one month later, English Channel ran in an allowance at

Keeneland Race Course Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky. It includes two distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for it ...

. After making a four-wide sweeping move, he ran at the front of the pack, taking the lead and recording a 5 3/4 length victory. On

Preakness Preakness may refer to: * The Preakness or Preakness Stakes, an American flat thoroughbred horse race held in Baltimore, Maryland * Preakness (horse), an American thoroughbred racehorse from Preakness Stables * Preakness, New Jersey, a section of W ...

day at

Pimlico Pimlico () is a district in Central London, in the City of Westminster, built as a southern extension to neighbouring Belgravia. It is known for its garden squares and distinctive Regency architecture. Pimlico is demarcated to the north by Lon ...

, English Channel made his stakes debut in the listed

Woodlawn Stakes The James W. Murphy Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Open to three-year-old horses, it is contested over a distance of one mile on turf. Beginning with the 2010 race, the Woo ...

. After running much of the race in traffic, he charged into the lead and pulled away, winning by 4 lengths, marking his first career stakes victory, his second straight victory by more than three lengths, and his third overall victory. In June 2005, Pletcher pointed the horse to the inaugural

Colonial Turf Cup The Commonwealth Turf Cup is an American Thoroughbred horse race held each year since 2015 at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland. It was previously known as the Colonial Turf Cup when it was held at Colonial Downs race track in New Kent County, Virg ...

Colonial Downs Colonial Downs is a Race track, racetrack located in New Kent County, Virginia adjacent to Interstate 64, halfway between Richmond, Virginia, Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia, Williamsburg. The track conducted Thoroughbred flat racing and Stand ...

to try for the first leg of the

Grand Slam of Grass The Grand Slam of Grass is a series of American Thoroughbred horse races made up of four turf events for three-year-old horses. The series offers a $5 million bonus for any horse who wins all four races. Currently sponsored by Jacobs Investments, ...

. Currently a Grade II event, the race was a listed stakes in its first year. Running on the outside in third during the opening portions of the race, English Channel took the lead and pulled away from his competitors to score his third straight victory. English Channel then attempted the second leg of the Grand Slam, running in the

Virginia Derby The Virginia Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the dirt held annually in March at Colonial Downs in New Kent County, Virginia. The event currently carries a purse of ...

, once again at Colonial Downs. This race was his graded-stakes debut, as the Virginia Derby was a Grade III event at that time. After taking a few missteps on the backstretch, he recovered and won by 3 1/4 lengths, marking his fourth straight victory and his first career graded stakes win. From Colonial Downs, the Grand Slam of Grass moved to

Arlington Park Arlington Park (formerly known as Arlington International Racecourse) is a former horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Once called the ''Arlington Park Jockey Club'', it was located adjacent to the Illinois Rou ...

for the third leg: the

Secretariat Stakes The Secretariat Stakes is a Graded stakes race, Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the Grass, turf. The event was originally raced at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Arlingto ...

. Going into the race as the favorite in his Grade I debut, English Channel was halfway to becoming the first horse to complete the Grand Slam of Grass. After racing alongside Purim, English Channel was overtaken by

Gun Salute A gun salute or cannon salute is the use of a piece of artillery to fire shots, often 21 in number (''21-gun salute''), with the aim of marking an honor or celebrating a joyful event. It is a tradition in many countries around the world. Histo ...

, who had been following the leaders in third. Gun Salute pulled away slightly, beating English Channel to the wire by 1 3/4 lengths. A narrow defeat followed in the Turf Classic Invitational at

Belmont Park Belmont Park is a thoroughbred racing, thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United Stat ...

. Making his first start against older horses, English Channel lost by a head bob to

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

after the horses raced alongside each other through the closing stages. Rounding out his three-year-old campaign, English Channel ran fifth in the

after tiring in the stretch, only the second time in his career he had finished outside of the top two.

Four-year-old campaign

English Channel began 2006 in the same place that he began 2005 – Gulfstream Park. Going off as the 9-5 favorite in the

Canadian Turf Handicap The Canadian Turf Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race, by invitation for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the turf track, held annually in late February or early March at Gulfstream Par ...

, he ran in second through much of the race, taking the lead in the stretch and holding off

Miesque's Approval Miesque's Approval (foaled March 3, 1999 in Florida) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2006 Breeders' Cup Mile and was voted that year's American Champion Male Turf Horse. He was bred and raced by Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Planta ...

to win by three-quarters of a length. After a two-month layoff, English Channel shipped to

Churchill Downs Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States that hosts the annual Kentucky Derby. It opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was prominent in Kentucky for many years. The first ...

to again try to win a Grade I stakes. In the

Turf Classic Stakes The Turf Classic Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race held annually in early May on the day of the Kentucky Derby, meeting on the turf at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race distance is one and one-eighth miles and is ...

, he stalked the pace in third and took the lead in the stretch, holding off the challenge of

Cacique A cacique, sometimes spelled as cazique (; ; feminine form: ), was a tribal chieftain of the Taíno people, who were the Indigenous inhabitants of the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles at the time of European cont ...

to record his first Grade I victory by half a length. English Channel then headed back to Belmont for the

Manhattan Handicap The Manhattan Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race raced annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is named for Manhattan, the principal borough of the City of New York. Currently offering a purse of $1,000,000, the Grade I Manhatt ...

. After stalking the pace in his usual style, he finished fourth, with Cacique winning. A month later, English Channel ran for the first time at

Monmouth Park Monmouth Park Racetrack is an American race track for thoroughbred horse racing in Oceanport, New Jersey, Oceanport, New Jersey, United States. It is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and is operated under a five-year lease ...

. In the

United Nations Stakes The United Nations Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older run over a distance of one and three-eighth miles on the turf held annually in July at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. The eve ...

, he raced in fourth for most of the race before taking the lead in the stretch. In a repeat of their earlier meeting at Churchill Downs, English Channel held off Cacique to win by a half length. In his next race, English Channel made his first attempt at the

Arlington Million The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flat horse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward on turf. It was originally raced at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois over a distance of miles. The Arling ...

. While he and Cacique raced in third and fourth, The Tin Man, an eight-year-old son of

Affirmed Affirmed (February 21, 1975 – January 12, 2001) was a champion American Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who is the eleventh winner of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States), American Triple Crown. Affirmed was well known ...

, set a pace so slow that some later described it as "murder". The slow pace enabled The Tin Man to conserve energy and win. English Channel did not rally as usual and finished fourth, slightly more than two lengths behind the winner. Pletcher ran English Channel in one final prep before the Breeders' Cup, the Hirsch at Belmont, a race in which he was narrowly defeated the previous year. Co-entry Icy Atlantic took the lead and set a slow pace while English Channel ran on the outside. When they hit the stretch, English Channel moved strongly to take the lead, pulling away to win by 4 1/2 lengths. In 2006, the Breeders' Cup was at Churchill Downs, the same location as English Channel's first career Grade I win. Considered a favorite to win the race, he finished third, over two lengths behind winner

Red Rocks Red Rocks Amphitheatre (also known colloquially as simply Red Rocks) is an open-air amphitheater in the western United States near Morrison, Colorado, approximately southwest of Denver. It is owned and operated by the city of Denver. In addi ...

, with Better Talk Now in second.

Five-Year Old Campaign

English Channel returned for another season in 2007, making his first start in a Thursday afternoon allowance at Gulfstream. He won, setting a course record for 1 1/8 miles and missing the world record by 0.59 seconds. Next, joining fellow American horses

Lava Man Lava Man (foaled on March 20, 2001 in California) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was once claimed for $50,000 but wound up being inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2015. In a forty-seven race career, despit ...

and Miesque's Approval, English Channel shipped to

Nad Al Sheba Nad Al Sheba () is a locality in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Situated south of the Dubai Creek, Nad Al Sheba is best known for its racecourse, the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, which hosted the Dubai World Cup annually until 2009. Organisati ...

in Dubai to run in the

Dubai Duty Free Stakes The Dubai Turf is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for four-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,800 metres (1 mile 1 furlong) on the turf at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai during the Dubai World Cup Night i ...

. He ran the worst race of his career, finishing in 12th place. His next start came in the Manhattan. English Channel led in the stretch and held off challenges from the outside, only for Better Talk Now to squeeze by on the inside, beating him to the wire by a head. In his next start, a prep for the upcoming Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park, English Channel attempted to defend his title in the United Nations against one of the country's top mares, stablemate

Honey Ryder Honeychile Rider is a fictional character in Ian Fleming's James Bond novel '' Dr. No''. In the 1962 Bond film of the same title, her name was shortened and spelled Honey Ryder. In the film, she is played by Swiss actress Ursula Andress, with ...

. English Channel beat Honey Ryder by a length with Better Talk Now well beaten. In addition, he set a course record with his victory. English Channel then returned to Saratoga, where he had not run since breaking his maiden as a two-year-old. In the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes, "The Graveyard of Champions" lived up to its reputation, as long shot Grand Couturier won by three lengths. English Channel finished second. With just one stakes win in 2007, he returned to Belmont, a track that he had only won at once in five starts despite going off on more than one occasion as the favorite. In the Turf Classic Invitational, he went off as the 2-5 favorite. Running his usual race just behind the leaders, English Channel was blocked entering the stretch but then found a gap and accelerated through it, catching the leader and pulling away to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Coming off of his win in the Turf Classic, English Channel made his third attempt at the Breeders' Cup Turf. Going off as the second favorite behind odds-on favorite

Dylan Thomas Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer, whose works include the poems " Do not go gentle into that good night" and " And death shall have no dominion", as well as the "play for voices" ''Un ...

, he ran just off the lead and went to the front in the straight, pulling away from second-place Shamdinan to win. The seven-length victory was the largest of his career and the largest winning margin in Breeders' Cup Turf history. The horse was then retired to stud for the 2008 season at Hurricane Hall Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He currently stands at Lanes End in Versailles, Kentucky. At maturity, he reached high.

Racing summary

Stud career

English Channel retired to stud for the 2008 season at Hurricane Hall near Lexington for an initial fee of $25,000 per live foal. His first crop, foaled in 2009, included 14 stakes winners, led by Canadian champion 3-year-old male

Strait of Dover The Strait of Dover or Dover Strait, historically known as the Dover Narrows, is the strait at the narrowest part of the English Channel, marking the boundary between the Channel and the North Sea, and separating Great Britain from continental ...

and Parranda, a Group I winner in Singapore. English Channel's third crop was led by V. E. Day, winner of the 2014 Travers Stakes. English Channel's offspring have been successful on dirt, synthetic surfaces and turf. Like him, English Channel's offspring are not typically precocious but mature with age. A prime example is The Pizza Man, who was winless at two then became a Grade I winner at ages six and seven. English Channel was relocated to Lane's End Farm for the 2010 season and then to Calumet Farm in 2014. Ken Wilkins, the director of Calumet's stallion division, said he can usually spot English Channel's offspring:"They are not real, real big horses because he is not a real big horse. But they are very much like him. Well balanced, with some bone to them, nice legs, and they are racehorses." In 2020, English Channel was the leading turf sire in North America, led by the success of multiple-Grade I winner Channel Maker. On November 10, 2021, English Channel's health started to rapidly decline and he died on the morning of November 11, 2021 at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. At the time of his death, he was the leading turf sire in North America for 2021.

Notable Progeny

English Channel has currently sired 11 individual

Grade 1 First grade (also 1st Grade or Grade 1) is the first year of formal or compulsory education. It is the first year of elementary school, and the first school year after kindergarten. Children in first grade are usually 6–7 years old. Examples ...

winners: 'c = colt, f =

filly A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States ...

'', g =

gelding A gelding (Help:IPA/English, /ˈɡɛldɪŋ/) is a castration, castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. The term is also used with certain other animals and livestock, such as domesticated Camelidae, camels. By compa ...

Pedigree

English Channel is by Smart Strike, who was the

leading sire in North America The list below shows the leading Father, sire of Thoroughbred Horse racing, racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the year. It is restricted to Stallio ...

in both 2007 and 2008. Smart Strike is a half brother to Canadian Horse of the Year

Dance Smartly Dance Smartly (1988–2007) was a Champion Thoroughbred racemare who went undefeated in 1991 while winning the Canadian Triple Crown and becoming the first horse bred in Canada to win a Breeders' Cup race. She was inducted into both the Canadian ...

and was one of Mr. Prospector's best sire sons. In addition to English Channel, Smart Strike was also the sire of two-time Horse of the Year

Curlin Curlin (foaled March 25, 2004, in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who was the American Horse of the Year in both 2007 and 2008. He retired in 2008 as the highest North American money earner with over US$10.5 ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:English Channel (Horse) 2002 racehorse births 2021 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States Breeders' Cup Turf winners Eclipse Award winners Thoroughbred family 1-k