Danzig (February 12, 1977 – January 4, 2006) was an American

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 ...

who is best known as a leading sire. He was purchased for $310,000 (equivalent to $ million in ) by Henryk de Kwiatkowski at the 1978 Saratoga Yearling Sale. The son of Hall of Famer

Northern Dancer Northern Dancer (May 27, 1961 – November 16, 1990) was a Thoroughbred that, in 1964, became the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. After being retired from racing, he became one of the most successful Stallion, sires of the 2 ...

and the most commercially successful sire of the second half of the 20th century, he won all three of his races before knee problems ended his racing career.

Stud record

Danzig was retired to stand at

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 * ...

Claiborne Farm Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred horse breeding operation near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910 by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Stud in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since. ...

near

Paris, Kentucky Paris is a home rule-class city in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and the county seat. It lies northeast of Lexington on the Stoner Fork of the Licking River. It is part of the Lexington–Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2020, it ha ...

, where he became one of the world's most important sires. He led the U.S. sires list from 1991 to 1993 and topped the sire list in Spain and the

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective monarchy made up of Emirates of the United Arab E ...

. Danzig sired 188

graded stakes race A graded stakes race is a thoroughbred horse race in the United States that meets the criteria of the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). A specific grade level (I, II, III or listed) is th ...

winners and 10 champions. His foals have earned more than $100 million in purse money and include

Breeders' Cup The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Graded stakes race, Grade I Thoroughbred racing, Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was ...

winners Chief's Crown, Lure, Dance Smartly, and War Chant as well as European champions Dayjur and Anabaa. Danzig also sired 1992

Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland (except in 2026 when it will move to Laurel Park (race track), Laurel Park dur ...

winner Pine Bluff and is the sire of

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was established in 1976 to honour those who have made a significant contribution to the sport of harness racing, harness and Thoroughbred racing, Thoroughbred horse racing in Canada. It is located at Woodbine ...

inductee Langfuhr, who in turn sired Canadian Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Wando. A leading sire of sires, Danzig sired Danehill, the first Thoroughbred in history to sire 300 stakes winners, while another son, Green Desert, has champions Oasis Dream, Ouija Board, Sea The Stars, and Kingman amongst his descendants. Danzig was also the damsire of Fusaichi Pegasus and Dancethruthedawn and was the grandsire of 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown. His son

Hard Spun Hard Spun (foaled May 10, 2004 near Malvern, Pennsylvania) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse that finished second in the 2007 Kentucky Derby. Background Hard Spun is a bay horse with a white star standing 16.2 hands high. He is from one ...

finished second in the 2007

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby () is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of . Colt (horse), Colts and geldin ...

behind Street Sense. Danzig and his son Danehill were dominant

bay A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a ''gulf'', ''sea'', ''sound'', or ''bight''. A ''cove'' is a small, ci ...

sires along with another 17 of Danzig's sons: they would not produce

chestnut The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Description ...

progeny and only a grey if the foal's dam was grey. Danzig was pensioned at 27 in 2004 and on January 3, 2006, was humanely euthanized due to the infirmities of old age. He was buried at Claiborne Farm's equine cemetery. At maturity, he reached high.Pedigree Analysis: Is Bigger Always Better?
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Pedigree

References

{{Reflist 1977 racehorse births 2006 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Pennsylvania Racehorses trained in the United States Undefeated racehorses United States Champion Thoroughbred Sires Thoroughbred family 7-a Chefs-de-Race

Stud record

Pedigree

See also

References