Unbreakable (1935–1952) was an American-bred, British-trained
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 and sire. He was successful on the racecourse, but some way below the best of his generation. His best wins came in the
Richmond Stakes
The Richmond Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old colts and geldings. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is sche ...
at
Goodwood as a two-year-old and in the Victoria Cup Handicap two years later. After his retirement from racing he became a highly successful breeding stallion: through his grandson
Native Dancer
Native Dancer (March 27, 1950 – November 16, 1967), nicknamed the ''Gray Ghost'', was one of the most celebrated and accomplished Thoroughbred racehorses in American history and was the first horse made famous through the medium of television ...
he appears in the pedigrees of most modern Thoroughbreds.
Background
Unbreakable was a black horse bred in the United States by his owner,
Joseph E. Widener. He was sent to race in England, where he was trained by
Cecil Boyd-Rochfort
Sir Cecil Charles Boyd-Rochfort KCVO (188718 March 1983) was an Irish thoroughbred racehorse trainer who was British flat racing Champion Trainer five times.
Background
Cecil was the son of Rochfort Hamilton Boyd-Rochfort and the grandson ...
. The colt was sired by the British-bred stallion
Sickle
A sickle, bagging hook, reaping-hook or grasshook is a single-handed agricultural tool designed with variously curved blades and typically used for harvesting or reaping grain crops, or cutting Succulent plant, succulent forage chiefly for feedi ...
out of the French mare Blue Glass, making him a half-brother to the
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over the worldwide classic distance of . Colt (horseracing), Colt ...
winner
Hurryoff.
Racing career
As a two-year-old, Unbreakable won three races including the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood in July.
In the following year he competed at the highest level, finishing fifth to
Pasch in the
2000 Guineas
The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1.6 km) and scheduled to take place each yea ...
and eighth behind
Bois Roussel
Bois Roussel (1935–1955) was a French-bred Thoroughbred champion racehorse and a leading broodmare sire. He won the 1938 Epsom Derby on his second racecourse appearance.
Background
He was named for Haras du Bois-Roussel, the breeding farm in A ...
in
The Derby.
Stud record
Unbreakable sired the
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
Polynesian who in turn sired
Native Dancer
Native Dancer (March 27, 1950 – November 16, 1967), nicknamed the ''Gray Ghost'', was one of the most celebrated and accomplished Thoroughbred racehorses in American history and was the first horse made famous through the medium of television ...
. One of the most highly rated American horses of the 20th century, Native Dancer was the grandsire of
Mr. Prospector and the damsire of
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 ...
. Unbreakable Died in 1952.
Pedigree
Unbreakable is inbred 4 × 4 to Sainfoin and St. Simon, meaning those stallions appear twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.
See also
*
List of racehorses
This list includes racehorses that exist in the historical record.
Racehorses
For competition horses, such as show jumping, show jumpers and dressage, dressage horses, see .
A
* Ace Impact: Undefeated winner of the 2023 Prix de l'Arc de Tri ...
References
{{reflist
1935 racehorse births
1952 racehorse deaths
Racehorses bred in Kentucky
Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom
Thoroughbred family 4-i