Balladier inherited both speed and unsoundness from his maternal grandsire, North Star III. He was impressive enough in his brief career to be considered the best American juvenile male of 1934 by most observers, but while he sired a lot of early winners, he passed on his own unsoundness often enough to be an inconsistent sire when it came to class.
Race record
5 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$18,320
1934:
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1934)
As an individual
Balladier was a long-bodied, short-legged black horse with an excellent shoulder and powerful hindquarters. His back was not the best and he was somewhat sickle-hocked. Nonetheless, Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form considered him "extremely handsome."
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Balladier sired 208 winners (74.8%) and 16 stakes winners (5.8%) from 278 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
Notable progeny
Double Jay (USA), Spy Song (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Make Tracks (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Balladier was bred and owned by Colonel Edward Riley Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. After beginning his stud career at Idle Hour, Balladier was sold to Joe A. Goodwin in 1943 and stood at his Patchen Wilkes Farm near Lexington for the remainder of his career. The horse died in 1950.
Pedigree notes
Balladier is inbred 4x5 to three-time English leading sire Galopin, winner of the 1875 Derby Stakes. He is a half brother to 1933 Kentucky Oaks winner Barn Swallow (by Black Toney's son Black Servant), generally considered the American champion 3-year-old filly of 1933.
Balladier's dam Blue Warbler won the 1924 Spinaway Stakes and Matron Stakes and is a half sister to stakes winner Buckeye Poet (by Black Toney). Blue Warbler, in turn, was produced from the English import May Bird (by the speedy runner but bad sire Thrush), who was unplaced in her only start in England and failed to win in nine starts after her importation to the United States. May Bird's dam May Bruce (by May Duke) was also an undistinguished runner, winning only at the selling handicap level, but produced a better runner in Duke of York Stakes winner Wolfe Land (by St. Frusquin).
Books and media
Balladier is profiled in Chapter 37 of Abram Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released in 2006 by Eclipse Press).
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: June 8, 2021
Race record
5 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$18,320
1934:
- Won United States Hotel Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Champagne Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont; new track record 1:16-3/5)
- 2nd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1934)
As an individual
Balladier was a long-bodied, short-legged black horse with an excellent shoulder and powerful hindquarters. His back was not the best and he was somewhat sickle-hocked. Nonetheless, Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form considered him "extremely handsome."
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Balladier sired 208 winners (74.8%) and 16 stakes winners (5.8%) from 278 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American juvenile sire list by number of winners in 1947.
Notable progeny
Double Jay (USA), Spy Song (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Make Tracks (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Balladier was bred and owned by Colonel Edward Riley Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. After beginning his stud career at Idle Hour, Balladier was sold to Joe A. Goodwin in 1943 and stood at his Patchen Wilkes Farm near Lexington for the remainder of his career. The horse died in 1950.
Pedigree notes
Balladier is inbred 4x5 to three-time English leading sire Galopin, winner of the 1875 Derby Stakes. He is a half brother to 1933 Kentucky Oaks winner Barn Swallow (by Black Toney's son Black Servant), generally considered the American champion 3-year-old filly of 1933.
Balladier's dam Blue Warbler won the 1924 Spinaway Stakes and Matron Stakes and is a half sister to stakes winner Buckeye Poet (by Black Toney). Blue Warbler, in turn, was produced from the English import May Bird (by the speedy runner but bad sire Thrush), who was unplaced in her only start in England and failed to win in nine starts after her importation to the United States. May Bird's dam May Bruce (by May Duke) was also an undistinguished runner, winning only at the selling handicap level, but produced a better runner in Duke of York Stakes winner Wolfe Land (by St. Frusquin).
Books and media
Balladier is profiled in Chapter 37 of Abram Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released in 2006 by Eclipse Press).
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: June 8, 2021