Barbizon won five of his six starts at 2 and was second in the other, so he could not be faulted for consistency. Nonetheless, he won his juvenile championship on the strength of one big win in the Garden State Stakes, then the richest juvenile race on the calendar and a race in which Barbizon’s chief rival for juvenile honors, Bold Ruler, suffered interference that took him out of contention. Barbizon had no real opportunity to prove his merit further against the other top members of what proved to be one of the best crops in American racing history as he contracted a respiratory illness following his 2-year-old season. While he recovered, his breathing was affected and he never regained his earlier form. He was a useful but not particularly memorable stallion
Race record
21 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$199,460
1956:
1957:
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1956)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1956, 1 pound above Bold Ruler and Federal Hill.
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1957, 17 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Bold Ruler.
As an individual
A rather heavy-topped animal with the suspicious ankles commonly seen among Polynesian’s progeny, Barbizon was muscular and short-coupled with correct feet and legs. His hindquarters were particularly powerful and his musculature extended well down into his forearms and gaskins.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Barbizon sired 417 winners (68.4%) and 43 stakes winners (7.1%) from 609 named foals.
Notable progeny
Pam’s Ego (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Barbizon was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. He was trained by Horace “Jimmy” Jones. He stood at Hermitage Farm near Goshen, Kentucky. He died in 1982 and was buried in the Calumet Farm horse cemetery.
Pedigree notes
Barbizon’s pedigree Is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 1961 Display Handicap winner Hillsborough (by Ponder); to Good Thought (by On-and-On), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Stancharry (by Windy Sands) and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Up to Juliet (by First Balcony) and third dam of Brazilian Group 2 winners Filha Linda and Hurry Up; and to Negative (by Blenheim II), second dam of Grade 2 winner Mr. Bold Batter. In addition, he is a half brother to Crimson Queen (by Crimson Satan), dam of stakes winners Danzing Liz (by Northern Dancer) and Crimson Slew (by Seattle Slew), second dam of Grade 2 winner Oraibi, and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner The Tin Man. Finally, Barbizon is a half brother to Sunny Chile (by Sun Again), third dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Traviesa Don.
Barbizon’s dam Good Blood won the 1946 Arlington Matron Handicap and three other stakes races. A half sister to multiple stakes winner Prognosis (by Blenheim II), she is also a half sister to Sure Cure (by Swift and Sure), dam of multiple juvenile stakes winner Big George (by Spanish Main). Their dam Diagnosis, a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Caloosa (by Negofol; dam of Canadian stakes winner Glanford, by Épinard), is an unraced daughter of two-time American champion Sweep (a two-time champion sire and champion broodmare sire as well).
Diagnosis and Caloosa are out of Noowa, a daughter of two-time American champion sire Meddler. A half sister to 1909 Preakness Stakes winner Effendi (by Previous), Noowa is out of the good stakes winner Hatasoo, by Albert. The female line traces back to the 18th-century American mare Sally Wright, a daughter of Tayloe’s Yorick whose female-line ancestry is unknown.
Fun facts
Last updated: February 11, 2022
Race record
21 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$199,460
1956:
- Won Garden State Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
1957:
- 2nd Hutcheson Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1956)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1956, 1 pound above Bold Ruler and Federal Hill.
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1957, 17 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Bold Ruler.
As an individual
A rather heavy-topped animal with the suspicious ankles commonly seen among Polynesian’s progeny, Barbizon was muscular and short-coupled with correct feet and legs. His hindquarters were particularly powerful and his musculature extended well down into his forearms and gaskins.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Barbizon sired 417 winners (68.4%) and 43 stakes winners (7.1%) from 609 named foals.
Notable progeny
Pam’s Ego (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Barbizon was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. He was trained by Horace “Jimmy” Jones. He stood at Hermitage Farm near Goshen, Kentucky. He died in 1982 and was buried in the Calumet Farm horse cemetery.
Pedigree notes
Barbizon’s pedigree Is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 1961 Display Handicap winner Hillsborough (by Ponder); to Good Thought (by On-and-On), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Stancharry (by Windy Sands) and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Up to Juliet (by First Balcony) and third dam of Brazilian Group 2 winners Filha Linda and Hurry Up; and to Negative (by Blenheim II), second dam of Grade 2 winner Mr. Bold Batter. In addition, he is a half brother to Crimson Queen (by Crimson Satan), dam of stakes winners Danzing Liz (by Northern Dancer) and Crimson Slew (by Seattle Slew), second dam of Grade 2 winner Oraibi, and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner The Tin Man. Finally, Barbizon is a half brother to Sunny Chile (by Sun Again), third dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Traviesa Don.
Barbizon’s dam Good Blood won the 1946 Arlington Matron Handicap and three other stakes races. A half sister to multiple stakes winner Prognosis (by Blenheim II), she is also a half sister to Sure Cure (by Swift and Sure), dam of multiple juvenile stakes winner Big George (by Spanish Main). Their dam Diagnosis, a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Caloosa (by Negofol; dam of Canadian stakes winner Glanford, by Épinard), is an unraced daughter of two-time American champion Sweep (a two-time champion sire and champion broodmare sire as well).
Diagnosis and Caloosa are out of Noowa, a daughter of two-time American champion sire Meddler. A half sister to 1909 Preakness Stakes winner Effendi (by Previous), Noowa is out of the good stakes winner Hatasoo, by Albert. The female line traces back to the 18th-century American mare Sally Wright, a daughter of Tayloe’s Yorick whose female-line ancestry is unknown.
Fun facts
- The French town of Barbizon became the namesake for a 19th-century French school of landscape painting. Active primarily in the period 1830-1870, the Barbizon School represented a trend toward realism within the Romantic movement then predominant in European art. The Barbizon School also inspired a revival in French etching.
Last updated: February 11, 2022