Blue Larkspur (USA)
1926 – May 6, 1947
Black Servant (USA) x Blossom Time (USA), by North Star III (GB)
Family 8-f
1926 – May 6, 1947
Black Servant (USA) x Blossom Time (USA), by North Star III (GB)
Family 8-f
One of the two best horses ever bred and raced by the legendary Colonel Edward Riley Bradley, Blue Larkspur is perhaps best remembered for a race he lost under odd circumstances, the 1929 Kentucky Derby. Due to a feud between Bradley's blacksmith and his assistant trainer, Chappie Hastings, who had to fill in when “Derby Dick” Thompson was stricken with appendicitis, Blue Larkspur was not reshod with mud caulks when conditions turned up muddy for the Derby. Unable to get his footing, the colt finished fourth behind Clyde Van Dusen. Blue Larkspur also suffered bad luck for the important Futurity Stakes at 2, when he was kicked at the post by a rival and finished eighth. Continuing his tale of woe, Blue Larkspur was kicked again at the beginning of the Belmont Stakes (which he won), suffering a leg injury; he also suffered cuts to his hind legs and was struck in one eye by a pebble during the race. In addition, he was carelessly ridden in the Dwyer Stakes, probably costing him the race, and bowed a tendon after winning the Arlington Classic, an injury that eventually led to his retirement. Despite his misfortunes, Blue Larkspur was clearly the best of his crop at both 3 and 4, and he went on to prove his merit in an outstanding stud career.
Race record
16 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$272,070
1928:
1929:
1930:
Honors
Assessments
Blue Larkspur was rated #100 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Blue Larkspur was ranked second among American juveniles of 1928 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay, Blue Larkspur was considered an extremely handsome, well-balanced individual with an excellent shoulder and hip, though a little light on bone. Author and breeder Abram Hewitt recalled Blue Larkspur as combining power, quality and a calm temperament but noted that he had badly enlarged ankles prior to the Belmont Stakes. While possessing plenty of speed, Blue Larkspur was amenable to rating and could be placed as his jockey desired, though he did not like being put on a short hold and had to be given plenty of rein. He had excellent action; according to noted racing writer John Hervey, he was “the most beautifully gaited runner we have seen in 40 years and more.” According to Blue Larkspur's obituary in the New York Times, he was a cribber.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records Blue Larkspur sired 196 winners (67.6%) and 44 stakes winners (15.2%) from 262 named foals. Blue Larkspur is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Bloodroot (USA), Blue Delight (USA), Blue Denim (USA), Blue Grass (USA), Blue Swords (USA), But Why Not (USA), Elpis (USA), Myrtlewood (USA), Oedipus (USA), Our Page (USA), Revoked (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Ancestor (USA), Be Faithful (USA), Bimlette (USA), Bubbley (USA), Bull Page (USA), Durazna (USA), George Raft (USA), Miss Dogwood (USA), Oligarchy (USA), Piano Jim (USA), Princess Turia (USA), Real Delight (USA), Twilight Tear (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Blue Larkspur was bred and owned by Colonel Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. He was trained by Herbert J. "Derby Dick" Thompson. Blue Larkspur entered stud at Idle Hour in 1931. Following Bradley's death, he was transferred to Greentree Stud, where he died in 1947 from an apparent heart attack. He was buried near the judge's stand of the private track at Idle Hour on land that had been purchased by the King Ranch and is now part of Old Frankfort Place.
Pedigree notes
Blue Larkspur is inbred 3x4 to Padua and 5x5 to 1863 dual English Classic winner Macaroni and 1875 Derby Stakes winner Galopin, a three-time English champion sire. His dam Blossom Time won the 1922 Pimlico Futurity and is a half sister to four other stakes winners including Miss Jemima (by Black Toney), generally considered the co-champion American 2-year-old filly of 1919 with Constancy. Blossom Time's dam Vaila (by Fariman) was a minor stakes winner in England and is out of Padilla (by Macheath), a half sister to the good producer Padula (by Laveno). Padula's three stakes winners include 1926 American Derby winner Boot to Boot (by North Star III) and 1921 Blue Grass Stakes winner Black Servant (by Black Toney), sire of Blue Larkspur.
Padula and Padilla were produced from Padua (by Uncas or Thurio). A winner of six of 40 starts at distances ranging from 5 to 12 furlongs, Padua was tough and versatile but not very classy. Her probable sire Thurio won the 1878 Grand Prix de Paris but was a bad sire, and her dam Immortelle (by Paul Jones) had little to recommend her.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: December 21, 2023
Race record
16 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$272,070
1928:
- Won Juvenile Stakes (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- Won National Stallion Stakes (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- Won Saratoga Special (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
1929:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Arlington Classic (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Dwyer Stakes (USA, 12FD, Aqueduct)
1930:
- Won Stars and Stripes Handicap (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park; new track record 1:49-2/5)
- Won Arlington Gold Cup (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1957)
- American Horse of the Year (1929)
- American champion 3-year-old male (1929)
- American champion handicap male (1930)
Assessments
Blue Larkspur was rated #100 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Blue Larkspur was ranked second among American juveniles of 1928 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay, Blue Larkspur was considered an extremely handsome, well-balanced individual with an excellent shoulder and hip, though a little light on bone. Author and breeder Abram Hewitt recalled Blue Larkspur as combining power, quality and a calm temperament but noted that he had badly enlarged ankles prior to the Belmont Stakes. While possessing plenty of speed, Blue Larkspur was amenable to rating and could be placed as his jockey desired, though he did not like being put on a short hold and had to be given plenty of rein. He had excellent action; according to noted racing writer John Hervey, he was “the most beautifully gaited runner we have seen in 40 years and more.” According to Blue Larkspur's obituary in the New York Times, he was a cribber.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records Blue Larkspur sired 196 winners (67.6%) and 44 stakes winners (15.2%) from 262 named foals. Blue Larkspur is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1942.
- 2nd on the American broodmare sire list in 1954; 3rd in 1944 and 1950; 4th in 1945; 5th in 1947; 6th in 1949; 8th in 1946 and 1948.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1942; 7th in 1947; 10th in 1943.
- 2nd on the US broodmare sire list in 1951 and 1954; 3rd in 1944, 1950, and 1952; 4th in 1945, 1953, and 1958; 5th in 1947, 1956, and 1957; 6th in 1949 and 1959; 7th in 1955; 8th in 1946 and 1948; 10th in 1960
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1942; 7th in 1947; 10th in 1943.
- 2nd on the American broodmare sire list in 1954; 3rd in 1944, 1950, and 1952; 4th in 1945 and 1953; 5th in 1947, 1956, and 1957; 6th in 1949 and 1959; 7th in 1955; 8th in 1946 and 1948; 10th in 1960.
Notable progeny
Bloodroot (USA), Blue Delight (USA), Blue Denim (USA), Blue Grass (USA), Blue Swords (USA), But Why Not (USA), Elpis (USA), Myrtlewood (USA), Oedipus (USA), Our Page (USA), Revoked (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Ancestor (USA), Be Faithful (USA), Bimlette (USA), Bubbley (USA), Bull Page (USA), Durazna (USA), George Raft (USA), Miss Dogwood (USA), Oligarchy (USA), Piano Jim (USA), Princess Turia (USA), Real Delight (USA), Twilight Tear (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Blue Larkspur was bred and owned by Colonel Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. He was trained by Herbert J. "Derby Dick" Thompson. Blue Larkspur entered stud at Idle Hour in 1931. Following Bradley's death, he was transferred to Greentree Stud, where he died in 1947 from an apparent heart attack. He was buried near the judge's stand of the private track at Idle Hour on land that had been purchased by the King Ranch and is now part of Old Frankfort Place.
Pedigree notes
Blue Larkspur is inbred 3x4 to Padua and 5x5 to 1863 dual English Classic winner Macaroni and 1875 Derby Stakes winner Galopin, a three-time English champion sire. His dam Blossom Time won the 1922 Pimlico Futurity and is a half sister to four other stakes winners including Miss Jemima (by Black Toney), generally considered the co-champion American 2-year-old filly of 1919 with Constancy. Blossom Time's dam Vaila (by Fariman) was a minor stakes winner in England and is out of Padilla (by Macheath), a half sister to the good producer Padula (by Laveno). Padula's three stakes winners include 1926 American Derby winner Boot to Boot (by North Star III) and 1921 Blue Grass Stakes winner Black Servant (by Black Toney), sire of Blue Larkspur.
Padula and Padilla were produced from Padua (by Uncas or Thurio). A winner of six of 40 starts at distances ranging from 5 to 12 furlongs, Padua was tough and versatile but not very classy. Her probable sire Thurio won the 1878 Grand Prix de Paris but was a bad sire, and her dam Immortelle (by Paul Jones) had little to recommend her.
Books and media
- Blue Larkspur is profiled in Chapter 36 of Abram Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders of America; updated and re-released by Eclipse Press in 2006).
- Blue Larkspur is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Blue Larkspur is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
Fun facts
- News reports prior to the 1929 Kentucky Derby indicated that some of Bradley's friends estimated that the Colonel stood to win as much as US$500,000 on side bets if Blue Larkspur won the Derby.
- "Blue larkspur" is the common name applied to two flowering plants of the genus Delphinium. Native to grasslands and open spaces, these plants are cultivated for their brilliant blue flowers. They are poisonous but were sometimes made into a skin wash to treat parasitic infestations of lice and scabies.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: December 21, 2023